Boondocking 101
BLM land in Amboy, California
How we find free campsites, water access, and dump stations
Boondocking (v): to dry camp without hook-ups to electricity, water, or sewage in a self-contained RV, camper, or van.
When we first began this journey, I had no idea how much we would love boondocking. The lack of easy access to water, electricity, and dump stations was intimidating to me. Would the freedom that comes with boondocking really be worth the uncertainty?
After living on the road for 6 months and boondocking for most of that time, I've found that it is totally and completely worth it. The freedom of rolling in whenever you please; the choice to either be secluded or have a caravan of like-minded people with you; that euphoric rush when you find the perfect spot. And if you have the right resources, you'll eventually become an expert at finding great, FREE, spots to camp (as well as where to find precious water).
Let's begin with where to camp.
Finding Free Campsites
We use a combination of three different apps/websites. The primary app we use is called Allstays Camp & RV. For us, this app has been a godsend. It has everything from free campsites, to RV parks, to Walmarts that allow overnight parking, to warnings about height clearance restrictions. There are even reviews from fellow travelers, which come in handy for places you feel a little unsure about.
We have planned almost all of our trip across the United States using the Allstays app. One of the most helpful features is the ability to switch to ‘satellite’ view. This allows you to see what the area truly looks like, and it has been extremely helpful with both urban boondocking (such as Walmarts) and boondocking out in nature. We are able to view the terrain and determine if there is an area suitable for us to park. Then, once we have decided on a spot to go to, we simply hit the icon for Apple Maps or Google Maps, and it navigates us to the coordinates!
This app is a little pricey (costing $9.99) but it has been well worth the money for us.
As helpful as Allstays is, sometimes it doesn’t show every site out there. We have found some great boondocking sites on Freecampsites.net. We typically use this site if we are unable to find many options on Allstays, and we have found some amazing hidden gems we wouldn’t have otherwise discovered.
Freecampsites.net is completely free to use, so it doesn't hurt to double check what is available in an area.
The third tool we use to find free campsites is called Campendium. It is a great app for finding all kinds of campsites. From tent camping to RV parks; from desert boondocking to casino parking lots. You will find it all on this app, and many travelers swear by Campendium. We tend to use it as a back up to Allstays, especially when we are looking for more reviews on a location. Because it is so popular, it is a great tool to read about the experiences of fellow travelers.
Finding water on the road
There are many options for finding water on the road, those of which can vary state to state. Our primary method of filling up our fresh water tank has been at truck stops and gas stations. Love's, Flying J's, and Pilot truck stops will usually (but not always) have a spigot you can access. The Allstays app will indicate the location of these truck stops and whether or not they have water.
As for smaller gas stations, many times they have a water spigot you can use. We simply ask the cashier inside and we have never been told no, especially if we are giving them our business!
Please remember: NEVER fill up using a water source that is labeled "non-potable" even if you don't plan on drinking it.
Finding dump stations
Many times, there is a dump station at truck stops such as Flying J's, Pilot, and Love's (usually for a price). I also recommend getting the app 'Sanidumps' which indicates the location of dump stations near you and whether or not there is a fee.
In our entire 6 month long road trip across the lower 25 states, we have always been able to find an appropriate place to empty our tanks. Many times we opted for a State Park to stay at; they were inexpensive and always had a dump site (and a guaranteed good night sleep when we were feeling run down). But there are many opportunities to dump your tanks for free if you know where to look!
I'm sure many other full time travelers have different methods that work for them! We learn something new everyday that makes life on the road a bit easier. This is simply what has worked for us during our first six months on the road.
Do you have any boondocking tips that I didn't mention? Let us know in the comments below!
