Free Camping

First the free info - State Tourist Offices

Alabama: (800) ALABAMA	Alaska: (907) 465-2010	Arizona: (602) 542-8687	Arkansas: (800) NATURAL	California: (800) TO-CALIF
Colorado: (800) COLORADO	Connecticut: (800) CT-BOUND	Delaware: (800) 441-8846	Florida: (904) 487-1462	Georgia: (800) VISIT-GA
Hawaii: (808) 923-1811	Idaho: (800) 635-7820	Illinois:(800) ABE-0121	Indiana: (800) 289-6646	Iowa:345-IOWA
Kansas: (800) 2-KANSAS	Kentucky: (800) 225-TRIP	Louisiana: (800) 33-GUMBO	Maine: (800) 533-9595	Maryland: (800) 543-1063
Massachusetts: (800) 447-MASS	Michigan: (800) 5432-YES	Minnesota: (800) 657-3700	Mississippi: (800) WARMEST	Missouri:(800) 877-1234
Montana: (800) VISIT-MT	Nebraska: (800) 288-4307	Nevada: (800) NEVADA8	New Hampshire: (603) 271-2343	New Jersey: (800) JERSEY-7
New Mexico: (800) 545-2040	New York: (800) CALL-NYS	North Carolina: (800) VISIT-NC	North Dakota: (800) 435-5663	Ohio: (800) BUCKEYE
Oklahoma: (800) 652-6552	Oregon: (800) 547-7842	Pennsylvania: (800) VISIT-PA	Rhode Island: (800) 556-2484	South Carolina: (803) 734-0122
Tennessee: (615) 741-2158	Texas: (800) 88-88-TEX	Utah: (801) 538-1030	Vermont: (802) 828-3236	Virginia: (800) VISIT-VA
Washington: (800) 544-1800	West Virginia: (800) 225-5982	Wisconsin: (800) 372-2737	Wyoming: (800) 225-5996

Next the Places to stay - Tips on Free Camping!

Take advantage of some little known places where you pay nothing.

Free camp-grounds have other benefits besides saving you money. They are usually found in peaceful and scenic settings. Some are located by a lake, or river and offer numerous recreational opportunities, such as boating, fishing, or water-skiing. Let's examine the possibilities:

National Forests: You can legally camp anywhere on national forest land. The only real problem is that much of the forest area is so dense that campground areas (official sites) are often hard to locate. Find a spot on the edge of the campground... any level spot will do! Buy a national forest map, it will show all the places you have to choose from or use the USDA Forest Service's interactive map!

Long-Term Visitor Areas: (LTVAs) This might be of interest to those of you who are lucky enough to "go South" for the winter. The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) established nine LTVAs in 1983 in the California desert and along the lower Colorado River where visitors camp for the entire winter. Visitors who wish to stay in a LTVA may do so by purchasing a long-term permit for $25. and selecting a location in one of the designated areas. This permit will cover you from October 1 to May 31st. You may move from one LTVA to another without incurring additional user fees. Guests are allowed to stay with permit holders during the season at no charge.

City Parks: A lot of cities allow over-night (dry) camping in their parks. Stop in at the local Chamber of Commerce or the police station and ask if there is a free place to spend a night.

Truck Stops: Now, now, don't say yuk! Though they tend to be noisy, a truck stop can look really good to a tired camper who needs a free place to rest for the night. The advantage is that truck stops are nearly everywhere, they generally have an economical restaurant, and some have free showers.

Shopping Centers and Supermarkets : You will rarely be bothered if you park in an obscure corner of the parking lot. Ask the store manager first if possible. We have lots of friends reporting they do this on a regular basis and never have a problem.

Public Schools and Churches : Schools work well after 5p.m., and in the summer. Most churches don't mind an over-night guest if you ask permission first.

Rest Areas : In Oregon, vehicles may not park in a rest area for more than 14 hours in a 24 hour period. That's enough time to catch up on some ZZZs.

Here's how it stacks up in other states (YMMV)
Alabama Prohibits overnight parking, unofficially 4 hours
Florida 3-hour limit.
Georgia No specific limits,discourages overnight parking &sleeping
Illinois 3-hour limit, with enforcement on case-by-case basis
Kentucky 4-hour limit in regular rest areas
Louisiana Discourages overnight parking
Maryland offers its park-and-ride lots for parking 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. without fee
Michigan 4-hour limit
Minnesota 6-hour posted limit
Nebraska 5-hour limit
New York 3-hour limit
Pennsylvania 2-hour limit
South Carolina Officially no overnight parking
South Dakota State statute has 3-hour limit, only enforced against recreational campers
Virginia 2-hour limit
Washington 8-hour limit, no overnight parking

Okay... we've covered the "on-the-road" sort of places. There's a book you must have if you're serious about this free camping stuff. It's called: Don Wright's Guide To Free Campgrounds. You may write to them at : Cottage Publications, 24396 Pleasant View Dr. Elkhart, In. 46517. Or phone (219) 293-7553. This book contains a state-by-state list of free campgrounds, complete with directions and site information.

Here are some samples of the listings for Oregon:
Deschutes National Forest: Jack Creek, 2 miles North of Camp Sherman on FR 1420, then 3 miles NW on FR 1425; half mile on FR 12. Season: 4-15 to 10-15; 14 day limit. 11 sites, tables/toilets. No drinking water. Picnicking, fishing, hiking.

Park Creek - Bureau of Land Mgt.: 24 miles E of Coquille on Middle Cove Rd. Open all year; 14 day limit. Has 12 sites on 8 acres, tables, toilets, fire-rings, drinking water, dump site. Activities include picnicking, fishing, hunting, and berry picking.

Lobster Creek - Siskiyou National Forest: 4.2 miles NE of Gold Beach on CR 375, 5.6 miles NE on FR 333. Season: 4-1 to 10-31, 14 day limit. 5 sites for RVs 22 ft. or under. Tables, toilets, fire pits, piped drinking water, electricity in rest rooms. This site boasts rockhounding, fishing, boating, swimming, water-skiing, and very scenic.