Free Campsites aka Boondocking
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Forum Name: Camping Adventures
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URL: http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=10924
Printed Date: 27 Apr 2024 at 11:13am
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Topic: Free Campsites aka Boondocking
Posted By: Olddawgsrule
Subject: Free Campsites aka Boondocking
Date Posted: 14 Nov 2017 at 4:49pm
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Found a few sites online, but all are lacking so far in 'realtime' info.. Like, when where you there? This whole stay at a Walmart thing just doesn't seem right for me with a TT. You tell me.. Have you done it with a TT and how was the experience? Have a good site that shows good spots? Please share. I'm going to run up to the Nor'east Martimes this spring and found a nice spot to overnight in Maine called Airline Rips. The second stop would be just onto Cape Breton NS at a Visitor Center (this one sounds weird, but would be there early enough to figure it out). If good, might be able to re-charge batteries and water up. Dump station??? Still working on that. My add to this will be: https://freecampsites.net/welcome/ If you have one, please suggest. If this goes well, maybe admin could place a 'sticky' with all the sites for us all to use. ------------- https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJduGeZNFgtptH67leItRFQ - Byways no Highways 2017 Tacoma http://tnttt.com/viewtopic.php?f=55&t=72408 - Truck Camper Build 2004 F150 My Overlander |
Replies:
Posted By: Winterpod
Date Posted: 14 Nov 2017 at 5:10pm
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Try allstays.com
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Posted By: furpod
Date Posted: 14 Nov 2017 at 6:08pm
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There are whole forums dedicated to boondocking. As far as the walmart thing. I see it as a stop for a few hours while going from A to B sort of thing.. have never done it. We usually try not set up our travel so we do multiple hard days tows. I generally will stop in a regular RV park if convenient. ------------- |
Posted By: StephenH
Date Posted: 14 Nov 2017 at 7:15pm
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We have stayed at truck stops (Pilot/Flying J) and at Walmart stores for overnight stays. Truck stops tend to be loud. A Walmart off the highway is a lot quieter. We always go inside to check with the store management to make sure it is okay. If it is, then I park where it is specified. One Walmart had a dedicated lot for big rigs and RVs to stay. It was not paved, but was graded and had a base of gravel so we were not in the mud. Since we were so small, I tucked us into a corner away from the big rigs. We had a pretty nice night there. When we do stop, I try to park on the most level spot I can see. If I can't find one, I try to get the front of the 'Pod a little lower. I level the R-Pod side-to-side if needed and use the jack if needed to level front-to-back. Then I lower the stabilizers. I do not unhitch. I do disconnect the umbilical so there won't be a chance of the vehicle battery draining even though with dual 6V batteries, I don't thing there would be much of a chance of that. I often extend the slide-out since even with that extended, the R-Pod is narrower than some of the rigs on the road. In the morning, the slide-out is retracted, the stabilizers retracted, the jack lowered, and the umbilical reconnected. It does not take much time to do this. Sometime after we get set up or in the morning or both, we go inside and make a purchase at the Walmart. Sometimes, it is just some food item. Other times, we have seen something we want so we get it there. It is a way of saying thank you for letting us stay. ------------- StephenH Happy is the man that findeth wisdom,... http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=7712 - ouR escaPOD mods Former RPod 179 Current Cherokee Grey Wolf 24 JS |
Posted By: rawest50
Date Posted: 14 Nov 2017 at 7:20pm
At a Walmart is it just a place to park for the night. Not utilities available? ------------- 2017.5 RPod 179 2017 Jeep Unlimited Wrangler 2017 Chevy Colorado Z71 Off Road Crew Cab 2 Weiner dogs Great wife puts up with my BS ❤️ Thoroughbred Racing. 
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Posted By: StephenH
Date Posted: 14 Nov 2017 at 9:06pm
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That is correct. No utilities available at Walmart. It would be the same at a truck stop or at a rest area (if allowed in the state in which one is traveling (NC does not allow it).
