The Riddle of Finding Cheap RV Hookups & Affordable Longterm RV Lots For Rent
Quick Reference Table of Contents
After traveling by RV for over a decade now, I’ve learned a lot from all of 
the mistakes I’ve made along the way, and I’ve discovered creative solutions to all of those “RV mistakes“ I’ve made throughout the years. Still, the number one RV mistake I made was assuming I had to pay campground fees to park my RV overnight. Thankfully, every full-time RVer becomes a master at one aspect of “RV Life,” and the skill set I have honed in is locating cheap RV hookups anywhere in the country. I haven’t spent more than $1,000 a year on full RV hookups in over a decade, and for the last four years, I’ve been full time living in a 30-foot travel trailer with a twelve-foot slide. That requires a 70-foot parking spot.
The logistics of pursuing “cheap RV living” while dragging around a camper the size of a semi-trailer is incredibly challenging at times. Especially when you detest campgrounds as much as I do, and absolutely love the freedom of boondocking. Developed campgrounds and RV Parks are actually my last resort because –
4 Reasons Why I hate Campgrounds
- They never live up to expectations
- Overcrowding’s more common than not
- I don’t cope well with absurd, childish rules
- Price points are disproportionate to what is actually provided
So nowadays, I seek out private RV lots for rent with full camper hookups at drastically reduced rates from resources such as Facebook, Airbnb, Hipcamp, Craigslist, Internet Forums, Real Estate Agents, Hotels, Churches, Flyers, and chance encounters.
Click on any of the links I just provided. To skip down the page to my transparent step by step guide on how I find private RV lots using that particular resource. Or, continue reading to gain the knowledge I have acquired from two (2) decades of full-time Rving to find cheap RV hookups.
Cheap RV Living Transparency
I am rewriting this “cheap RV hookups” guide again. Because I recognize that I wasn’t transparent enough in my first six rewrites for this cheap RV living guide to be of any value to you.
Just look at the 200 comments below that required long-winded answers. To dive deeper into some of the sub-topics like, “Where can I park my RV to live,” and “How do I find private RV lots for rent,” that I failed to cover in this article the first time around.
After that, the following five rewrites neglected to mention free RV parking options, long-term campgrounds, RV lots for rent, monthly campground rates, or any of my boondocking tips. That I’ve acquired over the years! I even failed to mention that mobile home parks or trailer home parks are an easy score when looking for cheap long-term RV lots for rent with full RV hookups.
I pretty much dropped the ball in teaching you how to do what I do. Because of that, every day, I get bombarded with readers asking me,” Where can I park my RV to live,” or “How do I find private RV lots for rent like you?” And for a good reason, because — all of these questions, concerns, and sub-topics all circle back to one singular focal point that I failed to consider. When trying to teach you how to find cheap RV hookups as I do.
Because all of those comments below and the emails I get are actually asking me, “How can you lower your monthly RV travel budget by locating cheap RV hookups and affordable longterm RV rental spaces like I do?”
This is a genuine concern with RV travel because the two budget-busters of cheap RV living are fuel and accommodations. And, in twenty-two (22) years of RV travel, I still haven’t figured out how to lower the cost of fuel other than those trivial reward programs.
However, I have uncovered multiple resources for locating FREE or drastically discounted RV lots for rent anywhere in America. Which, is why you are here, and it’s my job to give you the tools to do what I do on a daily basis to significantly lower your RV travel budget. So that you can enjoy all that RV life has to offer and pursue the outdoor adventures that tickle your fancy.
***Pro RV Life Travel Tip***
To lower my monthly RV travel budget, and save money on fuel costs. I share the phone number attached to my grocery rewards account with friends and family. They get a discount at checkout, and I get the rewards credit. This way, my “network” can support my RV travel life without enduring any financial burden on themselves.
This works much the same as with the links found around this website. When you purchase a product through one of my links on this site, like my favorite camper accessory I mention at the bottom of this article, you get a discount, and I get a tiny commission that goes towards my operating costs.
Sometimes I even donate those commissions or rewards credits to charities or other RVers that are struggling. This last year I presented those commissions to charities helping families suffering from the wildfires in Oregon.
But, before we get into my step by step process of finding cheap RV hookups and affordable monthly RV parking spaces for rent, I want to make sure you have all the tools available on my website. Because I consider it a good problem to have when others consider you an expert, and I love helping others pursue all that RV life has to offer. This is also why I’ve created a particular page on this website explicitly dedicated to RV travelers, such as yourself. Where you can see all of my RV life articles covering this topic. I’ve also dedicated these nine (9) items (listed below)to the subject of, “Where can I park my RV to live out of while traveling?”
I am also currently drafting another three (3) “RV parking” articles to give you more transparency and guidance into finding cheap RV hookups for yourself. That will be twelve (12) total articles covering this topic and all the sub-topics below it.
So be sure to subscribe to my newsletter and check back often to my RV life page. You wouldn’t want to miss the publication of these popular cheap RV living articles, would you? Remember, I don’t even spend $100 a month for my private RV hook up lots everywhere in the country.
Nine (9) Related Posts Covering Cheap RV Hookups Sub Topics
- How to find a cheap longterm RV lot for rent through a real estate agent
- Free camping options
- Longterm RV parking options and tips
- Solutions to parking your RV for full time living
- How to use Airbnb to find private RV lots for rent
- What you need to know about full-time RV living, including the cost of one year of RV travel
- The six (6) resources I use to find cheap private RV lots ANYWHERE
- My Free Camping Guide, also known as urban boondocking tips (free camping in the city legally
- Detailed instructions including an aerial map to free camping in Whitefish, Montana (My favorite city in America)
That’s enough of the housekeeping for now, right? Let’s get into why you actually came to this site, and teach you how to find cheap RV hookups anywhere in the country. Hope your ready because this is going to be a long, informative, and resourceful read. Take notes & bookmark this page to find it easier later on.
What Are Cheap RV Hookups
First off, if you have never been to this site before, you might be confused as to what RV hookups even are. If that’s the case, lets clear the air.
Full RV hookups simply means your campsite comes fully equipped with the ability to connect your camper to water, sewer, and electrical connections, usually for a fee. On average, campgrounds and RV resorts charge $45-85 a night, $200-$400 a week, and $500-$1,000 a month for campsites that provide full RV hookups. These campground rates vary depending on if you are staying at a dispersed campground, developed campground, mobile home park, RV park, or RV resort. Camping at an RV lot with access to full RV hookups allows you to drain your black water tank into their septic system. Fill your freshwater tank through the campgrounds freshwater supply, and power your RV by connecting to their electrical pedestal without relying on solar panels, a 12-volt battery, or your generator. Full RV hookups are access points and connections that provide all the modern comforts of home while out on the road in your recreational vehicle.
As you can see, RV hookups are incredibly convenient, but as I mentioned, this convenience comes at a cost. Early on in my RV life’s “beginner” days, I just couldn’t afford or justify paying for full RV hookups.
I remember one night pulling into a KOA in Columbia Heights, Montana (just outside of Glacier National Park). In the morning, the campground host delivered a healthy dose of buyer’s remorse.
She wanted me to pay $63 for five hours (5) of camping, and I only had $40 to my name. At that moment, I vowed never to stay at a KOA again, and I haven’t. Nor will I!
I am eternally grateful though, for KOA stealing my last dollars because if they were affordable. I would never have found a passion for locating cheap RV hookups to share with all of you.
What You’ll Find in This Cheap RV Lots For Rent Guide
Unlike the KOA, I apologized for not being transparent enough in my earlier RV parking articles. By omitting critical details in this previous guide on how I personally find private cheap RV hookups for under $200 anywhere in America. 
My goal with this article is to pull back the curtains and create the most transparent, in-depth, comprehensive cheap RV hookups guide on the internet today.
Save & Share This Incredible Cheap RV Living Guide
You will want to bookmark and save this page to your favorites tab. There is going to be a TON of information here, and if you bookmark it now, it’ll be easier to find it later. Share it among your RVing friends to become the “travel angel” everyone wishes they knew. Because it will help them lower their monthly travel costs too. Share it on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Flipboard, and of course, Pinterest. You’ll be everyone’s RV superhero because I am about to unpack an incredible amount of information.
This cheap RV living guide will show you how to find private RV lots for rent with full RV hookups for under $200 a month. I’ll show you longterm RV parks and monthly campgrounds that charge less than $13 a day. My goal is to show you how I find RV spaces for rent on residential properties for less than $7 a day. How I use craigslist to find free RV lots for rent and cheap full RV hookups anywhere in the country.
I will also show you how to use Google to find affordable RV parks, longterm campgrounds, and monthly RV parks where ever you are. This cheap RV living guide will show you how to use Google my business to find RV park monthly rates, monthly campground rates, and monthly RV rentals. I’ll show you how to use Facebook to find free RV parking, RV spaces for rent, and Private RV lots for cheaper than any campground in the country! This cheap RV living guide will even show how to use google maps to find free RV parking near you ANYWHERE in the world!
These RV travel tips will provide you with the tools you need to make RV travel more affordable through this cheap RV living & hookups guide. My RV travel tips will help you to lower your monthly RV travel budgets by eliminating expensive campground fees. While staying at private RV lots, longterm RV parks, and monthly campgrounds anywhere in America for less than $7 a day. From boondocking to moochdocking, driveway surfing, and the tools I personally use to find cheap RV hookups. You’ll be able to lower your monthly RV travel budget by thousands of dollars from the tips within this cheap RV living travel guide!
Cheap RV Living
That’s what you’re looking for, right?
Ready to get started?
The greatest lie that’s ever been told to the world is that travel is expensive. Nothing could be further from the truth. The biggest lie on top of that is budget travel in America is an extinct animal. Did you know you can travel America by RV for less than $25 a day? I’ve been doing it for over a decade, and I’ve been doing it with a Toyota Tacoma and 30-foot travel trailer for the last four (4) years.
How? Because when I first jumped on a plane to Bangkok to start a life of travel, the internet wasn’t even a thing. You had to rely on guide books and locals to navigate around. You had to talk to people to uncover destination secrets. You had to diligently research your destination to obtain your travel goals.
A lost skillset among today’s travelers, but a core quality that helps me find cheap RV lots for rent anywhere in the country. Because I don’t follow any of the advice found in magazines that send writers off with the corporate credit card who then come back with, “Top 10 Ways to Travel on a Budget.” I don’t get sucked into that hypocritical world.
I approach RV life like a longterm backpacker. I live a frugal lifestyle, talk to everyone, and listen more than I speak. Only chiming in when I need more details. The key to cheap RV living is networking. The more people in your network, the more resources you have available to you.
I once stayed at a mountain top chalet home with my RV for free the entire ski season. Because a friend of a friend’s co-worker went to lunch with someone I road on a train with eight years ago. Networks matter and people love to be the hero who can come to your rescue.
My Step by Step Guide to Finding Cheap RV Hookups
However, networking used to be much more crucial to the success or fail of longterm travel. Still, in today’s technological world, highly independent travelers only need to rely on resources and platforms.
So don’t worry if you don’t have a “travel” network that you’ve been cultivating like myself for the last 22 years. If you follow the steps I am about to layout for you, your RV travel budget will thank you for many years to come.
How To Use Google Maps to Find Cheap RV Hookups
Let the learning begin!
The first step of my process of finding cheap RV hookups is pretty straightforward. All I do is open up google maps on my cell phone and type in the word campground. Which then populates the map on my screen with a bunch of red pins indicating all of the campgrounds near my location.
I personally don’t like to do the map view, so I switch to a “list view.” To do this on your android cell phone, look for a button in the lower right corner of the screen. Simply click that, and you will get a list of all the campgrounds in the area.
How To Find Monthly Campground Rates Using Google Maps
At this point, it’s a good idea to get out pen and paper and set aside a good chunk of time. Because you’re about to contact 30-40 localized campground options. It usually takes me an entire afternoon, and I start at the top and make my way down the list. Then, visit the campground’s website or call them directly to see if they even have monthly campground rates, and what they might be.
Don’t get discouraged because about 25% of the campgrounds you contact won’t offer a monthly rate. The rest usually charge a monthly campground rate between $400-$700 for full RV hookups. Every now and then, though, Christmas comes early, and you’ll find a campground that offers monthly rates for less than $400.
Most of the time, this will be their “off-season” rate, October-April, but sometime it will just be a cheap campground like Creekside just outside of McCall Idaho. Other times it might not even be a campground. Sometimes Google will list a mobile home or trailer park as campgrounds. Who usually have far cheaper rates than local campgrounds do.
Don’t set your expectations too high, though, when contacting these monthly campground possibilities. And, the best time to do this monotonous time suck task is rainy days because most of the time, you have to leave a message and wait. Not to mention, this is only part of the “google maps” research “treasure hunt” puzzle.
How To Use Google Maps to Find Cheap RV Lots For Rent
While waiting for campground hosts to call me back with their monthly campground rates, I like to use google maps to find alternative RV lots for rent. The first candidates I look for are motels. Hotels generally don’t want to play ball, but motels are usually very approachable because they only care about making money.
I do the exact same process as above. Start at the top and work my way down the list. Calling each motel front desk, asking, “Would they be willing to rent me out an RV space in their parking lot for a month?”
It’s usually a 50/50 chance at receiving a positive response at an affordable price point. After running through all the motels, I repeat the process for all the churches, casinos, and marinas in the area.
By this point, I have at least a couple of candidates in the $400 a month range and a pretty good idea of the area’s going rate, along with my worst-case scenario candidates. I’m also probably still waiting to hear back from the messages I left on campground voicemails.
If any campgrounds don’t answer or have a voicemail box, I’ve sent out emails, and I’m probably still waiting for a reply from them too. But by contacting every option in the area, I call this exhausting all the “conventional” RV parking methods.
Suitable Options For Longterm RV Parking
- Campground
- RV park
- RV resort
- Mobile home
- Trailer park
- Casino
- Church
- Marina
How To Use Google Maps To Find Free Overnight RV Parking Space
Once I’ve done all that, and am just waiting for return phone calls and emails. I then set my sites on free overnight camping spaces in the area. By using google maps satellite view to find RV parking spaces, I can hang out at while waiting for campground responses. This is my preferred method for using google maps, and I am sure it will be yours after today too.
Using google maps satellite view allows you to literally see property lines, tree lines, abandoned lots, non-official roads, secret campsites, tree spacing, and pull-outs along-side of the road. You can also use the satellite view to see a parking lots’ actual size, parking spaces behind a building, or trailheads. You’d be amazed how many roads just dead-end in the middle of nowhere. Which make for perfect free seret ninja campsites that you can’t find without using google earth or google map satellite view.
sJust look at the photos below to see 3 free campsites within South Lake Tahoe’s city limits you wouldn’t be able to find without using google satellite view.
You’d never be able to find these using the default green and white google map view. Keep in mind, though, I never plan to stay at any of these free campsites for more than a night. Its why I call them one-night-stands, but I did stay next to Whiskey Dicks for over 3 months one ski season. Click on that link if you’re in the mood for a good laugh at my expense.
I have perfected the art of “ninja” or “stealth” camping with the help of Google Earth & satellite view maps, and you will too. Just look at the picture below of my latest free secret waterfall campsite two minutes outside of downtown North Platte, Nebraska, that I found in the summer of 2020.
Free RV Parking Rules
There are so many boneheads out there that have wrecked it for the rest of us regarding temporary free RV parking. That I want to briefly touch on the rules of free overnight wild RV camping. Because I’m a firm believer that free RV parking boils down to common sense and consideration.
So I will never start my generator or put out my awning while in a business parking lot. Even if I plan to stay in an area for an extended period, I will never park my travel trailer in a business parking lot for more than a couple of nights. I’m considerate towards business owners and the general public when choosing my free RV parking by selecting the farthest parking space away from the front door.
RVers that have had police knocking on their door in the middle of the night created that situation by ignoring free RV parking protocols. If you attract attention, you’re going to get attention.
This is why when I’m urban boondocking, I don’t select my RV parking destination until after sunset. If I’m looking for free RV parking on a Saturday or Sunday, I choose business parking lots closed on the weekends. You don’t have to be an experienced RVer to be a master urban boondocker. You simply have to have consideration for others.
Don’t park in a church parking lot on Sundays. Don’t park your RV at a movie theater on Friday or Saturday nights. A little common sense will help you avoid the dreaded middle of the night police knock.
Google Earth Boonodocking Dispersed Campsites
Every destination has multiple, unique free overnight camping sites. As long as you abide by the unwritten protocol rules and guidelines of these “ninja” campsites, you’ll be fine. Which basically amounts to show up late. Leave early, and don’t attract attention to yourself. For example, starting a campfire during a fire band, is a terrible idea!
The boondocking sites I find off of Google Earth are nothing more than free temporary RV parking spots for the night. I don’t use them for more than 1-2 nights, and during the day, I relocate to a big box store parking lot. So that I can explore the area without fear of getting my rig towed.
I only use these dispersed campsites while waiting for responses from long-term RV lots for rent and cheap RV hookups. They are also perfect overnight RV parking pit-stops in between my travel destinations. That requires no reservations, deposits, or any communications.
Use Google Earth to find these 45 Free Dispersed Campsites & Temporary Places You Can Park Your RV to Live While Traveling
- Campgrounds
- RV Parks
- Big Box Stores
- State & Local Parks
- Hospitals
- Local Fishing Holes
- Forest or Field Clearings
- Where Water Canals Drain into the River
- Rest areas
- Flood Plains
- Boat Landings
- Boat Ramps
- Pullouts along the road next to a river
- Anywhere down a dirt road
- Beach
- A frozen lake
- Truckstops
- Closed business
- Hotel Parking Lot (COMES WITH FREE BREAKFAST)
- Golf Course after hours
- Football, baseball, soccer, or any athletic field parks
- City Parks
- Any school during the summer months.
