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January 22, 2020 By Nicky 19 Comments

How to Find Free Camping Sites in the United States

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If you want to travel for less, get outdoors and GO CAMPING! There are thousands of FREE camping sites and campgrounds around the United States if you know where to look.  Let me show you what apps and tools we use to find both free and low-cost campgrounds near us. You REALLY CAN travel for less money and still find amazing vacation experiences to share with your family.

Traveling doesn’t have to be expensive.

Camping is a great family-friendly adventure you can do without breaking the bank. It’s true that staying in developed campgrounds can set you back $20-$35 a night. Heck, you can even go camping at Walt Disney World. (Note: This is actually on my bucket list as this is the cleanest campground I’ve EVER seen.) But when you leave the developed campgrounds and crowds behind, you can save your money and discover  FREE CAMPING!

free camping - lakeview

FREE Camping on Public Lands

The first place we look for free sites is on public lands; National Forests, National Grasslands, Bureau of Land Management (BLM), etc. The United States has more than 155 National Forests and 20 National Grasslands totaling over 245 million acres. That’s more land than the entire state of Texas. Chances are you will find a free campsite closer than you previously thought.

ALL National Forests, National Grasslands, and BLM land are open to primitive or dispersed camping unless otherwise marked with a “No Camping” sign. Camping is allowed on public land for up to 14 days within a 28 consecutive day period. 

Dispersed Camping

It’s called primitive camping because there are no fire rings or facilities like toilets or showers. Some sites may also require you to leave your car at a nearby parking lot and then pack in/out what you need. With a little planning, you can easily camp with your family in a primitive setting. When the kids were smaller, we actually found this style of camping easier because you didn’t have to worry about noise, cars, or other people.

Visit the Bureau of Land Management Website to Find free camping areas by state.

Pin This For Later…..

free camping sites and campgrounds

More Ways to Find FREE campsites

Public lands aren’t the only places you can find FREE camping. There are several websites that contain extensive databases of free camping spots. These include locations for both tent camping and RVing.

FREE CAMPSITES

Free Campsites is a website that allows you to easily search by state. It’s map based system allows you to zoom into an area to find federal and state public lands as well as free local and county parks. Site also includes paid and permit required camping. Each site type is color coded for easy identification. The planner feature is nice if you are traveling and looking for multiple locations too.

tent camping

FREE CAMPGROUNDS

This website features RV campgrounds that charge $15 or less a night. Other sites list places like a truck stop of Walmart that offer free overnight parking for RVs. That’s not what we look for when we take the RV out. This website offers better “camping” options that are cheap/nearly free or truly free. If you are looking for true tent camping, many locations featured here offer free primitive camping. 

We’ve found tent camping through this site to be more improved and less primitive with picnic tables, water sources, and fire pits. 

BOONDOCKING

Boondocking is a user based forum website that shares primitive camping out in the middle of nowhere. We often find that then we take the dirtbikes and ATVs out to recreation areas, we find more and more boondocking recommendations.  Site submissions have GPS coordinates and all are supposed to be accessible from a main road. We have found it to be reliable. I will note that you should download the directions/coordinates as cell service is almost always spotty to non-existent in these areas. 

Another Camping Resource

Another resource is the Federal Recreation Website. There I can find information on almost any public campgrounds, day use areas, tours, and any permits that I may need. Think of it like Trivago or Kayak for camping and RV sites. The website and the free app provides real time information to site availability, fees, maps, amenities, and area activities. The site’s filter feature makes it easy to find the site features you want including nearby hiking trails, whether pets are allowed, and of the area is suitable for RVs. 

