A Real-World Guide for RVers (2025)

That night taught us our first lesson: most boondocking advice is written by people who haven’t actually done it recently. Generic blog posts and outdated apps won’t tell you how to read the subtle cues of a safe location, nor will they prepare you for the conversation with a skeptical store manager.

With the RV industry experiencing remarkable growth—RV shipments up nearly 14% in the first quarter of 2025 (RVIA, 2025) and approximately 11.2 million households now owning RVs (ConsumerAffairs, 2024)—mastering business boondocking becomes increasingly crucial. This guide will teach you the exact strategy we use to get a safe, free, and welcome night’s rest time and time again.

Reading the terrain: choosing businesses that actually want you there

Let’s be honest: your success starts before you even turn off your engine. A location’s environment tells you everything you need to know about your potential stay. The first thing we do upon pulling into a prospective lot is a slow lap, looking for visual cues.

A welcoming lot often has other well-kept RVs parked along the perimeter, a clean and well-lit appearance, and no explicit “No Overnight Parking” signage. A hostile environment is just as obvious: abandoned-looking cars, overflowing trash cans, and groups of people loitering are all immediate red flags that tell us to move on, no matter what an app says.

Based on our direct experience across 45 states, not all businesses are created equal. We’ve developed a clear hierarchy for choosing a spot:

The art of the ask: a 60-second guide to getting permission

Here’s the part most people dread: walking into a business to ask a stranger for a free place to stay. But we’ve learned to reframe it. This isn’t about asking for a handout; it’s a quick, respectful, business-to-business conversation. Over hundreds of these interactions, we’ve refined a simple process that works nearly every time.

First, you have to talk to the right person. Never ask a cashier, cart attendant, or random employee on the floor. They don’t have the authority to say “yes,” so their default answer is often “no” to avoid getting in trouble. You need to speak directly with the Manager on Duty. They know the official store policy, are aware of any local ordinances, and have the final say.

This script does several things at once. The phrase “self-contained” tells the manager you won’t be leaving a mess. Stating you’ll park “out-of-the-way” shows you respect their customer flow. Offering to make a purchase frames the request as a win-win. And promising to be “gone first thing” assures them you aren’t planning to set up camp.

Respectfully invisible: positioning and behavior that keeps you welcome

Once you have permission, your goal is to become what we call “respectfully invisible.” You want to be so low-impact that the business barely knows you’re there. This starts with where you park. We always aim for the outer perimeter of the lot, far from the main entrance and away from any truck loading docks or cart return areas.

Look for a level spot under a light for security, but not one that shines directly into your windows. Our favorite stay at the Cabela’s in Sidney, Nebraska, was perfect because we parked on the far edge of the lot, facing an open field. We had a beautiful, unobstructed sunrise view, and we didn’t interfere with a single customer. That’s the ideal: find the corner of the property where you will be noticed the least and bother no one.

Sound travels further at night than you think. What seems like normal conversation volume inside your RV can carry surprisingly far across an empty parking lot. We’ve learned to keep voices low, avoid slamming cabinet doors, and never run our generator after 8 PM or before 8 AM. If you must run a generator, do so only for a short time during early evening hours and only if you are parked far away from any other vehicles.

Your departure is the final piece of the puzzle. We have a strict rule to be rolling out before the first wave of morning customers arrives, typically by 7 or 8 AM. Before you pull out, do one final walk-around of your spot to ensure you haven’t left a single trace of your stay. The goal is to leave that parking space even cleaner than you found it.

Troubleshooting: when things don’t go as planned

Even with perfect planning, you’ll eventually run into a tricky situation. Staying calm and professional is key. Here’s how we handle the most common scenarios based on our real experience:

• You get “the knock.” If security or law enforcement knocks on your door, don’t panic. Be polite, open your door, and explain that you received permission from the store manager. Nine times out of ten, they’re just doing their rounds and will leave you be once they know you’re authorized. If they still ask you to leave, comply immediately and without argument.
• Another RVer is breaking the rules. You pull in and see another camper with their slides and awning out, running a loud generator. This happened to us in Arizona when we tried to politely suggest to another RVer that their loud generator might cause problems for everyone. The conversation went poorly, they got defensive, and we ended up looking like the troublemakers when security made their rounds.
  Now our approach is simple: do not confront them. Your best move is to park far away from them or simply choose a different location. You don’t want to be associated with their behavior when a manager decides to clear the lot.
• You’re the only RV and start to feel unsafe. There’s a distinct psychological shift when you pull into a massive parking lot and realize you’re completely alone. You got permission and parked, but something just feels off. Maybe a suspicious car is circling the lot, or you’re the only vehicle for acres.
  Trust your gut. Check your cell signal strength immediately. If you can’t get help in an emergency, reconsider staying. Position yourself closer to the main entrance and under a primary security camera if possible. It’s always better to pack up and move to your backup location—even if it’s late—than to stay in a situation that feels unsafe.

Becoming a boondocking ambassador

Business boondocking isn’t a secret “hack” or a loophole to exploit. It’s a relationship built on mutual respect between the RV community and business owners. After thousands of miles and hundreds of nights, we’ve learned that success isn’t defined by a checklist but by a mindset.

It’s about seeing the situation from the manager’s perspective, communicating with respect, and leaving a place better than you found it. Think of yourself as an ambassador for the entire RV community. Every interaction you have shapes how that business owner views future requests from other RVers.

The best business boondockers we’ve met share certain characteristics: they’re genuinely curious about local communities, they understand that free doesn’t mean without obligation, and they’ve learned to read situations and adapt quickly. They carry themselves with quiet confidence because they know they’re offering something of value—they’re customers, they’re respectful, and they make good neighbors even if it’s just for one night.

This approach has opened doors we never expected. Business owners have recommended their favorite local restaurants, warned us about road construction ahead, and sometimes even invited us back during future travels. These connections happen because we approach each situation with authentic respect rather than trying to game the system.

Every time you stay overnight, you are an ambassador for all RVers. By being a quiet, respectful, and invisible guest, you help ensure these valuable opportunities remain open for the next traveler who needs a safe place to rest. Travel safely, and we’ll see you down the road.

Helpful resources

• Boondocking in Commercial Locations – Good Sam Blog
• Free Overnight Parking for Campers – Campnado
• Boondockers Welcome
• Where Can You Park Your Camper for Free? – RV Life

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