Cheap RV Vacations | These 10 Free Camping Spots Will Save You Money

Once Americans are given the green light to travel, RVs across the country will be gassing up and hitting the road.

But, cash might be tighter than usual.

If that’s the case, these 10 free camping spots for RVs will fulfill your camping desires without breaking the bank. They’re beautiful, private and (most) have mild summer temps.

In addition to location and RV access information, we’ll also include an “RV Vacation Vibes” score to compare each spot head-to-head.

Let’s dive in!

Government Gully Road | Laramie, Wyoming

This free campsite overlooks the charming community of Laramie, Wyoming. At 8,600ft in elevation, summer weather is fairly mild. However, since it’s in Wyoming, you can expect gusty winds.

GPS: 41.2555, -105.4618

Nearby Activities: Laramie is a college-city with a historic downtown. There are many restaurants, shops and community activities. Believe it or not, there are also many nearby lakes for water-sports and fishing.

If you’d rather camp closer to the lakes and further from town, we recommend Lake Hattie (another free camping spot).

Access: When we camped at Government Gully, there were 5 spots available. We saw 5th wheels and travel trailers at the site. However, the road in is dirt and, at one point, quite steep. Scout it out before driving in.

Lake Hattie (mentioned earlier) is accessible by almost all types and sized of RVs.

RV Vacation Vibes: 7.2/10 Laramie is a peaceful, remote destination. If you want good views and chill vibes, you’ll love it.

Middle Fork Flathead River | Near Glacier National Park, Montana

National Parks are always great for RV vacation destinations. However, the National Park campsites require reservations far in advance and the local RV parks are usually pricey.

This free camping spot doesn’t require reservations or cash…and you’ll be camping just a few feet from the water!

GPS: 48.4641, -114.0726

Nearby Activities: From this camping location you can fish, kayak, swim and sun bathe. Once you get bored with those activities, Glacier National Park is a few miles away.

Access: This spot is tough to access. We recommend that only smaller 4×4 units camp there. Scout it out first, for sure! The road in can be rough.

If you’re in a larger RV, there are nearby free camping spots (with less scenery).

RV Vacation Vibes: 9.2/10 This is one of the best free camping sites if you can access it. Fun for the whole family!

Blackwell Horse Camp | Near Bloomington, Indiana

Who says you can’t find free camping in the midwest?! This is a great spot to set up camp and relax for a while.

It’s a simple campsite with large, grassy fields and a few onsite amenities. Better still, if you want to go RV camping with your family, Blackwell offers pavilions and group camping areas.

GPS: 39.0175, -86.3899

Nearby Activities: There are multiple trails for hiking and horseback riding connected to this campsite. Bloomington, less than a 30 minute drive, is a vibrant community with arts, entertainment and fine dinning.

Access: Very accessible. This site is designed to accommodate horse trailers. When we camped there we saw motorhomes and 5th wheels.

RV Vacation Vibes: 7.1/10 It’s hard to compete with the views out west. Regardless, this is a fun & inexpensive campsite in Indiana.

Sacred White Shell Mountain | Near Great Sand Dunes National Park

The Sand Dunes National Park is an amazing sight to see. It’s tucked into southern Colorado, in a valley known for mysterious UFO sightings. If you want to visit the National Park and do some extraterrestrial stuff on the side – this campsite is a must!

GPS: 37.527, -105.5935

Nearby Activities: The Great Sand Dunes National Park is the main attraction (not much else around). However, its a MUST SEE park! Truly a sight to behold – you can admire the dunes from afar or hike to the peak.

Access: Most size RVs can access the area. Keep in mind, the road in may be washboarded. Also, scout in advance!

RV Vacation Vibes: 8.7/10 Despite being remote, this campsite and the surrounding area are prefect for RV vacations.

Mud Creek Road | Strawberry Reservoir, Utah

Escape the crowds from Park City, Utah with this waterfront retreat! This site offers no services and practices “Pack In, Pack Out”. One mile west, at the National Forest Campground, you can dump your tanks, access potable water, and use their trash receptacles.

GPS: 40.2021, -111.1913

Nearby Activities: Hunting and fishing are popular sports in the area. You can also take a kayak or canoe out on Strawberry Reservoir. If you need more upbeat entertainment take a trip into Heber City.