------------- StephenH Happy is the man that findeth wisdom,... http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=7712 - ouR escaPOD mods Former RPod 179 Current Cherokee Grey Wolf 24 JS |
Posted By: Tars Tarkas
Date Posted: 14 Nov 2017 at 9:20pm
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We'll stay at Walmarts or truck stops as places to pull into late, spend the night and go in the morning -- when it takes two or more days to get where we're going. It was a little weird the first time or two, but now it's a cheap (free) place to stay without having to get far off the road. I've haven't yet run into a Walmart or a truck stop that offered any sort of hookups, although I've heard of truck stops with dump stations and I imagine one could find water if they looked. I always call the Walmarts before getting off the interstate. Some of them don't allow overnight parking. And I don't unhook or lower the stabilizers usually. We're really there just to sleep and maybe make some coffee in the morning. We do run the slide out. AllStays is really good. It's a paid app, but it covers a lot of camping and RV territory. TT ------------- 2010 176 FJ Cruiser |
Posted By: Leo B
Date Posted: 15 Nov 2017 at 6:07am
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A lot of the Flying J truck stops have dump stations
and allow camper to park over night. ------------- Leo & Melissa Bachand 2017 Ford F150 2021 Vista Cruiser 19 csk Previously owned 2015 Rpod 179 2010 Rpod 171 |
Posted By: StephenH
Date Posted: 15 Nov 2017 at 9:33am
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The RV Parky app is very handy for finding those overnight stops. It will indicate if a particular Walmart or other spot allows overnights or not. It isn't 100% accurate as one that is listed as allowing or one that is listed as not allowing may have changed and the app may not have been updated. It has been overall reliable though.
------------- StephenH Happy is the man that findeth wisdom,... http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=7712 - ouR escaPOD mods Former RPod 179 Current Cherokee Grey Wolf 24 JS |
Posted By: Subzilla
Date Posted: 15 Nov 2017 at 12:11pm
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Most Cracker Barrels will let you stay the night in their lot. Did this a few months ago. Was really nice to walk right in for breakfast the next morning. We called the manager prior to arriving to check and they were more than happy to let us stay there. Would do it again. ------------- Mark Concord, NC 2017 RP 179 "Podzilla" 2011 Silverado 1500 4X4 |
Posted By: Happy Tripping
Date Posted: 15 Nov 2017 at 1:15pm
| Well, ... at the risk of seeming to be pedantic, 'boondocking' refers to camping, 'rv siwashing' might better describe overnight parking at a Walmart or equivalent, but certainly not 'boondocking'. |
Posted By: Olddawgsrule
Date Posted: 15 Nov 2017 at 3:52pm
Well, I am looking for good Boondocking sites! Walmart does not meet the criteria, but a overnight stop along the way, maybe. Still seems a bit weird to me. Some have noted it has worked out well. Our first run next year will be up into Cape Brenton, NS. Traveling through Maine I found a rather nice spot to stay free just off Rt 9. Sounds like a place you would wish to stay a couple days, but for us, a overnight (lazy morning). Second stay I'm going to try my luck at a recommended Visitor Center. This is said to have water (long hose required), electric (long cord expected) and bathrooms. Being this would be an occupied building, may push it and unhook for a day to explore a couple campgrounds (and another Boondock site) with just the TV. As we leave Cape Brenton and head for PEI, I see a couple more possibles that need to be investigated. So that leaves finding dump stations to use. Yes, the stay at a legit campground on weekends will do the trick. That's kinda the plan for this run. Stay at as many Boondock places as possible during the week and find a legit on Thursday for the weekend. From there take a right and head up to Gaspe. And again, a few possibles along the way the should be looked at. So, yes, Walmarting is not Boondocking. I hope to hear more from those of us (Rpod'ers) that do Boondock, where they do, and how they found the places. ------------- https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJduGeZNFgtptH67leItRFQ - Byways no Highways 2017 Tacoma http://tnttt.com/viewtopic.php?f=55&t=72408 - Truck Camper Build 2004 F150 My Overlander |
Posted By: Subzilla
Date Posted: 16 Nov 2017 at 6:48am
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Here's a good website for dump station locations:
https://rvdumpsites.net/ And there are quite a few other websites and apps out there showing locations. ------------- Mark Concord, NC 2017 RP 179 "Podzilla" 2011 Silverado 1500 4X4 |
Posted By: Live2Camp
Date Posted: 16 Nov 2017 at 12:05pm
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For those who do travel to or live in the western states, we have vast federal lands on which you can do what's called "dispersed camping" for FREE. Primarily on Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and National Forests land. In general - but be sure to do your own research before you go - you can camp anywhere on these lands that does not restrict camping. You must stay on areas that have been cleared for parking, or spurs off gravel roads, etc. It's obvious when you see them and/or read about them. You can't always have a campfire but in areas where you can you need a free campfire permit. Here in the west we're extremely sensitive about fire and that can be a big disappointment for people coming from wetter areas. For our non-trailer camping almost all of it is dispersed. For next summer we will take our RPod to a lot of the places we're already camped in the eastern Sierra and Great Basin Desert as we're familiar enough with the unpaved roads we know which ones we will take our trailer. For the places we camp using 4WD, we won't take our RPod, just not worth it and not what we bought it for. The reason we'll wait til summer is because we'll camp winter in our trailer in our coast mountains and central valley; but not haul our trailer into or over the Sierra Nevada in snow. We'll keep doing our winter snow camping without our trailer. In Rockies, Sierra, Cascades, etc. you can certainly encounter snow in summer and we'll deal with that as it occurs, but it's not the same as the winter snow storms. Regarding roads on BLM and Forest Service lands, there are lots of references that rate the roads from easy 2WD to extremely rugged 4WD; so that information is readily available too.
