If you’re looking for Twin Lakes Colorado Camping ideas, you’ve come to the right spot! Honestly, everyone should camp here at least once, in my opinion. As a fulltime RV family for over four years now, we’ve camped in a lot of places. And Twin Lakes is in the top five for prettiest views!
Getting the best views in Twin Lakes requires some boondocking skill because the hookups are few and far between here, so you might want to check out our e-book before coming:
This 10-page guide will assist RVers in learning the basics of boondocking, or camping off-grid! We share everything we’ve learned as a family living off-grid and boondocking in our RV.
Even if you’re tent camping or only passing through for a night, there are some amazing options. Let’s get into it!
Twin Lakes Colorado Camping: Boondocking Spots
In my opinion, Twin Lakes is absolutely the place to boondock. The views are AMAZING, and there are lots of options. That said, big rigs will need to use caution. We found a spot for our fifth wheel on a summer Friday afternoon, but you’ll want to scout first to be sure you’ll fit. The parking lot by the reservoir is a great place to park a big rig and scout.
We found a spot here, but there are rigs all around up here in spots like this, this, and this. If you want to read others’ reviews, check out these areas in the boondocking apps we use!
The road up here (24) is steep and a little bit windy (especially on the Leadville side!), but paved and totally doable with a trailer. We’re parked just 100 feet off the pavement. Just be sure you can turn around before you pull in anywhere! The only dump and fresh water is at the Leadville Sanitation Center, and it’s exhorbitant. But that’s the price you pay for these views!
There are multiple forest service campgrounds with spots for both RVs and tents, but no hookups:
Lakeview Campground
Lakeview Campground is tucked right near all of the boondocking sites, so the views are similar. It’s also directly next to the trailhead for Mount Elbert, if you’re planning to hike it! Several sites will fit big rigs, so this could be a good option if you can’t find a large enough boondocking spot. There are also vault toilets available, but no running water in 2024. Reserve in advance.
Dexter Point Campground
Dexter Point Campground is literally just a big, open parking lot right on the lake. We walked through on a holiday weekend, and only one trailer was there. So this is a great pick for anyone who needs a last-minute spot. Or for an overnight stop with a big rig you want easy access to. No services except toilets. First come, first serve.
White Star Campground
White Star Campground is closer to the tiny town of Twin Lakes, and it’s tucked into beautiful trees. The campground is right by the lake and boat launches. This spot will fit big rigs, but it does seem to book up way in advance. It normally has a dump station, but it’s closed in 2024. Definitely reserve in advance.
Twin Lakes Colorado Camping: RV Parks With Hookups
There aren’t any Twin Lakes Colorado Camping options with hookups, so if you require full hookups, you’ll have to camp a bit closer to town. But Leadville is cute, too!
Sugar Loafin’ Campground
Sugar Loafin’ Campground is about 20 minutes away in Leadville, Colorado. We haven’t stayed there, but it looks like it gets the best reviews in town. Book here.
I hope that this post has helped you plan your Twin Lakes Colorado camping trip! If you’re planning a trip to Twin Lakes, don’t come without a way to get on the water! We love this inflatable kayak for its affordability, durability, and ease of storage. And don’t forget the hiking gear! Twin Lakes in summer is outdoorsy paradise.
Disclaimer: Product links in this blog post may be Affiliate links, and I will earn a small commission for each purchase made through these links at no extra cost to you. Affiliate income helps fund our family travel and allows me to keep creating inspiring family travel content for you. I so appreciate when you use my links to make purchases you would have made anyway.
For more about our fulltime RV life, check out these posts:
We just can’t get enough of Utah! As a full time travel family heading into our 5th year of travel, we rarely visit a place twice. But we’re in our third time through Utah, and I’m excited to share some of our favorite dispersed camping Utah spots with you!
In our opinion, dispersed camping is the best way to experience the outdoor adventure hotspot that is Utah. Hotels and RV parks are great, but boondocking in Utah really allows you to get closer to the amazing hiking here. If you’re interested in reading more about our take on the pros and cons of RV parks versus boondocking, I’ve written about that here!
