Best Boondocking RV apps

Finding the perfect boondocking site is one of the most exciting yet confusing parts of full time RVing. To make it easier, we’re sharing the best boondocking RV apps that we use to find beautiful spots out in nature. But first… let’s back it up a little…

What is boondocking?

Boondocking is essentially self-contained RV camping with no access to electric hookups or city water. Most boondocking is on public lands owned by the state or federal government. You don’t make reservations, so you and other boondockers are all on the hunt for a great spot.

Where can you boondock for free?

Boondocking is usually free on state and federally-owned public lands. Examples include BLM, State Trust, and US Forest Service land. While boondocking itself is free, some public lands require fee-based permits to access the area (this is for day-use and overnighters). The best boondocking RV apps have plenty of reviews to help guide you through the permit requirements (you can also download our 5 boondocking tips for full timers here).

Best Boondocking RV Apps

The 9 best boondocking RV apps that we use to find the perfect spot aren’t all site-related apps, some are apps great for all RVers, but they have a special purpose for finding the perfect spot when used in creative ways.

1.      iOverlander

We use iOverlander to find 90% of our boondocking spots. When looking for a boondocking spot, you’ll want to have the filter on ‘wild camping’ and off for other campground options. We always use map view to plan our route. It’s important to look at reviews and the date of those reviews. Once you have a spot in mind, also pick a plan B and plan C in case your plan A is full or the site is not what you expected.

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2.      Google Maps

If you’re boondocking in remote areas, make sure to download a map of the area offline. This is always good to have in case service is spotty to your destination. To scope out the spot you chose in iOverlander, switch Google Maps to satellite view. Zoom in on the GPS coordinates of your spot to see where there are roads and pull offs. You can normally tell how RV-friendly a boondocking spot is based on how many pull outs and how defined the dirt roads are.

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3.      Campendium

After we have a good idea on iOverlander and Google Maps of where we want to go, we always double check the site in Campendium. We’ve found that Campendium doesn’t have all the boondocking sites iOverlander does, but the reviews and pictures are typically better in this app. I can’t emphasize reviews enough – you’re trusting fellow boondockers to give you information to find a new spot for your home on wheels! The more reviews you can find, the more confident you’ll be in your site selection.

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4.      Harvest Host

Harvest Host is a membership-based program where RVers can boondock at vineyards, distilleries, farms, and golf courses. The membership fee gives RVers access to their database of Harvest Hosts. The hosts allow RVers to boondock for a night in exchange for supporting the local business, which can mean playing a round of golf, wine tasting, or buying fresh produce! Harvest Host is a great RV boondocking app because it’s an opportunity to treat yourself and support a local business while on the road. We usually use Harvest Host when the spots are on the way to a longer destination.

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5.      GasBuddy

GasBuddy is a gas discount app that offers both a free and premium memberships. It’s a great app to have in general, but it’s especially helpful for RV boondocking because it’ll help you plan where you can have access to gas & services. Boondocking often takes you far away from the city and typical amenities. We use GasBuddy to see where the nearest gas stations are and which ones we should fill up at before heading out into the middle of nowhere! The database also lets you know which stations have propane, water, air, and other important services to keep your rig ready for the outdoors.

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6.      Opensignal

As full time RVers, working remotely is an important part of our lifestyle. Working remotely while boondocking requires us to have good cell service since we use our phones as hotspots to work. Opensignal is an app that allows you to check what your service will be like ahead of time, and you can even filter by service provider. We use Opensignal and the iOverlander reviews (most include info about cell service) together to determine if a spot has strong enough service for us to work. Again, this is why you always need a plan B and C… if you really need service and it’s worse than you expected, just keep on going to your plan B.

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7.      Waze

Most people use Waze for directions, but Waze is one of the best boondocking RV apps because it will help you quickly problem solve when something goes wrong on your route. Because boondocking is a free for all, you’re going to want to arrive at your spot during daylight hours – this gives you time to assess the sites and neighbors so that you can head out to plan B if you’re not a fan of the site.

We’ve been in traffic jams due to fatal accidents and construction where we’re at a standstill for hours. Waze helps you determine what the cause of the standstill is and communicate with other drivers so you can make the decision about whether or not you need to find a closer boondocking spot to make it by sundown. You can see user comments & drive speeds to find out what is going wrong and how long you’ll be stuck. If someone posts that it’s a fatal accident, you’ll know you need to find a new route and maybe even a new spot because you’re stuck.

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8.      The Weather Channel

Of course you’ll want to check the weather in your boondocking spot ahead of time, but that’s not why The Weather Channel is one of the best boondocking RV apps. We use The Weather Channel for their radar maps to see wind, temperature, and cloud predictions.

We use temperature to pick out warmer boondocking spots. Temperature can fluctuate extremely one mile to the next based on your location and elevation. With The Weather Channel radar map, you can zoom in on exactly where your boondocking spot is to see if it’s a warmer spot or cooler spot. If weather isn’t ideal in that location, time for your plan B!

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The wind layer of the radar map is how we determine our driving days when moving to a new boondocking spot. Most RVs are basically windsails on the freeway. It is not worth it or safe to drive through wind with your rig, so use The Weather Channel app to see where the wind is strongest, when the wind is at its worst, and if you should postpone your driving days. This is a paid feature, but at $30/year, it’s worth it!

Lastly, boondockers rely on solar for power. With good solar energy, you don’t have to worry about charging any of your electronics. But, if you’re in a cloudier area, you might be stuck with no power. Use the cloud layer of the radar map to see how much cloud coverage you’ll have in your boondocking spot. 

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9.      RV Dump Stations

The final best boondocking RV app is RV Dump Stations (formerly RV Dumps. This is the app we use to find where we can dump our black and gray tanks after a boondocking stay. iOverlander and Campendium also have dump stations in their database, but RV Dump Stations has even more. Reviews usually share tips for the location and cost of the dump. There are even free dump stations listed on this app!

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Between these 9 boondocking RV apps, you should be able to find a great boondocking spot and service your rig before and after your stay. But, what should you expect once you’re at your site? Download for our 5 tips for boondocking!