------------- 2017 R-Pod 179 HRE (the green one) His:Ford F150 double cab 4WD; Hers/mine:Tacoma V6 double cab 4WD Still love rugged, diggin' comfy too |
Posted By: Olddawgsrule
Date Posted: 17 Nov 2017 at 7:37am
Same format as my Free Campsite page! Surprised it's not combined!! ------------- https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJduGeZNFgtptH67leItRFQ - Byways no Highways 2017 Tacoma http://tnttt.com/viewtopic.php?f=55&t=72408 - Truck Camper Build 2004 F150 My Overlander |
Posted By: Olddawgsrule
Date Posted: 18 Nov 2017 at 3:31pm
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I found two that are 'Play to Play' sites. Curious if anyone has. First one: https://harvesthosts.com Seems to be a free stay and of course they hoping you but something there. $44 a year is pretty good if the stay is free! Second one: https://www.boondockerswelcome.com This one seems to be a AirB&B of Boondock Camping. Basically loos like using folks properties for a stay. Assuming fee attached, which I don't mind.. Just not seeing how much$$. Guess you have to join to see.. At $25 a year, still nice if free or $20 or less. ------------- https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJduGeZNFgtptH67leItRFQ - Byways no Highways 2017 Tacoma http://tnttt.com/viewtopic.php?f=55&t=72408 - Truck Camper Build 2004 F150 My Overlander |
Posted By: Olddawgsrule
Date Posted: 19 Nov 2017 at 8:34am
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Had a response from another forum about boondockerswelcome.com. He said the policy is 'free'! They are allowed to charges for extras. Assuming electricity, dump, etc.. ------------- https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJduGeZNFgtptH67leItRFQ - Byways no Highways 2017 Tacoma http://tnttt.com/viewtopic.php?f=55&t=72408 - Truck Camper Build 2004 F150 My Overlander |
Posted By: Olddawgsrule
Date Posted: 19 Nov 2017 at 8:37am
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Here's another Dump Station site that looks pretty good. Lists paid and free. https://www.sanidumps.com Like he other site offered, covers US and Canada. Seems to show a few more possible spots. ------------- https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJduGeZNFgtptH67leItRFQ - Byways no Highways 2017 Tacoma http://tnttt.com/viewtopic.php?f=55&t=72408 - Truck Camper Build 2004 F150 My Overlander |
Posted By: Moseymah
Date Posted: 19 Nov 2017 at 9:59am
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Walmart, truckstops and Cracker Barrel have been mentioned in this thread as free overnight stops.
How about Lowes, Home Depot or other 'Big Box' stores? Has anyone had experience attempting an overnight at one of these establishments? |
Posted By: StephenH
Date Posted: 19 Nov 2017 at 1:53pm
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Neither Lowe's or Home Depot show up in the RV Parky app as places that are open for overnight RV stays. I guess you could stop at one and ask. It would be interesting to find out the result.
------------- StephenH Happy is the man that findeth wisdom,... http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=7712 - ouR escaPOD mods Former RPod 179 Current Cherokee Grey Wolf 24 JS |
Posted By: Tars Tarkas
Date Posted: 19 Nov 2017 at 5:14pm
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I don't think Lowes et al allow overnight parking. Even at places that usually do, it's always a good idea to call and ask.