- Commuter Parking Lots
- Seasonal Resorts during the offseason
- Vacant Land (GET LISTINGS FROM LOCAL REAL ESTATE AGENT OR TRY CRAIGSLIST)
- Churches
- Farms
- Check local Facebook groups(YARD SALE, GARAGE SALE, RANT & RAVE)
- Strip mall parking lots
- Craigslist roommate wanted section
- Casino Parking lot (COMES WITH FREE ALCOHOL)
- RV Dealership (BLEND RIGHT IN)
- Hiking Trail Head Parking Lots
- Abandoned Roads
- Abandoned Lots
- Dog Park
- Couchsurfing(ASK TO CAMP IN THEIR YARD)
- Anywhere in the desert (OCTOBER 1ST-MAY 1ST THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE CHOOSE THIS OPTION)
- Ski Resorts
- Family and friends property
- Exchange sites like Harvest Host or AirBnB’s campground hosts
- Sports Arena Parking Lots
- Movie Theater Parking Lots
- Anywhere down a forest service road
- SERIOUSLY ANY PARKING LOT AT ANY BUSINESS
Check out my popular free camping guide to learn more tips on finding free overnight camping sites. https://aowanders.com/free-camping/#ONE_NIGHT_STANDS
Facebook is a Gold Mine For Cheap RV Living Opportunities
While waiting for responses, I use my “stealth camping” time to explore other opportunities and platforms to locate cheap RV hookups. One of my all-time favorite resources is local destination Facebook groups.
Which are a pure gold mine of cheap private RV lots for rent, and I’m not talking about moochdocking with the friends and family you’re already connected with.
No, there’s a more popular trend sweeping across Facebook for small-town America, and that’s facebook’s local area groups. This is wildly popular in towns that don’t have a specific section on craigslist.
Where community members will create a local area Facebook group for others to rant and rave. Find housing or employment. Sell items or host a never-ending virtual garage sale. They are usually called (insert town name here) garage sale or swap meet.
These four (4) style of private local area Facebook groups are one of my all-time favorite resources for locating private long term RV lots for rent. I have never paid more than $200 for a long-term RV parking space off of Facebook.
How I Use Facebook to Find Private RV Lots for Rent
My process of finding long term RV lots for rent off of Facebook is super 
simple. I ask to join the local area Facebook groups for the destination I am looking in. Sometimes I have to change my Facebook profile to appear. I am from the area to get approved for joining the group, but after getting approved, I do a quick search of the previous group postings. Looking for anyone offering an RV parking space for rent or private RV hookups for rent.
If I come across in ad that provides a nightly rental space, I still reach out and see if they’d be interested in a long-term relationship or long-term agreement. Sometimes I find success, and other times I had the door slammed in my face. Don’t get discouraged. It’s their property. Move on, and keep looking. The majority of the time, what happens is I need to make my own post, and here’s my process.
Initially, I’ll make a really simplistic post—something along the lines of some mundane item for sale. That I don’t even own, and have no intention of selling. I’ll let that sit out there for a few days, and then I’ll go back and mark the item as sold. Doing this shows the administrators of the group that I’m not here to scam anyone. Once I establish that I’m not a scammer or a troll, then I’ll make my real posting.
Here is the last Facebook posting I made in a local area garage sale group —
Who needs free money???? Yes, you read that right. I am looking to give you a couple of hundred dollars every month plus half of your utility bills. How does this work?
Anyone that could use a few hundred extra dollars a month, I would be willing to pay you monthly rent plus utilities for the rest of the summer.
This situation usually works best for those on a fixed income like Social Security or disability or second homeowners or even vacant landowners. Maybe you own a cabin that you only use sporadically throughout the summer. In that case, I can do all the yard work and preparations for your family’s weekend vacations for free. Plus, pay you monthly rent and utilities on top of open yard work.
I’m from the area born and raised with family throughout the state. I’m looking to pay you this summer to park a 2013 30-foot travel trailer on your property along with a 2012 Tacoma. Both my camper and truck are modern, clean, and not an eye-soar under any definition.
Ideally, the perfect situation would include full RV hookups. Still, in the past, a garden hose faucet and extension cord have been just fine. I’d like to find a private waterfront wooden piece of land to call home for the summer, but I’m not delusional. You don’t always get what you want. I’ve previously paid to park in a driveway, backyard, open field, pole barn, cul de sac, church parking lot, and much more.
Water and electric aren’t even a deal-breaker as I have a generator & 70-gallon tanks. The only deal-breaker is the internet. If there is no internet on the property, there needs to be cell phone service to manage my RV travel blog business. Doesn’t even matter which carrier. I have devices for all cell phone carriers in the United States. The drawbacks of being a digital nomad, I guess.
As you can see from my other pictures. I love the outdoors, like to hike, and would love to spend the summer exploring the backcountry from your base camp. Much more accessible from your land up there than any of the options I have down here.
My Facebook is set to “public” feel free to browse and get a better feel for my character and personality. My travel blog is aowanders.com, where you can also get a better sense of who I am. I have references from previous homeowners I have stayed with. Let’s meet up for lunch to get to know one another. Call me, message me or email me. Thanks for your time.
I look forward to speaking with you further about this opportunity. Enjoy the rest of your day.
Warm Regards,
Adam
Facebook Cheap RV Living Follow Up
Sometimes I won’t even provide this much detail and just make a group post that says, “Who needs money?”
Whatever post I choose to make, I let it sit for a full day before responding 
to anyone. Because people are fickle, and sometimes my honest answers or replies have scared others away from responding. So I let my posts sit for at least 1 full day before responding to accumulate as many responses as possible.
Then when I do respond, I selectively respond. What I mean by that, I respond to the best opportunity available first by liking their comment and writing a reply. I don’t respond to anyone else’s for another full day.By selecting that one comment and/or writing a response, it bumps my post back up to the top of the queue in that particular Facebook group.
That’s also why I didn’t respond to anyone else comments. Every time you respond or like a post, it bumps your post back up to the top of the queue. If I have other commenters to reply to. Thats just more opportunities to re-bump my post back to the top of the queue without annoying anyone or doing anything that could warrant a moderator to scold me. By posting and replying this way, I can keep my post at the top of the group’s queue for over a week if I choose to do so. Giving my group post the maximum amount of exposure time.
What kind of replies do I send? All of my responses are focused on meeting up to get a good feel for the person’s personality and the type of property they are offering. I want to know who I am renting from, and who I’m about to be living next to. I would rather find out they are a “flat earther,” or padded room crazy individual over lunch than week after paying them a month’s rent.
How I Use Craigslist To Find RV Spaces for Rent
The next step in my process of finding cheap RV hookups is to jump on the platform known as craigslist. I will make the same ad and post it in the housing, barter, and community sections of this social classifieds website.
After I’ve finished posting, I will then navigate to the “housing” section and search under the “all housing” section. This allows you to explore every “housing” listing in the entire area and surrounding areas. The first search I always do is “RV.”
You’ll see craigslist try to auto-fill your search terms with common phrases like RV space, RV space for rent, RV lot, RV rental lot. I’ll do a search afterward for each one of them, but for the first one, I only use the word “RV.” To see what the search populates for that area.
Most of the time, you’re just going to get houses for sale. That mention RV parking spots for their rig as a selling point, but every now and then, you find an actual RV lot for rent at an affordable rate.
RV Life Inspiration
Nothing in this process is an immediate solution to the problem. Everything takes place through back and forth correspondence. Trial and error, or guess and check methodology.
Like I said before, its really a time suck. The reward makes it worth it,though. Especially, when you find an RV parking space on your own private beach with full RV hookups for less than $50 a month. RV lots like this aren’t advertised because if they were, you’d never be able to get on the waiting list.
If you want something you’ve never had before, you have to do something you’ve never done before.
Where Can I Park My RV To Live
By this time in the process, my Facebook post is attracting attention, and I’m starting to narrow down where I can park my RV to live out of. Longterm campgrounds have called or emailed me back. Motels have relayed their best offers, and all the churches have welcomed me with open arms.
The casinos and ski resorts could care less as long as I don’t do anything stupid. The marinas want more money than I’m willing to spend, and the real estate agents can’t hang up the phone quickly enough.
Persistence is the key to success, and although I’ve received more negative responses than positive at this point. I still have acquired a shortlist of candidates to park my RV at to live out of.
Most likely from longterm campgrounds and cheap RV parks in the area. Who offer monthly campground rates, but I’m still on the hunt for private RV lots with full camper hookups for a cheaper rate.
I prefer these RV spaces for rent over monthly campgrounds because they’re more personal, secluded, and more affordable. I don’t have to worry about community space, rules, and pet policies. Monthly RV parks provide appealing amenities, but I prefer long-term RV parks without the actual park to live out of my RV.
Cheap RV Living Community
So at this stage of my cheap RV hookups hunt, I reach out to the RV
community through Facebook RV groups, Hipcamp, and the IRV community forums. I do this for a couple of reasons.
One, it generates real-time answers while I’m still waiting for responses from the resources mentioned above.
Two, it gives me a sense of actually making progress instead of biding my time.
IRV Forums Are Full of Superheros
Before Facebook and social media, internet communities would meet on website forums to dive deeper into community interest topics. One such place that is a wealth of “old school” knowledge combined with “new school” technology can be found at www.IRV2.com.
Here you will find thousands of people a day showing off pics of their rigs, discussing DIY projects, vets offering help to newbies, and a whole host of other topics being discussed daily. IRV2 is a clubhouse full of savvy RV travel veterans who love to talk shop, and in this shop, that means anything to do with RV or traveling.
This is why I love throwing up a post that reads, “Struggling to find a place to stay while visiting (insert city here). Anyone got any secret destination tips for a 30-foot travel trailer?”
The sheer value of information provided in the replies for a post like this is unmeasurable. Which, thanks to this community, has made me the #1 authority on locating cheap RV hookups anywhere in the country! Give it a try. You won’t be disappointed.
OMG Facebooks Groups Have Benefit
Another secret weapon I use to find an immediate resolution to my problems is Facebook RV groups. Where I pretty much post the same question I publish on IRV2 forums. The responses are widely varied, and sometimes stray waaaaay waaay off-topic, but always a source of entertainment.
RV Facebook Groups Are a Great Resource To Find Cheap RV Hookups
Here is my list of 10 RV Facebook groups that I regularly use. Along with a Facebook search results link of other RV Facebook groups to choose from. If you’d like to know more about how I interact with these groups, here’s my write up on that. https://aowanders.com/6-amazing-resources-to-find-cheap-rv-hookups/#How_To_Use_Facebook_To_Find_Cheap_RV_Hookups
- Facebook Search Results of all the different RV Groups FB’s Boondocking & Free Camping Group(One of my favorite resources to find Cheap RV hookups)
- FB’s Low Income Rv Living Group
- FB Vanlifers Groups
- The RV Bunch FB Group
- RV Tips FB Group
- ? Simply Full Time RVing ?⛽ FB Group
- FB’s RV interior ideas group
- Fun RV Stuff FB Group
- FB’s RV Newbies Group
- HOW TO RV FOR NEWBIES FB Group
How I Use HipCamp To Find Longterm RV Parking Spaces to Rent
Another great resource that is quickly becoming my all-time favorite is Hipcamp!
If you’re unaware of what Hipcamp it is. It is basically the Airbnb of the camping world. Where landowners allow campers and travelers to stay on their property. Sometimes with full RV hookups and sometimes not.
Hipcamp is now becoming my traveling bible. Because it’s is a gateway to the community and destinations you’ve been looking for that made you fall in love with RV life in the first place. It’s what camping used to be before the corporations sunk their hooks into the industry.
Before finishing that last sentence, I have already found three listings that will allow me to camp for less than $10 a night with full RV hookups! What are you waiting for? Join Hipcamp today. Right now!
Hipcamp is so affordable. There really is no need to look for longterm RV parking spaces for rent because last summer, I spent an entire month on the Eagle River for less than $150. All I did was email the listing owner and ask if he would be interested in allowing me to stay on his property for the rest of the month.
If there was a double booking date, I offered to leave and come back so he wouldn’t lose out on that income. This was the selling point to him because he could double-dip over the two holiday weekends I stayed during that month.
It was a win-win for both of us, and he was an incredible level headed genuine guy with overly generous wife. Who sent me on my way with road trips, treats, and a massive amount of “Thanksgiving” leftovers, and it was July. HAHAHAHA.
Hipcamp is just like using any other booking platform.
Log on. Input your destination, and choose a property within your budget. I absolutely love this platform, and you will too!!
How I use Airbnb to Find Monthly Campsites
Hipcamp is rapidly replacing my Airbnb resource. Don’t get me wrong Airbnb is terrific for what it is, but it’s just not built for RVers and campers. However, if you know what you’re doing, you can find some very appealing accommodations for you and your RV. For example, yesterday, I stayed on a property that offered a pool and its own personal 1-mile man-made lazy river here in Utah. 
For best results off of Airbnb, you need to look for listings that are unconventional and out of the city. Listings like farms, tee-pee’s, treehouses, RVs, off-grid cabins, and things of that nature.
Condos, townhomes, and listings without acreage or open land will only result in a negative response because they just can’t accommodate you. After you’ve find a suitable listing, then you need to email them.
DON’T just book the property.
Here is the last email I sent an Airbnb listing that resulted in a $125/month 60 day stay.
Hi, my name is Adam, and when you review my profile, you see I am a long term traveler who has been using Airbnb for years. I am very respectful of other people’s property, boundaries, and possessions. In 12 years of using Airbnb, I have never had a negative experience or bad review.
If you’re available, I would like to talk to see if you’re interested in renting out your space to property to me longterm. I understand my needs may hinder your ability to continue booking out your property, so I propose you continue to do so. As I don’t mind if you double-dip. If needed, I can even leave the property those days to ensure your guest’s privacy and enjoyment of your property.
I’m looking for an RV parking space for 60 days, and your property looks like an excellent fit for me. I just need a place to recharge and punch out some internet work I’ve been putting off for far too long. I’m a budget traveler just passing through the area.
I would really appreciate it if we could come to an affordable arraignment to stay on your property for a couple of months. Even if that includes me helping out with some daily chores.
If you’d like to further explore this arrangement, please reach out, and we can talk more. I am also in the area if you’d like to meet up to discuss. Thanks again for your time, and I look forward to hearing back from you. Enjoy the rest of your day.
Warm Regards,
Adam
A couple of days later, I was swinging my feet in the bubbling current of the Missouri River, and Gwen was such a delightful host. She insisted on cooking me 3 meals a day and even researching upcoming blog posts for me.
It was a real treat staying at her riverfront cabin. If you want more information on how I’ve used Airbnb in the past, check out my other popular cheap RV resources guide. Where I specifically go into detail on how I use Airbnb to locate private RV lots.
How I use Real Estate Agents to Find Private RV Lots to Enjoy Cheap RV Living
If you’re still with me, you’re a trooper, but we are getting to the end. Next up, let me show you how to find cheap RV hookups using a real estate agent. Now, this is a bit tricky and requires using some deceptive tactics.
- Never ever tell a real estate agent what you are trying to do. They will instantly shut you down because they don’t get a commission from renting out parking spots.
- Remember the overall goal here is to get in contact with the landowner. Either by phone or email.
- What your looking for is vacant land or out of state homeowners.
What I do after getting contact information is reach out in a manner that focuses on the owner. By offering to do yard work, minor property repairs, security and/or all of these.
I prefer vacant land or out of state homeowners because this has more appeal to me and has resulted in a greater success rate than their counterparts. I’ve written in great detail how I’ve used real estate agents to find cheap RV hookups in the past, so if you’d like to check that out, here’s the link. https://aowanders.com/how-to-find-cheap-longterm-rv-lot-for-rent/.
Old School Tricks Still Result in Cheap RV Hookups
My last tried and true trick that still finds me cheap RV hookups anywhere in the country might seem a little dated and laborish, but I wouldn’t be telling you about it if it didn’t work almost 100% of the time. Like the rest of these resources, it works, and you get out of it what you put into it.
You don’t need anything fancy. In fact, last winter, all I did was use a sharpie and notebook paper to make a dozen flyers. That simply said, “I’m looking for a long term RV parking spot for ski season. I got cash if you’ve got space.”
I hung it up at the laundromat, post office, hardware store, deli, grocery store, ski shop, couple of bars, and a real estate office. A few days later, an elderly gentleman called me, and not only did he have a spot for my RV.
He had an off-grid cabin; he was willing to rent me for only $125/month. Not everyone knows how to use the internet or wants to use the internet. If I had never put up the flyer, I would have never met Tom and his off-grid cabin with a wood-burning fireplace to snuggle up next to for the entire ski season.
There isn’t really a lot to this trick to finding cheap RV hookups except being proactive and grateful to anything that comes down the pipeline.
Cheap RV Parks
I’m a boondocker because I can’t stand paying for an RV parking spot. Still, there are plenty of cheap RV parks, campgrounds, and mobile home parks that offer affordable seasonal and monthly rates.Even the cheapest RV parks are more expensive than boondocking for me.
Still, they also provide several amenities you won’t get while dry camping. Amenities like wifi, laundry room, shower rooms, activity nights, and various other necessities that make full-time camping convenient and more comfortable. Cheap RV parks also offer a social atmosphere to meet new RV friends and participate in social activities hosted by campground and RV park owners.
It’s just unfortunate that a lot of campground owners charge such absurd rates for something that has no overhead cost. Especially when I know, there are cheap RV parks in highly desired destinations.
I stayed in the resort town McCall Idaho this last winter for only $200 a month at a campground 3.7 miles away from Brundage ski resort. I’ve stayed at a cheap RV park in South Lake Tahoe for only $158 a month two summers ago. Three summers ago, I parked my RV in Whitefish Montana for only $175 a month. In 2010 I parked my RV in Steamboat Springs right on the river for only $225 a month that included electricity. Unfortunatley, now its an expensive KOA that I’ll never revisit!
