Semi-permanent Parking for the Slowmad

[pandasavi]

Question for the ‘slowmads’ and longterm parkers:
What is the honest truth about parking stability for semi-permanent stays (6–12 months)?

Particularly around Durham NC, Atlanta GA, Miami FL, and NYC — places where my work and family are primarily based. Anyone found success in or near these areas?

I’ve been deep in research and beginning to wonder whether the “Skoolie Dream” is sometimes oversold to people seeking low-cost housing stability during financial uncertainty or career transitions.

Drew out a floorpan for 35-40 foot skoolie solar home.
Now trying to understand the realistic paths before I invest my last savings into a build, and my labour at 12 weeks postpartum .

Questions and observations my research has raised:

• What’s the truth about semi-permanent parking in the current zoning climate?
  Street parking is typically prohibited, public parking limited, and inhabiting a bus on private property often violates local codes.
• What options exist for people who don’t have family land or a friend’s backyard as an anchor point?
  (It’s interesting to consider how economic and systemic privilege shows up even in bus life.)
• RV parks aren’t guaranteed — many deny skoolies, and in some areas they’re now more or equally expensive than traditional housing.
• Boonies or nothin’—City regulations are even stricter, which limits access to jobs, side gigs, grocery stores, childcare, playgrounds, and cultural life.

Leaves me wondering:
→ Is skoolie life only really viable if you already have family/friend land access, remote-work income, or the ability to stay constantly on the move?

Would appreciate your insight, advice, and/or reliable resources you might share.

 

[Ozbozz57]

Pandasavi, (cool name, btw) I would say your understanding of the particulars of skoolie/RV living is accurate. Cities don't want people living in skoolies/RVs on the street, most cities and counties have zoning rules or ordinances against people living in structures that aren't "proper residential buildings"... you totally get the point. My advice would be to find someone who will let you live in your mobile abode on their private land - and hopefully it'll be in a place where there either aren't such rules against it, or things are loose enough that people "live and let live".

 

[Ozbozz57]

P.S. I love the term "slowmad".

 

[ewo1]

Question for the ‘slowmads’ and longterm parkers:
What is the honest truth about parking stability for semi-permanent stays (6–12 months)?

Particularly around Durham NC, Atlanta GA, Miami FL, and NYC — places where my work and family are primarily based. Anyone found success in or near these areas?



Would appreciate your insight, advice, and/or reliable resources you might share.

After doing 30+ years in Miami all I got to say is forgetaboutit!
There is NO street parking available in Miami Dade county! Open lots are a scarcity!!!

You might find space in Larry n Penny campground or Camp Owaissa Bauer, but the closer you get, in Dade county, to the Florida Keys, the tougher it will be to get a spot.

Anywhere else in the county you run the high chance of either getting towed or robbed!

I wouldn't recommend ANY spots in the north half of Miami Dade county!
There is NO skoolie life in Miami Dade...If you get lucky you can have a better chance of finding a spot down in the middle to lower Florida keys, but it won't come cheap!

 

[nikitis]

We purchased a land property to park the bus on. Has enough land with trees to hide it and not bother neighbors. The county doesn't like occupancy but it's not a fixed structure so they can get wrecked there. Also we have a residence and if in question we can always claim we live there, this is just a temporary dwelling for development of the property much like a mobile trailer can be brought on site for development.

Most people can't afford two properties, but if you can find some land cheap that won't bother neighbors you likely won't even end up in their radar but it gives you an excuse if you can swing it. The county gets it's taxes from my residence, and the wooded lot property.

The wooded lot taxes are only $149 a year, and house is $1300, so for two properties it's not bad. Varies though per State property tax amounts.

Also I've learned it's your land, stop asking government for permission. Do what you want, but don't disturb neighbors. As long as you can follow that most times you won't have problems.

Governments work against you with land ownership because they like to only accommodate builders who subdivide into neighborhoods. Think about it, you buy 30 acres of land with just you on it. They make nothing off of you in taxes. If you're a builder though, they let you do what you want practically cause they know you'll subdivide and turn that 30 acres into 50 homes all paying residential taxes. Or if you build apartments is even more tax revenue for them. They don't play a fair game with you, the individual. It's all about the money with them so F'em. Its YOUR land, you paid your taxes, stay cordial to your neighbors, and go about your private business.

