Introduction: – RV parking Spots
Have you ever tried to go without sleep for more than 2 days? Well, why would you? Don’t try it. Everybody needs rest, indeed, even the machines wish to lay down for a bit and take some calming breaths. No, I am not trying to personify your RV parking spots, but just want to make a point that it is good to park your RV for the night and let it rest.
But then the question arises, where to park it. Well, there a lot of parking space around the country.
Wait! You are looking for free RV parking spots, right? Well, you will find a lot of them too. But WHERE? Today I will talk about where and how you can find the best free RV parking spots.
Starting with parking lots of Walmart, casinos, event places, stadiums you can park your RV on RV parking Spotsfor free in many other spaces like these. Moreover, street parking is also there, you can go for boondocking, parking on the side of the road in the mountains, and a few more spots. But the key is that you should know about them beforehand.
Time Tested Suggestions to Locate Free Parking Spots
- Check the websites and Applications:
The very first thing that you can do when departing from your home or a parking lot go on the web and check for the parking lots that have free parking. There aren’t many that provide the details on the websites. This is because apart from a few parking lots companies no one has their own website. For instance, there is a website named Campendium which provides information regarding the parking lots all across the country.
Although Campendium is a free website, the parking lots listed on this website are not free. Hence, you need to make sure first to check the dedicated websites that are run by individual parking lot companies.
One website is Freecampsites.net, here you will find two things. One, the free campsites which do not charge anything for overnight stays and second the public lands and parks that also provide parking space to the RVers without any cost. I have been to this website and have found a good RV parking lot most of the times.
Apart from this, you can check out the mobile applications that also provide the same information but it is better than the website. Better in the sense that the applications can track your current location and then tell you which parking lots are available nearby to your location. Keep an eye out for the parking that has free parking available.
- Go through the Campsites to look for free spots:
It can happen that most of the websites and mobile applications do not enlist the free RV parking lots. To combat this issue, what you can do is go through the different campsites in a particular location and find out the best one. This task is easy because all you need to do is drive past these park lots and ask if they have free parking available.
There are banners and boards installed outside the lots that will indicate whether or not there are free spots available. This will help you identify which lots have free parking. Most of the times they will only accommodate a limited number of RVs, so it is best to look for a spot well in time.
- Walmart is a good option:
Ok, so Walmart is yet another option to park your RV without having to pay anything. But it is appreciable if you could buy something from the store before hitting the road again. Don’t take it as a cost incurred for parking, this is a just an appreciable goodwill gesture.
Plus, when it comes to parking at Walmart, always make sure not to park in the middle of the lot. Choose the corner spots where you cannot disturb the ongoing customers.
A good thing about parking here is that you will find a security guard always posted in the park lots. So, it is relatively safe to park here than on the street side.
Parking at Walmart is indeed free but you also need to respect the store’s policies. Do not overstay and be gone in the morning before they ask you to do so.
And not only Walmart, but you can also ask the other big stores which have their own parking space available. I have only been to Walmart, but I have heard from fellow RVers that other stores also have this facility.
At these stores, you will only find limited amenities. Like they have washrooms, but that’s just it. Don’t expect to find all kinds of facilities that you will normally find at an RV park or a campsite.
- Street Parking in the night hours is free:- RV parking Spots
Street parking has to be done with extreme caution because first of all, you need to check with the local authorities. Apart from this, parking in a neighborhood is probably not a good option.
Go for the roadside parking in commercial or downtown areas. Here, first of all, you will find parking meters installed. This means that side street parking is allowed. And these meters only operate in the daytime. Therefore, parking in the night time is free provided that you take off from that spot in the morning hours before the parking meters start running again.
I will not talk about the dangers of street side parking. Just would like to add that, don’t go for street side parking if you are new to RVing, especially, if you are traveling with the family. You will know why I am saying this once you have got enough experience.
- Boondocking is also a useful resource:
Looking for free parking? Boondocking or also called as Drydocking is probably the best that you can get after not spending even a single penny.
Boondocking means that you will have to make do by parking your RV on a vast dry land owned by the authorities. Drydocking is indeed allowed by the authorities. But they have some regulations with regards to the duration of the stay and the areas where you can park.
When the talk is about free parking, boondocking is the very first thing that comes to mind. Moreover, with this type of parking, you will not get any kind of service. So, this is akin to parking on the side of the road or in a Walmart parking lot.
