As a newbie here, I've been wanting to research free camping for van dwelling myself, so I turned it into a quick guide. There's three main methods and 21 different ways to do free camping.The Free Camping Via Web Search MethodGenerally the first method for anyone finding free campsites is searching the internet. There are several really great directories out there to find free camping. Some of them are better than others overall, but each have their own strength and weaknesses. Here’s a list of the best of those sites in no particular order.#1 Freecampsites.netProbably my favorite on this list, freecampsites.net is a huge directory of free campsites curated by the thousands of users that visit the site every day. A typical listing will tell you how the site is rated, show pictures of the site, and will usually include qualitative descriptions of how you get to some of the more out of spots on the map.In addition to having a large directory of free and cheap camp sites, their trip planner makes it easy to see all the listings along a particular route so you can plan your trip around free sites.#2 Boondockers WelcomeBoondockers Welcome is something like a paid social network of RVers who let other RVers camp in their driveways or on their private land. The fee as of writing is $19.95/year for people offering to host (and boondock themselves) and $24.95/year for people who just want to boondock and not host.#3 CampendiumCampendium is a lot like FreeCampsites.net. In fact, there is a lot of overlap in the campsite listings. It even seems a little more complete than FreeCampsites. However, there are some free spots exclusive to both so it’s worth checking them. Campendium is a little more professional looking and has a few useful features that FreeCampsites doesn’t.First, reviewers have the ability to record cell signal strength and wifi signal at a particular site. Lots of reviews means lots of data on cell strength across networks.Second, I like the rating system a little better. It breaks down the ratings into five really helpful categories:*Access*Location     *Cleanliness    *Site Quality *NoiseBreaking them down that way gives you a much broader view of the quality of the camp site in question.Third, you can filter campsites by “free” which is a huge help sorting through the paid options.#4 Ultimate CampgroundsUltimate Campgrounds has one thing going for it. They have an app. Other than that, they have most of the same listings Freecampsites.net and Campendium have, without the helpful extras, like reviews.#5 AllStaysAllStays is, according to this really great in-depth review, a great app for finding campsites of any cost. I haven’t personally used it yet (I have a dumb phone), but I plan on trying it out as soon as I can. The desktop website leaves a lot to be desired, so it looks like the app is the only viable option to take full advantage of their data. According to Kait Russo (author of the review linked above) finding free campsites on AllStays requires the use of a few filters in your search:…use the “Avg Rate – Free” advanced filter or “Forest”, “Overnight Parking”, “Public Lands”, “Walmart Ask to Park” and “Rest” filters. Be sure to check the rest area for restrictions on overnight parking.#6 Couchsurfing.orgCouchsurfing.org is more of a social network than a website. It’s also more for people who actually need to find a roof over their heads than van dwellers who need a driveway to park in. That said, it’s still a great place to find people who are willing to put you up free for a night or two. Getting on there and talking to people will most likely land you with a free spot anywhere you can think of in the US and Canada. Couchsurfing is an international phenomenon too. Most of the world’s best travel destinations have people who are willing to host you. Just be sure to let them know you’re bringing your own roof and all you need is some parking for the night.#7 PublicLands.orgIf you’re a little more adventurous and are out west, PublicLands.org lists many of the same free campsites as the websites above, but it also gives you extensive data on public land and wilderness areas so you can find your own free camping spots. The data stops once you get east of Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, and New Mexico, but it’s a significant enough portion of the US to list it here.The Free Camping Via Overnight Parking MethodBesides looking through endless listings on digital screens, there’s always stores and institutions that allow overnight parking. If you’re near a town and just want a safe place to park for the night, there’s a lot of big box stores that will allow you to park overnight for free. Here’s the most complete listing I could make of those stores. Also, if you’re looking for a database of these all in one place, overnightrvparking.com sells access to its data for $24.95/year.#8 CasinosCasinos love it when people gamble. They make money. And they’ll bend over backwards to accommodate anyone with even a remote prospect of gambling. That includes people with RVs or vans. Most casinos provide free overnight parking for anyone who reserves a spot. Some even offer some free money for gambling. The website casinocamping.com is the best resource for finding free casino campsites.#9 WalMartWalmart allows overnight parking in just about all of its locations. There are a few exceptions between local laws and individual manager preferences. It’s always a good idea to call the local Walmart before you set up there, but it’s by far the most popular option for most van dwellers and RV campers on the road.#10 CabelasCabelas typically allows overnight parking at their stores. Here’s a review from We’re the Russo’s again that details an overnight Cabela’s experience they had.#11 CostcoCostco, assuming you have a membership, allows free overnight parking. Call ahead to make sure.#12 Cracker BarrelCracker Barrel typically allows overnight RV and van parking. As a bonus, you can get a bunch of knick knacks to decorate your van and some seriously delicious butter biscuits for an air freshener.#13 Bass Pro ShopsBass Pro, like Walmart allows overnight parking on a store-by-store basis. Call the individual store ahead for info.#14 Sam’s ClubSam’s Club, like Costco, allows overnight parking, again on store-by-store basis.#15 Truck StopsTruck stops of all stripes often allow overnight parking. But be warned, some truckers don’t take kindly to anyone other than truckers parking there as spots are generally at a premium.#16 Rest AreasRest areas tend to vary more widely than places like Wal Mart when it comes to overnight parking. Be sure to call ahead, or check sites like AllStays (above) to learn whether the one you’re approaching accepts overnight camping.Free Camping Via Miscellaneous MethodsBeyond big box stores and online directories, there are always unconventional, yet still effective strategies for finding free parking on the road. Here are some of them.#17 Family and FriendsFamily or friends are always a good source for free camping. Plus, you get to catch up and tell them all about your travels. One of the things Callie and I are most excited about for when we move into the van is the opportunity to visit a lot of college friends that scattered across the country right after we all graduated.#18 WwoofingWwoof stands for World-wide opportunities on organic farms. It’s essentially a work/shelter exchange program. You travel around and work on organic farms. The organic farms shelter you and feed you. Most of these farms, because they’re farms, generally have room for RVs and van dwellers. To participate, you’ll need a membership to whatever country’s organization you’re travelling in.#19 Ask the PoliceSometimes, contrary to popular belief, police can be friendly. In fact, local police usually know best where the best free parking in the city is. I’ve heard some stories of people doing overnights in the station parking lot just because they asked nicely.#20 Paper MapsGood ol’fashioned paper maps can be a great resource for free camping. Not only do they show you public lands, they also work without an internet connection. Benchmark maps are particularly favored by the RV and #vanlife crowds.#21 ExploringJust plain exploring where you have a hunch might be good free camping can often bring a windfall of good campsites. The folks from Kombi Life do it all the time, and they tend to find the absolute best spots in their travels.Source: https://vanslant.com/free-camping/