If you’re wanting to learn how to camp off-grid for extended periods, let us teach you! We’ve lived off-grid in our RV for most of the past year, and we know how intimidating it can be to start. We answer all of your Boondocking 101 questions for just $7!
This 10-page guide will assist RVers in learning the basics of boondocking, or camping off-grid! We share everything we’ve learned as a family living off-grid and boondocking in our RV.
This spot is the perfect launchpad for Capitol Reef National Park adventures, it couldn’t be closer to the entrance to the park. Big rigs should stick to the upper road, and be aware that there is no cell reception out here. Find it as Capitol Reef East Dispersed on Campendium. This is such a great location for some of the more remote hiking in southcentral Utah.
Lone Rock Beach (near Page)
Lone Rock Beach is an iconic boondocking in Utah location, and for good reason. It’s gorgeous beach camping in the middle of the desert! This spot is near the Utah/Arizona border and is a great location for exploring all that Page has to offer and also some adventurous hiking in southern Utah. Big rigs can access this spot, but beware of deep, loose sand the further in you get. Definitely walk it on foot first! It’s $14 a night (no reservation needed), which includes toilets and a dump station.
Moab (Near Arches & Canyonlands)
We stayed in two different Moab locations, and there were benefits to each. Lone Mesa Dispersed was further from Moab, but absolutely gorgeous. It was also a great launching point for visiting Canyonlands National Park. The road in was long and pretty bumpy, and there was zero cell service. Klondike Bluffs Dispersed was easier access from the highway and therefore faster to get to Arches National Park. There was cell service, but it was less pretty. Both spots are big rig accessible if you’re used to bumpy BLM roads.
Mount Carmel Junction (Near Zion & Bryce)
This spot right between Zion National Park and Bryce National Park is a real gem. Not only is it conveniently located between two parks, but it’s also close to Kanab for supplies and there’s a dump station half a mile up the road. The most lovely part is that there are riverside spots where you can hear babbling water as you sleep. Super easy access from the highway for big rigs, just watch for deep sand in some of the pulloffs. We had full AT&T reception here.
Spanish Fork (near Provo)
Sheep Creek Dispersed is a great dispersed camping Utah spot if you’re wanting to visit the Provo area. It’s pretty and easy to access from the highway for any size rig. Be aware that you may share space with a herd of cattle! We had cell service here and enjoyed spending the week resting up after quickly heading south from Canada. Don’t miss the Fifth Water Hot Springs trail if you like a good soak!
Valley of the Gods (near Monument Valley)
Valley of the Gods is one of our all-time favorite boondocking spots (and the cover of my boondocking book!)! If your dispersed camping Utah trip goes anywhere near this part of Utah, I highly recommend stopping here. We stopped at the first pullout that was available, and there was one big dip that was a little hairy, but nothing we couldn’t handle. Views are 10/10, but come prepared with supplies because it is isolated!
We think dispersed camping Utah makes the most sense, and I promise to continue adding boondocking in Utah spots as we find them! Here are the boondocking apps we use if none of these spots work for you, and everything I’ve written about boondocking (including spots in other states!) here.
For more about our life in an RV, check out these posts:
We’ve spent a chunk of this winter in Southern California and have been loving the sunshine and bucket list sights! So today I’m sharing a few of our favorite boondocking in California spots from this winter. If you’re looking for boondocking locations in other states, I’ve got those, too!
As a fulltime RV family, we often disperse camp off-grid to save money, park in amazing places, and give our kids room to play freely. If you’re interested in learning more about the pros and cons of boondocking versus RV parks, I’ve written more about that here. And I’ve got a list of some of our favorite boondocking supplies if you’re needing some more gear to be comfortable without hookups.
If you’re new to boondocking and wanting to learn how, check out our instant download e-book with everything we’ve learned to be able to camp off-grid indefinitely for just $7! It’ll pay for itself if you skip just one night at an overpriced campground. Plus I promise you’ll see the most AMAZING sights once you get started!
This 10-page guide will assist RVers in learning the basics of boondocking, or camping off-grid! We share everything we’ve learned as a family living off-grid and boondocking in our RV.
