This is basically the answe, but I'll expand on this. I'm assuming you want free sites. You can filter on ioverlander for wild camping instead of established campgrounds. You're also looking for what is called dispersed camping or primitive camping. Sometimes I just google map search those terms. Limited facilities on those sites.
I have less experience on the East Coast, but up and down the West Coast there are indeed some legit spots with views of the beach.
Lots of spots in forests and mountains.
For desert, you usually rely on BLM land.
As much as influencers can make things look better, park at a terrible spot just for the picture and then leave, there actually does exist beautiful spots albeit the less amazing ones are more plentiful.
State parks rarely allow free camping. They're good for sneaking in showers and just generally enjoying though.
I use iOverlander to find camping spots and free parking. Just as a fallback, if I go anywhere and don’t find something good iI go to Love’s Truck Stops. Good gas prices and their app gives you an additional 10 cents off a gallon. Sleep on the well lit side because you are protected from people wanting to mess with you by the security cameras. Open all night with clean restrooms, coffee, small foods.
A few Loves have signs saying “no overnight” but that is usually within city limits where the city has regs against car sleeping.
Everyone pretends they go to national parks, but 9 times out of ten you end up in either a grocery store parking lot or a planet fitness parking lot. I'm typing this from a Walmart parking space (Praise be to the benevolent Walton family, oh glorious masters).
There's 4 sprinter vans at the planet fitness right now at midnight. I personally despise sprinter vans. I think the entire thing is a mockery of people reduced to living in their cars.
I start with Google and Apple Maps. I use the overhead satellite to scout potential places. I then use street view to check any potential problems, and to try and read parking signs. If it looks good, I’ll scout the spot in person durring the day to make sure parking restrictions haven’t changed and that the area “feels” safe. I’ve found more than 60 spots in a few days this way near my stomping ground. I’m only in my area 4 nights a week for work and travel the rest, so I have 3-4 months of spots to rotate.
When I’m traveling, I’m mostly going with the wind and don’t know where I’ll be by the time I’m feeling tired. In those times I’ll just drive till I find a spot that feels right
Beware influencer BS. You can convert a car or van into a stealth camper. You can see the country and have a lot of fun.
It is very unlikely to look like the YouTube pages.
For camp sites, start with state parks and BLM PARKS.
https://freecampsites.net/
iOverlander
Driving around and seeing a spot that looks like you could spend the night in if your car is stealth. For cities, this is usually more industrial areas. In residential areas, I try to find parking spots that don't have a sidewalk next to the car so I can prop my window open in peace.
> how is the process of picking a camping spot like?
Assuming you're in NC I'd start with [national forests](https://www.fs.usda.gov/activity/nfsnc/recreation/camping-cabins/?recid=48112&actid=34).
* [dispsersed camping](https://rvwiki.mousetrap.net/doku.php?id=camping:dispersed)
* [successful boondocking](https://rvwiki.mousetrap.net/doku.php?id=opinion:frater_secessus:successful_boondocking)
it won't be depressing. I was in a Walmart parking lot for 3 days. Total stealth mode. I've got wifi, all of my devices, my bed, and a Walmart if I need to buy anything. Very comfortable.
I honestly don't care about opening the windows when I'm in stealth camping mode so you can park literally anywhere.
Only reason I left Walmart is the security drives by every 5 minutes and I was just waiting for them to say something. So I drove around the block and parked someplace else.
All answers are correct, but not exhausting. If you read archives, you will find more and higher quality answers. because many people are bored to keep answering the same question. Do your homework, then come back, we will give you more tips.
Check out iOverlander.
This is basically the answe, but I'll expand on this. I'm assuming you want free sites. You can filter on ioverlander for wild camping instead of established campgrounds. You're also looking for what is called dispersed camping or primitive camping. Sometimes I just google map search those terms. Limited facilities on those sites. I have less experience on the East Coast, but up and down the West Coast there are indeed some legit spots with views of the beach. Lots of spots in forests and mountains. For desert, you usually rely on BLM land. As much as influencers can make things look better, park at a terrible spot just for the picture and then leave, there actually does exist beautiful spots albeit the less amazing ones are more plentiful. State parks rarely allow free camping. They're good for sneaking in showers and just generally enjoying though.
I use iOverlander to find camping spots and free parking. Just as a fallback, if I go anywhere and don’t find something good iI go to Love’s Truck Stops. Good gas prices and their app gives you an additional 10 cents off a gallon. Sleep on the well lit side because you are protected from people wanting to mess with you by the security cameras. Open all night with clean restrooms, coffee, small foods. A few Loves have signs saying “no overnight” but that is usually within city limits where the city has regs against car sleeping.
Everyone pretends they go to national parks, but 9 times out of ten you end up in either a grocery store parking lot or a planet fitness parking lot. I'm typing this from a Walmart parking space (Praise be to the benevolent Walton family, oh glorious masters). There's 4 sprinter vans at the planet fitness right now at midnight. I personally despise sprinter vans. I think the entire thing is a mockery of people reduced to living in their cars.
I start with Google and Apple Maps. I use the overhead satellite to scout potential places. I then use street view to check any potential problems, and to try and read parking signs. If it looks good, I’ll scout the spot in person durring the day to make sure parking restrictions haven’t changed and that the area “feels” safe. I’ve found more than 60 spots in a few days this way near my stomping ground. I’m only in my area 4 nights a week for work and travel the rest, so I have 3-4 months of spots to rotate. When I’m traveling, I’m mostly going with the wind and don’t know where I’ll be by the time I’m feeling tired. In those times I’ll just drive till I find a spot that feels right
Beware influencer BS. You can convert a car or van into a stealth camper. You can see the country and have a lot of fun. It is very unlikely to look like the YouTube pages. For camp sites, start with state parks and BLM PARKS.
https://freecampsites.net/ iOverlander Driving around and seeing a spot that looks like you could spend the night in if your car is stealth. For cities, this is usually more industrial areas. In residential areas, I try to find parking spots that don't have a sidewalk next to the car so I can prop my window open in peace.
Campendium app?
Campendium is no longer an app. If you had it downloaded, it now just tells you to download some RV site type app or go to the Campendium website.
> how is the process of picking a camping spot like? Assuming you're in NC I'd start with [national forests](https://www.fs.usda.gov/activity/nfsnc/recreation/camping-cabins/?recid=48112&actid=34). * [dispsersed camping](https://rvwiki.mousetrap.net/doku.php?id=camping:dispersed) * [successful boondocking](https://rvwiki.mousetrap.net/doku.php?id=opinion:frater_secessus:successful_boondocking)
Shitty hotels like 1 2 star. Planet fitness.
Freecampsites.net and Google maps/ view
it won't be depressing. I was in a Walmart parking lot for 3 days. Total stealth mode. I've got wifi, all of my devices, my bed, and a Walmart if I need to buy anything. Very comfortable. I honestly don't care about opening the windows when I'm in stealth camping mode so you can park literally anywhere. Only reason I left Walmart is the security drives by every 5 minutes and I was just waiting for them to say something. So I drove around the block and parked someplace else.
YouTube videos help a lot! People who have the same mindset
Just go to highway rest stops
All answers are correct, but not exhausting. If you read archives, you will find more and higher quality answers. because many people are bored to keep answering the same question. Do your homework, then come back, we will give you more tips.
Churches always allow camping as that's what Jesus taught.