TT ------------- 2010 176 FJ Cruiser |
Posted By: Olddawgsrule
Date Posted: 20 Nov 2017 at 6:47am
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From what I'm finding so far, it's fairly easy to find a place to overnight without hitting 'any' of the Big Box type places. Okay, maybe a little further off the path, but also more like camping.
Also seeing it's quite a bit easier West of the Mississippi. My main concern turned to Dumping. Between the two sites mentioned for this, there seems to be quite a few places to use (and for free). ------------- https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJduGeZNFgtptH67leItRFQ - Byways no Highways 2017 Tacoma http://tnttt.com/viewtopic.php?f=55&t=72408 - Truck Camper Build 2004 F150 My Overlander |
Posted By: DavMar
Date Posted: 20 Nov 2017 at 5:02pm
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Some interesting suggestions and website to check out indeed. Though I am curious is there a website or reference book you can buy that list all the National and State Forest along with BLM free or cheap campsites?
------------- Dave & Marlene J with Zoey the wonder dog. 2017 Rpod 180 2016 Toyota Tacoma SR5 4x4 Lexington, NC |
Posted By: Olddawgsrule
Date Posted: 21 Nov 2017 at 7:41am
So far I'm not finding 'a' site. Couple come close, but not 'everything'. I'm trying to narrow down to 3 sites to work with. Probably the best I'll get.. ------------- https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJduGeZNFgtptH67leItRFQ - Byways no Highways 2017 Tacoma http://tnttt.com/viewtopic.php?f=55&t=72408 - Truck Camper Build 2004 F150 My Overlander |
Posted By: Wepod
Date Posted: 21 Nov 2017 at 8:52am
The Free Campsite page is the same. Just go to the settings in Free Campsite and you will find the add dump stations setting. |
Posted By: kylekai
Date Posted: 30 Nov 2017 at 3:48pm
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Few more helpful sites: Over 31,000 public campgrounds in the US and Canada: http://www.ultimatecampgrounds.com - http://www.ultimatecampgrounds.com Boon docking locations throughout the US: http://boondocking.org - http://boondocking.org ------------- |
Posted By: Olddawgsrule
Date Posted: 01 Dec 2017 at 3:59pm
Do you use these? ------------- https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJduGeZNFgtptH67leItRFQ - Byways no Highways 2017 Tacoma http://tnttt.com/viewtopic.php?f=55&t=72408 - Truck Camper Build 2004 F150 My Overlander |
Posted By: kylekai
Date Posted: 01 Dec 2017 at 5:10pm
I do, however, I much prefer the iPhone & iPad app representation of both. The Boon docking app is free, while the Ultimate Camping app is a few dollars. Also please be aware that I am the developer of both apps, so my opinion may be biased.  ------------- |
Posted By: Live2Camp
Date Posted: 02 Dec 2017 at 1:06pm
Others have shared some great sites. Beyond that, dispersed camping (the agency terms for bookdocking) is specifically NOT in designated campsites, so it's hard to give specific locations. My suggestion is to familiarize yourself with the roads (including Forest Service roads) in the area you're interested in, and then buy or bookmark the maps for those areas. I've camped out here all my life and still use paper maps along with on-line info; so I recommend both as being useful for different reasons. Topos are extremely useful as well (very essential in my opinion). So then it comes down to your comfort level, your tow vehicle and other such details. Many places we do dispersed camping would certainly accommodate our RPod, and many would not. The good news is that there are tons of choices. The two federal agencies are U.S. Forest Service (under Dept of Agriculture) and Bureau of Land Management (under Department of Interior). Dispersed camping in California State Parks is pretty limited; Anza Borrego comes to mind (they also have campgrounds including RV sites). But there's tons of federal land in California (as with other western states) so it's not an issue. Sorry I can't be more specific, but I hope this helps nonetheless.