Benefits of RV Parks & Monthly Campground Rates
For the last hour, I’ve been teaching you how to find private RV lots for rent with cheap RV hookups and affordable RV parking spaces that require a massive amount of effort to find sometimes. So let talk about the easiest route to find affordable RV hookups.
4 Places You Can Park Your RV to Live Out of Full Time or Longterm
- RV Park
- Campground
- Public Land –(National Forest or BLM land, for example)
- Private Land
If you don’t want to spend a week on the phone or emailing people. Just to haggle out a cheap monthly rental rate, and a much more straightforward approach, I recommend you stick with campgrounds.
They are already set up, licensed, and insured for travelers and campers. Their rates are usually on display at their website or obtained rather quickly through a simple phone call. You get the added benefit of being surrounded by other RVers, and campground amenities like wifi and pools are available at your convenience.
Plus, most campgrounds have laundry facilities and supply C-store readily available to you. Unfortunately, these conveniences come at a cost. Below you will find the average monthly rates for a dispersed campground, developed campground, Mobile Home/Trailer Park, RV Park & RV Resort.
Monthly Campground Rates
| Dispersed Campground Monthly Rates | Developed Campground Monthly Rates | Mobile Home/Trailer Park Monthly Rates | Rv Park Monthly Rates | RV Resort Monthly Rates | |
| Nightly Rate | $10 | $45 | $35 | $55 | $70 |
| Weekly Rate | $75- N/A Usually | $200 | $150 | $300 | $350 |
| Monthly Rate | $150 -N/A usually | $450 | $450 | $600 | $900 |
As you can see, these rates are pretty manageable. I just find it hard to justify paying for an RV parking space after locating free RV parking spaces for so many years.
I know that’s a simplistic way to look at it because campgrounds provide social interaction and offer amenities you normally don’t get when renting private RV lots.
Still doesn’t change my angst towards the prices campgrounds charge. In my opinion, every campground should be $10 a night. Water, Electric, and sewer an additional fee of $5-15/night. Even if you’re running your A/C non-stop, that still covers the cost and provides a profit, but campgrounds are like restaurants.
Every restaurant has a different price for the same hamburger all across the nation. And somewhere in there sleeping on the ground in a fabric building now costs the same as sleeping on a foam memory mattress inside a brick and mortar building complete with complimentary breakfast, wifi and cable TV!
How to Become a Cheap RV Hookups RVer
You’re now equipped with all the tools and tactics I use to find cheap RV hookups and free RV parking anywhere in the country.
Heck, for that matter, anywhere in the world, and I’m going to put that to the test. Because I just bought a rig, I plan to drive around the world. Its no beauty pageant, but it will get me from point A to point B. Hopefully.
If you’ve been tempted to expand your RV lifestyle beyond established RV resorts and campgrounds into the freedom of off-grid boondocking. If that’s the case, you now have the skills necessary to do so.
You’ve learned how I use Airbnb, Hipcamp, Facebook, Real Estate Agents, IRV2, Flyers, Networking, and the most crucial resource of all them, GOOGLE SATELLITE MAP VIEW! You’re equipped and ready to put the skills to the test. Now all you need are the essential camper accessories I have listed below to extend your free campsite stays.
I’m confident you’re about to lower your RV travel budget while also discovering another level of freedom. Remember to bookmark this page to make it easier to find later.
Share it on your social media so that others can learn the skills that will help them lower their monthly RV travel budget. I put a lot of time into ensuring I wrote this in the spirit of full transparency and indepth advice so that you can do what I do.
If you feel I left something out or have questions leave them in the comments below. Email me at [email protected]. Let’s chat, meetup, or just brag to one another about the private RV lots we’ve found using these resources. Enjoy your travels everyone, and thank you for visiting my RV travel blog.
Traveling by RV is one of the most enjoyable, stress-free, and rewarding forms of travel, and my RV travel tips will allow you to travel safer, cheaper, farther, and smarter.
One of RV life’s added bonuses is when you’re all done, you can sell your motorhome to recoup some of your travel costs. Traveling by RV is a wonderful option for curious souls to explore this planet one destination at a time without sacrificing any of the comforts of home.
You don’t have to confine yourself to living out of a backpack or scanning booking sites for the cheapest plane tickets. You can travel with all of your gear, including your pets, to where ever you choose without having to pay pet deposits or compromising which equipment you’d like to travel with.
By traveling by RV, you can visit some of the most expensive cities on a shoestring budget, and the best thing about RV life is all you need is a parking spot to enjoy it. So wish me luck and sign up for my newsletter below so you can follow me as I attempt to drive around the world.
#1 RV Parking Camper Accessory
-
Heavy Duty Construction
-
Works With Any Camper
-
Super Easy To Clean
My Other #1 Essential Camper Accesory
-
Heavy Duty Construction
-
Towable
-
Includes Hoses & Accessories
Here Are My Favorite Booking Resources: Affordable & Efficient Travel Booking Tools I Use Everyday Along With My Favorite Gear Resources
Book Your Flight
Find a cheap flight by using Skyscanner or Momondo. These are my two favorite “flight” search engines because they search through websites and airlines around the globe and offer a calendar view to find even cheaper flights for flexible travelers. Check out these UNIQUE destination deals or my favorite All Inclusive Booking Travel Tool!
Rent An RV
Find cheap RV rentals for your next adventure by using Outdoorsy or RVshare. These are my two favorite “RV” search engines because they allow you to rent from private RV owners, and offer a wide variety of chooses at affordable rates. Want to start making money by renting out your RV? List it with Outdoorsy or RVshare.
Book Your Accommodation
You can book your hostel with Hostelworld. If you want to stay elsewhere, use Booking.com as they consistently return the cheapest rates for guesthouses and cheap hotels. Get a $40 credit for booking with AirBnb. Need to book a private campsite use my favorite RV booking site Hipcamp!
Need Gear
I use REI for all my gear needs because if it ever fails or gets damaged they will replace it for free!!! No questions!!! No hassles.
If REI doesn’t have the gear I need. I can always find it on Backcountry.com
Travel Community
Join the Escapees travel club to meet fellow travelers and talk about all things related to RVing and overland travel.
Travel Packages & Tours
Are you looking for worldwide tours and travel packages? Check out my go-to source — IntrepidTravel! Looking for more family related travel packages and tours book with GAdventures.
Don’t Forget Travel Insurance
Travel insurance will protect you against illness, injury, theft, and cancellations. It’s comprehensive protection in case anything goes wrong and will cover things like transport security, crisis response and medical transports such as Life Flight. Why go on any trip without a safety net that costs less than a case of beer? I’ve been using SafetyWings for years without any issues.
My favorite companies that offer the best service and value are:
- SafetyWings (ONLY $35 & Covers USA Travelers)
- World Nomads (for everyone below 70)
- Insure My Trip (for those over 70)
- Medjet (for additional travel insurance coverage like medical transport, travel security & crisis response)
Looking for the best companies to save money with?
Check out my resource page for the best companies to use when you travel! I list all the ones I use to save money when I travel – and I think will help you too!
Just Want To Support This Amazingly Resourceful Website
Websites incur constant fees! From hosting costs to massive amounts of personal time creating beneficial content for readers to consume at their leisure. To help offset those costs or just to say, Thank You. You can help support this community by shopping through any of the links found on my resource page. Shop on Amazon through this link and I’ll get a small commission, or you can directly support this site through Paypal donations. None of this is a requirement its just helpful and creates a better community for all of us.
134 Comments
You covered many essentials of rv living. very informative and I appreciate the resources.
Laura,
Thank you and glad you found my travel blog. Let me know if there’s any way I can help you meet RV living easier.
Adam
Listen, I already got RV but want a safe place to park for long term how can you help me?
Elena,
I would need more information to give you any contact information, but you can always check out my other articles on this subject.
https://aowanders.com/6-amazing-resources-to-find-cheap-rv-hookups/
https://aowanders.com/long-term-rv-parking-4-tried-and-true-options-for-full-time-rvers/
https://aowanders.com/5-cheap-solutions-for-where-can-i-park-my-rv-to-live/
https://aowanders.com/how-to-find-cheap-longterm-rv-lot-for-rent/
and don’t worry I’m in the process of rewriting this one so its more user friendly.
Email me [email protected]
I would like to find a place to park my rv for the next year +- I will need full hookup. Close to Sandpoint Idaho
Hi Michael,
Thank you for visiting my blog and reaching out to me on this subject. Sorry for the delayed response I’ve been on a backcountry camping trip and just getting back to civilization now. Before I can answer your question you need to ask yourself a few questions:
What is your budget?
How far from Sandpoint do you need to be?
Do you need cell phone service?
From my research when living in Sanpoint:
Most campgrounds in the area charge between $400-$600 a month plus electric, and $35-55 a night. The best campground deal that I found in the area was Travel America which is a 24-hour gas station 5 minutes from downtown Sandpoint right across the long bridge that also dubs as a campground and mobile home park. So its a short walk from your RV to the store for any supplies you may need in the middle of the night.
The monthly rate for Travel America is a flat rate (no peak season or off-season rate variations) $430 month and that includes all utilities (water electric wifi and sewer). The best deal in the area is in Westmond at the cozy RV Park 7 miles south of Travel America. This is a private residence with about eight RV full hookup spots directly across from the Chevron Gas station for $230 a month. There’s also a laundromat and showers across the street. The next best deals are out in Hope which is about 35 to 45 minutes Northeast of Sandpoint at the Trestle Creek RV Park and Beyond Hope Resort. Both of these RV Parks charge around $450-$475 a month plus electric. Cell phone service is spotty but Verizon does work, and just across the street is a free public boat access to Lake PendOreille and small park. The next closest options are in Priest River, and all run for $450-$500/ month plus electric. Cell phone service in Priest River is even worse than Hope and commuting can be challenging on weekends, holidays or public events. North of Sandpoint is a town called Bonners ferry which also has options but that was too far for me so I never researched the campgrounds. The most obnoxious and absurd option in the area is the Sandpoint RV Park located downtown next to the Best Western. For $800/month plus electric you can set up your RV in a parking lot under a street lamp next to the railroad tracks that see 5-6 trains an hour.
I started out at the travel America and put my put my name on the waiting list at the Cozy RV Park. I also joined the Sandpoint yard sale and garage sale Facebook groups. While waiting to be approved on Facebook and waiting to hear back from the Cozy RV Park I reached out to all local AirBnB listings I felt could accommodate my RV. One user offered me a spot at her shop for $5.00 a day with water and electric no sewer. Another lady who was advertising a Tipi for rent had full RV hookups at her home for $500 a month plus electric but included high speed Internet. Another five or six farms/ranches offered full RV hookups on their property for $200 or less a month but none of them had working cell service with Verizon. Eventually I found a couple off of Sagle road with full hookups, strong cell service and fire pit with free firewood. I’m waiting to hear back from them for permission to give you their phone number.
I found them by making this post on the Facebook yard sale page, “There has to be someone on here that could use an extra $200 a month.” That post got over 15 shares and 200 comments within a day. I saw similar results posting the exact same post on the local Facebook job board and garage sale page.
I forgot to mention I also reached out to a local real estate agent to see if vacant landowners would allow me to rent their property for the summer. This resulted in a lot of owner financing options being sent my way.
While I have all the contact information saved from my research on RV camping in the Sandpoint area I won’t share that publicly because I don’t have specific permission, don’t know their vacancy and ownership or phone numbers could have changed. But I am sure you will find plenty of options posting on the facebook groups I have linked to in this comment. Thank you again for reaching out to me. Best of luck to you.
P.S. If you can live without hook ups I can give you a number of free spots to camp at in the area with good cell phone coverage & magnificent views. Just might have to make a trip to the dumpstation every couple of weeks.
I am planning to travel the country in my vintage Class B Pleasure Way. I will need very dependable internet service to do my consulting work for about hours a day. The fear of not having good internet limits my plans. In your experience, would a Verizon data plan work in most places you have traveled?
Sonia,
What a great question. The simple answer is yes. I usually avoid cities and well populated areas like the black plague! Seriously. I’m a mountain soul who loves the outdoors and the personalities that can be found in these charming little towns. And I’m an avid passionate ski bum that when the schools, roads and governments close its time to go play on a mountain. For years I used to work seasonal jobs in high volume tourist towns that were only a few blocks long off in some remote area of the country. No matter what town I was in or what mountain range was cutting us off from the rest of the world. Verizon always kept me connected. When others couldn’t even send a text using ATT or Sprint I was watching movies. I’m still on the very 1st Verizon Unlimited plan ever offered. And there months I run right past 200 Gigabytes a month in data. If I was in a city or populated area I am sure I would get throttled in a heart beat. But when the town only has a population of a couple hundred maybe thousand theres not enough users to clog it up and kick me off.
When I used to stay at campgrounds I remember vulgar battles with staff about their sign displaying Free Wifi, but their connection being about as reliable as a severed artery. Once I got Verizon I never even asked for login credentials again. In the winter during hockey season I live stream a full hockey game every night through my computer through the HDMI cord to the flatscreen. Never had an issue. Now adays I just turn my phone into a hotspot, but way back before that was a thing I had to use their Mifi hotspot. So I have both a prepaid and planned device to fall back on just in case.
In all my travels here in America I can safely say I hate all cell phone prices, but no matter where I was located when others couldn’t get a signal Verizon always could. When others couldn’t text I could make calls. When they couldn’t connect a call I could download music. when they couldn’t download a single photo I could stream a movie. When their carrier would take hours to download a song my verizon connection was good enough to stream live. If anyone could beat Verizons coverage map I would have switched a long time ago, but no one is even close especially when it comes to remote mountain towns cut off from the rest of the world.
Hope that helps. If you need any info about accessories like boosters and range extendors let me know. I’ll write something up for everyone.
Your going to have a blast in traveling the country. So excited for you. Enjoy and safe travels.
Regards,
Adam
M not sure exactly what you provide I have 24 ft travel trailer and looking for a longterm space to rent for my camper. I own a friendly pitbull and I need to find longterm RV hookups/living space. In gold country or Sacramento california area. Ty
Rebecca,
What have you tried so far? Have you joined any of the facebook groups from this post yet https://aowanders.com/6-amazing-resources-to-find-cheap-rv-hookups/, or any of the other tips I have provided from this post or my other “find cheap and private rv hookups” post?
I would love to help you out, but I don’t do campgrounds or big cities. I like my space, and my wilderness. And I’ve responded to a few people in the past California is going through a housing crisis. Everyone and their grandma, grandpa and long lost cousin are looking for a different path in life and choosing vanlife or RV life right now. Add to the fact that California is experiencing some of the worst wildfires in our countries history theres even more people looking for a spot.
I can do the leg work for you, but I would charge you for that upfront because it would take me a couple hours of research. As well as a couple days or even weeks of follow up.
Let me know,
Adam
i am a retiree still willing to pull my weight on a fixed income of less than 1k with a 23ft tug along and am ready to travel into the sunset. thinking south east ga tenn tex not fla nc sc don’tt know. 200 a month is about all i could afford w/hookups. what suggestions might you have for someone like me?
thanks jim
Jim,
Thanks for visiting my travel blog. I haven’t really spent alot of time in that part of the country. I prefer the Pacific northwest, but I did spend a month with my 30 foot “tug along” on Douglas Lake, Tennessee. I found a temporary place using google terrain maps, and found a road that lead to a random unofficial beach. I put up flyers at local bar, laundromat, hardware store, coffee shop n library offering $200/month for a faucet n outdoor outlet. I also logged onto facebook and joined local facebook groups: Sevierville online garage sale 17k members, Jefferson online garage sale 9,000 members, and made a post saying looking for short term rv parking spot. Will pay rent upfront. Dont need full hookups but water n electric would be nice. These posts n flyers received so many responses I was able to be choosy. I found theses facebook groups by doing a facebook group search for Douglas Lake garage sale, and then just joined the ones with most people.
If I were you though I would look into being a campground host. You get a free campsite with hookups at a campground, and sometimes a paycheck. Your main duties are empty trash cans, check in/out campers, keep campground tidy, etc. I just did a brief search and found this campground host positionin beautiful Asheville. I know you said you didnt want to be in North Carolina, but Asheville is amazing area.
Campground hosting allows you to travel the country and get paid to do so. Amazon also hires seasonal campground hosts, as well as full time rvers during holiday season.
If your looking for income that wont effect your fixed income check out my post on how to get paid to travel the world. Alot of methods and different ideas to make money without bosses, taxes or experience.
But back to your question on how to find cheap rv hookups. Use facebook and the local groups. Check out craigslist. Go to housing section and do a search for rv lot, rv space, rv parking or just rv. See what pops up. Check airbnb for properties in the area you want to be in. Email the owners and see if they can accommodate you and your rv. Thats been successful for me in the past especially new airbnb listings trying to get reviews n income. Vrbo is another site you can try, or allstay.
The app overlander is a wonderful resource to find options too.
Sometimes though you just strike out. Timing is everything, and just chatting someone up in line at the store could find you a place. I found a place in Grand Lake Colorado with full hookups for free because i picked up a hitchiker who knew a friend of a friend who could help me out.
Rv life is amazing and hope I given you some solutions to explore. Would love to hear how things work out for you. Best of luck!
Adam
Thank you for all this amazing information. This is my first time on your travel blog and I am so glad I found you because I would have never thought of these options for full RV hookups. I also wanted to say how much I enjoyed reading your https://aowanders.com/live-your-dash/ & https://aowanders.com/two-dumb-ski-bumbs-take-on-rv-life/ GREAT reads!