P.S. I know some of you will be like "You cannot do that, yada yada...". Plenty of people do everyday, and some even have showdowns like the Bundy's. Have a backbone. You are either free or you're not.

 

[pandasavi]

Thank you very much for your responses!
This was helpful feedback. The parking situation has definitely been a hinderance for sure.

I considered land purchase options, but that also appears to come with hurdles and restrictions. Especially during a time when our country has begun to criminalize homelessness (and survival solutions).

Building a permanent house structure on the land (as many plots require) and building a bus would not be financially feasible at this time, unfortunately. The land + bus barely is lol.

Exploring the feasibility of this project has been enlightening. I have come to see just how challenging policy makes it for people to free oneself from dependency from the "system" or "matrix".
But I'll save my cynical rant lol.

I will continue to explore my options.
The below seems like my best bet, and likely the determining factor. Don't think I would build without this locked in though, seems too risky for me and baby.

My advice would be to find someone who will let you live in your mobile abode on their private land - and hopefully it'll be in a place where there either aren't such rules against it, or things are loose enough that people "live and let live".

Wonder if there's perhaps an app for this? Finding land owners that welcome skoolie parking...

Thanks again. Cheers!

 

[nikitis]

@DeMac here in on the forums lives in Florida, and offers skoolies rent on their land. Give him a ping, I stayed there for a week free back when he was still in development of the property. It's a nice quiet location, and you could likely build your bus while there.

 

[Rucker]

...

I’ve been deep in research and beginning to wonder whether the “Skoolie Dream” is sometimes oversold to people seeking low-cost housing stability during financial uncertainty or career transitions.

In this forum I can't think of a single person who recommends getting a skoolie when in 'financial uncertainty or career transitions'.

The hard truth is that buying and converting a school bus into a travelling home is expensive and time-consuming. It requires sacrifice, a willingness to become educated and somewhat skilled in both mechanical and residential construction. Even with that you risk expensive mistakes and setbacks.

This work cannot be done when travelling, or when your bus is parked on a public street. The best case scenario is you have plenty of secure space with power, very close to where you reside.

Attempting to build while holding down a job, raising a family is tough, even if you have all the money needed to do the work. It will require sacrifices that you may not be in a position to make.

If you begin the journey, it will be a long one-a couple of years at least. During that time any number of things can happen to make it infeasible to continue, and if you bail you won't get any of your investment back. There simply isn't a market for semi-complete conversions.

I won't even go into living on the road, which only the rare few can do.

Now trying to understand the realistic paths before I invest my last savings into a build, and my labour at 12 weeks postpartum .

Questions and observations my research has raised:

• What’s the truth about semi-permanent parking in the current zoning climate?
  Street parking is typically prohibited, public parking limited, and inhabiting a bus on private property often violates local codes.

Unless you choose to live in the desert southwest where there is a lot of BLM land your options are practically zero.

• What options exist for people who don’t have family land or a friend’s backyard as an anchor point?
  (It’s interesting to consider how economic and systemic privilege shows up even in bus life.)

None.

• RV parks aren’t guaranteed — many deny skoolies, and in some areas they’re now more or equally expensive than traditional housing.
• Boonies or nothin’—City regulations are even stricter, which limits access to jobs, side gigs, grocery stores, childcare, playgrounds, and cultural life.

Leaves me wondering:
→ Is skoolie life only really viable if you already have family/friend land access, remote-work income, or the ability to stay constantly on the move?

There is little wonder. You've stated it perfectly.

Would appreciate your insight, advice, and/or reliable resources you might share.

My advice is to find stable housing and work, build your life up for a few years, then if you still have the itch, consider finding a van to convert as a start. Van conversions are cheaper, give you the same opportunity for road and camping experience, and test your ability to learn the necessary trades to get the work done.

I think it's a lot of fun scrolling Instagram and seeing the beautiful people with their fantastic rigs parked on a beautiful beach or in the mountains next to a waterfall. To get to the point where you can take that kind of selfie requires both privilege and hard work in some combination, but no one is going to say that to you.

