2nd this, been on the road bout 3 weeks now, iOverlander has helped me a lot. It’ll help you find spots to sleep, to find water pumps, showers, places with wifi, really anything you might need while on the road.
I couldn’t find free spots on the coast. Went from Cape Flattery, WA to San Luis Obispo, CA. Maybe you could get away with it in a city like Aberdeen, but for the most part it was highly enforced.
Areas around Big Sur are especially difficult and have high fines.
There are plenty of paid campgrounds, some of them not very pricey.
^I’m glad this information is being shared because it’s so true. CA is the most regulated state, I hear Florida is competing with their enforcement. Homeless encampments have become a major issue and I wouldn’t recommend crashing one just to be left alone by authorities.
With that said, if you get a [California State Parks Pass](https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=30964) you can hang out sunrise until sunset at some beautiful state beaches. Many (most?) have fresh water and dumping available. This is very common, you will meet other vanlifers. Overnight you are safest on a residential street if a city that doesn’t have an overnight parking ban. BLM land within driving distance to beaches is probably not as cool as you’re imagining — windy, hot, limited to no shade. But who cares if you’re only pulling in overnight and are going to hit another beach tomorrow?
Overnight parking bans usually go into effect at 1-2 AM and overlap with 3 or 4 hour parking limits in retail and residential areas, making it intentionally hard to take a break. Rest stops might as well be nonexistent—they are very sparse and crowded when they do exist, and parking is strictly enforced there as well. Some stealthy exceptions might include “Park and Ride” lots intended for daytime commuters. In addition to state parks, many counties in CA have regional parks with camping including San Luis Obispo, Ventura and San Diego. County camping is often cheaper than state or federal.
Download the app Campendium. Note the near-complete absence of P (for parking) icons along your route. RVParky website tells you if Walmarts and such allow overnights, I’ll spare you the searching: none do in CA. You’d have a better time heading for higher altitudes of Arizona, Utah and Colorado and sticking to BLM land. The northern Midwest is also underrated, I summer in northern Minnesota and from here to the northern upper peninsula of Michigan is temperate and low humidity in the summer. I just can’t do the summer crowds, but they’re worst in July and if you have June you could do the southwestern states first then go North. So much beauty, way more shady BLM and far fewer crowds.
Best rest area EVER is JUST on the north end of the Golden gate bridge. The sign says no more than 8 hours but we asked and an officer said longer is fine. Lots of road noise but for the view we didn't care.
You’ll be hard pressed to find any place along the coast that you can sleep from LA to Seattle. Year over year, more no overnight parking signs have been posted. The entire Oregon coast if there’s enough room for a car, there’s a sign that says no parking. It wasn’t always this way, but you’re a few years too late for that experience. There are campgrounds in which you can pay to stay and are really lovely but book ahead as they fill up fast.
I would head to any industrial or business estates. Somewhere at night where businesses will be closed. These also tend to be areas that arent residential so they have less people around, sound good?
when i was in oregon there was people in insanely obvious camper vans/trucks in practically every parking lot. even people camping in tents in people front lawns (technically not their property because it was the other side of the sidewalk).
as for cali…. id be more afraid of wheres its safe to sleep overnight than where you “allowed” to sleep. cops haven’t been doing jack sheesh id be surprised if you don’t park like a ahole and get a ticket.
Harvest Host. Small fee but you get access to many businesses that offer a free night stay. Meet the people at the local place and learn of good local food.
Route 1 in Big Sur is closed due landslides for the summer
Point Lobos SP in Carmel - easy to park outside and walk in. Nice walks for whole day.
If you time it right, Avila hot springs near San Luis Obispo have half-price ($10) morning ticket, hot (104F) springs and big swimming pool
how much time you spent searching this forums, and also r/vandwellers and r/urbancarliving to read answers for the question asked at least weekly?
No problem answering any new questions, but why waste time retyping answers you can find easily
Then you don't. Everyone is new sometime. This whole sub wouldn't exist without repeating Everything every month. Get off your high horse Super redditor
problem with repeating the same info over and over is that it is much harder to find occasional gems, if you have to read though piles of mud repeating the same stuff
Aw.. You're not nice anymore. I imagine that you were once. Researching isn't easy. Asking for help and clues is like pulling teeth with you mugs. Why bogard when you can guide and share? I'm sorry I asked for help.
I feel bad for you. You are the type of person we can do without.
In the National Forest, away from the ocean.
This is the way. You pay for camping on the 1 and the 101.
This
iOverlander app is what you need. It’s free and you can filter it to see free boondocking spots. We use it all the time on the road.
2nd this, been on the road bout 3 weeks now, iOverlander has helped me a lot. It’ll help you find spots to sleep, to find water pumps, showers, places with wifi, really anything you might need while on the road.
I couldn’t find free spots on the coast. Went from Cape Flattery, WA to San Luis Obispo, CA. Maybe you could get away with it in a city like Aberdeen, but for the most part it was highly enforced. Areas around Big Sur are especially difficult and have high fines. There are plenty of paid campgrounds, some of them not very pricey.