Camping with babies and young children

For more information about camping with kids, check out these:

  • Tips for Camping with Kids
  • How to Go Camping with a Baby
  • How to Make Select the Right Camping Cookware
  • Summer Camping Planning Tips
  • Tips for Camping inside National Parks

Also check out some of our favorite national parks:

  • Mammoth Cave National Park
  • Joshua Tree National Park
  • Canyonlands National Parks
  • Rocky Mountain National Park
  • Chickasaw National Recreation Area

 

Filed Under: Get Outside Tagged With: camping, family travel destinations

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About Nicky

Nicky Omohundro is a travel and active family lifestyle blogger and social media influencer based out of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. She shares stories, destinations, and ideas on food, family, health, and outdoor recreation to help families find their own adventures. Her spirit animal is a caffeinated squirrel fueled by coffee, real food, and the desire to seek new adventures.

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Comments

  1. blankMichelle says

    June 7, 2015 at 10:36 pm

    Just in time for our summer trip!

    Reply
    • blankNicky says

      June 8, 2015 at 8:02 am

      I hope this will help Michelle. Have a GREAT trip!

      Reply
  2. blankKari says

    January 22, 2016 at 11:28 am

    This is good to know for our next trip!
    Kari
    http://www.sweetteasweetie.com

    Reply
    • blankNicky says

      January 23, 2016 at 7:20 pm

      Thanks Kari. If you want to get away for less, this is one way to do it.

      Reply
  3. blankEmily @ Recipes to Nourish says

    January 22, 2016 at 11:43 am

    I haven’t been camping in so long. I really appreciate all of these tips! My oldest daughter keeps begging to go camping soon.

    Reply
    • blankNicky says

      January 23, 2016 at 7:32 pm

      Camping can be a lot of fun. If you get the chance to go, have a great time.

      Reply
  4. blankCassandra says

    January 22, 2016 at 11:46 am

    Thanks for all the links! I’ve been wanting to find some free camping options for us for when the weather gets a bit warmer. 🙂

    Reply
    • blankNicky says

      January 23, 2016 at 7:33 pm

      You’re welcome Casandra! We’re looking forward to going out when it warms up too.

      Reply
  5. blankBrianne says

    January 22, 2016 at 12:34 pm

    What a great resource. Summer is just around the corner, and you can’t beat free! Thanks for sharing. 🙂

    – Brianne

    Reply
    • blankNicky says

      January 23, 2016 at 7:33 pm

      Free is always a great thing.

      Reply
  6. blankKam Kay says

    January 22, 2016 at 10:27 pm

    What a great list of resources. I’d keep it handy for when we decide to go camping in summers. Thanks for sharing!

    Reply
    • blankNicky says

      January 23, 2016 at 7:37 pm

      If you get the chance to go camping, have a great trip.

      Reply
  7. blankMary says

    January 23, 2016 at 1:03 pm

    Great tips and helpful links! And great timing too. We’re just now starting to do research for summer camping. It will be our first summer taking our little ones camping. Getting excited 🙂

    Reply
    • blankNicky says

      January 23, 2016 at 7:41 pm

      You’ll have such a great time. When they get out for the first time, it’s fun to experience things with them. Enjoy your trip!

      Reply
  8. blankTish says

    January 23, 2016 at 3:33 pm

    been It’s been way too long since I’ve been camping. Now I don’t have much excuse not to go 🙂

    Reply
    • blankNicky says

      January 23, 2016 at 7:43 pm

      Just go and have fun! 🙂

      Reply
  9. blankAarika says

    January 23, 2016 at 4:27 pm

    I love this blog post! I am definitely going to follow your blog. My husband and I are avid campers, so these tips and links are so helpful. Thanks so much!

    Reply
    • blankNicky says

      January 23, 2016 at 7:44 pm

      You’re very welcome Aarika. I have shared great camping articles, recipes, and weekend meal plans. There are more in the works too.

      Reply
  10. blankKim says

    September 27, 2020 at 9:41 pm

    Another great resource for dispersed camping is a newer app called Outly (iOS & Android) plus website http://www.outly.com. In addition to camping it also shows trails and water all on public lands.

    Reply

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blank Hi, I'm Nicky. I'm an active mom of 3 who wants to help you have "No Child Left Inside." We're getting outdoors and traveling as a family to bring you new ideas, destinations, and activities. Let me help inspire you to find your own adventure at home, outdoors, and around the world.

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