------------- 2017 R-Pod 179 HRE (the green one) His:Ford F150 double cab 4WD; Hers/mine:Tacoma V6 double cab 4WD Still love rugged, diggin' comfy too |
Posted By: Live2Camp
Date Posted: 02 Dec 2017 at 1:19pm
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I should have included this link in my earlier post: https://www.fs.usda.gov/detailfull/fishlake/recreation/?cid=stelprdb5121831 It's specific to Fish Lake but includes general info. ------------- 2017 R-Pod 179 HRE (the green one) His:Ford F150 double cab 4WD; Hers/mine:Tacoma V6 double cab 4WD Still love rugged, diggin' comfy too |
Posted By: Olddawgsrule
Date Posted: 02 Dec 2017 at 2:30pm
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I really wish there was.. I'm working between four different sites right now. I will continue to research and post 'my' fav's as I look deeper at them. ------------- https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJduGeZNFgtptH67leItRFQ - Byways no Highways 2017 Tacoma http://tnttt.com/viewtopic.php?f=55&t=72408 - Truck Camper Build 2004 F150 My Overlander |
Posted By: Olddawgsrule
Date Posted: 24 Apr 2018 at 5:05pm
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Here's another I just saw. New to me.. To you?? Anyone playing with this one? http://www.esri.com/software/apps - http://www.esri.com/software/apps ------------- https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJduGeZNFgtptH67leItRFQ - Byways no Highways 2017 Tacoma http://tnttt.com/viewtopic.php?f=55&t=72408 - Truck Camper Build 2004 F150 My Overlander |
Posted By: StephenH
Date Posted: 24 Apr 2018 at 9:27pm
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First I've heard about it. I have been using RV Parky to find spots to stay overnight while on the way to a destination.
------------- StephenH Happy is the man that findeth wisdom,... http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=7712 - ouR escaPOD mods Former RPod 179 Current Cherokee Grey Wolf 24 JS |
Posted By: sean p
Date Posted: 25 Apr 2018 at 5:47am
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heres one i use alot http://www.ultimatecampgrounds.com/ ------------- 2016 179pod--BETTY 2010 nissan frontier Sean and Doug Butchie the morkie touring the west |
Posted By: Ghosthawk
Date Posted: 25 Apr 2018 at 7:35am
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I started with Allstays, after hearing several glowing recomendations on youtube about it. I have to say I'm happy with it. Very configurable. Very easy to set it up to see what you want to see, even to price ranges you are willing to pay. https://www.allstays.com/pro/index.php? - https://www.allstays.com/pro/index.php? For free and very low cost camp sites I heard about freecampsites.net. https://freecampsites.net It too has a wealth of information, nothing to join or buy, no app or software to download. It just works. I like that you can type in the name of a state park and get a list of campgrounds in that area to look at. Still learning, looking and figuing out how I want to plan our adventures. But I am building a pretty nice cheat sheet of places I am interested in than I can afford. |
Posted By: StephenH
Date Posted: 25 Apr 2018 at 8:44am
I took a look at it. It does not look like it would be useful for finding campsites. It also is a free trial, but then one needs to pay. I'm not sure if that applies to personal use though. In addition, it isn't an app that one can load and have information on camping possibilities. It seems to be more of a straight mapping program accessed through a web browser. ------------- StephenH Happy is the man that findeth wisdom,... http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=7712 - ouR escaPOD mods Former RPod 179 Current Cherokee Grey Wolf 24 JS |
Posted By: Olddawgsrule
Date Posted: 25 Apr 2018 at 3:35pm
I agree with your assessment. The individual using it, uses it mainly to insure he's on BLM, etc, etc.. Was curious if anyone here has tried and if worth the dollar. So far I'm not jumping at it.. ------------- https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJduGeZNFgtptH67leItRFQ - Byways no Highways 2017 Tacoma http://tnttt.com/viewtopic.php?f=55&t=72408 - Truck Camper Build 2004 F150 My Overlander |
Posted By: Olddawgsrule
Date Posted: 25 Apr 2018 at 3:42pm
Nice, but still lacks.. I have 3 places I will stay on my trip into the Nor'east that are not listed on it.. Shame there really is not an Ultimate site yet.. Now there's a good side business!!! Develop one! ------------- https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJduGeZNFgtptH67leItRFQ - Byways no Highways 2017 Tacoma http://tnttt.com/viewtopic.php?f=55&t=72408 - Truck Camper Build 2004 F150 My Overlander |
Posted By: Olddawgsrule
Date Posted: 25 Apr 2018 at 3:44pm
Both those sites are on my 'use list'. Both I also really like. ------------- https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJduGeZNFgtptH67leItRFQ - Byways no Highways 2017 Tacoma http://tnttt.com/viewtopic.php?f=55&t=72408 - Truck Camper Build 2004 F150 My Overlander |