But with drydocking, you will have the freedom to stay for more than 1 night and also ensure that you get a nicer view than the face of a security guard in the morning hours asking you to leave.
I say this because boondocking is more prevalent in the drylands outside the city and sometimes you will find marvelous spots to park the RV. I still remember my parking spot near Quebec city. It was an amazing place to park my RV and I stayed there for two night (which was the maximum limit) and it was on private property.
Yes, you can also go for parking on private property in this format. All you need to do is check a website BoondockersWelcome and look for free boondocking.
But why do people allow strangers to come and park on their property? Well, from what I have learned is that people always look to make some new friends and explore the world through their thoughts and perspectives. So, what’s better than allowing strangers to park on their property and get to know each other better.
At the end of the day, you will make some new acquaintances and are not forced to pay any money.
Not only this, but you can also check out another web portal named Harvest Hosts. This website has listings of vineyards, farmlands, and orchards whose owners allow RVers to stay on their land and park their vehicles. But there is a catch, even though you are not asked to pay any kind of parking fee, there is however one rule that you need to follow. You have to make a purchase from the owner’s farm or gift shop before leaving.
Compared to other boondocking options like parking on the wastelands without even a soul preset for miles all around, this sort of boondocking is much safer and will provide with a memorable experience.
- Other sorts of Parking lots:
Apart from Walmart and supermarket store parking lots, you can also find a good and free parking spot at event venues, stadiums and schools too. Yes, these places do have a lot of free space and most of them are gated.
But, the important thing is that you need to ask for their permission to park here.
Parking inside a school is indeed beneficial, but it is better to ask first. If they allow you to do so, it is imperative that you do not park in the high traffic areas.
When it comes to stadiums and event venues, the parking space is subject to availability and permission. Plus, you will have to follow their terms and conditions.
To list a few other parking places:
- Religious houses
- Cemeteries: I know it sounds a bit scary and creepy, but they have better amenities than what you will get boondocking.
- Go to a movie theatre and watch a movie, you will earn the right to park free for the night.
- Repair shops will also encourage and welcome if you were to get something fixed in the morning.
Wherever you park, take note that free parking is a luxury that you cannot afford if anything goes wrong. Always keep it quiet and do not indulge in activities which will draw attention.
- At someone’s house:
Boondocking on private property is different. Here I am talking about parking outside a friend’s or a relative’s house for the night. And who knows you may even get to sleep inside the house.
It is best to bring out your mother’s phone dairy and start searching for a relative or a friend in the city where you are heading. Call them and ask if you can drop in for a night. The best they can do is say no. Still, you will have various other options to do so.
- Free Parking contests:
If you are traveling in the time of festivals or around music concerts and carnivals do checkout for some parking contests. Who knows, playing a game and also winning at it will help you secure a free parking spot in one of the best parks lots of campsites which have been booked for the whole year. It can happen, the only thing is that you need to look for it.
- Truck Stops:
Before I forget, truck stops are the last good parking places for your RV. The majority of the truck stops are combined with diners and all the basic amenities, even gas. Therefore, it is better to look for a truck stop on your way to the next destination and park there for the night.
You can also use mobile applications that are dedicated to this kind of information sharing. Moreover, parking at a truck stop will let you meet new people from all corners of the country. I once met a trucker traveling from Springfield, Missouri and he was a great guy.
Discounted parking is also not bad:
Well, if you are not able to find any free parking spot, then remember the phrase, “there is no free lunch in this world”. Keeping this in mind, I have learned that sometimes it is best to make do with whatever we can get our hands on.
There are not one but various parking companies and clubs that offer yearly memberships. These memberships will let you park in one of the RV parks associated with the club or the company without any cost or at a discounted rate. But the membership will be paid and you will get all the perks and amenities which will be paid otherwise, without a membership.
There is no harm in paying $50 a year and, in turn, you will be eligible to get a secure and fixed parking spot all across the country. Think about it!
Conclusion:
When you think about it, looking best free RV parking spots is a simple task of search and find. All you need to do is, hit the right buttons, look in the right place and voila, you will have a free parking spot.
So, the next time you take out your RV, make sure to look for these areas and spots that we have talked about. Make some calls ahead and find the best location that you can get in a city or outside with ease. Happy RVing 🙂 Having TOW-MAX RV spare parts, let your RV without any trouble.
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