Free camping

We camp for free when ever possible, and most of the time it's very possible. This might include overnighting at truck stops, Walmart or casinos. But, we avoid the blacktop camping as much as possible. My very favorite website to find resource to find free camping is freecampsites.net

The people that created and own freecampsites.net are good friends. But, that's not why I use this valuable resource. This is my favorite because users are able to contribute and are updating the camping information constantly. Also, this is the grandfather of all the free camping resources, on the net. The owners are experienced techies and make the website VERY user friendly. They respond, immediately, to any concerns or problems you may have, if they're in a place with internet access. And they're eager to hear our ideas with regard to making the website better. You'll never be patronized or talked down to.



Almost more important than anything else, J & J are out there, full-timing, van dwelling, free and wild camping 365/7/24. They understand our needs and desires as people who live a minimalist lifestyle, that want to be out and living in nature on a very frugal budget.

All the pictures in this post are free campsites I found on freecampsites.net as I traveled cross country.

Most recently, I traveled from Massachusetts to Nevada. It was kind of a rushed trip (3 weeks to cross is rushing for me) because I had a couple of delays and a commitment in AZ.

Because of that, we did a lot of parking lot camping.










We did find these two great sites on freecampsites.net
In Elk City, Oklahoma, below

 

And the picture above was taken in Hereford, TX. Both sites are located in city parks with a lake and provided free electricity. The park in Hereford, TX also gave us access to water. Hot showers were available at the YMCA, located at the same address and situated in front of the RV park.

Freecampsites.net also has a facebook page

Texas

We spent a week in Texas. It seemed like mostly driving. Texas is one big state.

Free, overnight camping was not easily found. Our first night was spent in the Saddleback Mountain RV Park (EXIT 212 I-10, Balmorhea, TX, 79718 (432) 375-2418.) It's a bare bones site with full hook-ups. The park is clean, attractively landscaped and has a nature walk.The campsites were level. The park is right off the interstate, but the noise level wasn't too bad.There are no facilities and although I read on line that free WiFi was available, I was not able to connect to the internet on their network. Check in at the convenience store. $20.00/$10.00 with Passport America.

We made our way through the Texas Hill Country.The Texas wild flowers should have been in full bloom, but due to the devastating drought throughout, Texas things were looking pretty brown.

 

I didn't take into account spring break for both the colleges and grade schools. The Texas state parks were packed. For the next week I camped at privately owned RV parks.

Our next night was spent at the Roadrunner RV Park in Johnson City (501 S. US HWY 281

Johnson City, TX (830) 868-7449) This park provides your basic side by side camping, full hook-ups, free WiFi and a host of other amenities. The sites were level and it was clean and quiet. $25.00 a night and  the Good Sam's Club discount was honored. No pictures, though! I just wanted off the road and to take a shower!

 

I met and camped with a high school buddy in Wimberly, TX.  Wimberly is a pretty cool town with a pretty cool vibe. We, especially Stumpy, enjoyed the Blanco River.

 

Water! At long last!

 

 

 

 

We stayed at Green Acres RV Park. (340 Wayside Dr Wimberley (512) 847-3772.) LaVonne, the park owner is wonderfully friendly and accommodating. The park is very clean, with full hook-ups but there are no facilities. There are some larger sites, but I was in the smallest site I have ever seen, anywhere. I was fortunate, however, to find a place to park, anywhere, due to school holidays.

The deer visited a couple times a day.

 

I'm still seeing cactus, though.

 

MUST. GET. FURTHER. from the DESERT!!!

 

I left Wimberly and spent one more night in Texas.

 

 

 I found this rest area o-line and the setting was described as camp-like. NOT!!! I was surrounded by 18 wheelers in a matter of hours. I parked at the far end of the rest area in order to give them as much room as possible. One parked so close that I could not get out my door, in the morning.

 

Buh bye, Texas!

 

Thanks, Denise, for driving up to meet me and showing me  the Texas Hill Country. I can't wait to see you, in October!