'Free Camping' Advice Wanted -Western States

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HowLin

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Joined
Apr 16, 2023
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28
Location
British Columbia
We are new RV'ers who will be traveling from BC Canada to Phoenix area in early December, probably by I-5/Hwy99. We are looking for possible overnight parking spots that are safe along the route that are free or relatively inexpensive.
Also, how does pump-out locations work? Can you pump out at most RV sites for a fee without staying overnight? What about other pump-out locations?
Sorry for all the newbie questions and thanks for any suggestions...
 
Most of the camping apps (AllStays Camp &RV, Campendium, RV Parky, etc) will show free overnight locations. Some are operated by Fish and Game Departments from individual states, some by the federal Bureau of Land Management, and some are just businesses that allow people an overnight stay (most Walmarts, Cracker Barrel, many casinos). You just find a place near where you want to stay, then look through the options on the app. Note Phoenix is already really hot, and it will get more so. For pump outs, they are generally called dump stations in the US. Some apps show them, and many campgrounds will allow you to dump for a fee, usually $10-$20. I don’t like getting fresh water from free public dumps since they are seldom monitored. I pay a campground and fill my tank while I dump.
 
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Can't help with the western USA free/cheap sites - haven't been in that region since 2007.

Using a campground to empty (dump) waste tanks and refill fresh water has changed over the last several years. Most campground used to offer that service inexpensively, but problems caused by negligent or just plain obstreperous RVers have led to substantial price increases and even outright refusal by some. Don't be surprised to encounter reluctance and high fees. It may be a better plan to just stay over night in an RV site when you need to dump and water,

There is a website for locating RV dump sites at Map of RV Dump Stations | Find a Dump Station Near You and smartphone apps for both Android & Apple. I suggest you get familiar with both.
 
I'm not sure if you are looking for actual campgrounds - or boondocking sites.
There are a few resources for boondocking:

Boondocking and Free RV Camping | Boondockers Welcome - this has a yearly fee of $79, but it pays for itself in about 3-4
camping nights (most smaller campgrounds charge $30+ a night if they have a fee)

thedyrt.com

Boondocking: The Complete Guide to Free Camping Anywhere

Looking for the best Boondocking nearby? This guide features boondocking tips & tricks to learn how to secure free camping anywhere in the nation.
thedyrt.com thedyrt.com

rvlifestyle.com

How to Find Boondocking Sites (2023 Tips & Resources)

As long-time boondockers, Jennifer and I love getting away from crowded campgrounds and into secluded bliss. We’ve traveled across the country, boondocking on public land and private properties (with permission) and moochdocked with friends and family. We’ve shared many boondocking tips and...
rvlifestyle.com rvlifestyle.com

www.mortonsonthemove.com

Best Boondocking Apps and Websites for Amazing Free Camping

With the help of these boondocking apps, you'll be able to find the perfect remote campsite every time you travel. Check them out!
www.mortonsonthemove.com www.mortonsonthemove.com
 
Regarding your route - you can take I-5 all the way from BC to Mexico if you want, but you won't pick up Hwy 99 until you hit Red Bluff, CA. You can then stay on it until you get to Bakersfield, CA but from then on south it is only I-5, and you can't get to Phoenix from any part of it until you get off and head east on I-10. If it were me, I would plan a route so as not to go anywhere near the LA area, such as going over the Tehachapis from Bakersfield to Barstow on Hwy 58 and then zig-zagging south from there to I-10. Or, you can just stay on I-40 out of Barstow until you get to Kingman, AZ, then cut south on Hwy 93 toward Phoenix.
 
December will be tricky over the mountains of southern Oregon and northern California ,, you won't get out of winter conditions until south of mid cal. Even east on I40 with be a challenge thru Flagstaff at 7K feet and possible snow..>>>Dan
 
Utclmjmpr said:
December will be tricky over the mountains of southern Oregon and northern California ,, you won't get out of winter conditions until south of mid cal. Even east on I40 with be a challenge thru Flagstaff at 7K feet and possible snow..>>>Dan
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Not usually on I-5. They don't normally close that down for anything other than the worst snowstorms, and at that they're back open in a day. And once the OP in down to Redding it will be nothing but rain from then on south.
 