This doesn't mean you can't have the dream--that's where it starts. Get a scrapbook and put your plan in that. Make notes of the cool things you see that you want to include in your rig, and put those in there. One day, probably sooner than you think, you'll be sitting next to your bus, looking at those notes, deciding which part of the build you are going to tackle that day.

 

[Mr P]

^ Wise counsel, IMO.

 

[nikitis]

I will speak on the other side of the coin.

I normally would agree 100% with Rucker on his statements, however.

We are entering in economic times. I'm currently jobless, and they simply are not hiring in my trade any longer due to A.I. I've had 5 interviews, applied to 100 places in 3 months. No call backs, after follow ups, etc.

Automation is only going to make the situation worse.

In a normal economy the above advice is the way to go, however, I'm in my mid-40's and I had the opportunity to earn a retirement I can pull from as needed. I have a house nearly paid off. I own 30 acres. I did well with my money and bought assets to hold it's value.

Newer, younger kids, will own nothing and won't be happy. A Van or Skoolie will be a slice of something they can own in a stable way and it's only going to increase as a way out to exit the system. New economies require new ideas. No one wants to buy a house for $400,000 and growing or 50 year loans to which they will never get out of in their lives.

People want to live debt free, and I don't blame them. And I encourage you to go that route if you are young. It's a chance at some ownership, it's not much but it's something you can call your own. If things keep going the way they are going with Automation/A.I. we're not gonna be working and you won't even own a van or a car after it's all said and done soon (Unless we all decide to revolt) but until then, I say go for it. If I were in your shoes and didn't have a good 20 years working at a high paying job under an old economy with savings already, I'd do what you want to attempt doing.

 

[Kentucky Dreaming]

I will speak on the other side of the coin.

I normally would agree 100% with Rucker on his statements, however.

We are entering in economic times. I'm currently jobless, and they simply are not hiring in my trade any longer due to A.I. I've had 5 interviews, applied to 100 places in 3 months. No call backs, after follow ups, etc.

Automation is only going to make the situation worse.

In a normal economy the above advice is the way to go, however, I'm in my mid-40's and I had the opportunity to earn a retirement I can pull from as needed. I have a house nearly paid off. I own 30 acres. I did well with my money and bought assets to hold it's value.

Newer, younger kids, will own nothing and won't be happy. A Van or Skoolie will be a slice of something they can own in a stable way and it's only going to increase as a way out to exit the system. New economies require new ideas. No one wants to buy a house for $400,000 and growing or 50 year loans to which they will never get out of in their lives.

People want to live debt free, and I don't blame them. And I encourage you to go that route if you are young. It's a chance at some ownership, it's not much but it's something you can call your own. If things keep going the way they are going with Automation/A.I. we're not gonna be working and you won't even own a van or a car after it's all said and done soon (Unless we all decide to revolt) but until then, I say go for it. If I were in your shoes and didn't have a good 20 years working at a high paying job under an old economy with savings already, I'd do what you want to attempt doing.

Or you can do real work that computers can't do.

 

[nikitis]

It's not that simple either. I've been applying to blue collar jobs as well. 2026 were going to see computers take over those jobs. Gen 4 robots of Tesla have 27 degrees of freedom of movement in their hands which make them as versatile as a human when working with intricate physical labor and can also control excavators and bulldozers etc. I have heavy equipment operator experience, I own my own equipment. I've been applying to those jobs as well without getting any callbacks. Many of those jobs are about experience climbing the ladder and putting in the time on site before being allowed to operate the heavy equipment which I do not have since I was an I.T. guy. It's like asking a plumber to apply to be a top electrician, no owner of a business is going to hire you for that position if all you've done is plumbing, even if you would be capable of doing the job. It's hard for the hiring person to believe that.

 

[DeMac]

Thank you for the mention Nikitis. We enjoyed your visit.

Pandsavi,
You might consider searching for a farm or homestead out in the country. It probably doesnt matter which state, just outside of any city limits so you're beyond the reach of any ordinance enforcers.

