US rules on where you can empty tanks and spend the night depend on who owns the land: the National Park Service, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), the Forest Service, a state, or a private business. This page sums up the official rules. Always obey posted signs, which override general rules. Sources were checked on October 25, 2026.
Dump stations: where the tanks go
- What they are: a rental RV has holding tanks for toilet waste and shower and sink water. You empty them at a dump station, a drain connected to the sewer.
- Where it's allowed in national parks: federal park rules ban draining refuse from a trailer or vehicle except at places provided for that purpose. 36 CFR 2.14
- Individual parks repeat this rule. Shenandoah, for example, publishes it in its campground regulations. NPS: Shenandoah campground regulations
- Rental return: empty the tanks before you return the RV. Cruise America charges up to $100 if the holding tank isn't emptied. Cruise America FAQ, checked October 25, 2026
- Finding one: our RV dump station directory maps 336 stations near 57 cities, from OpenStreetMap data, with fees and water noted where they're tagged. Good starting points include:
- Las Vegas
- Seattle
- Salt Lake City
- Denver
- San Diego
- Portland, Oregon
Campgrounds
- Federal campgrounds: many campgrounds in national parks, forests and BLM land are booked on Recreation.gov.
- The NPS lists each park's campgrounds. Its campground pages give vehicle length limits. NPS: Find a campground
- Check your RV's length against the site limit before booking. Yosemite, for example, publishes maximum RV and trailer lengths for each campground. NPS: Yosemite campgrounds
- BLM campgrounds:
- Some charge a fee. Most are first-come, first-served, though some take reservations on Recreation.gov.
- Pay within 30 minutes of taking a site.
- Many limit stays to about 14 days in a 28-day period.
Free "dispersed" camping on public land
Camping away from a developed campground is called dispersed camping. It is legal on much US federal land.
- BLM land:
- Dispersed camping is allowed unless an area is posted "Closed to Camping."
- Stays are generally limited to 14 days in any 28-day period. After that you must usually move at least 25 to 30 miles away.
- Vehicles must stay on designated roads.
- Rules vary by state, so check with the local office.
For example, BLM Colorado limits stays to 14 days in 30, followed by a move of 30 air miles. BLM Colorado fact sheet - National forests: most national forests and grasslands are open to dispersed camping unless an area is restricted. It's usually free and needs no permit, but heavily used areas may require one. Call the local ranger station first. US Forest Service - Check your rental terms: they may still restrict where the RV can go. Cruise America voids its coverage in some areas. Cruise America FAQ
Overnight parking outside campgrounds
- Rest areas: rules are set state by state. In California, you may stay up to 8 hours in any 24 at a Caltrans safety roadside rest area, and camping there is prohibited. Cal. Code Regs. tit. 21, §2205, Caltrans rest areas
- Stores, casinos and city streets: these are private property or covered by local ordinances, so no national rule applies. Ask the business, and follow any "No overnight parking" sign.
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