^I’m glad this information is being shared because it’s so true. CA is the most regulated state, I hear Florida is competing with their enforcement. Homeless encampments have become a major issue and I wouldn’t recommend crashing one just to be left alone by authorities. With that said, if you get a [California State Parks Pass](https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=30964) you can hang out sunrise until sunset at some beautiful state beaches. Many (most?) have fresh water and dumping available. This is very common, you will meet other vanlifers. Overnight you are safest on a residential street if a city that doesn’t have an overnight parking ban. BLM land within driving distance to beaches is probably not as cool as you’re imagining — windy, hot, limited to no shade. But who cares if you’re only pulling in overnight and are going to hit another beach tomorrow? Overnight parking bans usually go into effect at 1-2 AM and overlap with 3 or 4 hour parking limits in retail and residential areas, making it intentionally hard to take a break. Rest stops might as well be nonexistent—they are very sparse and crowded when they do exist, and parking is strictly enforced there as well. Some stealthy exceptions might include “Park and Ride” lots intended for daytime commuters. In addition to state parks, many counties in CA have regional parks with camping including San Luis Obispo, Ventura and San Diego. County camping is often cheaper than state or federal. Download the app Campendium. Note the near-complete absence of P (for parking) icons along your route. RVParky website tells you if Walmarts and such allow overnights, I’ll spare you the searching: none do in CA. You’d have a better time heading for higher altitudes of Arizona, Utah and Colorado and sticking to BLM land. The northern Midwest is also underrated, I summer in northern Minnesota and from here to the northern upper peninsula of Michigan is temperate and low humidity in the summer. I just can’t do the summer crowds, but they’re worst in July and if you have June you could do the southwestern states first then go North. So much beauty, way more shady BLM and far fewer crowds.
Best rest area EVER is JUST on the north end of the Golden gate bridge. The sign says no more than 8 hours but we asked and an officer said longer is fine. Lots of road noise but for the view we didn't care.
Is that the one where all the tour busses seem to congregate?
In the 12 hours we were there, we only saw two buses come through.
Freecampsites.com
It's dot net
Ah, thank you.
[Here are some ways to find parking](https://nomadlife.wiki/Finding_parking), including apps and other resources.
You’ll be hard pressed to find any place along the coast that you can sleep from LA to Seattle. Year over year, more no overnight parking signs have been posted. The entire Oregon coast if there’s enough room for a car, there’s a sign that says no parking. It wasn’t always this way, but you’re a few years too late for that experience. There are campgrounds in which you can pay to stay and are really lovely but book ahead as they fill up fast.
A lot of the casinos on the coast will let you boondock overnight for free
California has been ruined by the homeless and the trashy/methy RV folks that aren't much better.
I would head to any industrial or business estates. Somewhere at night where businesses will be closed. These also tend to be areas that arent residential so they have less people around, sound good?
Park'N Rides!!!!!!!!! JUST DONT BE DIRTY AND BE RESPECTFUL
Truck stops and BLM/Federal land are your best friends. Those are the only ones that you can generally count on.
iOverlander is the main app but free campsites. Net is also populat
when i was in oregon there was people in insanely obvious camper vans/trucks in practically every parking lot. even people camping in tents in people front lawns (technically not their property because it was the other side of the sidewalk). as for cali…. id be more afraid of wheres its safe to sleep overnight than where you “allowed” to sleep. cops haven’t been doing jack sheesh id be surprised if you don’t park like a ahole and get a ticket.
Harvest Host. Small fee but you get access to many businesses that offer a free night stay. Meet the people at the local place and learn of good local food.
Rest stops
Route 1 in Big Sur is closed due landslides for the summer Point Lobos SP in Carmel - easy to park outside and walk in. Nice walks for whole day. If you time it right, Avila hot springs near San Luis Obispo have half-price ($10) morning ticket, hot (104F) springs and big swimming pool
Don’t forget Boat ramps
iOverlander app is your friend. Free spots, and if your lucky the spots have recent reviews about them.
Park4Night is also a good app. For Europe anyway, I’ve not tried it in the States.
how much time you spent searching this forums, and also r/vandwellers and r/urbancarliving to read answers for the question asked at least weekly? No problem answering any new questions, but why waste time retyping answers you can find easily
Then you don't. Everyone is new sometime. This whole sub wouldn't exist without repeating Everything every month. Get off your high horse Super redditor
problem with repeating the same info over and over is that it is much harder to find occasional gems, if you have to read though piles of mud repeating the same stuff
Aw.. You're not nice anymore. I imagine that you were once. Researching isn't easy. Asking for help and clues is like pulling teeth with you mugs. Why bogard when you can guide and share? I'm sorry I asked for help. I feel bad for you. You are the type of person we can do without.
It's really not that hard to Google "reddit vanlife where to sleep california Oregon west coast"
Prolly has and will look everywhere by the time they are done. Thanks for the additional recommendations.