Dry Camping Rules You Need To Know

Above, dry camping in Quartzsite, Arizona. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Those of us with RVs have more flexibility over where we stay overnight, especially those with RVs that are self-contained. 

We can either stay at a campground, with or without hookups, at a parking lot where overnighting is permitted or at a rest area. 

Staying overnight without hookups is generally referred to as dry camping. The last time I dry camped at a parking lot was in the RV parking area of Twin Arrows Hotel and Casino, a few miles east of Flagstaff, Arizona off Interstate 40.

There are some rules travelers should follow so that RVers are continued to be welcomed.

Do It Yourself RV has posted a list of them. They are all common sense rules.

They begin with:

Dry camping simply means camping without connecting to power, water, or sewer. While the terms “boondocking” and “dry camping” are often used interchangeably, they can have slightly different meanings.

Boondocking usually refers to camping without hookups away from developed areas. Dry camping typically means camping pretty much anywhere you can park your rig but with no hookups. Dry camping is done at rustic campgrounds but also includes big-box store parking lots, truck stops, Harvest Host locations, and rest areas. Of course, there are some dry camping rules you’ll want to know before you set up camp.

To read more, go here.