Camping in the Alabama Hills Scenic Recreational Area is a bucket list move for any RVer. There simply is no more gorgeous place to park in my humble opinion. The downsides are that, much like Sedona boondocking, dispersed camping in Alabama Hills has recently become much more restricted. This means that there are only a handful of sites where big rigs can fit and you’re allowed to camp. So you might struggle to find a place on a weekend (consider Tuttle Creek Campground as a backup!). The place we parked was the easiest to access for our giant truck and trailer and is called Movie Flat Designated Dispersed on Campendium. There are a bunch more spots for vans and truck campers.
There’s a parking lot at the corner of Movie Road and Whitney Portal road where you can unhitch and scout if you’re nervous about finding a spot. Be sure to take Lubken Canyon Road to access the area with anything larger than a truck. Whitney Portal Road is washed out and closed as of Spring 2024. Tuttle Creek Road was windy even with just our truck alone.
Be aware that, unlike many dispersed camping areas, Alabama Hills has a 7 day stay limit and 14 day a year maximum. We saw several rangers during our stay and they are enforcing the rules. You might also want to pay attention to the wind forecast and face your rig accordingly. It was very windy every single day the entire week we were there.
That said, this spot is absolutely breathtaking and worth the trouble. Take a sunrise hike from your front door. Thank me later.
Joshua Tree South Dispersed
This is a fabulous spot if you’re visiting Joshua Tree National Park or Palm Springs (looking for Palm Springs ideas?). It’s pretty with nice sunsets, although not the most beautiful spot we’ve ever seen. Its best perks are the national park you can walk into, the large amount of space so everyone can spread out, and the super easy access from a major highway without being noisy. The downside is that it’s on the southern end of the national park so the major highlights are a bit of a drive. But the boondocking on the other side of the park is a bit sketch, so families especially seem to prefer this side.
Plus there’s a nearby dump and fill in the national park campground. This is a great boondocking in California spot for those who are newer to dispersed camping and looking to get their feet wet. Our friends came to camp with us here and shortly afterwards added more solar to their roof so they can boondock more often!
Trona Pinnacles
Trona Pinnacles is another bucket list boondocking in California spot. There’s tons of space for rigs of any size, and the views are absolutely incredible. Especially of nighttime stars and springtime flowers (blooming the first week of April in 2024!). There’s a main parking lot with a maintained pit toilet where we parked because we didn’t want to risk driving further back. But you can simply park here and scout further back; we did see a few larger spots back there for the brave.
Be aware that the road in is very bad. Like one of the worst we’ve done, including mud, sharp rocks, ditches, deep sand, and a big hill. Don’t come for several days after rain and leave if rain is forecasted. We saw a lot of wham I’m deeming “cautionary tale” mud tracks on the way in from vehicles who came when it was too wet and got stuck.
Reviews note that it’s busy on weekends with ATVs, but we had a really peaceful and beautiful mid-week stay. The sunsets are incredible, and there’s no shortage of Mars-like views in every direction.
Other Boondocking in California Spots
These are some other boondocking in California spots you might consider. I researched them for us, but didn’t end up using them (except O’Neill):
Corvina Beach Campground on the Salton Sea (be aware that the Salton is toxic)
Hot Springs near Mammoth Lake (there are a bunch of spots out there on iOverlander)
Casinos near Palm Springs like Spotlight 29 & Morongo
O’Neill Regional Park (dry camping near LA, the road in is very curvy!)
I hope this list has given you some amazing boondocking in California ideas! If you have any amazing spots in Northern California where we haven’t boondocked yet, please email them to kateophalen@gmail.com so I can share. And if you’re looking for boondocking gear recs, I’ve got a list of some of our favorite stuff.
For more about our fulltime RV life and RV adventures, check out these posts:
Boondocking in Arizona is a special experience. All together, we’ve spent almost five months living in Arizona as a full time travel family. While this is absolutely not an exhaustive list of all of the amazing places you can boondock in Arizona, it’s a good list of our favorite spots so far. I promise to come back and add more spots when we return and find more!
This 10-page guide will assist RVers in learning the basics of boondocking, or camping off-grid! We share everything we’ve learned as a family living off-grid and boondocking in our RV.
Okay, let’s get into these boondocking in Arizona spots now that I’ve convinced you!