Jim, do you know a woman named Donna Austin from Washington state
Michelle,
Thanks for visiting my RV Travel Blog. Glad you found some useful information, and thanks for sharing my other travel blog posts. I’m working on becoming a better writer for you all, but one of my favorites (so far) as far as writing goes is https://aowanders.com/life-in-a-ski-town/ and for information is my https://aowanders.com/free-camping/ & https://aowanders.com/34-rv-mistakes-i-made-with-my-first-rv-camper-the-rv-lessons-i-learned/.
As a side not I am also almost done with my RV Job Board that should be live and functional by this summer to help all you full time RVers pay for a life of travel.
Keep them wheels turning y’all & LIVE THAT LIFE!
Regards,
Adam
Also look into areas of interest with water body access, boat launches are a great resource of info to local areas, people all around the country in these spots can guide you to the right spots generally with or very close to launches
Boat launches are a wonderful free camping option all over the country. Especially on lakes not very popular for fishing. Like the one at 6 mile lake in Minnesota were I stayed free for almost 2 months with only a handful of visitors during the weekends.
Can can somebody help me find an RV spot to put my RV so I can live in it for at least 200 to 450 a month if possible I have a nice 1987 RV it’s not beat up it’s in good condition everything inside is remodeled everything works I just need to find a spot where I could park it and leave it there
Candy,
I would be happy to help. Where are you looking to find a spot? Have you reached out to your local real estate agent? They might know of a land owner that’s willing to rent their vacant land to you? I’ve had the best luck with this approach with owners that are willing to do “owner financing”. I would also login to facebook and look for a local group page. I tend to have the best luck with the local garage sale pages when trying to find a spot for myself. Another great resource for me has been AirBnb. Users on this site are already renting out parts of their property. So its not that hard to convince them to rent to you. Long term rentals are a bit tricky, but if approached the right way I am sure you will find something. Where do you live? Maybe I can find something for you?
Adam
Adam,
Thank you for all this wonderful RV information on your site. If anyone is thinking about living in their rv or camper fulltime you should take the time to read all information on this travel blog. There is so much information here that you can’t find anywhere else. Nice job Adam. I am so glad I found your RV travel blog. Can you tell me how you added this trover widget onto your site that you can find on this page
https://aowanders.com/trover-could-be-the-death-of-the-travel-industry/
This would be a wonderful addition too my RV parks website, and if your ever in Arkansas swing on by or get in touch we’d love to host you. On a sidenote I would be very interested in seeing a photo blog post about what you see when looking to buy an rv. You bring up a lot of great points
https://aowanders.com/complete-guide-to-buying-an-rv/
https://aowanders.com/13-professional-tips-to-consider-when-buying-a-truck-camper-including-a-free-checklist/
But visuals are always easier for me to understand.
Thanks Adam. Love your site by the way.
Bruce,
Thank you for your kind words. Looks like you’ve been doing some digging here at AOWANDERS. To create the widget you were inquiring about its pretty simple. Simply create an account on trover. Than you create a board or category (kind of like pinterest). Simply do a search for your area on Trover, and add anything you like from the search results to that list/board/category(whatever you want to call it). Everything you add to that board gets included in your widget. Once your done adding things you simply copy and paste the code onto your site, and the code will do the rest. Super simple. If you want I can do it for you, or create a list for you and just post the code here so that you can copy and paste it on your site. Just let me know.
I am actually in the process of buying a class C RV, and doing the research now to narrow it down to my shortlist of models. Once it gets a little warmer and more inventory becomes available at the dealerships and and online I will be doing full video tours of the models I take a look at to show you guys how I view camper layouts. How I priortize sleeping spaces, cupboard layouts, counter space and overall functionality. Pretty excited for that, but also nervous since I have never done any video before. So please take pitty on what I am sure will be nowhere near academy award winning footage. Until next time…. Happy Travels y’all.
Warm Regards,
Adam
You have a complete guide here, Adam. I was not into RVs since I’m a claustrophobic, but I got one a few years ago and love it! To my surprise they are comfortable. Great info/tips to find cheap hook-ups.
Thanks Edel! I was a bit apprehensive when I first started looking at RVs O so long ago, but I am so glad I pulled the trigger. RV life is amazing!!! and I wouldn’t trade it for anything else in the world! Have you checked out my RV Buying Guide?
Adam
I have an older camper and looking for cheap RV hookups to live at full time can somebody help me get an RV spot for 200 a month?
Candy,
THanks for visiting my RV Travel Blog. I would love to help you out, but I would need more information. First, what part of the country are you looking in? How big is your camper? Some RV parks have restrictions on allowing RVs older than 10 years. How old is your camper? Are you looking for 30 amp, 50amp? Do you need full hook ups or can you get a dump caddy and deal with just water & electric? If you buy a dump caddy like this https://amzn.to/3272xg6 off of Amazon you don’t need a sewer on site and any home owner has an outlet and a faucet for your other needs.
Hope that helps. Let me know what you have and I will try and help you out some more.
Regards,
Adam
What about KOA or thousand trails??
Julie,
Thanks for visiting my travel blog. KOA’s are great campgrounds, but I generally stay away from campgrounds. You get what you pay for, and KOA delivers a lot. Allowing them to charge $33 a night to pitch a tent and upwards of $76 a night for an RV. So they are always dead last on my list of options. I have never heard of thousand trails, but at $575 a year if there is no fine print or bait and switch tactic appear to be an AMAZING DEAL. Thank you for bringing this option to my attention. I will have to investigate further. Do you have any more information on thousand trails?
Adam
I’m Dallas, Tx area and looking for a place to put my 30 ft. Travel trailer.
David,
Thanks for visiting my travel blog. I would love to help you, but it would be long distance help. As I have never been to Texas yet. I’m on my way next spring I’ll be spending a month before heading to South America. If you could give me a little more details on requirements I might be able to find you something or someone that can point you in the right direction.
Have you tried any of the facebook groups or reaching out to any Airbnb listings? Have you called any of the mobile home parks? Have you checked out any of the craigslist listings? Real estate agents some times have a line on a 2nd home that the owner would love to rent out there land to RVers. You can also check with the local campgrounds see if they are looking for campground hosts. Sometimes those gigs pay sometimes they’re just free rent. I’ll send you this as an email to make it easier to get back in touch with me.
Let me know how else I can help.
Adam
I am currently living in my travel camper in herrin I’ll,I need a cheaper place to put it,on disability and a victim of domestic violence, which my husband had a Bond of no contact with me and I need to get help,any suggestions
Karen,
That sounds like a tough situation, but if you have a way to move your travel camper I would explore doing that. Calling all the local campgrounds asking them if they have a monthyly rate. Call all the mobile trailer parks in the area ask them if they allow travel campers and what their rate is? I would also reach out to the local Facebook garage sale/yard sale group page and make a posting asking if anyone is willing to rent out their backyard or vacant land to park your travel camper on? I would also email all the Airbnb listing in your area and see if they would let you rent their property long term for your travel camper. You can also make an ad on craigslist for your area asking for vacant land to rent out to park a travel camper on long term. Another good resource would be to reach out to local real estate agents, and see if they know any 2nd homeowners that would be willing to rent out there property to a full-time RVer? Use the selling point of housesitting or securing their property while they are away. Churches are also a good source to find cheap parking for travel campers, and usually allow you to use their bathrooms and showers so no hook ups are needed. I am not familiar with Herrin, ILL so I’m not sure whats in that area, but reach out and be creative I am sure you will find something. If not email me and we will try and find somehting together.
WOW! Thank you Adam for all this wonderful information. I never knew you could use Airbnb to find RV hookups, and I never thought of using Facebook to find secret campgrounds. While the rest of us have been herded into cattle corals you’ve been uncovering RV Hookups biggest mystery. Thank you again for all this wonderful information. We booked our first Airbnb booking through your link, and they gave us $40 off our first reservation because of you. Thank you for doing that. We didn’t expect that at all so we bought beer and sang praises about you all night long. While we camped next to a rippling slow moving river that came complete with its own cascading waterfall and private sandbar beach on a farmers property in Northern Washington. Normally we pay $50 a night or $250 a week at a campground through your cheap RV hookup method we booked 3 weeks for only $115!! Your the best AOWANDERS!!! If anyone else reads this Airbnb discounts your first booking by $40 when you book through AOWANDERS.
Tina,
Sorry it has taken me so long to get back to you. I have been on the start of my 43,000 mile road trip, and the last 1,500 miles have been in the mountains so I haven’t had the greatest reception to check in with my travel blog. But I am super excited to read that you found such a wonderful deal off of Airbnb. I remember the first time I scored full hookups for hundreds less than campground rates. Thought I cracked the code to RVLife. You will have to send me some pictures or atleast some GPS Coordinates so I can stay there as well if I am ever in the area. Sounds like my peferct RV Camping spot. Does it have good cell reception so I can work on the travel blog and deliver you more RV LIfe Secrets?
So happy to hear someone else found success using AirBnb.
Happy Travels,
Adam
Hi I wonder if you can give me some tips on places in the Pacific Northwest that are very affordable. I am currently in the SW Washington/Portland area and find most places are overcrowded or overpriced. Any help would be appreciated since you mentioned you are familiar with the PNW area. I am flexible in moving around the area. Thanks in advance.
Thanks for reaching out to me TD. Obviously the farther you get away from Seattle and Portland the cheaper RV hookups and campgrounds will be. With that said a few places that I have stayed at over the years come to mind. Muckleshoot casino offers free RV parking. No hookups, water or sewer, but there are a campgrounds in the area that only charge a couple of dollars to use their dump station. There is also a campground close by in Auburn I believe that is only $25/night when I stayed there the casino issued me comp passes for playing poker. I stayed for 3 months free of charge, but that was back in 2008 things may have changed. If you are in that area though. Crystal mountain has thing called “lot B” which has 70+ rv full hookup spaces. There is no reservation system it is a first come first serve basis, and while it may look like nothing more than a parking lot. In the winter months it turns into a neighborhood community of snowflake chasing skiers & snowboarders. Great personalities, good times, open bonfires and steps from one of the best ski resorts in Washington. In the summer there is no one there which makes it even more appealing. Its an awesome option for RV hookups if your in that area. If snow & ski resorts isn’t your thing, but still in the area check out Greenwater. Just down the road from Crystal. Its a little lower in elevation so it doesn’t always get the snow Crystal Mountain gets, but its makes up for it in personality, beauty and charm. There are hundreds if not thousands of cabins sprinkled off in the woods of this little 2 block 5 building town. Alot of them get rented out to the ski resort employees, but some of them are seasonal too. Almost all of them have some type of RV hookup on the property. Making it very easy to strike up a longterm cheap rv hook up deal between you and who ever is living there. I would try and find the crystal mountain employee facebook page or go to the bar in town. It used to be called Naches and see if you can find an employee to rent out a spot from. Remember they are their for the lifestyle not the money so any way to bring in extra money will be a welcomed conversation any ski bum would like to have. Enumclaw is the closest full service town surrounded by farms and homes with private RV hookups. i don’t remember the name of the county but I’m sure there is a private facebook group that could connect you with these private rv hookups.
Trout Lake, Hood River, The Dalles & White Salmon are good spots for full time RVers. All the casinos in Oregon are RV friendly. Gifford Pinchot National Forest is free. Govy Camp is another great option to find cheap spots to park – again filled with skiers and snowboarders so any money offered would be welecomed. White Salmon in the Hood River area is a little farther from the beaten path, and occupied by kayakers and kite surfers who also live a transient lifestyle so they are also more receptive any type of extra money. There are a number of private facebook groups for the hood river area. Campgrounds in that part of the world aren’t the cheapest in my mind, but I also think $400 a month is expensive so theres that.
I personally have never RV camped on the beach, but I have a friend from Eugene Oregon who stays on the beach outside of Portland year round. Its free, but no hookups, water or sewer. He just boondocks and pays the inexpensive dumpstation fees. I can get in touch with him if you’d like more info on that.
If I were in looking for a fun lively affordable long term destination in the pacific northwest with my RV my focus would be on Greenwater & Crystal Mountain with a backup plan to stay in Enumclaw somewhere. Cost of living is cheap. Seattle is only an hour away. Cell phone service is strong. Satellite TV/utilites are obtainable in both Greenwater & Crystal mountain. Plenty of outdoor “free” activities to do & explore. Its a wonderful community/neighborhood within striking distance to everything. Portland & Seattle are just a short commute. Whitefish Montana is gorgeous and you can take the train there or spend a long weekend. McCall Idaho is probably the best kept secret in the Pacific Northwest and is surrounded by hundreds and hundreds of miles of free RV camping options. If you don’t mind isoloation or on a fixed income Stanley Idaho has extremely affordable RV hookups during the winter months.
The closer you get to the ocean & the big cities the more crowded and more expensive rv hookups will be. I’m an avid skier which gives me an advantage for RV destinations, but most people don’t realize ski towns are more than just ski towns. They are very RV friendly and the vibe & pulse of these magical little mountain towns can’t be found anywhere else. Do a quick google map search for ski resorts near you. Find the ski towns just outside the “green” areas on the map or sometimes they are in the green area of the map. Ski season is about to begin in 3 weeks so these towns are full of life right now, and 2nd homeowners are looking to rent out anything for the upcoming ski season to generate revenue. So give them a quick glance if you haven’t already done so, or atleast give my Ski town Life article a read. Ski town will make you jealous for not living there the moment you set eyes on em.
Thanks for visiting my travel blog. Let me know what you find out or if you have any more questions.
Adam
Thanks for the quick reply. I’m living full time in a Class A motorhome and paying $320 a month for a boondocking only site so I’m set up for it but would rather get more for less if I could find it, or even more for the same, or the same for less, if you know what I mean. $400 is too expensive to me as well. I’m bringing my home. How much is a temporary spot of space really worth? I remember when camping was the cheap lifestyle and I stubbornly refuse to pay too much!
I would be interested in info on beach areas in the PNW as well if your friend has any info on those options. Thanks for being so helpful. It’s very much appreciated. I’ll start looking into the places you mentioned.
November 9, 2018 at 12:04 pm Edit
TD,
I couldn’t agree more. The first time I visited a campground and was told the monthly rate was $400 I was excited. Because I was used to paying $1000 or more in rent, but that is no longer the case. Especially when utilities are extra. If you’re going to charge for a parking spot charge appropriately, and then ask for extras. A downtown parking spot in Minneapolis is only $180 a month, and if I wanted to hook up electric and tv I am sure I could figure it out for the average price everyone else pays. For campgrounds to be charging $400, $500, $800 or more just for the parking spot, and then ask for additional money for a $40 electric bill. Or $9 water bill. Or $18 garbage bill. Is absurd and I refuse to participate.
Sorry it took so long to get back to you I was waiting on my friend’s response for the areas. Unfortunately, he has a very unique situation. He’s as old as a dinosaur, and his father is even older. Way back then the government offered a “Medical/Disability State Park Program,” and my friend is using his father’s pass for drastically discounted rates sometimes even free. They no longer offer this pass, and in 14 years he has only met one other person with it. I got dibs on it when he passes away we concluded yesterday.
Back to the point though my friend lives in Oregon, and his advice was to get a state parks pass for only $30. This allows access for day use only to any of the state parks located on the beach. Without this pass you’d have to pay $4 a visit, and while that doesn’t provide a solution for overnight parking there is National Forest nearby. He says there is a community of RVers that spend the day at the beach, and then migrate back to National Forest around Astoria to camp out. Also true in Washington. Which made me think of SNOPARK Passes
I lived in South Lake Tahoe one ski season and only paid a grand total of $25 for the entire ski season in rent. SNO Parks are some form of a park that the state allows winter activities to partake. The activities can include backcountry skiing, snowmobiling, camping, ice climbing, snowshoeing and whatever else you can think of that requires an overnight stay. All the SNO park’s I have been too usually consist of a parking lot and National Forest toilet(fancy outhouse-no running water), and usually go unused for long periods of time. Day use is the most common by cross country skier’s and photographers. The winter I stayed in Lake Tahoe only two days out of 6 months did I have company, and they only stayed for the day to use the tubing hill. I didn’t have any hookups, but there was a dump station 6 miles away & the generator powered everything.
SNOPArK passes are good from Nov 1st- April 30th with the exception of California their passes run from Nov 1st-May30th. Each state has their own SNOPARK season and prices. Washington is the most expensive, and I can’t find their actual season dates. California, Oregon & Idaho all pretty much the same, and have the added bonus of being accepted in each other’s state. If you buy the $25 California SNOPARK pass you can use it in Idaho and Oregon for no additional charge, and vice versa. Oregon can be used in both CA & ID, and ID can be used in both CA & OR. Washington on the other hand is greedy, and it shows it their rates. A day pass in Oregon is only $4, but a day pass in Washington is $40! California’s day pass is only $5, and Idaho is only $10 for the whole year.
Washington State Sno Park Pass Information
Oregon State SNOWPARK PASS Information
California State SNOW PARK PASS Information
Idaho State Snow Park Pass Information
SNOW PARK”s don’t provide the comforts of an RV park resort or campground, but for $5 a month provide a place to call home. Some snowparks may be more popular than others, and some may prohibit over night parking. The place I stayed at in Lake Tahoe said no overnight parking on the signs, but the website said it was ok to sleep in your car. The police officer and game warden that stopped by only cared that I had a sticker I paid for. How ambitious these rules get enforced elsewhere I couldn’t say, but I assume they are pretty relaxed since SNOWPARKS aren’t very popular.
Hope this was helpful. I spend my winters at ski resorts, and boondocking in the snow. Sometimes I forget thats not normal with other RVers. But let me know what you find. Have you tried contacting any vacation rental owners off of Airbnb to see if they would be willing to rent out to you in the off season. Remember if you book through me I’ll give you $40 off your first booking. If you and the AirBnb owner agree to $300 a month its only $260 when you book through my AirBnB coupon.
