Places to Boondock for Free RV Camping
Boondocking is when you camp in a public location where you do not have to pay for camping. Many avid RVing enthusiasts are surprised that there are free campsites for recreational vehicles (RVs). This type of RVing is called boondocking.
If you have been RVing for any time, you probably know that boondocking makes the sport more affordable. RVers can free boondock in many places if they know where to look. So if you’re looking to save some money and get away from it all, this is for you.
If the idea of boondocking excites you, then you’d want to know the best places to go to boondock on your RV camping. We’ll show you, in detail, all the best places where you can boondock for free.
Places to Boondock in Florida, Ohio, and North Carolina
Boondocking Locations in Florida
Florida is a great place to boondock. The weather is warm, and the people are friendly. There are many options for boondocking in Florida.
You can go boondocking at a park or a campground. It all depends on what you’re looking for. Below are the locations for boondocking in Florida.
Mac Landing
Mac Landing is the perfect place to boondock for free in Florida. It is located on the Ochlocknee River, a great place to bring your boat or kayak and enjoy some time on the water. There is also a vault toilet in the area if you need one.
The only not-so-good part about this location is that it has no hookup service, which means you won’t have to worry about paying for any services while you’re there.
Picayune Strand State Forest
If you’re looking for a place to boondock in Florida, check out Picayune Strand State Forest.
The park is located in Collier County, about an hour from Big Cypress National Preserve and Naples. It has a beautiful wilderness area with plenty of wildlife and trails for hiking. The park also offers boating opportunities on Lake Okeechobee.
However, no drinking water or hookups are available at this park, so ensure you have everything you need before setting off.
This park has a 22-mile-long hiking trail that passes through cypress swamps and tropical hardwoods while offering views of Lake Okeechobee and the Caloosahatchee River.
Pine Creek Landing
Pine Creek Landing is an excellent boondocking location in Florida. It is located close to Tallahassee town and offers a variety of developed campsites.
The campsites on Pine Creek Landing do not offer hookup facilities, but they provide water and electricity for RVs. In addition, campers can enjoy kayaking and boat ramp in the campground.
Dinner Island Wildlife Management Area
If you’re looking for a boondocking location in Florida, Dinner Island Wildlife Management Area should be on your list. It’s located between the Everglades and Okeechobee.
In addition, this campground is close to Fort Myers, so it’s easy to get there from most parts of Florida.
The best time to stay at Dinner Island is between November and April when the weather is more excellent.
Best o avoid the campground between July and September during the peak of the rainy season because the campgrounds get flooded during the rainy season.
Three Lakes Wildlife Management Area
If you’re looking for a place to boondock in Florida, look no further than Three Lakes Wildlife Management Area.
Three Lakes Wildlife Management Area is located about an hour and a half from Orlando. It offers several sites for birdwatchers and hunters. It’s also rustic and small—a perfect place to set up camp if you want to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city.
The campground comprises Lackson Lake, Kissimmee Lake, and Marian Lake, so plenty of fishing or boating opportunities exist.
This campground is part of the Great Florida Birding and Wildlife Trail, which means it’s guaranteed to be bird-rich. So even if you’re not an avid birder, this area will still provide excellent opportunities for fun outdoor activities with your family.
Rotenberger Wildlife Management Area
Boondocking at Rotenberger Wildlife Management Area is the best way to get away from it all and enjoy peace and quiet.
This area is located close to Miami, and most of the area is covered by swamps. It is an excellent place for kayaking and camping because it has a large campground that can accommodate RVs.
The campground is about 2 hours from the main town of Florida but very close to Florida Keys, where you can hike and enjoy the top attractions in Miami since the campground is close to Miami.
Boondocking Locations in Ohio
There are a lot of boondocking locations in Ohio that you can access for free. The state is home to over 13,000 miles of shoreline and some of the most beautiful landscapes in the country. If you’re looking for a place to boondock, here are some of the best options.
Woodbury Wildlife Area
Woodbury Wildlife Area is a fabulous boondocking location in Ohio that offers free camping for RVs. This campground is located near Athens, Ohio, about 50 miles from Cincinnati, Ohio. The campground is open year-round but only during the day during the summer months.
