We’ve all seen the ads on TV and in magazines selling us on the idea to “Go RV’ing.” It’s always the same; a photo of a beautiful big Class A, Class B or Class C RV Motorhome parked in a beautiful and scenic campground or park with a stunning backdrop of some sort, such as a shimmering lake, the ocean, a campfire, the mountains and usually with an absolutely stunning sunset. Our imaginations kick-in and we see ourselves enjoying that scene with family and friends.
Reality then sends us a message saying, is that really the way it is?
Well, many years ago, my wanderlust kicked in and I decided to find out for myself. After several years of traveling around North America, I can tell you that this lifestyle does exist. Not only does it exist, it’s thriving! However, let me also say that the most scenic and enjoyable camping I’ve found is free. In the beginning, I paid the fees of the RV parks, some of which were charging upwards of $50 – $60 for a space for the night. Not only did I find that too pricey, but in most cases I was close enough to my neighbor to hear him snore.
So where is all this free scenic camping?
• National forests
• Some state parks
• The mountains **
• The Oceans
• Deserts
• Public lands such as BLM (Bureau of Land Management)
• When out exploring for a free scenic site, remember to never pass a National Forest office, BLM office, or area Visitor Center without stopping. While there, ask for free maps, camping conditions, road conditions, etc.
And the list goes on. You just need to do some research.
** I recently spent a week in the Great Smoky Mountains, right on the banks of a fast flowing river. I had a beautiful, secluded campground with beautiful scenery and an awesome waterfall. The cost of that campsite? Absolutely nothing, zero, nada, zilch! I happened to be there in the fall, so Mother Nature provided me with the most wonderful display of colors I have seen in years – the turning of the leaves.
There are also numerous free apps available for your smartphone. Here are just a few that I have on my iPhone:
• Campendium
• ParkFinder
• RV Parky
• RoadTrippers
• The Dyrt
NOTE: Not all these apps will direct you to free camping sites, but they all offer good information for any camper / RV’er.
When looking for free camp sites, my favorite go to is not an app, but a website.
That site is: http://www.freecampsites.net. Simply type the location where you would like to stay into the search bar.
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Until next time…
