Related How the Walmart parking lot became an oasis for RVers and van dwellers Remember to be courteous don’t stay for more than a night or two and practice the principles of dry camping. While they aren’t glamorous, Walmart parking lots typically have good security and plenty of space to park. I estimate that I’ve probably spent the night at 70 different Walmarts around the U.S. Walmart has a policy of allowing overnighters at many of its stores, which is great. So, what it lack in amenities it makes up for in affordability and peace and quiet. To that end, however, camping on BLM land is almost always free. By that I mean it’s off the grid-you won’t find showers or power hookups here. To me, camping on BLM land is the backpacking of car camping. Not only is there a lot of it all across the county, you can typically find a place to camp where you won’t see another single other person the entire time. National and state parks aside, my favorite camping-and this was seconded by everyone I interviewed for this piece-is dispersed camping on Bureau of Land Management (BLM) land, in national forests, or at one of the country’s amazing national monuments.īLM land in particular is almost always fair game. So, it’s worth stopping in, if you’re nearby, just in case there’s a vacancy. There are frequently last-minute cancellations, though. That said, during the warmer months, they tend to fill up early-sometimes months in advance, especially on weekends. National and state park camping sites tend to be more spread out and feel more natural than privately operated campsites. I’ve had good luck at national and state parks around the country. Not all camp spots are created equally, though. That generally means camping out whenever possible. Personally, I find that I sleep best when I’m in a quiet, natural setting. Van parked under an overpass | Photo: Brent Rose Finding campgrounds Here is the best advice for finding a safe place to park for the night. More than just relying on my own anecdotal advice, however, I’ve asked a couple of other full-time vanlifers for their insight as well. and Canada in both urban and rural areas, including New York City. I’ve spent a few years living in my van, traveling through the U.S. And if checking in to a hotel isn’t an option, you’ll have to find somewhere safe to pull over at night. Roadtrippers like to think of ourselves as tireless warriors.

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