Parking Lot RV Dry Camping Rules

Above, The Beast at a Northridge, California parking lot. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

While I have never dry camped (boondocking) at a commercial parking lot (the closest was in a Missouri rest area), others do so all the time.

But, there are some rules one should follow for dry camping in a parking lot, and Do It Yourself RV has them (only they call them tips).

They begin with:

One of the greatest things about RVing is the fact that you have everything you need with you wherever you go. This is especially nice when you’re traveling and need to stop somewhere to sleep for the night. Finding a hotel is no longer necessary, and in reality, you don’t even need to look for a campground. 

For quick overnight stays, consider saving your money and hitting up a Walmart, Cracker Barrel, or Cabela’s.  As long as there are no city ordinances preventing them from doing so, these places will often allow RVers to park overnight in their parking lots. 

Though you won’t have any electric or water hookups, these locations are just fine for a quick night of rest. And because they can often be found right off the highway, you won’t have to go too far out of your way to find one. 

All that said, there are some things you should know before attempting to stay overnight in a parking lot. After all, the point is to get some good rest, and if you go in unprepared, it’s highly likely you won’t get the sleep and relaxation you need.

To read the Do It Yourself RV dry camping in parking lot tips (there's nine of them), go here.