I do have a few sites on my ranch in Florida. I am booked solid this winter but Im expanding and may have more options this spring.

Buying a bus, horse or yacht is similar to moving furniture. We ought to know exactly where we are going before we even pick up the large items. Its better to walk through empty handed, clear the path, clean the landing space, work out the specifics.....

To live in an unconverted bus, we have to solve for these before we fall asleep on the first night.
(not six months into the build):

Electricity, potable water, lockable storage, commode, shower, laundry, groceries, refrigeration, cooking fuel.

I'm in central Florida. If you need a safe place to build, hmu.

 

[Bjorkinman]

If I were young and doing life over again id probably get a van. If I knew now what its taken to get to the point we're I am I'm not sure I ever would have started. My kids are more excited to live on mobile than I can explain and my wife is completely done with Atlanta and city life in general. I think this was the best option for US to fulfill the desire to live mobile - I would not have been content with an RV or pull behind. We're near the end of the build out and we're all excited to push off but what a process. Granted I went full out with the roof raise, spray foam, full solar, you name it. Our plan is to sell the house, hit the road, earmark some money to buy the next spot and eventually build a home there while we live out of the bus..

 

[Bjorkinman]

It's not that simple either. I've been applying to blue collar jobs as well. 2026 were going to see computers take over those jobs. Gen 4 robots of Tesla have 27 degrees of freedom of movement in their hands which make them as versatile as a human when working with intricate physical labor and can also control excavators and bulldozers etc. I have heavy equipment operator experience, I own my own equipment. I've been applying to those jobs as well without getting any callbacks. Many of those jobs are about experience climbing the ladder and putting in the time on site before being allowed to operate the heavy equipment which I do not have since I was an I.T. guy. It's like asking a plumber to apply to be a top electrician, no owner of a business is going to hire you for that position if all you've done is plumbing, even if you would be capable of doing the job. It's hard for the hiring person to believe that.

This causes me to ask the question, are there any sort of pages or threads on this site dedicated to sharing work/income options for us skoolie people?

 

[nikitis]

If I were young and doing life over again id probably get a van. If I knew now what its taken to get to the point we're I am I'm not sure I ever would have started. My kids are more excited to live on mobile than I can explain and my wife is completely done with Atlanta and city life in general. I think this was the best option for US to fulfill the desire to live mobile - I would not have been content with an RV or pull behind. We're near the end of the build out and we're all excited to push off but what a process. Granted I went full out with the roof raise, spray foam, full solar, you name it. Our plan is to sell the house, hit the road, earmark some money to buy the next spot and eventually build a home there while we live out of the bus..

My wife is the same, done with city. I'm not even done with the bus yet nor have a bed built just yet, and she's already wanting to go and sleep in it as is on the land.

Kids aren't so excited about it. They love the comfort of home. I think they will like it in the end, they just don't know what it's like.

For me the bus is bare minimum. I couldn't live out of a plain RV with sub-par options. A van either would be too small for me. I'd prefer a 40 footer now that I plan to live full time in the bus but our 25ft cabin will have to do. Buses are cheap enough I could probably buy another one, strip it and build 2 bedrooms out of it for the kids so they can each have their own rather than a cubby.

This causes me to ask the question, are there any sort of pages or threads on this site dedicated to sharing work/income options for us skoolie people?

Not sure about here. I'm not the person to ask on this topic as I've not ventured down this road yet. I'm just as lost as you.

 

[Mercuric Mind]

This causes me to ask the question, are there any sort of pages or threads on this site dedicated to sharing work/income options for us skoolie people?