Happy Travels TD. Thanks again for reaching out. Always glad to help. Let me know what you find.
Adam
Me and my family well be hitting the road at the end of February. We are very much excited. Any tips or tricks to cut costs would b greatly appreciated. We’ll b stay’n in the eurika california area. It well b 2 adults 2 teenage boys 2 rvs and 2 dogs. Lol thanks again for any advice u might have. April
April,
Thanks for reaching out to me and visiting my travel blog. Eurika California is a great area, but at that time of year my biggest recommendation to you is to get a SNO Park pass. If I remember right its only $25 and good until May 1st. This allows you to stay at any California SNO Park for as long as you like. I stayed at Taylor Creek SNO Park in SOuth Lake Tahoe for an entire ski season and it only costs me $25. Worked out to be like $4/month for rent. The price might have gone up but you can check out the prices and regulations by going to this site http://ohv.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=1233.
Winter camping can be a challenge that isn’t suited for everyone. A dehumidifier helps with the condensation on the windows, and mini torch will help with frozen locks and doors. You can pick one up for less than $35 at any hardware store. I would also recommend get a key magnet box with spare keys to put on the underside of your rig. Sucks when the keys fall out of your pocket shoveling snow and you cant find them. Spend $5 now so you don’t spend 5 hours and hundreds of dollars later. I am not going to give them a backlink from my website but google thousandtrails. They offer membership based camping at over 80 campgrounds across america for a one team fee. Its a great deal as long as the campgrounds are in the area you will be at. Since your traveling in the winter time check out staying at ski resorts. You don’t have to ski to stay there, and you will have a blast with the other RVers that are there. Electric blankets are a game changer for winter camping and don’t produce condensation on all your windows and doors. Another great idea for winter camping is load up an external hard drive with movies, shows and various other entertainment. Or purchase an HDMI chord for your phone so you can broadcast to your TV for the whole family to watch. I have two 1 terabyte hard drives full of movies, shows & documentaries that come in very handy on rainy days or days you can’t leave the camper. There are so many other tips I could give you, but it would help to know how long you are going for. What are your intended destinations? What sites would you enjoy? If you could give me some more information I would be glad to give you some more advice, tips and destination guides.
Sorry it took so long for me to respond to you I’ve been away with family, but I am super excited to hear more about your trip. Please get back in touch with me.
Happy New Year, and thank you again for checking out my RV travel blog.
Regards,
Adam
I recently bought a travel trailer from your guide lines I found at https://aowanders.com/complete-guide-to-buying-an-rv/. Such an amazing resource of information. So glad I found it, but I was wondering if you had tips on cheap places for long term stays near the Las Vegas area? And Im on a fixed income. Thanks Adam love your site.
Vicky,
Thats awesome. I am so happy to hear one of my articles actually helped someone. What kind of travel trailer did you buy? If you have any pictures send em over. I’d love to see. As for cheap long term RV hookup in the Vegas area that would be a tough one for me. I am sure there are reasonably priced RV parks the farther away from Vegas you get, but I doubt there would be anything close. You have to remember Vegas is a year-round tourist destination, and there is no motivation for any campground or RV park to offer cheap rates. Doing a quick google search I found three casion run RV parks that only charge $20-$32/day, but this Las Vegas RV Park offers monthly RV rates of only $410. Here is a complete list of RV parks I found in and around the Las Vegas RV Parks & Cheap Hookups . Check out those and see what you can find. Also being the desert and all I am sure you could find someone off of facebook marketplace or craigslist that would be willing to rent you a spot on their property for the right price. Look for vacant land owners, or contact the local real estate agent. Check the real estate section on craigslist for property owner contact information. Not sure how comfortable you would be driving your new travel trailer around once a week, but under the right circumstances maybe the property owner would let you dig an out house pit. You could always get one of these RV hookup waste wagons and dump in the pit. Cover with lye. I stayed a property once that let me do this, but instead of the “waste wagon” I just bought 50 feet of PVC piping to hookup to my travel trailer hookups. Covered it in lye, and when I left buried the hole. Or you could always rent a porta potty.
But the best & cheapest option would be hiring a professional to pump out your waste. This usually only costs about $30-$40 and you only have to do it once maybe twice a month depending on your useage. I did that at a horse farm in Colorado once, and the company I used came out within 24 hours of calling them and only costed me $31. Hope this was helpful Vicky.
Thanks for visiting my RV travel blog,
Adam
i am in desperate need of a private place to move my rv and live in. i am able to relocate to either jefferson county, mason county,or clallam county, all of which are wa state. i hhave reached to facebook, craigslist,and numerous of web searches which yielded me no such luck. Please help! Thank you so much!
Michelle,
Thanks for taking the time to read my RV travel blog. What kind of RV do you have? Is it one that can boondock with an onboard generator? The counties you mentioned are all pretty close to Seattle which from what I hear is going through a major housing crisis. If you have an RV with onboard generator than I would explore urban boondocking. Check out my free camping guide. You may not be able to stay in one place for more than 3 days, but you it will be rent free. When your holding tanks fill up just reach out to a septic company. They will pump out your tanks for less then $30. I’ve stayed in Washington quite a bit and there are a number of facebook groups that have always helped me out. Did you try the garage sale groups and the help wanted groups for whatever county you were looking at? Those are my favorites. Have you reached out to real estate agents or contacted vacant land owners that have postings on craigslist? That usually always works for me?
Washington state also has SNO parks that you can stay at long term for very cheap. They don’t have any hookups, but again you can just call a pump out service to take care of that necessity for less than $30. If its just you and you need a place long term how far away is the nearest the casino or ski resort? If you don’t have an onboard generator and need full time hookups you just going to have to run down the list of mobile home parks, rv parks, campgrounds. Reach out to ranchers, farmers run down hotels/motels. I stayed in the parking lot of a hotel once in Colorado for over 6 months. Even had comcast come out and run me my own highspeed internet line that I just laid on the ground between the box and my RV. Find a hotel that does weekly rates with a parking lot and they most likely let you stay with an extension cord to an outlet for your power needs and a hose to a faucet for your water needs. Than again just call a pump out company for your tank necessities. Most of my time in Washington was spent in King County out by Enumclaw, Green water and Mount Rainier. I don’t do the big cities much. Too many people, too many restrictions and everything is too expensive.
But urban boondocking is a real thing, and if done right can be a great way to stack up some cash quickly while experiencing cheap rv living. This time last year I was urban boondocking in Chicago. Not an RV friendly city by any means, but it worked out fine. I had to deal with freezing temperatures, frozen shut locks, keys stubborn heaters and a city that barely has room for a honda civic let alone a 70 foot rig. Urban boondocking in Seattle should be a piece of cake. Just find 6-8 parking lots you can rotate through every 2-3 weeks. Hotel, hospital, health club parking lots are great one night stand options. City parks, the beach, big box stores yadda yadda. Its not ideal, but at least your not dealing with -50 degrees trying to do it. There are next to zero campground surrounding Chicago. Seattle has plenty of campgrounds surrounding its city limits. Expand your search, and while it seems absurd even if you find a $500 a month campground spot that still cheaper than $1500 studio apartment. I wish I could be more helpful, but google is your best friend in this situation.
Wishing you luck,
Adam
Very informative and full of great information. Tips and advice. Thank you.
Troy,
Thanks! If you want to take this a step farther I created a follow up post that provides the information a little more clearer and more options to checkout for cheap rv hookups. You can find that article here Secret to finding affordable Private RV Hookups
Adam,
We’re currently down in EL FRIDA, AZ., area, with a 28′ 5th wheel, living off grid, & talk about rough, now man, this is really rough, our current location, is owned by, a grumpy ol’ woman. But we need 2 find something with less stress, & more open territory, for hiking & such, as i’m trying 2 support me & mentally challenged daughter, any suggestions would be deeply appreciated, ty.
Ernie,
Sorry it took me so long to get back to you I’ve been taking a break from the travel to plan a family RV trip. Sounds like a very unfortunate situation. Have you checked out my other cheap RV Hookups article. I included a lot of facebook groups that fellow RVers can reach out to as well as a step by step guide in my comment to Christina if I were in city/situation looking for a setup for my self. Is your 5th wheel mobile? At this time of year in AZ there are thousands of places you can go to for free. Surrounded by other RVers or in your own private plot of land. Have you ever heard of BLM land? Elfrida appears to be right next to Cornado National Forest which you can explore free camping for up to 14 days before you have to relocate. Which I know can be a real pain especially with a massive 5th wheel. At this time of year Quartzsite about 5 hours to your west would be a wonderful option. With long term free RV camping. Located next to Lake Havasu which is surrounded by free camping options. Just north of Lake Havasu plenty of RVers enjoy free camping along the Colorado River or there is a road to the east off of HWY 95 that leads out into the desert where hundreds of RVers camp for free during the winter months. Lake Havasu & Quartzsite are close enough to Las Vegas you can go catch a show, or enjoy all that Las Vegas has to offer. Your also a little close to the Grand Canyon for all the hiking you desire, but Lake Havasu is also home to the famous Lake Havasu Falls Hike. Which if your in the area is an absolute must do Bucket List item.
North of Lake Havasu there is a full resort town I want to say Kingstown, but I could be really wrong on that so do a bit of research. But there is an RV resort with a pirate theme that plenty of fellow travelers I have met over the years have nothing but wonderful things to say about. If hiking, camping and enjoying the easy life is your thing there are plenty of options. If your not tied to the El Frida area by an employer maybe go check out Moab. Plenty of hiking and outdoor activities to do there. Plus there is a road out of town (towards the waste recycling center-take left at the last gas station) that leads to hundreds of primitive free RV camping spots that are blocks if not miles away from the next space. Enjoy hiking caves, cliffs, river beds, waterfalls and so much more. Plus your within striking range to Capital Reef National Park, Arches National Park, Zion & Bryce National Park. As well as the Western Slope of Colorado and the amazing San Juan mountain range that is home to Telluride and Durango. And its the off season right now so you’d most likely have the whole place to yourself. This upcoming weekend is also Tellurides comdey festival which attracts comedians from around the globe. I’ve never been, but I will be there this weekend if you want to meet up and game plan.
Page, AZ is also a wonderful little secret in AZ also off the Colorado River, but closer to big ticket attractions as wells as full service towns. Sounds like your a wonderful Dad. If you give me a few more details I am sure I can find you something that is right in your wheelhouse.
Wishing you the best of luck,
Adam O
Hi Adam I just finished reading some of the different things you have on your website and it is great and a wealth of information so im hoping you might be able to help me out. I lost my house about 6 months ago as I had major back surgery and haven’t been able to work since then. I had to have my L2 through L5 fused back together and I now have 2 rods and 6 screws in my back. After I lost my house with the help of family and friends I am now living in my 28 foot travel trailer with my 3 dogs. I need help in finding a place to park it and live in it hopefully with full hook ups and im willing to do whatever it takes to find a place to stay in return. I’m in Southern California and any help or information on this would be great. Thanks for taking the time to read this and keep up the great work you do for other people and RVers out there. Take care and thanks again. Jim
Jim,
Sorry to hear about your situation, and I just watched a documentary on the California housing crisis. So there are a massive amount of people looking to alternative housing options to continue affording their “california dream”. I really try to help out as much as I can with inquiries like this, but I do not stay in RV parks. I don’t have a secret stash of RV park knowledge I can tap into. Google is will be your best bet, but if I were in you shoes in that situation in that part of the country. Jump over to this post of mine https://aowanders.com/6-amazing-resources-to-find-cheap-rv-hookups/ and scroll all the way to the bottom, and review my reply post to Christina.
Basically it says:
I would join every facebook group there is for the area. While waiting for that acceptance I would email every AirBnb listing that I though was acceptable for long term RV living situation. While I was waiting to hear back from I would call every campground, RV park, mobile home trail park to see what there rates are. Then I would call every motel in the area and see if they had a weekly rate that was in my budget or at least lower than the monthly rate I found from calling all the RV parks, campgrounds, and mobile home trailer parks. If I found a motel with a lower rate I would ask them if they would rent me a parking spot for my RV, and simply run an extension chord for RV hookups. Most hotels have a communal bathroom so I wouldn’t need sewer hookups, but if they didn’t you could always use a pump out service. I’ve had to do that a few times. They usually only charge about $40 to come pump out your blackwater tank. That way you don’t need full RV hookups just an extension chord. If you still haven’t found anything in your budget, but have been accepted to all the facebook groups for the area your looking for RV hookups I would make a post…..
Offering whatever you think you can afford monthly for a parking spot. Saying you don’t need hookups. ALl you need is an electrical outlet and a faucet. (Because you can call a septic company to come pump out your holding tanks for $25-$40 so you don’t need sewer).
Then make a post on craigslist saying the same thing. Post it in the community section and barter section. Room mate wanted & vacation rentals. Google chamber of commerce or any other public consumed website for the area your looking at that might allow you to make a post saying the same thing. Maybe there is a local garage sales postit board. Maybe there is a local community website that allows users to post stuff. Find it and make a post. There is always someone in some town that would needs extra money that would be willing to help out. Get creative. Make a flyer and go post it at the local laundrymat, church, grocery store, liquor store, bar, hardware store. Wherever. Tape it to the building. put it under windshield wipers. Buy a mailing list for the area for around $50 and mail it to everyone that lives in the area that your looking for.
After that you can contact every vacant land owner listing on craigslist. See if they would be willing to rent out to you. Again you don’t need full hookups. Might just need to invest in a generator if you don’t already have one. Maybe they will let you dig a pit toilet and fill it with lye. I did that in Idaho. Purchased 50 feet of tubing and ran my sewer hose 50 feet away. At the end of my stay simply refilled the hole.
If after all of that I still hadn’t found a spot. I would recon the area for big box stores like grocery stores, handyman supplies or any nation wide chain that has a large parking lot. Locate a few areas that you can bounce around from. A couple nights here. Couple nights there. Find 7-10 so you don’t repeat a stay for at least 2 weeks. Reach out to churches. Find businesses that aren’t open or operation in the afternoon and night. They tend to be the easiest.
But be sure to check out this post
https://aowanders.com/6-amazing-resources-to-find-cheap-rv-hookups/
And get creative there is someone out there that is willing to rent to you. Talk to farmers. Just going to have to put in the leg work of googling, calling and talking to people.
Good Luck,
Adam
Hi Adam. Wondering if anyone can help me out here. I’m fairly desperately looking for cheap RV hookups for a long term spot to set up in central Pennsylvania, near Harrisburg. Full hookup preferred. I don’t have a toyota tacoma truck camper, but I did enjoy learning how you modified yours to make it fit your tacoma.
The sooner the better. Dauphin or Cumberland Counties would be ideal. The situation is complicated but I bought my first RV after reading your camper buying guide would be for a semi-permanent living arrangement. Thanks for all the wonderful information you have on this site. Who would have thought you can buy RV tires off the internet. Thanks Adam Love your RV travel blog!
Scott,
So glad you have found some benefit out of my RV travel blog. I wish I could personally help you out here, but I am not familiar enough with Pennsylvania to give you any insider longterm RV hookup options. I am planning on changing that this summer, but life has a funny way of wrecking even the best plans. googles going to be your best bet. Call every campground, RV resort, hotel, motel in the area. Email every airbnb listing. Reach out to the local real estate office. Get in touch with a few farmers, and do a search on facebook for local groups in the area your looking to get setup in. I am sure there is some type of garage saling facebook group or something. Here is a list of facebook “RV” groups that you could reach out to for more information.
https://aowanders.com/6-amazing-resources-to-find-cheap-rv-hookups/#Facebook_Groups_for_RVers
Happy hunting Scott.
Adam
Alberta, I have enjoyed your RV travel blog. thanks for the information.
Alberta,
Thanks for visiting I am glad you have found some useful information on my RV travel blog.
Adam
seeking rv park/storages where campers are allowed to do repairs. last i visited$350/month prices in virginia doubled to like 800 /month more than my check covers i’ve been in transit backpacking with injuries i’m getting ready to schedule hospital where drs can exam operate hernia etc i’m paying$310/month i’d rather be in live in rv park for that much? Also I enjoyed reading your https://aowanders.com/live-your-dash/
Sounds like a tough situation, and it breaks my heart not knowing a solution off the top of my head. RV life offers a lot of freedom, but that freedom comes at the price of upgrades, repairs and maintenance. I don’t know of a place off the top of my head that fits into that price point and allows repairs on property. But if your still agile enough to do the repairs you can always stay in the National Forest or BLM or someother type of public land system. I know its not the most ideal setup boondocking with a camper in need of repairs, but in todays world you can call for a pump out that will cost less than $40 for the service. Water truck can bring you water for your tanks, and propane companies are happy to deliver. All for less than $310/month, and your surrounding settings would be much nicer than a cramped RV park or city dwelling campground. I wish I could be more helpful, but I don’t stay in campgrounds or RV parks very often and very rarely ever find myself on the East Coast. I’m a mountain loving soul who chases snowflakes from Colorado to Alasaka!
But I’ve been in your situation and come across others who have also been in your situation. Its no fun, but its only temporary. Might take a bit more effort to go about repairs from public land and reliant on vendors to deliver supplies, but in todays world they are pretty cheap, understandable and more than willing.
