RVers hit the pavement for a free road-trip experience
With the price of fuel inching back up, one way RVers can cut their expenses is to stay overnight in free or low-cost camping areas.
There are generally two types of inexpensive sites for recreational vehicles – pavement camping and rustic public land sites.
“Pavement camping” is when RVers generally just roll off the highway to park for a few hours’ rest.
They don’t “camp” in any sense of the word – trailers usually stay hitched to vehicles, no slides are deployed, no lawn chairs or awnings are put out.
Most Wal-Mart superstores allow RVers to park overnight in their lots, says Chuck Woodbury, editor of RVTravel.com.
“We did a survey on RVTravel.com,” says Woodbury, “and asked people why they stayed at Wal-Mart. More than 1,500 people responded and the over-whelming majority, said ‘convenience,’ was the reason they stopped, not to save money.”
RVers frequently find they are welcomed to park for free at casinos and truck plazas.
“It can be noisy,” says Woodbury, “but for those who don’t mind hearing truckers run their engines all night, that’s a place to stay.”
In exchange for these free spots, most RVers use the restaurants and stores of the hosting facility.
“These are not places for a meaningful experience with nature,” says Woodbury. “It’s a meaningful experience with pavement.”
For those who want more rustic experiences, there are thousands of low-cost or free places to camp on public lands managed by the USDA Forest Service, Corps of Engineers and Bureau of Land Management.
Remember these are not luxury commercial RV resorts and many do not have amenities; others have partial hookups and dump stations.
“The common denominator,” says Woodbury, “is that for people on a budget, there are places that are inexpensive where they can stay and be welcomed.”
Information
• FreeCampgrounds.com is a Web site where more than 1,300 places have been identified that welcome RVers to legally stay a night for free or for less than $10.
• “Casino Camping: Guide to RV-Friendly Campgrounds” by Jane Kenny (Roundabout Publications, $14.95, 272 pages, paperback, 2006, ISBN: 1885464142). Lists hundreds of RV-friendly casinos throughout America. These casinos either have an RV park or campground as part of their facility or they allow free overnight parking.
• “Camping with the Corps of Engineers” 6th Edition by Spurgeon L. Hinkle (Cottage Publications, $15.95, 288 pages, paperback, 2005, ISBN: 093787745X). Lists, alphabetically by state and by reservoir, all Corps of Engineers campgrounds and provides directions to the sites, describes facilities and activities there and includes the most current camping fee information.
• “Don Wright’s Guide to Free Campgrounds: Western Edition” 12th Edition (Cottage Publications, $18.95, 350 pages, paperback, 2005, ISBN: 0937877468). Includes campgrounds $12 and under in the 17 Western states. A couple of reader reviews on Amazon.com state that some of the information is dated and certain parks no longer exist.
• “Don Wright’s Guide to Free Campgrounds: Eastern Edition” 12th Edition (Cottage Publications, $18.95, 350 pages, paperback, 2005, ISBN: 0937877476). Includes campgrounds $12 and under in the 29 Eastern states. As with the “Western Edition,” this book is arranged by state and then by town names.
• “Wal-Mart Locator: RV Guide for the United States,” 6th Edition by Bob and Jan Wiley ($24.95, 224 pages, paperback, 2006). Detailed directions, maps, addresses, phone numbers of more than 3,700 Wal-Mart and Sam’s Club stores.
• “2007 The RVer’s Friend” 13th Edition (America’s Truck & Travel Plazas, $14.95, 2007). Contains about 6,800 RV-accessible diesel and service locations in North America. RVers can determine if a certain “travel center welcomes them for an overnight stay, if it has a dump station, if it sells propane and if it provides Internet access or utility hookups. Also very important, the book lists which RV mechanical services are provided,” states RVbookstore.com.
• “RV Boondocking Basics: A Guide to Living Without Hookups” by Russ and Tina De Maris (Icanrv Publications, $14.95, 94 pages, paperback, 2004, ISBN: 097532490X). “If freedom from crowds, noise and high camping fees appeals to you, then you will benefit from the second edition of this information-packed book about how to live in your RV without RV parks and utility hookups.”
Follow-up on ‘Gifts’
Several readers have written in asking where to acquire several of the items listed in the Wheel Life’s “Gifts Galore” article published on Nov. 25.
• Collapsible strainer – can be ordered from Crate and Barrel (www.crateandbarrel.com) or by calling toll free (800) 967-6696; and Sur La Table (www.surlatable.com) or (800) 243-0852. Both outlets list one strainer for $14.95 plus $5.50 shipping.
• Universal lid – Williams-Sonoma (www.williams-sonoma.com) or call toll free (877) 812-6235. The 10-inch size costs $29; 14-inch is $39. Shipping is based on total order and weight.
• “Chop Keeper” cutting boards – Argee Corp in Santee, Cal., (www.argeecorp.com) or (800) 449-3030. A set of three is $14.99 (shipping is $8.50). However, the operator said that if an order is more than $20, shipping is free.