Boondocking in Arizona: Sedona Area
Sedona BoondockingForest Road 525
I’m going to be candid and say that the glory days of Sedona boondocking are over. You used to be able to camp all along Forest Road 525, but recent restrictions mean that there are now only a few crowded spots. We felt that Surprise Dispersed at N 34°49’24.54″, W 111°54’22.44″ was the best option for big rigs, but it’s just a parking lot and quite crowded even in December. But if you’re visiting beautiful Sedona, this is (now) the spot for big rigs. Check out our ideas for Sedona with kids.
Boondocking in Arizona: Phoenix Area
Lake Pleasant Boondocking
There is a ton of state trust land northwest of Phoenix near Lake Pleasant. State trust land requires a $20 annual permit you can get online. This area at N 33°48’2.76″, W 112°14’18.72″ has cell service and lots of room for rigs of any size.
Peralta Road Dispersed Camping
Peralta Road dispersed camping is on the opposite side of Phoenix near Apache Junction. It’s also on state trust land and offers many big rig accessible pullouts along the road at N 33°20’57.78″, W 111°24’48.90″ and further in. We loved this spot because it’s both gorgeous and also right outside a shopping center for easy conveniences. Great cell service and sunsets. Don’t miss hiking a trail at the end of the road! The Peralta Road dispersed camping (boondocking) spot was one of our faves in the whole state!
Bonus: Lost Dutchman State Park Dry Camping
Lost Dutchman State Park isn’t technically boondocking of course, but we did dry camp there so I decided to include it on this list. This is a STUNNING place to camp, and Siphon Draw trail starts directly in the campground. Don’t miss it!
Boondocking in Arizona: Tucson Area
Pump Station Wash Boondocking
We loved Pump Station Wash outside of Tucson for the enormous sites and epic mountain sunsets. This spot at N 32°26’40.86″, W 111°22’19.44″ was perfect for big rigs and had great cell. Downside is that it’s far from everything except a dollar store and requires two-ish miles of very bumpy washboard roads to access. Worth it! Don’t take Silverbell Road to get there with a trailer, as there is a low weight limit bridge.
Boondocking in Arizona: Miscellaneous Areas
Black Canyon City Boondocking
This was a big BLM trailhead where we camped for over a week at N 34°3’8.64″, W 112°9’2.94″. The sunsets were gorgeous on the trail, and there was an amazing bonus for boondocking — a bathroom with running water! There’s not much nearby, but it was a good resting place.
Crown King Boondocking
There are unbelievable mountain range views on Crown King BLM land, including this spot at N 34°17’27.06″, W 112°10’32.64″. The downside is a long, bumpy road to access it, so it’s not a great base for sightseeing. But if you’re looking for solitude and views, wowza! Cell service was decent.
I hope you try out one of these amazing boondocking in Arizona locations! Come back and let me know if you do.
Disclaimer: Product links in this blog post may be Affiliate links, and I will earn a small commission for each purchase made through these links at no extra cost to you. Affiliate income helps fund our family travel and allows me to keep creating inspiring family travel content for you. I so appreciate when you use my links to make purchases you would have made anyway.
For more boondocking locations and tips, check out these posts:
Like all millennials, I rely on apps to organize my life, and boondocking is no exception! I’ve talked a lot about how we added solar panels to our RV’s roof last year so that we can spend more time off-grid. In 2023, we spent over 100 nights boondocking with our toy hauler, and I anticipate that number will be even higher in 2024. So obviously we now have strong feelings about the best boondocking apps.
My favorite reasons for boondocking are:
Absolutely unbelievable views right from my couch
Tons of room for our three kids to roam and act like kids without RV park rules limiting their play
Saving tons of money by paying $0 in rent
If you’re interested in learning how to boondock and want to download everything I know about it just like we were friends sitting around a campfire together, I’ve got you:
This 10-page guide will assist RVers in learning the basics of boondocking, or camping off-grid! We share everything we’ve learned as a family living off-grid and boondocking in our RV.
Okay, so maybe I’ve convinced you that you should try boondocking. But you may be wondering how we find places to park our RV? Well, there’s an app for that! A few, actually. Here are our picks for the best boondocking apps.