Have you reached out to any farmers in the area for private RV hookups. I’ve always had great luck with farmers and they wouldn’t mind you doing repairs on their property as long as you cleaned up after yourself. Maybe reach out to a construction crew or building developer and offer to be their on property security in exchange for an electricity. Plus most job sites have porta potties. This would take care of your camper hookups, and give you a construction site to do your camper repairs. If there is a logging company in the area reach out to them. They sometimes hire people for “fire watch” duty. Which means you just sit in the woods watching their equipment and making sure no fires happen. I did that for 4 months once for a solar panel installation company. They paid me $750/week to sit and watch Netflx in my travel trailer on the job site. There are a lot of rafting companies in the area. Maybe you can reach out to one of them and offer to be the shuttle driver in exchange for a spot to park your camper and do some repairs. The Appalaichan Trail has tons of volunteer options in regards to trail maintenance and various other tasks. Maybe the Virgina department of natural resources can hook you up with a spot or reach out to a local volunteer group and see if there is something you can work out with them. The possiblities are endless, but all depends on your situation. Wish there was more I could offer.
Good luck & happy travels,
Adam
I am looking for things to do near Harpers Ferry National Park. Tomorrow I am visiting the Appalachian Trail Visitor Center, John Brown’s Fort where the slave revolt of 1859 took place and the Civil War Muesum here in Harpers Ferry. I’m also looking for a cheap RV space to rent for my RV around the Harper’s Ferry river location. I’ve contacted the KOA Harpers Ferry Campground and a couple of Harpers Ferry RV parks, but some of them are still closed for the winter, and the KOA in Harpers Ferry is far too expensive. Got any advice Adam? Love your RV Travel Blog!
Jason,
Thanks for reaching out, and reading my RV travel blog. I am assuming you have already contacted the RiverRides Harpers Ferry Campground Adventure Park? They offer white water rafting, tubing, zipline, aerial adventure park and looks to be the only Harpers Ferry Campground in the area. According to their websites Full RV hookup sites start at $69/night. If your going to stay for more than 10 nights you might as well do their monthly rate at $650, but thats way more than I would ever pay for an RV site. Especially when it says right on their own website that you should consider bringing ear plugs for a good nights rest because they are near tracks that see trains run 24/7! Yikes!!
I’ve never been to this area specifically, but doing a quick 30 minute google search all up and down the Potomac River there are plenty of free campgrounds you can stay at overnight through the National Park Service or the Canal Trust Organization. Here is one example of the Canal Trust Organization free campsite in the Harpers Ferry Area. Opequon Junction Campsite I am sure all of these campgrounds will be rustic boondocking style campgrounds with no running water or electricity, but can’t beat the FREE price tag. Actually I just found this on their website Water is turned off from November 15 to April 15 each year. So there is running water at all their hiker/biker campgrounds along the canal. Zooming in on the map link I provided below shows over 35 primitive campgrounds along the Potomac River Canal that do have running water, and are free to stay at overnight. Probably has something to do with being so close to the Appalachian Trail
If you need a dumpstation
Beckley
Beckley Travel Plaza, 500 Vankirk Dr, Beckley WV 25801 / 304-256-6695. Free. I-64/I-77 Exit 45.
Harpers Ferry
KOA, 343 Campground Rd, Harpers Ferry WV 25425 / 304-535-6895. $20 or less.
New Martinsville
Public dump station on the corner of Main St and Harlan Dr near the public park/boat launch. Free.
Williamstown
Welcome Center, 1325 Highland Ave, Williamstown WV 26187 / 304-375-2700. Free. I-77 Exit 185.
Here is a list of over 20 campgrounds & RV parks in the Harpers Ferry area complete with contact information and websites Harpers Ferry RV Campgrounds
As for things to do in Harpers Ferry looks like there is a ton of civil war history attractions. From historic battlefields like Gettysburg to historic architecture like the Seneca Stone Cutting Mill. Close by is the Gambrill & Gathland State Park. Killiansburg Cave Campsite will allow you to spend the day doing some cave exploration, or visit nearby Shepherdstown for a bite to eat. You’ve got a full line up of things to do in Harpers Ferry! Enjoy.
Happy Travels,
Adam
Hiya! Great article! Im actually moving up to the Ogden/Logan UT area next month with my Tiny House Trailer, and have been trying to find a place to park it. I’ll be in the area for a year. Do you have any suggestions for the area like the place you stayed at? Thanks!
Hey Alex,
The place I stayed at was called the Wasatch View Estates, but that was back in 2010 or 2012. I did just look on google maps and appears my space is still available. There are a couple other rv parks in the area that I considered but they (if i remember right) were around $400/month. There is also a number of free boondocking options too. Up the blvd to powder mountain theres a great place right off the winding stream, and a ton of places around the reservoir but again no hookups.
Here is my write up of highlights in Ogden. Ogden has so much potential, its a ski resort thats been forgotten about. You can always camp at the ski resort for free too, especially in the summer. You’ll have the whole place to yourself!
If you haven’t read this yet heres an article on how to fund free boondocking options.
Its been awhile since ive been to Ogden, but it only took me a few hours to find multiple options for my camper. When you get to town theres a truck stop and multiple hotels you could post up in with your camper while you get orientated and recon the area.
I didnt have to use my bag of tricks. Just opened google and startn calling rv parks. I want to say there was one trailhead on the skyline trail that allowed overnight camping and had full rv hookups for free up to 9 days, but im having a hard time locating it on Google maps. Ive saved too many locations, but if i find it ill post it here for you.
Good luck let me know if you have any other questions.
Happy travels,
Adam
We are 2 seniors that live in a 27 foot camper with a dog. our pull behind camper is old so it is hard to find a place to park it and we don’t have a car or any way to pull it so we have to pay someone to towv and we live on social security we pay $900 a month for a spot to park it live in Colorado
Barbara,
Sounds like a tough situation. My mother is living off of social security as well so I have some sympathy for you. Its not entirely clear if your asking for advice from your post, but if you are the first thing I would do is call around to mobile home parks near you. They generally don’t have an “age” rule when it comes to campers, and they are all set up for RV hook ups. I would be willing to bet you could find a mobile home park near you that cut your cost in half if not more. After finding a spot I would make a post on craigslist looking for someone with a truck. You should be able to find someone off of craigslist to move your camper for a $100 or less. I would also be willing to bet if you went to your local church the pastor their might be able to find someone who would help you move your camper for free. People are genuinely nice and would love to help out, but if you don’t ask they won’t know you need any help. Let me know if you need any more help.
Happy travels,
Adam
Hi! What a wonderful blog! So happy I came across this. I’m surprised I haven’t come across it before.
I recently relocated to Phoenix area from Little Rock, Arkansas and moved into a 5th wheel for the first time. Whew! It’s been a big adjustment. My biggest issue right now is finding a long-term spot. I happened to get lucky when I first moved in January and was able to get a spot in Black Canyon City RV park due to a cancellation. However, I’m working in Scottsdale. I don’t mind a drive, but Black Canyon is pushing it. Most RV parks these days seem to be booking up a year in advance. Eagle Point RV in Fountain Hills has openings this summer but told me they are booked beginning this December, and I need something I can stay at for at least the next year. I’d prefer a park of some sort so I can enjoy the amenities of a washer/dryer on site and a pool for my first summer in Phoenix metro.
Do most neighborhoods in the Phoenix area have community pools? In Arkansas and Louisiana it’s hard to find a neighborhood pool.
Any help or advice you have for this area would be amazing.
I’m a PA and my fiance is a PT, we have two well-behaved large breed dogs and we have moved here to work in the Honor Health system. Info in case you happen to know homeowners here with hookups.
Ashley,
Thank you for visiting my RV travel blog. I wish I could be of great help to you, but I tend to stick to more rural areas. Big cities tend to have a lot of rules and protocols that aren’t compatible with my lifestyle. I could definitely point in the right direction if you were looking in the Lake Havasu area or gateway towns around the Grand Canyon, but downtown Phoenix is animal I have yet to tame. With the influx of snowbirds every winter its no surprise the RV parks your contacting are on a wait list. They can be very choosy and expensive because the demand is extremely high. But from my little experience in the Phoenix area there are a massive amount of RV parks to choose from. Most will be in the $500-$700 a month range. Which is absurd in my opinion, but I did stay at one park in Mesa Arizona that only charged $400 if I remember right. You can read about my experience here at Tiffany RV park. I was not a fan at all, but I do remember finding about a half dozen RV parks in that area that were pretty reasonable. Just have to start dialing those numbers.
As for private RV hookups in Arizona you won’t find any in the Phoenix area, or if you do they will come with a laundry list of stipulations and high price tag. You can find numerous private RV hookups the farther away from the city you get, and even find super cheap RV lots on vacant land out in the desert. Not my cup of tea, but to each their own. You can even buy a 10 acre lot in the middle of nowhere for less than $5,000. With a good solar setup this might be an option, but I wouldn’t think it would be the most convenient setup. I wish I could be more help, but I haven’t spent much time in Phoenix,and have no desire too. While your looking though you can stay for free at the local casinos. The best one with the biggest parking lot is the poker room in Mesa. There is even an abonded road on the backside of the casino that leads to a perfect boondocking location on the backside of the golf course. No hookups, but no neighbors or anyone to bother you either. I stayed there for 5 weeks with no instances. One thing Phoenix has is plenty of desert and if your willing to boondock, which I imagine is not ideal in a large 5th wheel, you can get by for pretty cheap. If your willing to undertake all the inconveniences that go along with urban boondocking.
Good luck. Wish I could have been more help.
Adam
I have a private fenced gravel lot in a residential area near Asheville,NC. Full RV hook up. Fire pit. No shower. Laundry mat nearby. A few days to a few weeks would be best per Stay – not long term since I have a zoning limit. As a renter how can I get this out there? Where best to post it? What should I look for to avoid any bad situations? Any advise is welcome from private renters and lot users. Thanks so much.
Thanks for reaching out DD. Sounds like a wonderful RV destination. Especially in the beautiful Asheveill area. Love that area!
The best way to promote this as a nightly rental would be to make your own website, and I can help you with that if need be. If I were in your shoes this is what I would do. Create a google my business listing for your propety. Name it something relatable to campgrounds (DD’s Campground or Appalachain’s Secret Campground). Something along those lines. This way google will do the heavy lifting for you by including your 1 spot campground among the search results for ppl looking for nightly rv hook up rentals or even just a place to camp whent traveling in your area. Be sure to include pictures, make up business hours with a phone number. SO that your personal phone or house phone isn’t public or become overburdened with phone calls. Get a free Google Voice number. https://voice.google.com Its completely free. Includes unlimited voicemail, texts and can call out anhywhere in the US for free. You can make and recieve calls via your computer, and this can be your “campgrounds” business phone. To complete the GMB (google my business) listing you need to validate it. To do this after you create your new GMB listing you have to find it in the search results and click on it. Scroll towards the bottom and click claim this business. Google will send you postcard with a pin number on it. Once you recieve it you need to login to your google my business account and verify your the valid owner of this business. And whallla you are now the proud owner of a 1 site campground in the Asheville area that can be found by RVers, campers and travelers. You can make this as automated or manual as you want it, but you will want to connect your new webpage to your Google my business listing. Create an online booking system complete with a payment portal. You can use paypal or stripe. Stripe has lower fees, but is slightly more complicated than installing paypal. But both are pretty easy. Again I can help you with all of this if need be.
On your site all you really need is a home page (describing your site), rates page (including seasonal operation hours) and a contact page. To help really drive business you should utilize a review discount and/or bounce back promotion for all bookings. A bounce back promotion is when you give a discount for people who book again with you. This is widely used in the restaurant industry. Bring in your lunch receipt at dinner get 10% off or vice versa. A review discount works pretty much the same. Leave a review and get 10% off. Works wonderful if you incoporate it at the time of check out. And the more reviews you get the more google shows your listing first when people are searching for RV hook ups in your area. I’ve helped a auto repairshop in Minnesota incorporate both of these into their checkout system. They now have a 5 out of 5 star review on 4 different social media platforms, and a 91% repeat business model. Again if you need help doing this I can help you or do it for you if need be.
Another option that targets the traffic your looking for and will do all the promotion for you is airbnb and you can use this link to sign up. http://www.airbnb.com/r/aoverby1 Airbnb will do all the screening, payment collection and booking for you. All you have to do is create a profile along with some details about your site. Pretty simple. You can also advertise on local facebook groups in the Asheville area or even the RV facebook groups which you can find on this page of mine. https://aowanders.com/6-amazing-resources-to-find-cheap-rv-hookups/#How_To_Use_Facebook_To_Find_Cheap_RV_Hookups or you can use these sites thats sole purpose is to help people like you with private rv hook ups find renters https://aowanders.com/6-amazing-resources-to-find-cheap-rv-hookups/#Connecting_RVers_With_Cheap_Private_RV_Hookups
There are a few other places you can post to generate awareness too. Like craigslist, trover, couchsurfing or even pinterest. But I think you will find the most success with what I have suggested above.
As far as what to look for. I would use your own common sense. At first you might want to manually accept all bookings/reservations after talking with potential travelers to vet them. But most people that are looking for a campsite are travelers on a family vacation or road trip. They are looking for a safe secure place to leave their rig while they explore the area. I don’t think you have to worry too much about riff raff. But you could always put a stipulation on the age of a rig and/or a hefty deposit. By only accepting newer rigs and requiring a deposit this will also help narrow down the customer base into responsible and stable visitors. There are plenty of protocols you could implement to ensure you get the right type of visitor for your private RV hookups. If you’d like I would be more than happy to jump on a call with you to help you figure all of this out. You can email me at [email protected] to get that setup if you’d like.
Thanks DD. Let me know if there is anything else I can help with.
Warm Regards,
Adam
Hi, I’m looking for a place to park my camper for the next year with water, electricity, sewer, and wifi hookup near the Raleigh/Durham North Carolina area. Thought you might be able to help find the best place! Thanks for all your help!
Brittany,
Thanks for visiting my RV travel blog. I have stayed at a number of places in Asheville & the Outer Banks, but never anywhere near Raleigh. What methods have you tried so far?
Adam
I am currently finding myself along with my Lu Lu (old English Bulldog) which is a story in itself but I was hoping I could get some tips on how to find a secluded piece of land to rent for tent camping the remainder of the summer with my dog around lincolnton NC. I’ve been on a friends lil piece of land for little over a month and I love it but I gotta go.
Thanks for stopping by my RV travel blog Michelle. I wish I could give you a friends phone number, but without google I would have no idea where Lincolnton NC is located. If I were in your position the first thing I would do is hop over to this article of mine also focused towards finding cheap RV hookups or you can just use this link https://aowanders.com/6-amazing-resources-to-find-cheap-rv-hookups/
But on that page about 3/4 down you will find links to about a dozen facebook groups. Join them and make a post asking exactly what you posted here. After that I would call a local real estate agent see if they have any clients or parcels that would fit the bill. From there I would find the local garage sale facebook group for your area and make the same post you made here. You can also check craigslist real estate section and email land owners directly. Hop on zillow or realtor and see if there is anything for sale in that area that would fit the bill. Then email the agent or land owner and see if they would rent it out to you for the next few months. Plenty of options just gotta put in the time consuming “leg work”.
Best of luck to you,
Adam
Hello!
This was a great read, I was wondering if you know of any cheap rv living locations in the Bay Area(California)? I’m looking for cheap RV hookups but a long term RV stay. Im currently at thousand trails but I have to move my rig every 2-3 weeks. I’m new to this so any RV life tips would help! (:
London,
Thanks for swinging by RV travel blog. I’ve heard great things about the thousand trails membership program, but I’m not personally familiar with the protocols. I’ve also had a numerous people reach out to me from the Bay area asking a fairly similar question. After watching a documentary on the housing crisis in that area. Combined with California’a wild fires, popularity of vanlife, Asian investments and a host of other variables cheap rv living inventory in the bay area is rather scarce. The closest cheap RV hookups I personally know of in that area of the world is in South Lake Tahoe area. I don’t usually stay in the big cities so I don’t have a lot of contacts in that area, but have you checked out my other post on finding cheap RV hookups. It goes into greater detail on how I actually find my private RV hookups whether in the big city or the small mountain towns I so love. You can find it by following this link https://aowanders.com/6-amazing-resources-to-find-cheap-rv-hookups/.
And you can find all my RV tips on this page
https://aowanders.com/category/start-here/rv-life/
Where I am always adding new articles. But since you are looking for city options check out my Free urban boondocking article. or how I used my urban boondocking list to live out of my 30 foot travel trailer and save up $27,000 in 3 months. There might be some concepts in that article that will help train your eye for options surrounding your courent campground that you could stay at from time to time.
If you had a more specific question on “rv tips” I would be happy to try and answer them.
Safe travels my friend,
Adam
Great article Adam but I wish you would have provided specific locations to these cheap RV Hookups you have found over the years. When I searched “where can I get full time rv rentals?” and your blog came up (“Find Cheap RV hookups for less then $200 a month for full time RV Living”). Imagine my surprise when I read through your entire article and I did not see any locations that let me know where cheap rv hookups are. Maybe it should have been titled “How to……” OR “tricks for cheap RV living….” Thanks!
Jay,
I am sorry you didn’t find what you were exactly looking for from this article, but if your looking for long term RV Rentals this page of mine will help you. https://aowanders.com/cheap-rv-rentals-near-me-try-before-you-buy/?wb-currency=USD&wb-locale=en-us&wb-page%5Blimit%5D=16&wb-page%5Boffset%5D=0
Sometimes you have to clear your cookies or open it up in a google chrome incognito window, but this will widget will show you all of the available RV rentals in your area.
To address your second issue this blog post used to be called “how to…” and well google likes “Find” better than “How to”. I would love to provide the locations of the Cheap RV hookups I have discovered over the years, but most of these are private RV Hookups found on farms, backyards or private vacant land. WHich almost all of them were found using facebook which I dive deeper on how to do that yourself in this article https://aowanders.com/6-amazing-resources-to-find-cheap-rv-hookups/, but without explicit permission from homeowners I can’t publish addresses of private homeowners on the internet. If you tell me an area you are traveling to I can reach out to them and see if they are willing to entertain hosting another traveler, but I can’t guarantee you they still live there or still willing. I hope you can understand the reasons I don’t provide a map for my sites visitors.
