This list is a compilation of thrifty or free RV sites that we feel are safe (Read about our Walmart experience ) and good value camping options. We have personally stayed at every location. Site information is listed but not guaranteed to be accurate. Please contact us at janetandken@armadillotails.com if you have any additions or updates for this list.
Read more cost saving ideas here.
ARIZONA
- Pima County Fairgrounds – Tucson, AZ – Suitable for a longer stay
- Directions
- Register & pay in RV office
- Restaurants and grocery nearby
- Full hookups on open, grassy fields, quiet
- Dog walk, restrooms and showers, laundry, Wifi, dump station, propane, horse stalls
- Attractions: Suguaro National Park, Colossal Cave Mountain Park
- Discounts: Good Sam, Family Motor Coach Association
CALIFORNIA
- Butte County Fairgrounds – Chico/Gridley, CA – Good for an overnight
- Directions
- Register & pay in fair office
- Restaurants and grocery are limited – Available in nearby in Yuba City or Chico
- Full hookups with shade, quiet
- Amenities: none – open spaces to walk your dogs
- Attractions: none known
- Discounts: none known
- Earl Warren Showgrounds – Santa Barbara, CA – Suitable for a longer stay
- Directions
- Register & pay in fair office
- Restaurants and grocery available
- Full hookups in paved lot, quiet
- Amenities: none
- Attractions: Arroyo Beach (Dog Beach), Stearns Wharf, Solvang, Channel Islands National Park – Too many to list
- Discounts: none known
- Madera District Fair – Madera/Fresno, CA – Suitable for a longer stay
- Directions
- Register & pay in fair office – $25.00 nightly
- Restaurants and grocery available
- Full hookups in shaded grassy field, quiet
- Amenities: unknown – open spaces to walk your dog
- Attractions: Forestiere Underground Gardens, Walk to Madera flea/farmer’s market on Sunday and Wednesdays.
- Discounts: none known
- Motherlode Fairgrounds – Sonora, CA – Suitable for a longer stay
- Directions
- Register & pay in fair office
- Full hookups in shaded grassy field, quiet
- Restaurants and grocery available
- Amenities: unknown – open spaces to walk your dog
- Attractions: Columbia State Historic Park, Indigeny Reserve Hard Cider, Veterans Memorial Hall and Museum
- Discounts: none known
- General Patton Memorial Museum – Chiriaco Summit, CA – Good for an overnight
- Directions
- Free
- Boondocking in dirt parking lot
- Restaurants and grocery – none or limited
- Amenities: none – open spaces to walk your dog
- Attractions: General Patton Memorial Museum
- Discounts: none known
- Rolling Hills Casino – CA – Suitable for an longer stay
- Directions
- Register & pay in office
- Full hookups in pull-thru spaces, landscaping
- Restaurants available but limited
- Amenities: unknown – open spaces to walk your dog
- Attractions: none known
- Discounts: none known
- Tulelake Butte County Fairground – Tulelake, CA – Suitable for a longer stay
- Directions
- Register & pay in office – Self pay on weekends – $36.00 nightly
- Full hookups is lush grassy field, quiet
- Restaurants and grocery are limited
- Amenities: unknown – open spaces to walk your dog
- Attractions: Lava Beds National Monument, Crater Lake National Park 1.5 hrs
- Discounts: Passport America $18.00 nightly
MONTANA
- 50,000 Silver Dollar Casino – Haugan, MT – Good for an overnight
- Directions
- Free
- Some water and power in wooded setting behind casino. Boondocking also allowed in paved area.
- Restaurant, grocery, gas & small casino are on site
- Amenities: none – open spaces to walk your dog
- Attractions: Historic Savenac tree nursery, Lookout Pass ski area, Hiawatha Bike Trail
- Discounts: none
NEVADA
- Bonanza Casino – Fallon, NV – Good for an overnight
- Directions
- Register inside casino – Phone: 775-423-6031
- Full hookups in paved lot directly behind the casino
- Restaurants and grocery are available
- Amenities: none
- Attractions: none known
- Discounts: unknown
- Churchill County Fairgrounds Campground – Fallon, NV – Good for an overnight
- Directions
- Self Pay – $15.00 nightly, horse stalls available
- Electric and water in dirt/grassy lot – not level, dump station available
- Restaurants and grocery available
- Attractions: none known
- Discounts: none
- Tonopah Station Casino – Tonopah, NV – Good for an overnight
- Directions
- Pay inside casino – $27.00 nightly
- Full hookups in paved lot directly behind casino, some spaces no water but lower price
- Restaurants and grocery available
- Attractions: Tonopah Historic Mining Park, Central Nevada Museum, Tonopah Speedway
OREGON
- Douglas County Fairgounds – Roseburg, OR – Suitable for a longer stay
- Directions
- Self Pay – $28.00 nightly
- Some full hookup, mostly power & water only in large grassy area
- Restaurants and grocery available
- Amenities: showers, open spaces to walk your dog
- Attractions: Douglas County Museum (on premises)
- Discounts: none
- Deschutes County Expo Center RV Park – Bend, OR – Suitable for a longer stay
- Directions
- Register & pay at office – prices low for the area – we paid $38.00 for 30 amp back in site.
- Full hookups on concrete pads, all amenities, open spaces to walk you dog
- Restaurants and grocery available
- Attractions: High Desert Museum, Lava Lands, Mt. Bachelor Ski Resort, Oregon Observatory at Sun River
- Discounts: unknown
- Josephine County Fairgrounds – Grants Pass, OR – Suitable for a longer stay
- Directions
- Register & pay at fair office
- Full hookups near horse barns overlooking horse track
- Restaurants and grocery available
- Amenities: none, open spaces to walk your dog
- Attractions: Oregon Caves National Monument, Redwood National and State Parks
- Discounts: unknown
TEXAS
- Ray and Donna West Free RV Park – Muleshoe, TX – Good for an overnight
- Directions
- Self pay – Free but they do ask for a donation
- Full hookup in level dirt lot
- Restaurant and grocery available
- Amenities: none
- Attractions: Muleshoe Heritage Center
- Discounts: none
WASHINGTON
- Jefferson County Fairgrounds – Port Townsend, WA – Suitable for a longer stay
- Directions
- Self Pay – $25.00 nightly for full hookup
- Some full hookup in grassy field
- Restaurants and grocery available
- Amenities: showers, dog park, dump station
- Attractions: Ft. Worden State Park, Port Townsend State Park, Port Townsend Marine & Science Center,Whale tours, Ferry Terminal
- Discounts: none
- Washington State Fairgrounds – Puyallup, WA – Suitable for a longer stay
- Directions
- Phone reservations & pay – 253-845-1771 – may be done online but additional fee
- Full hookups in grassy field
- Restaurants and grocery available
- Amenities: room for your dog to run, blackberries
- Attractions: Near Seattle, Tacoma and SeaTac Airport, Mt. Rainier National Park
- Discounts: unknown
- Palouse Empire Fairgrounds – Colfax, WA – Suitable for a longer stay
- Directions
- Self pay
- Water and electric in lush grassy field surrounded by wheat fields
- Restaurants and grocery available
- Amenities: room for your dog to run
- Attractions: none but very relaxing
- Discounts: none
- Seven Cedars Casino – Sequim, WA – Three day maximum stay
- Directions
- Free – Register in casino
- Some water and electric in designated paved RV parking area
- Restaurants and grocery available
- Amenities: none
- Attractions: Casino, Olympic National Park, Olympic Discovery Trail, Sequim Lavender Farms
- Discounts: none