Best Boondocking Apps
iOverlander
iOverlander is the absolute best boondocking app in my opinion. It’s definitely the one we use the most. iOverlander wins for me because of the sheer number of boondocking locations that the app lists. It’s definitely the most comprehensive database of free parking spots that I’ve found. It also tops my list of best boondocking apps because it lists other crucial services that boondockers need. We use iOverlander to find hot showers, laundromats, propane refills, dump stations, potable water fills, and more.
The only thing to note is that a lot of the spots are catered towards van life dwellers or stealth campers. We are not fitting in tiny spots or flying under the rader with our 37′ fifth wheel. The app does have a checkbox to note if a spot is viable for big rig RVs like ours, but there isn’t a way to filter by that feature. It’s worth it, but that’s my only complaint.
Campendium
{Update May 2024: Campendium is being rolled into the paid Roadtrippers app, which I haven’t tested yet. I’ll keep you updated on whether it’s worth trying, but this is disappointing regardless}
Campendium is another one of the best boondocking apps that we use frequently. I like it because it’s RV-centric, so I feel confident that we’ll fit in most of the spots I find there. I also use it to cross-reference spots I find on iOverlander for that reason. It also shines because it names each spot with a unique name, making it easy for RV folks to share locations like “Lone Mesa Dispersed,” unlike iOverlander, which allows users to set the location name (sometimes randomly). Finally, I really appreciate that Campendium prompts users to review the cell service at each location by carrier. That information is really useful for those of us who are full time RVers working remotely. This is a free app, although it has a paid version we’ve yet to use.
Harvest Hosts
Harvest Hosts is the best boondocking app for stays that are also an experience. I’ve written a whole Harvest Hosts review, but the short version is that this is a subscription service that offers one night stays at gorgeous locations like farms, vineyards, and breweries. Harvest Hosts shines as an overnight stay as you’re traveling somewhere else (not sitting down in one location for an extended time period). It also allows us to experience fun excursions like farm or vineyard tours right where we’re camped.
Boondockers Welcome
Boondockers Welcome is another paid subscription that rounds out this list of the best boondocking apps. Harvest Hosts and Boondockers Welcome are partner programs, but they differ slightly in what they offer. Boondockers Welcome hosts are regular folks who offer up places to park in places like driveways and big parking lots. Unlike Harvest Hosts, there’s no “experience” offered and many hosts offer stays of one to five nights. And 75% of hosts offer some form of hookups, unlike Harvest Hosts where hookups are rare.
Disclaimer: Product links in this blog post may be Affiliate links, and I will earn a small commission for each purchase made through these links at no extra cost to you. Affiliate income helps fund our family travel and allows me to keep creating inspiring family travel content for you. I so appreciate when you use my links to make purchases you would have made anyway.
For more off-grid tips and tricks, check out these posts:
If you’re looking for Alaska vacation ideas, you’ve come to the right place! This guide features 20+ pages of what we learned throughout a summer RVing Alaska with Kids.
Portage is a great base for nearby hiking and paddling (and even day tripping through the tunnel into Whittier!). I even recommend it as a stop on my 7 day Alaska itinerary. There are two nice spots here. The first can be found on Portage Glacier Road at N 60°47’33.30″, W 148°54’1.38″. This spot is right on a pond and has room for a few rigs. It does fill up though, and we weren’t able to fit. There’s also zero cell service here. Our backup spot was Portage Valley Parking at N 60°51’12.36″, W 149°0’23.46″. This spot is a big parking lot right off of the Seward Highway. It’s noisy during the day, but plenty quiet at night. Super level and good cell service. We stayed for several days and loved the views and easy parking!
Eagle River Boondocking
Eagle River is a great boondocking location if you’re looking to be convenient to Anchorage. This location is the North Fork Eagle River boat launch and a big highway pullout on the way to the Eagle River Nature Center at N 61°16’6.54″, W 149°20’54.06″. Cell service on this road is not good.
