Stealth and Dispersed Camping: How to find free (and legal) overnight parking in the U.S.

Pictured: The Sequoia camper van from altCamp’s Signature Collection.

Once you have your “home is where you park it” adventure vehicle, one of the most challenging and stressful parts of living in a van is where to actually park it overnight. Sadly, it’s not as easy as pulling into any parking spot and going to sleep.

However, there are plenty of ways to safely and legally find free overnight parking spots. I’ve personally lived in a van full-time for the better part of two and a half years and only gotten “the knock” once. These are the tools and tips I’ve used to find those free, legal spots.

The basics of free overnight parking

The key part here is free, which is great if you’re on the road full-time because nightly campsite rates can stack up quickly. At the same time, you get what you pay for. In many cases, a free overnight parking spot is just that and nothing more—no bathrooms, no outside space, no electric hookups, and no water. Every situation is different, but just setting that expectation.

Understanding what’s allowed (and what’s not)

There’s some nuance to finding free overnight parking. Some cities have laws against sleeping in a vehicle and plenty of places have “no overnight parking” signs these days. It’s always a good idea to do some research before settling in for the night.

Related: Can I Sleep Anywhere in a Camper Van?

Dispersed camping on public lands vs. stealth camping in cities

I’d consider dispersed camping more your standard idea of camping, just with no amenities like water, electric hookups or bathrooms. Some might have clearly defined sites with a fire pit, while others may just be a random pullout on a forest road. Either way, these are more in nature and the obvious assumption is that you’re there to camp so you don’t have to hide that from anyone.

With stealth camping you’re just parking overnight. Ideally, your goal here is to avoid anyone thinking you’re in the van. I’d consider this version of free camping as much more of a means to an end rather than the full event. Dispersed camping is definitely my preferred type of free camping, but it’s not always possible if I need to be in a specific location.

How to I find free overnight parking spots to camp in my van wherever I am

Regardless of the type of spot, my process for finding free overnight parking is pretty similar, with a few slight variations.

iOverlander

My first stop for finding a spot in a new area is almost always iOverlander, a crowdsourced app with information on informal “campsites”, dispersed camping, paid camping, water, showers, and lots of other helpful vanlife amenities (though I typically just use it for overnight parking, water, and dump stations). This resource definitely isn’t all-encompassing and at times, the good spots can be a bit overcrowded because the app is so popular, but it’s a good jumping off place. Aside from the actual pins, I definitely recommend scrolling down to the check-in section and reading comments from people who’ve stayed there to see if it’s still good. This can be a good place to find safe side streets, neighborhoods, or parking lots that allow overnight parking.

The app recently came out with iOverlander 2. This iteration has paid and free versions. The free version has a few more limitations than the original app, but it’s still a valuable resource.

Google Maps (satellite and street view)

If I didn’t find exactly what I wanted on iOverlander, I’ll typically head to Google Maps. This is where a slight difference between dispersed camping and stealth camping comes in.

For dispersed camping, I’ll first try to find any BLM (Bureau of Land Management) or National Forest land, then I’ll use Google Maps’ satellite view to find any clearings or pull-outs on forest roads that could fit my rig. Most BLM and National Forest land, along with some state forests and Wildlife Management Areas (WMA), allow free overnight camping for up to 14 days so that’s usually a safe bet.

For stealth camping, Google Street View is my favorite secret weapon. The street view can be a great tool to scope out any street signs that say no overnight parking, check if the street is level, and (sometimes) see if any other vans park there.

FreeCampsites.net (for public lands)

If I know I want to camp on public lands and I’m specifically going for a camping experience, I might check out freecampsites.net. It’s not an app and it’s a little outdated, but I’ve still found it to be a helpful, crowdsourced resource for finding the occasional gem.

Private parking lots of welcoming establishments

You’ll often find these spots on iOverlander, but if you’re just looking for a quick overnight spot and don’t want to scour the various spots and reviews on iOverlander, these businesses typically allow overnight RV’s and vanlifers:

• Crackerbarrel (as long as you come in for a meal or buy something)

• Camping World

• Cabela’s

• Walmart (though many have stopped allowing overnight parking)

• 24-Fitness/Planet Fitness/Anytime Fitness (not always, but often if the gym is actually open 24 hours)

• Casinos (often have to go in and ask for a pass of some sort)

• Lowe’s/Home Depot (sometimes)

• Breweries (sometimes, if you go in for a meal/drink and ask nicely)

Rest stops and truck stops

Honestly, these can be great, though I definitely recommend earplugs! Look out for any signs about overnight parking or a limit to how many hours you can stay, but especially when you’re on the move, these stops are a solid option for a quick night’s sleep.

Other tips and resources for free camping

Before I leave you to your adventure, here are some final, quick and dirty tips that aren’t really how you’ll find that free overnight spot, but more for once you get there and when it’s time to just pay for a site.

• Arrive late and leave early: when you’re stealth camping, this is the best way to avoid anyone getting mad about you being there.

• Don’t park directly in front of a house: people are far more likely to get a little suspicious or take issue if you’re parked directly in front of their house for the night.

• Cover all windows and lights: if you’re stealth camping, your goal here is to make it look like no one’s in the vehicle, so make sure all your windows are covered and no one can see any lights on from outside the van (or just don’t turn them on).

• Sometimes you’ll have to pay for a campsite: in some areas, because of laws and policing, or you just don’t want to risk it, it might be worth just paying for a site.

• Harvest Hosts and Boondockers Welcome: these two sites require an annual membership fee, but then you get access to various other spots where you can stay for a night or two for free or for the cost of buying a bottle of wine or something to eat at the property. I haven’t used this personally, but I know others have found the membership worth it.

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