Regards,
Adam
Thank you for all the information. I’m currently homeless and looking to get a cheap camper to live in until I can find a place. Anyway you could help me find a location to place to set my future camper. Family willing to help me get one but can’t stay at their place or property. Any help would be appreciated!
Alicia,
Sorry to hear about your situation. I would be happy to help you out, but would need to know where your looking. If you would feel more comfortable emailing me my email is [email protected]. Lets find you a safe place to home in your new camper. Hit me up anytime.
Regards,
Adam
I am trying to find a affordable monthly RV site to park in my 17ft 2012 Coachman travel trailer camper in the Volusia county/Daytona/New Smyrna beach/Deland area. I work in NSB and am there most of time and the RV Park I’m in is raising the price for winter due to snowbirds coming soon. I only need electric and preferably water and sewer $400.00 max the cheaper the better I’m hardly even in my RV cause I’m always at work. And I loved reading your latest RV road trip story https://aowanders.com/epic-rv-road-trip-that-ends-in-a-fight-to-the-death/
Brian,
Have you tried any of the tips in this cheap rv hookups post or any of the travel tips I listed on this private rv hookups page? https://aowanders.com/6-amazing-resources-to-find-cheap-rv-hookups/
I am not from Florida, and really can’t stand the humid heat. I’ve traveled to Florida a few times, but nothing long term. Your best option to find cheap RV hookups is to look for private RV hookups. Someone who is willing to rent out a piece of their property to you. I don’t really stay at RV parks. I boondock all summer long and poach campground spots only when necessary, and usually at poorly managed locations so that I can stay for free. In the winter I always stay at private RV hookups by finding property owners that either have full RV hookups or willing to allow me to run an extension cord and garden hose. I also recently just purchased this off of Amazon https://amzn.to/2Qflk8b because where I am currently staying doesn’t have sewer, but there is a local campground with a free dumpstation. I am paying a lady a $125 a month for water and electric to stay on her private beach to a river that runs through her property. When my tank needs to be empty I’ll fill this blackwater RV tank tote https://amzn.to/2Qflk8b. Load it in the back of my truck and empty it at the free dumpstation at the campground down the road.
I get emails and comments all the time asking about a best place in “X” city to stay at, or do you know where a an affordable RV park is at destination “X”? I don’t stay at RV parks. They are too expensive in my opinion. If your looking to stay longterm at an RV park at an affordable rate I have no way of knowing the prices of every RV park in the country, and rates change every year. Every season and sometimes every month. The best advice I can give you if your looking to stay at an RV park is open up google maps and type in RV park or RV resort or campground or even mobile home parks. Call every option that pops up and ask them what their monthly rate is, or visit their website to see if they publish their monthly RV rates. Thats what I do when I am looking to stay longterm at an RV park when I can’t find local private RV hookups, but I promise you if you put a little effort in by reaching out to homeowners in the area you will find someone to rent from. I recommend joining a facebook group for the area your looking in. If you don’t know what a local facebook group is its basically a local website page where local residents rant/rave, post help wanted opportunities, sell items (digital garage sale) and connect with others from their community. That is where I find all of my private RV hookups, and you can follow this link to get more information on how to do that. https://aowanders.com/6-amazing-resources-to-find-cheap-rv-hookups/#How_To_Use_Facebook_To_Find_Cheap_RV_Hookups.
Good luck and happy travels. Hope this was helpful.
Adam
Any more recommendations on finding long term RV spots? My family is about to purchase a park model, and we only plan on moving it every few years as needed. We are not looking to boondock or for seasonal RV resorts. We are looking for longterm RV rentals that are available year round, and was wondering if you had anymore RV tips to find cheap RV hookups for longterm stays?
Thanks for visiting my RV travel blog Holly.
Longterm RV rentals are the way to go. The longer you stay at an RV park or campground the cheaper they are. There are some memberships you can look into like harvest host, thousand oaks or even goodsam. Unfortunately I am not too versed in any of those, but I have heard through the RV travelers vine that thousand oaks is the best. Harvest host might only be for 1 night stays and no hookups and I am not exactly sure what Goodsam offers besides roadside insurance.
This blog post expands step by step on how I find private RV hookups for longterm stays.
https://aowanders.com/6-amazing-resources-to-find-cheap-rv-hookups/#How_To_Use_Facebook_To_Find_Cheap_RV_Hookups
Particularly how I use Facebook to find 90% of all my private RV hookups. If your not using private RV facebook groups to find RV hookups your missing out on a goldmine of cheap longterm stays. My next favorite resource to find private RV hookups is Airbnb. Between the two of these resources I have found over 5,0000 private RV hookups for as little as $5/month and no more than $400, but these pricier ones came with private beaches and a host of other ammenities you should pay double or even triple for.
If your trying to stay in a campground or mobile home park their rates are their rates. Just going to have to call around and find out, or check out their websites to see what the rates are. I don’t stay in campgrounds, mobile home parks or RV resorts long term unless it is an absolute last resort necessity. All of my longterm stays are usually off season and at some sort of private residence. Whether that is a farm, vacant land, or the backyard of an apartment complex. And the best camper accessory to find these cheap private RV hookups is https://amzn.to/2Qflk8b. A blackwater tote tank allows you to stay longterm anywhere in the country longterm without traditional RV sewer hookups. Causing no damage to the area you are renting out, and is super simple to transport or drain at a local dump station.
Happy Camping,
Adam
Hi Adam my name is Heather and me and my boyfriend and our 2 teenage sons. Are going to have to live in our camper trailer for a few months. We live in roy utah now but have to move out of or rental in a few days. We have been searching RV parks to put it for weeks and still haven’t found anything . Our camper trailer is more then 10 yrs old. But is in good condition. I’m freaking out because it all seems kind of scary. Can you please help us. If you know of any cool spots that would allow us to stay I would be so very grateful. We have only a few hundred dollars that we can pay for a longterm RV stay with full RV hookups. We are definitely looking for cheap RV hookups.
Heather,
Thanks for reaching out. I’d be happy to help you. Roy, Utah isn’t too far from Ogden Utah, which is where I stayed for free for an entire winter because management forgot about me, and I didn’t take any intiative to remind them. You can read more about my Ogden RV story here https://aowanders.com/ogden-utah-ski-resort-thats-forgotten/, but the RV park that I stayed at was called the Wasatch View estates & if I remember right the monthly rent was only $350 a month. But that was also 6-8 years ago. Might be new management, new owners or even new rates. When I stayed there they had a community house up front near the pool where you could shower, cook or do laundry. The space I stayed at with my Class B RV at the time was in the NW back corner. Never had one issue, and even got high speed cable internet installed in my RV through comcast. Close to downtown Odgen, Salomon Center, Powder Mountain and within striking range to Alta, Utah, Jackson, international airport and tons of other cool stuff in the area.
Good luck and hope your luck improves. Thanks for visiting my RV travel blog.
I had a private full RV hookup spot for $200 a month but the owners well went dry. Now have to find something else, trying to get through school for about a year. I am in Jacksonville florida would you be able to help me find another Private RV spot for about the same or less of course. thank you
Michelle,
I would be happy to do the leg work for you to find another private RV hookup spot, but I charge for that because its generally a 2 week process with a couple hours of research on top of that. But I layout everything I do in this post as well as this “how to find private RV hookups for less than $200” post https://aowanders.com/6-amazing-resources-to-find-cheap-rv-hookups/.
Have you joined any of the facebook groups I mention in this article https://aowanders.com/6-amazing-resources-to-find-cheap-rv-hookups/ or reached out to any of the local real estate agents in your area? You know you can always have water delivered to you too if you don’t want to move. Heres a 500 gallon tank https://www.ntotank.com/500gallon-norwesco-black-vertical-water-tank-x3578988?gclid=Cj0KCQjwr-_tBRCMARIsAN413WTQRgWzCRB9QMcMVflJkJ18kKjl3i34a0x25pBDYQ7OgJX2rRS8EWEaArIhEALw_wcB
Or you can always find 50 gallon plastic drums on craiglist for a decent price, and a water pumps on amazon like these for less than a hundred dollars https://amzn.to/2WASuyy
If you can stay and need help setting up a water supply let me know.
Thanks for visiting my RV travel blog,
Adam
I need help to finding longterm RV rental space with electrical and water hookups (my composting toilet makes sewer hookups unnecessary) for $150-$350 a month long term travel trailer living in the bay area (preferably in Foster City area and not in San Francisco or Daly City). I haven’t completed the purchase of the RV yet but it will be less than 10 years old and under 35 feet.
I tried some of your facebook and craigslist tips but no luck. How much do you charge to help? I’m willing to pay for your time if it’s not too out there. Let me know so we can work something out.
Also if they ask – I’m free of all vices like smoking, alcohol, drugs, criminal history, partying, etc. Huge thanks if you can help.
Ben,
I was going to shoot you an email, but for others looking in this same area that doesn’t help them. So here is what I would do if I were you. First, California especially San Francisco is undergoing a housing crisis, and “van life” is growing in popularity no matter how stupid I think it is. Full Time RVing is right behind it.
Secondly, because of those three variables, anywhere in California is going to be difficult especially near a major city like San Francisco. Things are going to be more expensive and you’re going to have to get more creative when looking for a cheap longterm RV rental space.
I personally would call every mobile home park in the area because they generally aren’t owned or operated by people that are up to date with the times. Remember I stayed at a mobile home park in Ogden Utah for free for an entire ski season because they forgot to come check me in.
Here is a hit list of mobile home parks in the Foster, CA area that might be suitable for long term RV rental spaces Mobile Home Parks in Foster City
The next thing I would do is call every ***NON*** nation wide chain hotel/motel/fleebagtel, and see if they would be willing to rent you a space in their parking lot near an outlet and faucet. Your most likely going to hear “NO” more than you are going to hear “Yes”, but focus on the smaller operations. My goal would be to find the mom and pop hotel, and the shittest looking hotel/motels are going to be far more likely to say yes than any of the other ones.
After that I would contact every Church in the area by calling them, reaching out to them on facebook as well as sending them email with a picture of my rig, vehicle and person. As well as a link to my facebook page & website so they can get a feel for who they would be allowing to live on their property.
I would also find any construction sites in the area, and go talk directly to the site manager. I’ve lived in a construction site for over 5 months once back in Minnesota which lead to an $18/hour solar panel overnight “security” gig in the middle of nowhere. I literally got paid to get drunk and watch Netflix for 8 months.
I would than make multiple closely worded craigslist posts, and multiple posts on the Foster, CA local facebook group. Commenting once a day to bump my post back to the top.
The next thing I would do is go to http://www.couchsurfing.com. Hosts on this site are already opening up their homes for FREE to travelers who are willing to sleep on a strangers couch, spare room or even the floor. FOR FREE THEY TEMPORARILY HOUSE TRAVELERS FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD. I would email every listing there is in the area and see if they would be willing rent out their backyard, sideyard,driveway, curb or where ever and whatever I could rent for a space for my RV.
I would also go to a site called http://www.harvesthost.com who also offers free nightly rentals to ****RVers****, and email or personally go talk to every listing in the area to see if I could convince them into working a lonterm RV rental space on their property. They already have the hookups. Already allowing RVers to stay on their property. Why not make a little money for what they are already doing?
The next thing I would do is go to my https://aowanders.com/travel-resources/#RV-Rentals-&-Resources page and email every camper owner in your area and see if they would be willing to rent out their backyard, sideyard, no yard, driveway or magical invisible RV park located….
They are already generating income from RV Life. They own some type of camper. Which means they have space somewhere when it is not being rented out. Maybe they have enough space for two campers, or maybe their father in law owns a farm. Or a storage unit. Or an airport. Or an RV park. Who knows.
In markets like this next to a major city that is undergoing a legitimate housing crisis you’re going to have to get very creative. It takes me generally a week to find a longterm RV rental space in areas where people own 5+ acres. I am guessing it could take up to a month in a place like Foster City, CA to find a long term RV rental space. But don’t get discouraged. Somebody somewhere there has a garage, pole barn, oversized shed, yard, second home, jobsite, parking lot, abandoned building, marina parking slip blah blah that would gladly take a couple hundred bucks a month for something they are not using. Real estate agents would be a great resource for a desperate home owner or building owner.
Want to make money while living in your RV full time? I would even go so far as to contacting the local temp agency, and see if they have any overnight security job placements opportunities or any warehouse type jobs. Warehouse jobs come with big parking lots. Not only do you get a place to live, but you get paid to live there too.
If all you need is a parking space and water, I would maybe start looking into solar panels. For water you can always swing by a friends house and fill up once a week, or even the campgrounds once a week. I was in the same boat as you this last winter, and saved up $27,000 in 3 months working a dead end warehouse job in an urban environment with a 30 foot travel trailer.
Did it get annoying always having to move, or driving around the city with a 30 foot 5,000 pound box behind me?? ABSOLUTELY!!!! But I was living rent free and stacking up cash quickly. If you want to read about that here is the article https://aowanders.com/how-i-saved-20000-in-3-months-at-a-temp-agency-job-to-travel-for-a-year/
Maybe you can’t find “ONE” spot to stay all month, but maybe you can find one hotel who will let you stay for a week and two churches that also let you stay a week a piece. And maybe one couchsurfer the last week of the month. To deal with the annoyance of moving every 7 days is worth it in my mind for a rent free life!!! And who knows at the end of your week if you throw them a $50 bill for helping you out the hamster might start spinning and they’ll offer to let you stay there for the rest of the month for another $250. Or whatever you work out. Sometimes you just need to get your foot in the door with a temporary solution that can easily be turned into a permanent solution.
People generally aren’t creative. They don’t think outside the box. They can’t comprehend that someone would be willing to pay them $200 a month to park an RV out back. Most people couldn’t fathom that their driveway could make them $300 a month. Sometimes you gotta start small and show them the possiblities by leading “the horse to water”.
As for my rates-
I like to create options because not everyone needs the same thing and sometimes budgets are tight.
To find the local facebook group = $25 (I’ll even make the money post for you if you want)
To create just a hit list of the targeted area for you to follow up with on your own = $75 (includes links, phone numbers and what I would pay to rent it out)
To add the initial call/email to the area hitlist = $2/listing (If there are 5 possible candidates on the hitlist {church, hotel, 3 mobile home parks} that would be a $10 charge)
To actually doing all the research, calling, emailing, posting and following up to find you a spot = $185
Sometimes this can be tricky and sometimes it can be simple. Have no way of knowing how long this can take until I start and finish. Sometimes you hit a home run on your first try. Other times your still following up and tracking down possibilities two week from now. In an area like San Francisco if I don’t find something on the first day I’m guessing it will take at least a month to find something through a long distance approach. If I had boots on the ground and could meet people face to face definitely be easier and quicker.
Have you checked out my other Cheap longterm RV rental space hookup guide https://aowanders.com/6-amazing-resources-to-find-cheap-rv-hookups/
Obviously this isn’t a service I ever dreamt of providing nor are these prices set in stone, and as you can see from the comments I am more than willing to help out where I can. Eventually the map at the top of this page will have nothing but cheap longterm RV rental spaces
you can explore, but that takes time and contributions from you all too. The more we help each other out the more resourceful this website will be.
So if anyone knows of any affordable FULL RV HOOKUPS anywhere in the world shoot me an email [email protected]. I would be happy to start building a secret list for you all or a full write up or just a pin in the map. Whatever will help you all travel longer, cheaper, smarter and farther. Thats my goal.
Happy Travels Everyone & thank you again for visiting my RV travel blog,
Adam
Michelle, I just got a pop up yesterday that a friend gifted to me so I could get back on my feet and survive on my disability check. 1 week ago I paid $400 to have electric and water hooked up in a lady’s yard out in Middleburg.
Turns out that the lady scammed me, she refused water connection, locked shower/bathroom house, then tonight she unplugged the electricity running to my camper!!!!!
So I’ve been researching lots, land, campsites, and rv parks for several hours trying to figure out WHERE I’m relocating my camper tomorrow.
Seeing you recently struggled finding a spot for yours AND you’re located in Jax, I HAD to find out if you were successful in locating a spot to park, and IF NOT, possibly discussing the process you experienced, wanting to see if we might be able to assist each other in our searches .
Maybe there’s a way we can benefit from meeting and strategize a way to locate longterm RV space for rent in our area.
Nichole,
Sounds like an awful situation. How did you find this private RV space for rent? Airbnb? Facebook? Craigslist? How did you communicate prior to moving in? If it was email or text I would take her to court. Show the judge what they agreed to in writing and than what they didn’t provide after they got your money. You should be able to get reimbursed plus relocation fee and pain and suffering.
On another note most campgrounds charge $400/month so unless that private RV space for rent is also providing, laundry, wifi, garbage removal, water, sewer, electricity and whatever other amentities campgrounds provide you’d be better off just staying at a campground for those rates. Private RV hookups in someones yard usually amounts to an extension cord and a hose with you having to make a trip to the local campground or dumpstation with your camper or blackwater tote wagon. Thats not a real RV space for rent. Thus there needs to be a compromise on rent rate for your inconvenience as well. Because if there is not than you might as well stay in a campground were they have everything dialed in, working and functional.
Sorry about the scenario you find yourself in. Hope it gets better soon.
Adam
Hi, I live in Bakersfield Ca. I’m looking for a long term RV space by private party. RV parks used to be an inexpensive way to live …….but not no more!! If anyone knows of anything could you e mail me a line .
Thank you
Curtis
Curtis’s email is [email protected]
Hi I am looking for a place to rent in my 90s pop up camper..Tough times has called for tough decisions..thank God I am naturally an outdoors woman…and a survivalist at best but am having trouble finding an affordable spot to rent..id love to pay around $200. Monthly…I am in Warner Robins Georgia and 30 miles radius outside that would be ok ..Any suggestion woyld be greatly appreciated..Thank you..Happy Camping!!