Palmer Boondocking
Palmer is a place we returned to several times for its pastoral prettiness and convenient location. We stayed at several spots here, including an RV park (if you want info on the best RV park, it’s in my Alaska ebook!). Here are two Palmer boondocking sites I’d recommend. The first is just outside Palmer called Slipper Lake at N 61°43’57.00″, W 148°55’19.98″. The location is convenient and the lake is pretty with swans swimming on it. The cell service is two bars, the road in is rough for .25 miles, and there is shooting range noise during the day. The second spot is on the Matanuska River at N 61°30’12.30″, W 149°1’40.32″. It’s a very pretty spot with decent cell service, but scout ahead. If the river is running too high, there isn’t enough sandbar to camp on.
Glacier View Boondocking
This was one of my favorite parking spots in all of Alaska. We stayed here twice for the gorgeous glacier view and ease of parking. It’s a highway pulloff on the Glenn highway at N 61°56’51.00″, W 147°8’49.98″. It would make a good base for a Matanuska Glacier tour, but it’s not near much else. Luckily the view is an experience in itself.
Boondocking in Glacier View
Talkeetna / Denali State Park Boondocking
This spot is between Talkeetna and Denali State Park, and it made a great jumping off point for visiting both. It’s the old East West Express Trail at N 62°24’43.20″, W 150°15’21.12″. It’s an overgrown scenic viewpoint with plenty of room for big rigs. We also were basically alone back there in the woods for a few days with usable cell service.
Outside Denali National Park Boondocking
This spot is an excellent spot for boondocking just outside of Denali National Park. It’s a pullout on the Parks highway at N 63°32’25.50″, W 148°48’21.72″. With how far in advance the park camping books up, this can be a great spot for last-minute planners.
Valdez Boondocking
Valdez is a stunning destination that shouldn’t be missed (I’ve written about what to do there!). The city has cracked down on boondocking recently, but I have two spots to recommend. The first is right outside of town on the riverbed at N 61°4’37.86″, W 146°10’45.30″. Scout ahead because the road in is rough and water levels make a big difference in accessibility, but cell service is good. It’s gorgeous, too. The second location is half an hour outside of town in Thompson Pass at N 61°9’6.60″, W 145°43’37.26″. It’s got gorgeous glacier and mountain views, plus plenty of room. No cell service, though.
Boondocking in Alaska: Kenai Peninsula
Moose Pass Boondocking
Moose Pass was such a favorite boondocking spot that it topped our list of favorite camping spots in Alaska! This Trail Lake dirt parking lot is at N 60°30’10.74″, W 149°22’6.78″. Cell service is decent here and lots of room. Its biggest perk is being able to kayak right from the yard and watch float planes landing. It also makes a decent base for Seward if you don’t mind driving in.
Kayaking on Trail Lake
Exit Glacier Road Boondocking
The closest boondocking to Seward is on Exit Glacier Road. There are various spots on the riverbed for smaller rigs, but big rigs are best served by the roadside pullout at N 60°10’12.60″, W 149°30’47.28″. Exit Glacier Road is the perfect jumping off point for hiking to the Harding Icefields, but there’s no cell service on the road.
Skilak Lake Boondocking
Lower Skilak Lake has a state park style dry campground that’s free at N 60°28’15.84″, W 150°28’5.94″. It’s absolutely stunning, and you can launch a kayak right from your site. Full disclosure: most sites are not sized for big rigs, but it was empty enough that we could shove our 37′ fifth wheel halfway into a spot and not be in anyone’s way. No cell service and a bumpy road to get here, but a great place to break up the trip between Homer and Seward.
Outside Homer Boondocking
Homer has also made boondocking in town impossible, but you can camp directly on the beach at Whiskey Gulch at N 59°49’52.02″, W 151°49’19.80″. Scout ahead to see if you’re comfortable with the steep hill coming out. If you are, it’s a beautiful spot and accessible to Homer sightseeing.
Boondocking in Alaska: Southcentral Alaska
Haines Boondocking
We fell in love with this sweet little boondocking spot right outside of Haines. It’s just a roadside pulloff, but with views from the couch of the ocean! It’s at N 59°15’30.72″, W 135°26’26.22″. We had slow cell service here, but could drive quickly into town or walk right down to the beach. It was also right near the ferry so we had easy access when we ferried to Skagway! Catching the northern lights here multiple nights didn’t hurt either.
