Paul Barnard

Many of you may know about this site already. I had never heard of it until someone linked it on a hunting forum this morning. It may be a good resource for some of our tourers here.

https://freecampsites.net/

alan s 

fietsbob

you need a website? Didn't need one myself , (those years in the Scouts, probably helped)

I put my tent up in a Baltic Coast Resort campground in Poland , in 1991, as it was a Steel mill further inland run worker's holiday campground..

even got soup for lunch in their cafeteria..

Norway makes Nature a shared right.

indyfabz

It's a sharing platform. Feel free to join and add them.

alan s 

3speed

cyccommute 

They are a rather "open" secret. I'd say that anything marked on a website to the nearest 10th of a mile is kind of known to everyone.

mev

Not just camping, but let me mention iOverlander. I used their app, but seems there is also a website (iOverlander | Find your next destination).

There are some 8700+ entries in the US, so you can zoom in and find the type of stuff recorded. I heard about it from others when I was cycling South America and then used to help find campsites, restaurant recommendations, cautions about the route, etc. I even entered one or two new entries for places I found. At least in South America, the classic entry seemed to have been written by someone in a campervan or motorcycle and was from that perspective. However, still useful as a cyclist.

Another item to note when using the app is you have a local copy of the database on your phone. It can show nearby locations in either list or map format, where the map overlays Google maps.

What that means is with network or cell service you can see a full map. Without a network the app is still often useful with a list of nearby places and compass directions particularly when the description gives some clues.

I haven't specifically used the app in the US for touring but definitely recommend in South America.

fietsbob

One place on southern Norway they had straightened out a corner, a bit I camped on the old road curve outside of the new one, that was bypassed
(Below that was a Cliff)

brought a few bags with a cord on them to put rocks in, because the tent was not freestanding.. so the fact the surface was hard was no problem..

the bags would have helped on the beach too , fill with sand & bury them .. in the sand where no tent stake would hold..

nomadmax 

Use the free camping spots I frequent on long motorcycle trips; storage sheds in the parking lot of Home Depots or Lowes. I usually get a good meal toward closing time, ride the bike up inside and shut the door. Roll out my bed roll and I'm 60 bucks richer in the morning

mstateglfr 

well that can't possibly be legal.
While you are at it, why not suggest someone walk into an unlocked house, find a spare bedroom, and roll out their mat?

Eggman84

Maybe not but pretty ingenious. Is it really hurting anyone as I trust they don't leave a mess or any evidence of theirs stay. Leave no trace camping or do people just not understand that concept??. I like the creativity of some people.

boomhauer

I agree.
Somehow I've camped in the strangest of places for free without an app.
If you wander into any small town bar late at night on your bike (in the Midwest USA) someone will find a place for you to camp.
Guaranteed.

Machka 

This might help as well ...

https://www.bikeforums.net/touring/8...tay-night.html


.

cyccommute 

Not necessarily an international list but AllStays lists a lot of free campgrounds as well as Forest Service, BLM, private, state, and local parks. They even have a phone app. I've used it extensively and find it to be quite accurate. Some of the places listed didn't even know about the website or app.

As a phone app, it will even route you to the campground.

TimothyH

Is there a trick to get this website to work?

I'm clicking and nothing his happening. The site simply doesn't seem to work. I've tried three different browsers.

-Tim-

Rob_E

It's working for me. Maybe try a different browser.

mev

Weird, I normally use the Android app, but when I was originally looking to reply I noticed their website. Here is what I see using Chrome browser:
1. If I go the the box that says "Zoom to Location" and enter something, then nothing seems to happen if I use "go".
2. If I instead go to the "Click to find your next destination" and click not in the donate box, I get a world map. I can now pan by clicking and holding and zoom using the +/- in the upper left. That lets me zoom in and eventually I start to see bubbles with numbers and then individual items. For example, in Austin area I'll see:

Now in the particular case below it highlights how it is coming a bit more from an "overlander" perspective. It lists an RV park, three places people informally parked to spend an overnight, a spot with free showers and one case of public toilets. It also has a pointer to some food carts. Now in most all cases I wouldn't necessarily recommend that cycle tourists use any of these to camp - but similar information outside of town is pretty useful, e.g. it shows McKinney Falls State Park just outside town.

In South America at least I used it as one of the resources with a fair amount of local knowledge. Some of it made more sense in a campervan, but there was enough stuff there also useful as a bicycle tourist - and it seemed to be kept up to date somewhat recently - and was also used by some cycle tourists going through South America.

For example, here is an example of Chalten Chile an otherwise small village of 3500 people in Chile.

TimothyH

I really appreciate that you took the time to type that up.

The data behind the front page is great. I've found some really nice places to camp for a trip I'm planning.

Thanks again.


-Tim-

travelinhobo

Lol. Love it. I live on my bike and every so often I find a new "unique" place to stay. The problem with the HD sheds is that there's no grass in the parking lot to go wee wee in the middle of the nite. And yes, a few of us do get and support the leave no trace concept. Which is why after 3 yrs, churches and schools and empty homes etc still don't have a clue I've used their sites time and again.

nomadmax 

Two one liter water bottles, one full of drinking water, the other empty for late night bathroom use. Don't go for the biggest shed in cool weather, the smaller ones tend to be wamer

Paul Barnard

Good follow-on info on some other sites.

Sharpshin

Tks Paul for starting this great thread

Paul Barnard

You are welcome my friend.

zweitesmal2

I've spent inner city nights in the back of UHaul trucks at the rental lots before. It is safer than any park you'd find when in an unfamiliar city after dark. Just roll up the (always) unlocked door and slide in, closing it for a safe dry spot.