When discussing the full-time RV lifestyle, the image that most people conjure up is of a smiling family gathered around a warm campfire roasting marshmallows for S’Mores with the lights of their RV glowing through the windows of their RV close behind them.
This idyllic scene can absolutely be part of a full-time RV lifestyle, but those considering living in an RV for any length of time will need to understand that this type of RV lifestyle may not be the norm. At the very least, it will take some effort on your part to recreate that sort of peaceful, carefree overnight experience.
The reality is that there are many different types of RVs, there are many different types of full-time RV lifestyles, and there are many different types of overnight RV parking options to accommodate them. So the trick is to discover suitable overnight RV parking options for your RV and your RV lifestyle.
So, before you head out to the local RV dealership to purchase your dream RV, let’s have a look at some of the options for where to park your new home on wheels.
As the name implies, traditional campgrounds are the classic RV lifestyle pictured in the iconic campfires and marshmallows imagery. If this is the RV lifestyle you have in mind, there are certainly plenty of options available to make that happen. However, it is essential to note that this is the most popular type of RV overnight parking option, and popularity means that you will often be competing with other RV travelers for the same few spots in the more well-traveled areas.
Luckily, a few different options are available to you that can provide that traditional RV camping experience.
If you are looking for the gold standard of RV overnight parking, then the country’s many National and State Parks are the clear winners, hands down. National & State park campgrounds generally provide full RV hookups that allow you to take advantage of all of your RVs amenities in addition to the park’s rest area facilities.
Be forewarned, with the marked rise in the popularity of full-time RV living and the renewed interest in RV vacations, the National & State Parks can, and often do, fill up very quickly. Therefore, you may need to book your reservation days, weeks, or even months in advance if you want to nab one of these spots.
That being said, if you happen to find yourself near a National or State Park, it doesn’t hurt to stop in and ask if there are any vacancies for the night. Cancellations are frequent, so there is a good chance you may get lucky enough to score one of these converted spaces for a night or two.
Federal land, or BLM land, is plentiful and available for use by the public for free. This is a great overnight RV parking option for experienced RV campers as you can easily find a secluded spot where you can be alone with your family or alone with your thoughts.
The caveat to free BLM camping is the lack of amenities. BLM land is raw, unimproved land. There are no electrical connections, no water hookups, and no WiFi. For this reason, overnight RV parking on Federal lands may be best for those with genuinely self-contained rigs decked out with all of the equipment needed to be self-sufficient for an extended period of time.
If you are considering using remote BLM land as an overnight RV parking option, you will need to make sure that you have an RV that can withstand the often rugged terrain. Check out the Puma XLE toy hauler line-up or the latest Cherokee RV travel trailers. Both offer plenty of difficult RVs with all of the features you need to live comfortably in a remote camping location.
Commercial RV Parks and privately owned campgrounds offer a great RV overnight parking option for those who are looking for or at least don’t particularly mind, a more community RV camping experience. Commercial campgrounds and RV parks generally offer daily, weekly, or monthly rental of RV parking spaces equipped with full electric, water, sewer, and internet connections. As an added bonus, many commercial campgrounds and RV parks also provide on-site perks like laundry rooms, BBQ grills, and even swimming pools for use by paying guests.
Because of the community nature of most private campgrounds and RV parks, you will need to be sure that you are aware of and able to abide by any of the established park rules and standards. Be sure to inquire about the types of RVs that are allowed within the park when booking your reservation. Some parks do have restrictions in place which limit the types and sizes of RVs that they will allow to stay within the park or campground.
Consider checking out the high-end Rockwood RV models made by Forest River RV or the luxury Winnebago motorhomes to find top-of-the-line RVs that will be welcomed at any private campground or RV park.
Boondocking refers to overnight RV parking in locations that are not explicitly designed for that purpose. As the interest in full-time RV living has risen, so too has the interest in alternative and free overnight RV parking options.
Of course, because boondocking often occur in more populated environments, finding safe, overnight parking options that won’t get you in trouble with the local authorities can be a bit tricky.
Here are some tips and tricks for finding safe boondocking options.
There are a number of RV-friendly businesses that designate a specific section of their large parking lots for use as overnight RV parking spaces. Walmart is perhaps the best known of these RV-friendly commercial businesses. However, there are others like Cabela’s Sporting Goods stores, Cracker Barrel restaurants, and Flying J Truck Stops, which also allow overnight RV parking at some, or all of their locations.
If planning on making use of any of these RV-friendly parking options, be sure to call ahead to confirm that overnight RV parking is allowed at the specific location, as not all store locations offer this service.
If you are willing to be a bit stealthy, you may be able to park your RV on a quiet residential street for a night or two. This type of residential boondocking is all about location, location, location. In other words, your ultimate success will rest heavily on choosing the right site to park your RV. Ideally, you want a safe, quiet street where your presence is unlikely to arouse suspicion or evoke the ire of the neighborhood residents.
Insider Tip: Your best bet is going to be found in middle-class neighborhoods with plenty of on-street parking spaces where you can come and go without drawing too much attention. You will want to avoid gated communities full of luxury homes where you will likely stick out like a sore thumb. Also, regardless of the neighborhood you choose, take care to avoid parking near schools or children’s play areas where security and vigilance are rightfully high.
If you live in an urban area, you can often find overnight RV parking on urban streets if you are willing to adjust your lifestyle so that you can live comfortably in a small RV space without drawing outside attention. Urban RV living often requires a flexible schedule and a good alarm clock, so you can be up and gone before the city wakes up and the daily traffic congestion begins.
While the increased popularity of full-time RV living has increased the competition for overnight RV parking, it has also created a growing network of alternative RV parking options.
Here are a few of our favorite RV networking options.
Harvest Hosts is a paid subscription service that connects those with fully self-contained RVs to an array of private businesses, farms, ranches, restaurants, vineyards, etc., who are willing to let subscribers park their RVs on their property.
Couchsurfing offers a free subscriber network of private individuals willing to allow the use of their property or driveway for overnight RV parking. Subscribers are thoroughly vetted, and users are encouraged to rate one another to help keep the network as safe as possible.
One of the most convenient resources for locating overnight RV parking options can be found right in your pocket. There are a number of smartphone apps designed to make it easy to find the perfect overnight RV parking spot no matter where you are.
Here are some of the most popular apps for both iOS and Android platforms.
RVParky is a free app available for both iOS and Android-powered devices, which offers users a convenient map displaying all of the nearby RV parking options. Users are able to filter the selection to choose from the RV parking options with the amenities that meet their specific needs.
Overnight RV Parking offers the same type of mapped RV parking location finder service for a subscription fee. Though not free, the GPS-powered location service and integrated mapping software make for an excellent user experience that is well worth the extra cost. The detailed, turn-by-turn driving directions and an extensive database of locations in both the U.S. AND Canada make this one of the best apps available for locating hard-to-find overnight RV parking options.
We hope that this guide has helped you expand your knowledge of the many overnight parking options available to you as you embark on your full-time RV adventure.
Here are a few final tips to help ensure a safe and pleasant RV camping experience.
Set yourself up for success by doing a bit of research into the variety of RV types available to help narrow down your options to those RVs that fit your lifestyle needs best. Once you have a general idea of the types of RVs you are interested in, pay a visit to RV Wholesalers, or your local RV dealership, to tour your favorite models before you make your final selection.
Finally, don’t forget to protect your investment with an extended RV warranty. This extra coverage will help ensure that your RV stays in tip-top shape and ready to meet the demands of whatever environment you choose to call home.
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