Northern lights in Haines
Skagway Boondocking
There’s no big rig accessible boondocking in Skagway, BUT you can stay at Garden City RV with no hookups for just $10 a night. Its easy location made this a no-brainer for us. Bonus for super cheap, hot showers.
Carcross Boondocking
Okay, Carcross is not technically Alaska. But if you drive into or out of Skagway, you’ll come through Carcross. Don’t be like me and leave little time to stop. Carcross is unbelievably beautiful. Stop at Big Thing Creek at N 60°3’30.18″, W 134°34’1.38″ and take your time exploring this amazing area.
Road to Haines Boondocking
This also is in Canada, but you’ll drive through on the way to or from Haines. This area of British Columbia is also absolutely stunning, and I recommend a stop. The gravel area at N 59°43’10.50″, W 136°36’8.52″ is big rig friendly and surrounded by gorgeous views. No cell service, though!
I hope this list of boondocking in Alaska spots for big rigs was helpful! Please let me know in the comments if you try any of them.
If you’re overwhelmed by learning to boondock, but you want to take advantage of these amazing Alaska boondocking spots, I can relate! We learned to boondock in Alaska because of these places, and I write a boondocking 101 guide that’s packed full of everything I wish I’d known when we started:
This 10-page guide will assist RVers in learning the basics of boondocking, or camping off-grid! We share everything we’ve learned as a family living off-grid and boondocking in our RV.
And if you need help itinerary planning, don’t forget to check out my RV Alaska ebook!
Disclaimer: Product links in this blog post may be Affiliate links, and I will earn a small commission for each purchase made through these links at no extra cost to you. Affiliate income helps fund our family travel and allows me to keep creating inspiring family travel content for you. I so appreciate when you use my links to make purchases you would have made anyway.
For more about our adventures in Alaska, check out these posts:
We’ve stayed at so many Harvest Hosts all over the United States (and Canada!), and we have had such special experiences at many of them. So I thought it was time for me to share my honest thoughts in Harvest Hosts reviews! This is our perspective on Harvest Hosts after almost two years as a fulltime RV family.
What is Harvest Hosts?
According to their website, Harvest Hosts is “an RV membership program that allows self-contained travelers to overnight at unique locations around the country including farms, wineries, museums, breweries, and more! With 5475+ of host locations inside of our ever-expanding network, there’s an amazing experience waiting for everyone.”
In my words, it’s a network of farms, wineries, museums, and more across the U.S. and Canada that allow RVers to park overnight (mostly no hookups!). You buy an annual membership, and then there’s no true charge to park at each stop. You are, however, expected to spend money at the host’s establishment ($25-30 at least). This might look like buying a bottle of wine, grabbing some homemade baked goods, taking a distillery tour, or even donating some cash to pay for farm animals’ upkeep.
Do you love Harvest Hosts?
The short answer is: yes. I would never write a review of the service if I didn’t think it was wonderful. Whether it’s the perfect service for your needs is another question, and I’m going to get into those details now!
Full disclosure: we enjoyed our stays at Harvest Hosts so much that I became a Harvest Hosts affiliate! That means that if you use my links to join, I will receive a small percentage. I promise to never let that skew any review I write! I would only recommend things that we absolutely use and love.
Our backyard for the night was a Kentucky bourbon distillery
When is a Harvest Hosts membership most useful?
Harvest Hosts stops generally only allow guests to stay for one night (although some may allow more, sometimes for a fee!). Because of this, Harvest Hosts is perfect for an overnight stay when you’ve got a series of travel days to get somewhere far away. It’s also perfect if you can line up a few nearby hosts to travel in a loop for a long weekend trip.
Why is this better than parking at a rest stop or Walmart?
There’s nothing wrong with a practical Walmart stay now and then, but it’s noisy, crowded, and forgettable (at best haha).
Harvest Hosts locations, on the other hand, are usually absolutely gorgeous. They’re pastoral farms, rolling vineyards, and swanky breweries. It is SO beautiful looking out over these locations as the sun rises in the morning.