There are no shower facilities available at Woodbury Wildlife Area, so you must bring your own water source and bathing essentials. Most of the facilities at Woodbury Wildlife Area are primitive, and its bathroom facilities are poor.
Still, they have garbage cans available for use by guests who stay there overnight or for long periods.
You can go hunting on this campground, but you must purchase a hunting license.
Adams Lake State Park
Adams Lake State Park is a small but scenic park located in Ohio. It’s a great place to go boondocking because it has an abundance of catfish, largemouth bass, and bluegills. In addition, you can enjoy hiking at the park because it has hiking trails that are miles long.
Zaleski State Forest
Zaleski State Forest is a great place to boondock in Ohio. There are three campgrounds available at Zaleski: Atkinson’s Hunters Camp, Horse Camp, and Lake Hope State Park.
Atkinson’s Hunters Camp is located on the west side of Zaleski State Forest, where you can enjoy hunting for wild turkeys, deer, bears, and squirrels.
The Horse Park is also located on this side of the forest. Here you can enjoy riding horses through the beautiful scenery and participate in various other activities, such as hiking and fishing.
Lake Hope State Park is located on the east side of Zaleski State Forest. It offers 43 campsites with flush toilets, heated showers, fire rings, picnic tables, and laundry facilities with electrical hookups at its 43 campsites.
Wayne National Forest
Boondocking is a great way to spend time outdoors. There are plenty of places in Ohio where you can go boondocking, but Wayne National Forest is one of the best because of its beautiful landscape and easy access.
There are four campgrounds in Wayne National Forest:
- Oak Hill at the Lake Vesuvius Recreation Area
- Iron Ridge
- Stone Church Horse Camp and
- Burr Oak Cove on the bank of Burr Oak Reservoir
Oak Hill and Iron Ridge campgrounds offer flush toilets, showers, drinking water facilities, dump stations, and electrical hookups service.
The Horse Camp caters to horse users and non-horse users alike and has no amenities.
Burr Oak Cove offers a primitive camping style with no hookups but a drinking water and vault toilets facility. Lake Hope State Park is open to any and everybody who enjoys camping.
Harrison State Forest
Harrison State Forest might be the perfect spot if you’re looking for a place to boondock in Ohio.
There are two campgrounds in the forest: Trailriders and Rosenheim. Both offer flush toilets, showers, drinking water facilities, dump stations, and electrical hookups.
Campers can enjoy hiking in the forest as it offers a 20-mile-long hiking trail. Both campgrounds have picnic tables, fire rings, and vault toilets but don’t have drinking water.
The Harrison State Forest also offers a small shooting range if you’re interested in shooting sports!
Boondocking Locations in North Carolina
North Carolina has many beautiful areas where you can enjoy boondocking while staying in your RV. Many of these areas are located along major highways, making them easy to find and get to quickly.
Basin Creek Camping Area
The Basin Creek Camping Area is located at Wiles Country at Thurmond Chatham Game Land. It offers no cell service or amenities but can easily accommodate 35ft long rigs. The area also features a boat ramp, perfect for boondocking and fishing enthusiasts.
Catfish Lake Boat Ramp
Another great boondocking location in North Carolina is Catfish Lake Boat Ramp. This camp is located near Maysville in Croatan National Forest.
It offers camping on the lake’s shoreline and a boat launch for those who want to take advantage of their boating experience. In addition, campers can enjoy fishing and watch wildlife like bears and deer at this campground.
Ammons Branch Campground
Ammons Branch Campground is an excellent location for boondocking, giving campers access to the Nantahala National Forest.
It has lantern hangers, pit toilets, and picnic tables. It also offers an excellent hiking trail. You can enjoy the beautiful scenery of this area while camping here.
Long Point Boat Launch Camping
Long Point Boat Launch Camping Area is another excellent location for boondocking in North Carolina. This campground is located on Long Point Road. The campground is excellent for kayaking and has fire rings and a vault toilet facility.
Final Words
The boondocking season is coming soon; this list can give you several options when planning your next big adventure. But, regardless of where you decide to boondock, one thing is for sure: it will be an experience that doesn’t cost much compared to staying in a campground.
There are pros and cons to every possible location you can think of. It is about finding the right balance between them and the right place for you. There are many ways to save money while boondocking, so go out and give it a try!