Thanks for all of these wonderful tips for new RV owners. It really helped me avoid some pretty dumb RV mistakes I’ve seen others make.
Jennifer, Thanks for reaching out to me. I have sent you an email with 30 private RV hookups for longterm rent in that area that I have personally used.
Good luck they are all wonderful places to stay.
Adam
Thanks for actionable advice on finding longterm RV spaces for rent
I am in Oklahoma looking for a longterm RV rental lot in Choctaw with RV hookups already there for between $200 and $300 a month. The travel trailer I live in fulltime is a 26 foot 2015 keystone in great condition. This website has so many creative ways to find longterm RV lots for rent I thought maybe someone in the community might know of a place they would be willing to share with me.
Roger,
Thanks for visiting my RV travel blog and joining our community. I just sent you an email with a list of 8 private RV hookups I know in that area, but I published your comment for others to see incase someone else also has viable leads for you to follow up with. Thanks again and be safe out their traveling during these trying times.
Adam
I need a cheap RV/lot/place for my 02 18′ Tahoe, thanks
Richard,
Thanks for visiting my RV travel blog, but I can’t help you if you don’t give me a destination. I know of thousands of cheap RV lots on private property for less than $200 a month. But are you looking in Germany? North Carolina? Russia? Africa? Minnesota? Utah? California? Kind of need a destination to help you.
Hi Adam, I need a full-time rv hookup community for me and my kids for hopefully under $200 ot around there anywhere in Florida as soon as possible before my expensive lease is over this month. -Thanks and bless your article, Celia
Celia,
I am always willing to help you guys out in finding cheap RV hookups and longterm RV rental spaces, but with the Florida in the status it is in right now with Covid 19 it might be a little more time consuming than normal. If you could narrow it down a bit from the entire state I might be able to refer you to private RV hookups in peoples yards I know of, but they range from Key West all the way up to Marco Island and Jacksonsville. Not sure if any of those areas work. If you don’t feel comfortable discussing this publicly you can always email me at [email protected]
Thanks for visiting my RV travel blog,
Adam
Thanks for your blog. You’ve given alot of useful information. I was wondering if what you thought of camp hosting was a way to go as far as free RV rent with minimal work required? Have you ever done this? Also, Have you ever paid $200/month in Southern California area for full RV hookups?
Laurie,
Thanks for visiting my RV travel blog. Camp hosting is a wonderful way to offset your travel budget. Some call it workamping and there is a great facebook group to promote all the relevant and new opportunities. Amazon also does a workcamp opportunity where they pay up to $600 a month for campground fees, if I remember right. They do it every year during the holidays. Gate guards is another great RVing job for us travelers. Theres good with the bad, but the one constant complaint I always heard was the unfairness of it. Not something I ever experienced, but beware of the barter opportunities. Where a free campsite is given in exchange for work. Often times these scenarios become very one sided, and the RVers are the ones being exploited. Set boundaries, and point out immediately when they are crossed. Or they will continue to push. I had a friend agree to work 7 hours a week in exchange for a campsite in Southern Utah which turned into a 60 hour work week.
I actually found a lady in Sherman Oaks that offered me a place to park my RV longterm for only $230 a month. Let me know if you need any help?
Regards,
Adam
I’ve been looking for cheap campers, and a full time long term RV spot here in Western Wa, (Puget Sound area) for quite awhile and nothing. Being disabled and also having to pay my RV mortgage every month, I’ve a restricted money budget on SSDI. I can’t tow every month without having to pay someone. My Jeep won’t tow my 30ft trailer. I checked out Hipcamp for a cheap camping lot for rent and thats a joke. The lowest was $26 a night. I’ve posted numerous ads. Private parties are charging as much as RV park monthly rates. $450 up to $900, and most of those don’t even offer all hookups for cheap campers.
Michael,
Thanks for visiting my rv travel blog to discuss cheap campers, and reaching out. Sounds like you’ve been running into a lot of road blocks and cheap campers problems. That happens. Especially near the big cities of this country. I know you stated you tried hipcamp, but did you try reaching out to the property owners you did find? Its about to be their off season, and that income stream is going to dramatically drop off. You can use that to your advantage. Get in touch with the local food shelf. The workers there are pretty tied into the community and might be able to steer you in the right direction. Also maybe swing by the fire department. With all the wildfires going on they might have a designated area for RVers & cheap campers right now. Have you tried the old school method of hanging flyers at laundry mat, hardware and grocery stores? Sometimes digital isn’t the way to go, and if your going to be a cheap camper you need to exhaust all the options.
Also there is the whole boondocking angle on public land too. Just grab yourself a 30-40 gallon water tank. I use the norwesco 35 gallon. Than grab the Camco blackwater tank caddy and a cheap generator and your all set to live off of public land. In an area that close to Seattle its going to be a challenge, but you can still find someone. I parked my RV in Enumclaw for a ski season at dirt cheap lot rates when I was out there.
Just remember don’t lay all your details out in the facebook ad. In the ad just divulge you need a parking spot and willing to pay for that parking spot. Get them on the hook before telling them your circumstances. But spell out what type of parking spots would work for you. Like in the example I used in this blog post. I told people I was willing to pay for a driveway parking space, lot in the backyard, side of the road or even a culdesac. People don’t know the value they have to people like us so you have to spell that out for them.
Good luck and let me know if there is anything else I can do to help.
Adam
Thank you for this information that I needed very much! Im a single woman who just purchased a 37 foot class A. I always loves the outdoors and play a ton of sports around the world. I spent over 20,000 in hotels and travel in just one year. Which led me to getting the RV however I’m learning so much information and need a ton of help doing so. Most RV places have gave me pricing of 17,500 down to 789 and thats more than my actual rent now. This is just to set my motor home on the lot and some don’t even have a dump area. The last and first one ever I went to; offered cable and more, but of course had no boxes left and no dump station. I was put by a road and heard traffic the entire time,, nor did I get the feeling i was camping. I got helpful information from reading this article. Thank you kindly.
Erica,
I can hear the frustration in your voice. Trust me we have all been there, but I am glad I was able to help out. Be sure to look around the site, and read the other related articles I mentioned. Theres a ton of great information in them, and you don’t need to have a dump station. Just need a blackwater caddy, and then you can post up whereever you like.
Regards,
Adam
Thank you for all the helpful free camping tips, RV parking, and longterm RV parkin options information.
Your welcome Chris, Merry Christmas
After going over a handful of the blog articles on your website, I truly appreciate your technique of writing a blog. I bookmarked it to my bookmark webpage list and will be checking back in the near future.
Thank you john
I’m glad there are ways for RV owners to find discounted longterm RV lots to rent and stay in. I can understand how they have a budget and can’t spend too much in one place. However, spending a bit more at one resort could also be a part of the experience if the resort is fun.
Chris,
Thanks for stopping by my RV travel blog. I couldn’t agree with you more about spending money at a resort if it offers more than just a parking spot in exchange for a fee, but most RV resorts are off their rockers. $800 + and most of them don’t even allow campfires let alone host any sort of activities. Even the budget ones at $400 a month still only provide nothing more than a parking spot with a plugin. As RVers we are providing the living quarters and all the accessories which is why I rarely stay at a resort or campground unless the rate is less than $10 a night.
Enjoy the rest of camping season,
Adam
The blackjack and roulette tables can damage your holiday, but after using your tips we found a casino in Oklahoma that offers RV hookups right in their parking lot. We’ve been here for almost 4 months now, and absolutely loving it. We get free alcohol, free electricity, free dump station and are staying at casino.
My husband plays black jack and poker during the days while I sit at the penny slot machines. Some days we win some days we loose, but all in all in our monthly costs to stay at a casino in RV have hovered around $450/month. That even includes food. We mostly eat the buffet, but we have splurged a couple of nights on steaks. Your cheap rv living tips have opened up a whole new world of RVing to us. Our friends from Oregon are coming to join us, and they have been using your hipcamp tips to stay at private RV lots for super cheap as they make their way over here. Thanks Adam.
Ahh I remember the days of staying at the Casinos. One good thing is they are never closed and there is always something to do. Glad you two are enjoying yourself, and have found a new way to cheaply live in your RV full-time.
Good luck and remember if you bet both black and red on the roulette table you can’t lose hahahahaha
Regards,
Adam
Thanks for helping me understand that we should fill our freshwater tank through the campgrounds water supply. I will keep that in mind so that we have something to drink when we try spending our summer vacation in an RV for the first time. I hope that I can find a good campground with safe and clean water to ensure that we will not have food and drink issues during our first RV road trip.
Mia,
I rarely use campgrounds anymore except for nightly pit stops just to fill and dump tanks in between boondocking destinations. It’s a pretty common trait among us full time RVers.
Regards,
Adam
I’m actively looking for a RV and looking for an RV lot to rent with full hookups in either the Rochester, MN area or Madison, WI area. I’m wanting to stay long-term like 12+ months stationary RV living and find a job in the local area.
Isaiah,
Thanks for visiting my travel blog. Rochester and Madison areas are both wonderful places to RV in the summer. Unfortunately, I have not found one RV campground in the entire state of Minnesota that is operational in the winter time. Not because they wouldn’t have any customers, but because not one RV park in the entire state buried their pipes deep enough. That may be different near Madison, but I have never tried camping in Wisconsin in the winter. I am always out at a ski resort during the winter months.
You’ve got the right idea, but here in the midwest people live a more conventional life and don’t have the imagination to live any other type of life. You will absolutely be able to find a job. Especially now, but to do what you want to do your going to have to find a private rv lot to rent. The two best ways to do that is post in the local facebook group advertising what your looking for and what your willing to pay, and the second option is to reach out to a Hipcamp host and see if they are willing to do a longterm RV lot rental. Stationary RV living is the most economical way to tackle life right now, but the midwest doesn’t make it easy during the winter months because of their lack of imagination and complete inability to forcast the needs of guests.
Hi!
my friend has a 40ft motorhome and has a pet. he needs something cheap 300 or less full hookups or just power and water. he lives in washington state and has rv older then 10 years.
Timi,
Sounds like you should take advantage of any number of the tips I have provided on this page.
I’m glad that you talked about my worst RV blunder was believing I had to pay campsite fees to park my RV overnight. One of my parents’ friends needs to know this article because they are trying to find specific information about it in a couple of days. Thank you for the tips about RV site rental.
I never knew that it is important to make sure that you will have the tools for emergency purposes. When my spouse and I were first married, we bought an RV as we love adventures, we are now looking for an RV site for our vacation next week. You did a great job of explaining why RV camping is the best and I’ll be sure to consult a trusted RV site rental service for our vacation.
You can always go to my travel resources page and find links to reputable RV rental sites.
Very good post. I’m facing some of these issues as well. I just can’t seem to find anywhere to park my RV longterm, but I am learning so much from your https://aowanders.com/category/start-here/rv-life/ webpage. How much should I assume to be paying at a campground in general?
Great question Leland.
On average most campgrounds fall into these 3 categories.
Rundown/Dingy campground. Expect to pay around $35/night and around $400 a month for RV camping at spots like this.
Middle-of-the-road campgrounds with basic amenities expect to pay around $50/night and $600 a month for RV camping at these type of campgrounds.
High-End Campgrounds with actual working and functional amenities expect to pay around $65/night and close to $1000 a month for longterm RV parking at these type of campgrounds.
Regards,
Adam
Thank you so much for sharing such a great and knowledgeable blog. We are full time living in a truck camper after our daughter introduced us to vanlife, and we have learned so much from your blog. Thank you for sharing so much useful content for full time RVers like us and our daughter.
Ethan,
You are very welcome and thank you for taking the time to write such a wonderful comment. I am glad your enjoying truck camper life, and approaching the way you should be. Learning as you go is the only way you can successfully find happiness in life.
Happy travels,
Adam
It sounds like RV living has appealing frugality. I need to get an RV for family travel. I’ll have to consider getting tent attachments as well since that is what I am camping with now. Do you recommend a roof top tent for a Toyota Tacoma?
Thank you Tex for visiting my RV travel blog. RV living is all about a life of frugalness, and if your looking to find more adventures for less money than I highly recommend exploring all that RV life has to offer. I don’t have any experience with roof top tents for a Tacoma, but I have plenty of truck camper models that fit a Tacoma. You can check them out here and here.
https://aowanders.com/33-truck-campers-for-toyota-tacomasno-popups/
https://aowanders.com/toyota-tacoma-truck-camper/
Is it a good idea to liquidate your property to a house flipper? I am thinking of going as a full-time RVer, but I’ve just accumulated so much stuff.
How did you prepare your life to become a full-time RVer?
That’s a really great question, Brock. One that should be answered in a full blog post, but I’ll give it a try. First, I don’t think it matters how you liquidate your home before becoming a full-time RVer as long as you’re happy with the transaction. There will always be some form of regret no matter which option you go with, but if you keep your eye on the prize those should be short-lived moments.
For me personally, when I first started traveling I was still a struggling young adult so I never had to liquidate a lifetime of belongings. So traveling just kind of fell into my lap, but after the pandemic, I did have to have to go through the purging stage. Something that was easy for me because every day was a daily reminder of what I didn’t want in life, and I had mentally trained myself from years of travel to avoid becoming attached to materialistic items. The biggest challenge for me was the time clock I put on myself. I didn’t give myself enough time to accomplish all of the tasks I wanted to do before heading out on my big trip. Another chapter I need to add in my, “What Not To Do,” book. Thankfully, a life of travel makes you highly adaptable and easily detached. So I earned a pretty hefty amount of karma points by giving away more than I should have.
Whenever I face tough decisions I always ask myself one question, “Is this important enough that I will even remember it in five years?”
If the answer is “No,” I delete it from my list of concerns pretty quickly.
Hope that helps. Safe travels my friend and let me know if you have any more questions.
Wow Adam, this is such a great, detailed post. Thank you!
I noticed you prefer the Pacific Northwest. I’m looking for spots for my mom in the Olympia/Bremerton area or the east side of the state, Spokane, WA. If you have any favorite spots in WA, please let me know. Otherwise, you’ve given me everything I need and I’m so grateful for this post!
Mauricio,
Thank you for those kind words and for visiting my travel blog. I’m assuming you’re looking for long-term RV spaces for rent? I don’t know of anything specifically in Spokane, but if Sandpoint Idaho is close enough there are multiple places I can recommend. There is actually a campground behind the gas station just before you get to the long bridge in Sagle Idaho that only charges $400 a month. That includes all utilities and is only 3 minutes away from downtown Sandpoint. Super safe, quiet, and conveniently located to everything. I even had the local utility company come out and hook up high-speed internet for me. Full bars for Verizon customers and Lake Pend Oreille is just down the street. It’s a spectacular town that doesn’t know it’s an amazing place to call home. It’s only about an hour North of Spokane. About 3 hours West of Whitefish, and Schweitzer Mountain is 6 miles away. There is also another “private” campground South of there towards Spokane next to the Chevron station that only has 6 spots, and when I was there they were only $220/month for full hookups. I eventually left both campgrounds to stay at a farm I found after making a post on Facebook for only $120 a month. So there are people in the area that will let you do exactly what I have described in this article.
On the other side of town there is this town called Hope, and over there I found multiple people willing to rent to me. Unfortunately, there is/was very little cell service, and not much of a town over there. On that side, though there are endless places to boondock in long term for free, and my favorite places are Whiskey Point. It’s technically National Forest Campground ( I think), but there is never anyone there nor does anyone ever come to check on it. The real selling point though is you can place grocery or supply orders with the local marina on the other side of the lake and they will deliver it to you by boat. Usually by the next day, but sometimes they got to me the same day.
If you need to be closer to Spokane I would check out the Eastern side of Coeur d’Alene. There are plenty of Marina’s that will rent out long-term, and I am sure there is a campground down there somewhere. If your mom is a skilled boondocker that just needs a legal place to park I have just uncovered the holy grail for longterm boondockers– semi parking — these places only charge a couple hundered dollars a month and are usually behind a keypad gate you have 24/7 access too.
Hope that was helpful. Lemme know if you need anything else.
Regards,
Adam
Hello. I’m in Floral City, FL. We rent and our house is being put on the market right from under us. We are buying a 28′ TT, needing full hookups. We need a place to park our travel trailer RV, long term, for at least a year. As cost efficient as possible. Anywhere in between Brooksville, FL and Oxford, FL is where we are looking to for longterm RV space to rent. Any suggestions? We are running out of time and options. We are traveling by RV with a small senior dog and an indoor cat.
Kimberely,
Thanks for visiting my RV travel blog. Since it sounds like you need a place to park your RV permanently and soon I don’t want to give you advice that you’ve already tried, but what methods have you already explored from this guide?
Regards,
Adam
Hiya, I am really glad I’ve found this information. Nowadays bloggers publish only about gossips and internet and this is actually irritating. A good website with exciting content, this is what I need. Thank you for keeping this site, I’ll be visiting it. I even signed up for your adventure travel newsletter and bought a couple of your travel hoodies from your mytshirtaddiction.com store. I’ve been following you for years, and every time we are around a campfire with new people and they have an RV travel related question I always send them to your site. Most of the time I send them to your First RV trip story because its so damn funny, but they always tell me how useful your site is. Just wanted to stop by and say thank you because I haven’t seen anything new in a while and wanted to let you know people are reading your stuff and appreciate the work you have put in to helping us.
From all of the travelers and full time RVers thank you Adam for all that you have put into this site to help us travel better, safer, cheaper and longer.
Karlene,
Thank you so much for your kind words. I have taken a break from this to explore other projects, but I am circling back with new enthusiasm and inspiration to bring this travel blog to the next level.
Happy Travels,
Adam