But a Harvest Hosts stay isn’t just a pretty parking spot. They’re often memorable experiences in their own right! You can really level up a long and boring travel day by ending it at a unique Harvest Hosts destination. One of the grownups’ favorite experiences was taking a distillery tour in Kentucky just steps from our couch. The kids are big fans of the farm stays, where they often pet animals in their PJs last thing at night and first thing in the morning.
These Harvest Hosts reviews sounds awesome, how do I join?
Click here for our personalized Harvest Hosts join link:
Any tips for an amazing Harvest Hosts stay?
I have a few tips for anyone planning their Harvest Hosts stays:
Pick hosts with unique offerings or products you would be purchasing anyways (like dairy products!)
Read reviews to note any difficult turns or small spaces, especially if you have a big rig
Pay attention to how far hosts are off the main road; if you’re making a quick stop this is especially important
Try to arrive before dark to any unfamiliar location!
Take advantage of urban locations for saving money on pricey RV parks while sightseeing in cities
Do you have any favorite Harvest Hosts locations to recommend?
Benton Family Farm in Walton, KY had the most adorable baby goats and let us pay a tiny bit for 30 amp electrical hookup. We also loved the donkeys and baked goods at Grain Bin Commodities in Sweetwater, TN. Our most memorable stay was Boundary Oak Distillery in Radcliff, KY, and they graciously let us stay a second night free so we could do more Louisville sightseeing. Big Sky Deli and Bakery in Vaughn, MT was a super convenient location with an amazing kid playground.
Thanks for reading my Harvest Hosts reviews! I hope it was helpful. Let me know if you have any other questions before joining in the comments!
Disclaimer: Product links in this blog post may be Affiliate links, and I will earn a small commission for each purchase made through these links at no extra cost to you. Affiliate income helps fund our family travel and allows me to keep creating inspiring family travel content for you. I so appreciate when you use my links to make purchases you would have made anyway.
For more about our fulltime RV life, check these posts out:
We drove just about everywhere you can drive in Alaska and spent all summer RV camping in Alaska, both in paid campgrounds with full hookups and in roadside boondocking spots.
The views everywhere were incredible, but these two spots had some of our favorite views, combined with other benefits like usable cell service (with AT&T) and solid overall camping experience.
I mean…come on…look at this view from our yard:
It was honestly really challenging to pick just two camping in Alaska spots, but here they are:
Favorite campground: Paradise RV Park in Palmer, Alaska
Paradise RV Park in Palmer, Alaska is appropriately named! This park has unbelievable 360-degree mountain views in an idyllic farmland setting. The owners are super friendly, and the park is immaculately maintained. The price is right, too! Campgrounds in Alaska are definitely on the pricier side, but this campground was more affordable than some of the other Palmer, Alaska campgrounds and it was definitely the nicest.
Check out this drone footage that Dan put together of Paradise RV Park on his Instagram.
Favorite boondocking spot: Upper Trail Lake in Moose Pass, Alaska
Upper Trail Lake is Alaska camping at its best (and most authentic!). It’s a big gravel lot with room for dozens of big rigs that’s right off the Seward highway, but not visible from the road (so the road noise is basically non-existent!). Every spot has mountain views and many are lakeside, which makes for AMAZING early morning kayaking. I even just sat in my kayak one morning floating and drinking my coffee. The other cool perk is that you can watch float planes from nearby Moose Pass taking off and landing. Our kids loved that the Alaska Railroad train to Seward was visible, too. Locals love this spot during the summer, which can be a fun way to meet some new Alaskan friends. Be aware that Alaskans like to take full advantage of the summer midnight sun, and this spot may be noisy until later in the evening.
The photo of our RV at the top of this post was taken in this boondocking spot, and so was this picture of me kayaking Upper Trail Lake literally steps from our front door:
Disclaimer: Product links in this blog post may be Affiliate links, and I will earn a small commission for each purchase made through these links at no extra cost to you. Affiliate income helps fund our family travel and allows me to keep creating inspiring family travel content for you. I so appreciate when you use my links to make purchases you would have made anyway.
If you’re looking for Alaska vacation ideas, you’ve come to the right place! This guide features 20+ pages of what we learned throughout a summer RVing Alaska with Kids.
