Camping comes along with a lot of fun; however, a big hassle is when you have no idea where to dump the waste. While it is a challenge to find a place to dump the waste, you can’t just dump it anywhere.
You need to know places where you can dump these wastes for free. You might not experience any difficulty in accessing free RV waste dumping sites if your camping style lends itself to campgrounds or RV parks. But it becomes an issue if you are boondocking.
For better planning of your next RV trip, here is a complete guide on where to find RV waste dump stations.
Where to dump RV waste for free
It is not easy to find dump stations for free across the US, but if you need one, there are places you are likely to find them. Finding these places is essential to people who like boondocking frequently.
Most people seek free dump stations because it can sometimes be expensive to pay almost half of the camping fees to dump the waste.
It will be cost-effective if you find a place to dump your waste. Here are a few places where you will likely get free dump stations.
1. Rest areas
In most cases, rest areas along the camping route often have free RV waste dumping sites.
To find these rest areas, you can visit the Department of Transportation website for your state to find a dump station in the rest areas along your route. The website will have a listing page of waste areas plus the facilities offered.
2. Fuel stations
Most fuel stations have a site for free RV waste dumping. These fuel stations provide these services to attract RV campers to purchase their fuel.
3.Pro Bass and Cabela shops
Cabela and Pro bass shops are camper friendly and allow campers to spend a night there and even dump their wastes for free. However, some of these shops require campers to buy something from their stores before they can use their dumping sites for free.
4. Commerce chambers and visitor centers
Commerce chambers and visitor centers occasionally offer free dumping sites to attract tourists to their premises.
5. Municipal sewer facilities
These are public facilities and often offer free RV waste dumping sites. If you need a free dumping place, you can check at the nearest municipal sewer facilities to check if they offer services.
6. Military campgrounds
Military campgrounds are a good option if you are looking for a free dumping site for your RV waste. However, these sites can only be accessed by retired and active military members.
7. City Parks
Most city parks have free dump stations with potable water, but not always.
8. Federal campgrounds
Some federal campgrounds like BLM, National parks, and USFS allow RV campers to dump the RV waste for free even if they do not stay in the campground.
Good free dump site etiquette
Good etiquette should be observed in offices, in public places and even in dump stations. Although not written, some rules should be followed when using a free dump station.
If you use free dump sites, you are responsible for keeping and maintaining the sites in good condition. Since most of the free dumping site facilities are not maintained by the campground maintenance, they often receive less funding to keep them clean and maintain them.
Therefore, it is essential to follow the following dump station etiquette when using the sites.
1. Be patient with other users.
Free things often have many users, so are free dumping sites. Most of these dumping sites can be overcrowded because most RV campers seek free dumping sites.
Due to this, you should not visit these sites if you are in a hurry to dump your RV waste and get somewhere else. You should be patient with your fellow campers and be respectful of them.
2. Use proper and well-maintained equipment.
You should use the right equipment while dumping your waste. This is to ensure the waste gets safely to where it should be.
Use hose pipes of proper length and proper fitting on both ends to prevent messing with the dump station. Moreover, this will help prevent the waste from getting into your skin.
Proper equipment includes putting on disposable gloves and keeping the valves, hose, and connector clean. If you fail to use proper and well-maintained equipment, there are high chances of leaks, which can discourage or prevent other users from using it.
3. Don’t leave active dumping sewage unattended.
As an RV camper, you are aware that you should be present while dumping your RV waste. Do not ever leave the sewage running alone.
This is because there are nasty things that can happen like the waste beginning to go where it shouldn’t. Moreover, you need to be there to dump the black water first before the greywater to flush the waste out of the sewer hose.
If you don’t be available, then it means, you won’t be able to flush all the nasty out. You will need to open the valve slightly to allow the initial pressure to reduce before opening it fully.
At last, it is advisable to refill the tanks with some fresh water and flush through the hose. These processes require your presence.
4. Hose Down And Rinse any spillage
No matter the kind of technique you use to safely dump the waste, spills can happen.
Be mindful of your fellow campers and dumpsite users by hosing down and rinsing any spillage into the dump inlet before you leave. Some sites even have a water hose or spigot to help you rinse the spills with ease.
5. Dump the waste efficiently and quickly
While using the free damp sites, always be courteous of other users in the line. This means that you should damp your tanks faster and efficiently. These sites are meant for you to dump the waste but not to flush the whole system especially when other RVers are waiting in line.
