Free overnight camping in small townsI have heard that many small towns offer free overnight camping such as electrical hook up for a small donation. How do I find these small towns?

We've come across towns that have inexpensive camping owned by the town but not free.

valhalla360 wrote:We've come across towns that have inexpensive camping owned by the town but not free.It's usually a fairgrounds. Just google the area for camping/RV parks

I found one by dumb luck. Marysville Ks

jdc1 wrote:valhalla360 wrote:We've come across towns that have inexpensive camping owned by the town but not free.It's usually a fairgrounds. Just google the area for camping/RV parksFairgrounds are another common source...but again, we haven't found where they are free.

Last year we stayed at Pima County Fairgrounds, Vail, Az. with full hook-up and WIFI for $27.00/night--w/Good Sam Discount. This is S. Tucson area off I 10. Definitely would go back there.

Free overnight camping in small towns | Good Sam Community

23 Replies

Rice
Explorer III
Mar 29, 2021
coolmom42 wrote:
BTW, the Faribault County Fairgrounds in Blue Earth, MN is free,

Not any more. It used to be free for the first night (and maybe two nights and maybe three nights at some point), but starting in 2016, there's no more free camping. Sites are currently $25/night.
trailertraveler
Explorer
Mar 26, 2021
coolmom42 wrote:
USCampgrounds.info....Maps free or low cost publicly owned campgrounds with lots of info...
A nice feature of this website is that the locations can be downloaded to a GPS and other mapping programs and devices.
coolmom42
Explorer II
Mar 26, 2021
USCampgrounds.info.

Maps free or low cost publicly owned campgrounds with lots of info.

BTW, the Faribault County Fairgrounds in Blue Earth, MN is free, with full hookups and a very nice shower house.
4runnerguy
Explorer
Mar 26, 2021
Some links to check out. You should use all three as some places are only listed on one of the sites:

iOverlander

USCampground.info

freecampsite.net
Veebyes
Explorer II
Mar 24, 2021
Free is rare but across the country there are small towns with parks that have a few sites. Easier to find a county fairgrounds or state fairgrounds. Basic & mostly cheap. Often close to unoccupied. FHUs unlikely but good for power at least.
VE3ESN
Explorer
Mar 23, 2021
Another useful resource is ioverlander. There are many "free camping" options listed in many areas.
Edd505
Explorer
Mar 20, 2021
Behind the Silver Dollar Inn Haugan, MT not visible from the road, E
Ray & Donna West RV Muleshoe TX donation W/E
Mayor30
Explorer
Mar 20, 2021
Most of them are found in the midwest.
MRC54
Explorer
Mar 19, 2021
Here is an article with descriptions of free campsites in Texas.

https://rvlife.com/free-campgrounds-in-texas/
trailertraveler
Explorer
Mar 19, 2021
We have stayed at a number of free and low cost city and county parks and fairgrounds. Most have been in the midwestern states of Kansas, Iowa and Nebraska. In Nebraska, for example, there are a number of them along US-20. In addition to parks, some states allow dry camping at State Fishing Lakes and Wildlife Management Areas. The two best sources I have found are Free Campsites and the Ultimate Public Campgrounds Project.