I don't know what type of work you would be looking for but there are some camp host type job websites that may be of use. I have no idea if or what they pay:

Campground Host Jobs - Kamper Jobs KamperJobs.com

Kamper Jobs is a FREE job board, with camp host and workamping jobs all over the U.S.

kamperjobs.com

WorkampingJobs.com - Free Job Listings By and For RVers

Work and camp. The best place to find help wanted ads from RV Parks or campgrounds. It is 100% free for everyone and no registration is required.

workampingjobs.com

Work Camping Jobs for RVers - Kamper Jobs

Hundreds of work camping jobs. 100% FREE! Live the RV lifestyle and find your next adventure.

kamperjobs.com

Worker On Wheels - Home

www.workersonwheels.app

Campground and Park Hosts

California State Parks

www.parks.ca.gov

Job Board - Canadian Camping and RV Association

Campgrounds across Canada are frequently searching for team members to fill a variety of positions. This job board will continue to grow and expand to include

ccrva.ca

Become a Host | Utah State Parks

Become a Host

stateparks.utah.gov

Campground Hosts

Information and positions about Indiana State Parks' Campground Host Program

www.in.gov

Park Host Program | Washington State Parks

parks.wa.gov

https://tnstateparks.com/get-involved/campground-hosts

https://www.michigan.gov/dnr/about/get-involved/host/campground

Campground Host Positions

Alaska State Parks Campground Host Positions

dnr.alaska.gov

Campground host program

Learn about the Minnesota state park campground host program and how to volunteer to become one.

www.dnr.state.mn.us

Campground Host Information | Missouri State Parks

As a campground host, you serve as a “live-in” ambassador for a facility. Campground hosts set an example by being model campers, practicing good housekeeping and obeying all rules and regulations.

mostateparks.com

Campground Host Program

Do you enjoy camping, interacting with others and helping the public with a wide variety of questions? If so, then explore opportunities to become an Illinois state parks campground host in 2022!

dnr.illinois.gov

Becoming A Camp Host

An official website of the State of Maryland.

dnr.maryland.gov

Camp Host and Park Host

Become a camp host or park host. Camp for free for from 30 to 60 days at any of 24 participating parks across the state in exchange for volunteer services.

www.dcr.virginia.gov

Campground Hosts

www.parkrec.nd.gov

Be a Park Host - Oregon State Parks

stateparks.oregon.gov

Volunteers Needed!

Volunteers contribute more than a million hours per year to the success of Florida State Parks. Are you interested in becoming a campground host or resident volunteer? Responsibilities include greeting campers, answering questions and maintaining the campground in exchange for free a campsite.

www.floridastateparks.org

https://azstateparks.com/park-volunteers

https://www.sdparks.org/camphost/

Campground Host: Bureau of Parks and Lands: Maine DACF

Campground Host

Learn about the details and duties of a campground host by reading the job description Fill out the program application to apply for the campground host program. Form can be filled out online; then can b [...]

www.lastateparks.com

CPW Connect: Get Involved

CPW Connect is the volunteer management system and activity registration portal for Colorado Parks and Wildlife. Use the system to search for activities and log volunteer hours.

cpwconnect.state.co.us

Northern Region Campground Host Positions

Alaska State Parks Northern Region Campground Host Positions

dnr.alaska.gov

Our Amazing Campground Hosts | South Carolina Parks Official Site

southcarolinaparks.com

Park Host Program — Texas Parks & Wildlife Department

tpwd.texas.gov

Campground Park Host Offres d’emploi | ZipRecruiter France

Postulez dès maintenant à l’offre Campground Park Host Offres d’emploi sur ZipRecruiter France

www.ziprecruiter.fr

Volunteer | NC State Parks

www.ncparks.gov

Campground Host - Volunteer Opening - Oregon State Parks

stateparks.oregon.gov

https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/topic/parks/volunteer

https://www.michigan.gov/dnr/about/get-involved/host

Hosting with Georgia State Parks | Department Of Natural Resources Division

Click here for volunteer host information

gastateparks.org

Campground Host Position

REGISTER ON GALAXY DIGITAL: Campground Host Program | Delaware State ParksBecome a Delaware State Parks Campground Host!Experience the beauty of Delaware’s parks, make lasting memories, and enjoy free camping at one of our five participating parks. In exchange, you’ll lend a hand with volunteer...

volunteer.delaware.gov

Camp Host

An official website of the State of Maryland.

dnr.maryland.gov

Become a campground host for the 2025 recreation season

Several Iowa state parks are still seeking campground hosts for the 2025 camping season.

www.iowadnr.gov

Campground Host Openings | Missouri State Parks

2025Below are the number of campground host openings for each facility, each month in 2025. A host couple counts as one. This chart will be updated as positions are filled. Click on the park or site name to see the campground duties expected at that facility.For more information about campground...

mostateparks.com

https://ohiodnr.gov/buy-and-apply/support-odnr/volunteer-odnr/ohio-state-park-campground-hosts

https://tnstateparks.com/get-involved/campground-hosts

https://www.fs.usda.gov/working-with-us/careers

 

[Mercuric Mind]

Or you can do real work that computers can't do.