Although it is important to regularly flush the tanks, minding others waiting is equally vital. Flushing the system also needs a generous amount of water but not in excess. If it gets excess it might lead to frequent emptying of the dump station and this might lead to restrictions.
How to find a free RV waste dumping station
After all your day spending time camping or traveling while you use the RV storage systems, you will need to empty them.
There are several places you can reach in the U.S to dump the RV waste, but the big issue is how you can find them. Of course, you may get free dump stations offline at gas stations or truck stops, but at the moment, you may get intended to reach such places depending on where you are or the emergency you have.
However, you can use online resources and apps as the best way you can find free RV waste dumping stations near you.
It may sound unbelievable to have apps offering RV waste and dumping information or services, but it is true.
So far, everything has turned to take place via the internet as we have online maps to show routes. Companies that deal with RV waste have provided smartphone applications that can showcase their services to campers and RVers on how they can find free places to empty their RV waste tanks.
Is that not sounding better than traveling all the way looking for a free dumping station? Absolutely, it is time saving and money to fuel your RV waste career.
Looking for online resources and apps to help you find free dumping for RV waste near you? Not every app you will meet suits you. Here are suitable websites and apps that will help in trucking free as well as low-costly RV dump places across the United States.
RV Dumps website
If you are looking for paid and free dump stations, use this website. Besides offering you such optional places, it provides several helpful RVing tips and online resources for RVers to dump wastewater in the right way.
This site has a friendly interface and easy features that can allow you to search dumping stations with the help of a map—your search for such places after choosing the location you want. It also gives you options of places by listing stations by their states.
This site’s map has features that can break up the dump station categories according to their related preference costs. Therefore, it becomes easy for you to choose free or payable ones. As all places may be provided at a go and be unable to choose the right one, the filters will be color-coded to help you identify exactly what you are seeking.
The RV waste and dumping information services providers in this platform also encourage users to provide information about a disposal site that they reach and is not up to their expectations.
Sanidumps
It is a platform that has been in the sector of RV waste management for more than 15 years, creating the most extensive information on waste management and disposal places. The site provides information of more than 16,000 dumping locations for RV waste, including the free and paid RV waste dump stations across the United States.
The reliability of this RV waste and dump places database is because it gets updated now and then, providing real-time information about locations. This advantage is added on by features of user-submitted information where users have chances to give information about any dumping station they meet.
Therefore, you won’t waste time going to an RV waste dumping station and finding what you expected is not available. Otherwise, with Sanidumps, you will get complete information about a particular dump station.
Searching with this database is easy; you can enter the keyword search in the search bar, and every piece of information is filtered for you according to what you are looking for.
For example, you can search “free RV dumping places in the U.S right now,” and the platform will provide free disposal places.
Sanidumps is featured in a way that it narrows down the places you want with the country name as well as a map; you can download it on your iPhone and start searching RV waste dump stations near you.
Campendium
Although this site has been known as a site resource that is more useful for finding RV overnight parking, free dispersed campsites, and parks across the United States, today, it is one of the best platforms for providing RV waste dumping stations.
Download it and go to the search category; RV dump stations. You can then include free or preference costs related to dumping stations; then, the search filter is narrowed according to the rating, reviews, and distances.
Before you drive to the particular dumping station, you will have complete information about it through Campendium.
For instance, you may know more about ownership management that deals with waste disposal in that station, ADA accessibility, elevation, RV length, and also get other information related to accessibility.
RVDumpsites.Net
With RVDumpsites.Net, you can find a dumping station across United States’ territory by using the map feature zoom of the location or inputting your exact location in the search bar to find stations.
The dumping locations in this platform are categorized as ‘free,’ ‘pay,’ ‘guest,’ or ‘no info.’ Such stations also include reviews and ratings, but to be honest, the dumping stations you will find at the ‘no info’ bar are not good.
It means users have not found relevant information to share about them or never wished to use them.
Allstays RV Dumps
This is a mobile app providing information regarding RV waste and dumping locations. It offers its services at the low cost of $2.99 per year; however, with such low annual prices, it provides a comprehensive database about RV dump places in the U.S.
The locations provided include wastewater treatment plants, RV dealers and services centers, military camps, Elks lodges, gas stations, casinos, stores, rest areas, truck stops, and campgrounds. You can use the map feature to locate the dump station you are interested in and know relevant information about them.
Conclusion
Waste management is never an enjoyable part of RVing but it is one of the most essential parts. With the above information, your RV waste disposal needs to be easier and save you a few bucks.