Access: Many 5th wheel campers have stayed at Mud Creek. It has enough space for motorhomes, but clearance may be an issue. Here’s a list of the three free campsites in the area if RV access is an issue.

RV Vacation Vibes: 6.9/10 Cool temps, water activities and overall “chill vibes” – can’t go wrong!

North Creek BLM | Near Zion National Park

North Creek BLM is one of the closest, and by far the nicest, free camping site to Zion National Park. Unlike most of the other sites mentioned, this one is popular with tent campers.

GPS: 37.2203, -113.1616

Nearby Activities: Zion National Park is the area’s main attraction. It has so many beautiful hiking trails. The entry gate is about 12 miles from the campsite and is an easy drive. Downtown Hurricane, Utah is 10 miles away. We were able to do all our shopping there and also washed our laundry in town. If you need a big grocery store or specialty items, St. George (20 mile) should have you covered.

Access: This free camping site can get busy. We did see a 5th camping there, but wouldn’t recommend it. Trailers, vans and Class Cs will have better luck. Scout it out first.

RV Vacation Vibes: 9.4/10 This is a hidden gem – we can’t believe it’s free!

Gale River Loop Road | Bethlehem, New Hampshire

Tucked in the White Mountains National Forest, Gale River Loop is among the best free camping in New Hampshire.

If you time your camping trip right, you can see the most beautiful autumn leaves. There’s even a little cell reception available (but you may benefit from a cell booster).

GPS: 44.2398, -71.6201

Nearby Activities: Outdoor activities abound. You can hike and bike directly from this campsite. The White Mountain National Forest offers breathtaking scenery, clear mountain lakes and streams, wildlife, and outdoor recreation opportunities year round.

Access: 5th wheel and Class Cs have camped at this location. Keep in mid, weather conditions may limit accessibility.

RV Vacation Vibes: 8.2/10 Peaceful east coast free camping site with lots of outdoor activities.

Cebolla Mesa Campground | Rio Grande del Norte National Monument, New Mexico

Here’s another gem! The beauty (and bummer) of this site is that it’s really off the beaten path. That means it’s going to be hard to access in a big rig. The reward, however, is free camping on a cliff that overlooks the massive Rio Grande canyon.

GPS: 36.6405, -105.6891

Nearby Activities: There’s so much to do in this part of the country! From the campsite you can hike to the bottom of the canyon (the views are amazing). This free camping spot is also located on the Enchanted Circle – an 80 mile loop that tours northern New Mexico.

Access: Smaller RVs will have better luck. Technically, most RVs can access the campsite, but the low hanging branches will deter most large RVs. There are also a few sharp turns. We recommend it for vans and small trailers.

RV Vacation Vibes: 9.9/10 If you can access it, you’re in for a beautiful view! The surrounding area is fun to explore as well.

Jackson Mountain Road | Pagosa Springs, Colorado

When we can’t camp on the water, we love camping in the mountains. And, Jackson Mountain Road is ideal Rocky Mountain camping!

The town as multiple hot springs and a river running through it – perfect for tubing.

GPS: 37.3474, -106.9343

Nearby Activities: Hot Spring, kayaking and hiking! What a great combo. We love that this free camping spot is secluded from the crowds, but close to all the action.

Access: This site is best for units 25′ or less. Furthermore, the spaces are very limited. Scout it out before driving in.

RV Vacation Vibes: 9.2/10 Mountain camping and hot spring access – sounds like a win!

The Main Drag 525| Sedona, Arizona

If you love hiking, you’ll love Sedona! There are so many trails with epic scenery, it never gets old. The only problem is – Sedona is expensive. This free camping spot will solve those financial woes and hook you up with sweet views.

GPS: 34.8334, -111.9083

Nearby Activities: Downtown Sedona is 7 miles from the campsite and Cottonwood is 9 miles. There is plenty of shopping in both areas to complete errands and grocery runs.

Access: Large RVs can camp at a few of the spots (if they’re open) but the road is washboarded. Scout it out, first!

RV Vacation Vibes: 8.5/10 Free camping in an expensive tourist destination! Can’t be beat.

There’s Always MORE Free Camping on Public Lands

If you haven’t tried free camping before, also known as boondocking, take a look at our beginners guide to boondocking filled with everything you need to know to get started.

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