Boondocking and Your New Budget

I think we’ve all had plenty of time to think about what’s important to our lives, and what was “extra”.

For me, RVing is ESSENTIAL. I’m thinking that once the stay-at-home order is lifted, I’m hitting the road! And, to save money, I’ve been finding out more about boondocking.

Boondocking is a term RVers use for low – or NO cost – camping sites.

There are many areas throughout the U.S. that still offer plenty of scenic, safe and legal spots to park your RV at no cost. There are even free dump stations, if you know where to look. The problem is that since no one makes any cash on these, it’s often hard to find information on them. Through my research, I have found out that the best way to discover these sites is to ASK FELLOW CAMPERS!

If you don’t have the contacts, or you don’t want to take the time, you might be interested in ebooks offered by the frugal-tv-traveler.com. These books are a culmination of nearly 2 decades of the author’s experiences while seeking out inexpensive ways to fulfill a travel obsession. They not only tell you where you can stay free in each of the published geographic areas, they also give you information about road conditions while shunpiking (driving the back roads), unlevel sites and alternative parking spots and attractions near the sites that are worth visiting (or not!). Check it out, you’ve certainly got the time right now…

Additionally, you can find free overnight parking on private property at boondockerswelcome.com. On this site, locals invite travelers to “spend the night, share stories and save money for the real adventure.” The website touts the appeal of boondocking by stating “make new friends and sleep soundly”…sounds pretty good, doesn’t it?! There is one catch, you must be a member. A subscription is about the cost of one night in a traditional campground. You can even give your favorite camper a gift that will keep on giving…a gift certificate for a subscription.

If you do your homework now, while you’re looking for something to fill these “Groundhog Days” during the COVID-19 pandemic, you’ll find all types of ways to save money on the road from laundry services and groceries to dining and entry fees, etc. So here’s to a healthy, safe and inexpensive camping season…may we all be free to move about sooner rather than later!