The Free Overnight RV Parking Option You Never Considered On Your Road Trip

Driving across the country in an RV is a really fun way to see the United States. You get to choose your own route, decide what's a must-see, and be able to skip the things you're not interested in or have already seen before. Planning a successful RV trip is freedom at its finest. But as much as this is a beautiful way to take in the sights across the U.S., trying to find a place to park your RV, especially if campgrounds are full, can sometimes be complicated. That's where churches come into play.

While it may not have crossed your mind, churches have historically opened their doors and grounds to travelers, and many continue to do so today. However, unlike rolling into an RV park in the hopes of scoring an empty spot — although reservations are always recommended — before you can park your RV in a church parking lot, you need to reach out to get permission first. If it's legal in the city and state where the church resides and they don't have an event taking place where they need all the spots in the parking lot, there's a good chance that whomever is in charge will give you the go-ahead.

In addition to getting the A-okay in advance, there are some general rules to follow when staying in a church parking lot overnight. After all, churches, like all religious facilities, are private property, meaning you shouldn't treat it like a campground and should definitely be respectful of space. There are other things to consider too.

When it comes to parking in a church parking lot, you want to keep some basics in mind. For starters, you want to avoid them during the weekend. Although some churches have masses and other gatherings for the congregation throughout the week, it's the weekend, when there are multiple masses, that the church is likely to need all their parking spots. Even if a church does have a few extra spots on the weekend, as a place of worship, it's best to just steer clear — especially if you're unfamiliar with the faith of the church. You don't want to be packing up and heading out during a time in the mass that's reserved for silence.

You also want to think about what you'll be eating for your meals in advance. Because church parking lots are not RV parks or campgrounds, they shouldn't be treated as such, which means absolutely no grilling. You also shouldn't set up outside chairs and open a few brewskis in the parking lot. While this is more than okay in setting up the perfect RV campground, a church parking lot isn't the place for it. So, figure out what you can cook inside your RV and keep all lounging activities also inside the RV. When you leave, make sure to take your trash with you. You don't want to be that person who made a bad impression with their RV behavior and now the church where you stayed is no longer allowing others to stay there in the future.

Although it's pretty much a given that you shouldn't overstay your welcome in a church parking lot, meaning ideally not staying more than one night, there are other benefits that these spaces have to offer. If you're looking to maximize your budget on an RV road trip, church parking lots are free, and because you're on private property, you don't have to worry about adhering to street cleaning schedules and similar inconveniences that come with driving cross-country. That being said, making a donation to the church, although not necessary, is a kind gesture to consider.

Church parking lots are also, for the most part, safe. Although violence against churches has been on the rise, they are still very safe places to park for the night. There's also the fact that considering many people don't think of church parking lots as being a place to park their RV, there's a good chance you may be the only one in the lot, meaning no noisy neighbors and getting some proper shuteye before heading back out on the road early the next morning. Basically, a church parking lot is the perfect spot for one night. So the next time you're faced with no place to park your RV, search the churches in the area and see which one is willing to let you stay for the night.