Canyonville, OR to Redding, CA is generally the area of winter concern on I-5. That covers the Siskiyous and and a couple other mountain passes along that route. I've done that many times, a Tule mentioned, you look for your window of opportunity between storms and GO.
 
Tulecreeper said:
Not usually on I-5. They don't normally close that down for anything other than the worst snowstorms, and at that they're back open in a day. And once the OP in down to Redding it will be nothing but rain from then on south.
Click to expand...
Except for maybe the mountains south and east of Bakersfield. If it's raining in December there's a good chance it's snowing on them. There are two possibilities, Grapevine south on I-5 into L.A. or 58 east over the Tehachapi Mtns to Mojave and Barstow. My choice would be to take 58 east and avoid the L.A. hassles.
 
Going over on 58 is a good route but I prefer 138 off of I-5 near Gorman, at the top of the grapevine. It goes over to I-15 then it is down hill to I-10 in San Bernadino. It is a good route to avoid LA traffic. 138 goes pass the Palmdale county fairgrounds which has good cheap full hook up sites (if no fair is going on). Some of the Casinos on I-10 around Indio have free parking.
 
We take 58 out of Bakersfield. It is a mountain grade to Tehachapi, but good road. Once at the top it is flat to slight downhill the rest of the way to Arizona.
I cannot think of any reason to go through Los Angeles to reach Phoenix unless you are a masochistic glutton for punishment that likes 24/7 traffic.
I-5 will be fine. The only mountain section of any concern is Canyonville OR to Redding CA. It may be a bit dicey during or immediately following a storm, but the state highway departments do a good job of keeping it open. It is the major N-S artery on the west coast and keeping open is a priority. Just about every exit has a truck-stop type gas stations friendly to RVs.
A cheap overnight is Sycamore Grove Campground in Red Bluff. A Forest Service campground, a few sites have electric and water. No dumping. Most of the roadside rests along I-5 have dump sites.
Out in the desert sections boondocking is easy. Just find a road heading off the Interstate, drive a short distance to get away from highway noise and lights, and pull over where the soil is firm. Most of it is government land.
 
Lou Schneider said:
Except for maybe the mountains south and east of Bakersfield. If it's raining in December there's a good chance it's snowing on them. There are two possibilities, Grapevine south on I-5 into L.A. or 58 east over the Tehachapi Mtns to Mojave and Barstow. My choice would be to take 58 east and avoid the L.A. hassles.
Click to expand...
Yeah, I almost got caught in a snowstorm back in 1998 going over the Tehachapis on 58. When I was on I-5 the radio said there might be snow flurries over the Grapevine, so silly me thought it would be better going the other way. If I had been a half hour later I'd have got stuck. As it was, me and 20 other vehicles followed a big rig at 20 MPH for an hour just so he would plow a path for us.
 
NMDriver said:
Going over on 58 is a good route but I prefer 138 off of I-5 near Gorman, at the top of the grapevine. It goes over to I-15 then it is down hill to I-10 in San Bernadino. It is a good route to avoid LA traffic. 138 goes pass the Palmdale county fairgrounds which has good cheap full hook up sites (if no fair is going on). Some of the Casinos on I-10 around Indio have free parking.
Click to expand...
Taking the 58 from Bakerfield over the Tehachapis and then 14 south to the 138 will get you to the same place. I've gone both directions and I don't think one is really any faster than the other.
 
Thanks for so many great options. Depending on weather, which in the 1st week December can be interesting, I suppose I can find a good weather app and decide on the routing during the drive...
Thanks for the links, also.
 
There are a few apps that I use for travel.
Windfinder and Drive Weather. Both seem to work OK.
NOAA website is also pretty accurate for general weather conditions.
Also Be aware that most California Rest Stops are either closed or do not have dump stations.
Some truck stops have dump stations also. Flying J, Pilot, Loves, etc. You can use their app to figure out what they have for services.
 
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