The 8 Best Apps For Finding Free Camping For Bus Life & Van Life in 2023
One of the biggest perks of building out your own bus or van is that you can equip it with the right elements to allow you to get totally off the grid. But so many aspiring nomads come to us with the same question - Where do you find places to park?! While there are many apps out there that claim to help you find the best camping locations, not all of them are created equal. In this blog post, we've compiled a list of the best apps for finding free camping for bus life and van life.
1. iOverlander
iOverlander is a crowdsourced app that provides information on free and paid camping locations worldwide. Users can search for campsites, parking areas, and boondocking spots and read reviews from other travelers. This is by far our most used app for finding free, off-the-beaten-path camping, and it’s a great resource for finding water fill ups and propane as well.
2. FreeRoam
FreeRoam is an app that specifically focuses on finding free camping locations for van life and bus life. The app allows users to filter by amenities like toilets, showers, and water sources and provides detailed information on each location.
3. Campendium
Campendium is another crowdsourced app that provides information on campsites, RV parks, and free camping locations across the US, Canada, and Mexico. Users can search for spots by location, amenities, and reviews from other travelers. This one also has the feature to see what kind of cell phone service has been reported by previous visitors, very useful for those trying to make money online while traveling.
4. AllStays
AllStays is a comprehensive camping app that provides information on over 32,000 campgrounds, RV parks, and parking areas across North America. The app offers a wide range of filters, including by location, price, and amenities, making it easy to find the perfect spot for your camping needs. AllStays also offers offline access, so you can access the app even when you don't have an internet connection. We use this most often for finding quick overnight stops that are RV/bus friendly, like truck stops, casinos, and Cracker Barrel locations. AllStays does charge a small fee, but for us, it’s paid for itself at least a hundred times over.
5. Boondocking.org
Boondocking.org is a user-friendly app that focuses on finding free camping locations on public lands in the US. The app provides detailed information on each location, including GPS coordinates, photos, and reviews.
6. Park4Night
Park4Night is a European-based app that provides information on free camping spots, RV parks, and parking areas throughout Europe, North America, and Australia. The app has a user-friendly interface and allows users to filter by amenities like toilets and water sources.
7. Hipcamp
While Hipcamp is primarily focused on paid camping locations, they also offer a section for free camping on private lands. The app provides detailed information on each location, including photos and reviews. If you are looking for more of a "glamping” type experience, Hipcamp does have an incredible variety of options that are still relatively affordable compared to traditional RV parks.
8. The Dyrt
The Dyrt is a comprehensive camping app that provides information on paid and free camping locations across the US. The app offers a wide range of filters, including by location, price, and amenities, and allows users to book campsites directly through the app.
Free Camping - Not So Hard to Come By if You Know How (and Where) to Look
Finding free camping spots for bus life and van life can seem like a daunting task, but with the right apps, it absolutely can be a breeze. Whether you're looking for a spot with amenities or just a quiet place to park for the night, these apps will help you find the perfect location for your next adventure. Before you hit the road, make sure a couple of these are in your arsenal of tools - you can thank us later.
Have more suggestions for this list? Send them to gotherefreebus@gmail.com and we’ll get it added here!