It is a shame that the US hasn't invested in trade schools and apprenticeships as a viable entry into good paying jobs that can't be exported or made irrelevant by AI and tech.

 

[Mercuric Mind]

And here are some sites for more of a nomadic jobs type:

https://get.intch.org/onboarding/professional/start/2?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=21236680508&utm_content=697773245694&utm_term=working%20nomads&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=21236680508&gbraid=0AAAAAqueOp8UZlNYEopHphevB0iZya94a&gclid=CjwKCAiA09jKBhB9EiwAgB8l-LQEFbt_ugROHSp77_1_b3C8XYvwIgMACvGjOhH8uvVbwhZqV8SQehoCJpwQAvD_BwE

https://www.flexjobs.com/lp/remote-jobs1?utm_source=google&utm_medium=sem&utm_campaign=23141033905&utm_term=jobs%20you%20can%20do%20from%20anywhere&network=g&device=c&adposition=&adgroupid=185698489646&placement=&adid=779322933527&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=23141033905&gbraid=0AAAAAD8MSvbENJtqgE15jNZhHSs4IiCEh&gclid=CjwKCAiA09jKBhB9EiwAgB8l-LJzQbamNI7uGELoaVjtKVL7nyNO6XoqBtGu_oT2Xwzz6sq7DTeboRoCZGgQAvD_BwE

Remote Jobs | Working Nomads

Discover fully remote jobs worldwide for digital nomads and remote workers. Find full-time, part-time, and contract roles that let you work from anywhere.

www.workingnomads.com

Remote Nomad Jobs: Fully Remote Jobs for Digital Nomads

Discover the latest digital nomad jobs. Explore 100% remote and work-from-anywhere roles, perfect for the digital nomad lifestyle.

www.remotenomadjobs.com

Jobs in Great Places® - CoolWorks.com - CoolWorks.com

www.coolworks.com

Digital Nomad Jobs | Best Remote Working Job List | Nomad 2025

Search for Remote Jobs and Digital Nomad jobs | Software Development Jobs | Graphic Design Jobs | Writing, Teaching, Product & Business Jobs

digitalnomads.world

NoDesk - Where Everyone Works Remote

Browse and apply to the best new remote jobs at leading remote companies and startups for free. Join hundreds of companies that use NoDesk to build their remote teams.

nodesk.co

35+ Digital Nomad Jobs to Change Your Life in 2025 - Absolutely Lucy

Change your life in 2025 with these digital nomad jobs. Absolutely Lucy shares tips for working remotely & becoming location independent.

absolutelylucy.com

International house-sitting community - Nomador

Leave on vacation with peace of mind! Entrust your home and pets to home-sitters or browse through recent offers of accommodation proposed by our members.

www.nomador.com

RemoteJobsFinder

remotejobsfinder.co

TOP 10 Des Jobs Pour Nomade Digital (en 2025)

Quels jobs pour nomade digital en 2025 ? Comment faire pour travailler tout en voyageant ? Voici notre top 10 des jobs pour digital nomad.

www.famille-nomade-digitale.com

Nomad Jobs That Will Let You Travel Long Term

Here are all the best types of nomad jobs you can explore without experience or a laptop. Get started in your remote work dream life and keep travelling!

runawaytraveller.com

Digital nomad jobs for beginners: how to start making money online

In this blog post, we're diving into a plethora of digital nomad jobs for beginners. These opportunities not only kickstart your income but also pave the way...

www.worldpackers.com

https://www.seek.com.au/digital-nomads-jobs

 

[Mercuric Mind]

As far as parking is concerned I have used the Neighbor app to find parking. It really isn't geared towards skoolies and places to build skoolies but it is possible. It might be worth a look.