Having an available supply of fresh water is crucial for RVing. You use water in many ways, including cooking, showering, and drinking. The good news is that there are many places to get water; if you ask me, where to fill RV fresh water tank?
You can find water in campgrounds, travel centers, national forests, and many more. Of course, knowing how to fill water on the tank is just as important as knowing where to get water for RV. Let’s elaborate on each source of water below.
Table of Contents
7 Places to Fill Your RV Fresh Water Tank
1. Campground
The campground is the ideal place to stay for several days and refill your water tank. Even if you do not plan to rest at the campground for a night, you can still get portable with a small charge.
It does not have to be a local campground that you are familiar with, since it is located in many areas, even in remote places. Just make sure you search and contact them in advance to secure your spot.
Campgrounds may offer different services. Some will allow you to access freshwater while using their dump station. Others also have vacant campsites, which are convenient for to refill fresh water tank during camping.
2. Dump Site
Another great place to get water is to look for the nearest dump station. These stations typically offer water for free, but some may ask for a fee, especially if they provide extravagant amenities.
The good thing about dump stations is that they put a sign to their water, whether it’s safe to drink. You may consider using a water filter when the sign says “not potable” to remove impurities.
3. Travel Centers
You can also consider filling your RV fresh water tank in travel centers. These RV fresh water fill stations are accessible near interstates or main roads. However, their water doesn’t come for free.
Some travel centers may not have RV water fill stations, so make sure that you ask ahead. If they have one, the attendant usually offers information regarding the faucet location and any special directions for utilizing it.
4. Rest Stops
When searching for an RV water fill up stations near me, rest stops are likely to show up in the search result. Like travel centers, rest stops have a place for a hose to hook up and refill your water tank quickly.
Usually, people look for rest stops that also offer dump stations to empty their black tanks while filling in some freshwater.
Some rest stops offer an overnight RV parking service, so the next time that you need to use a rest stop, check whether it provides an RV fill station or not.
5. Parks
You can quickly find a park in the area for refilling purposes. In fact, parks from a city, county, or state serve as great water sources when traveling too far from travel centers and dumpsites. Most of these types provide day-use areas or camping services with water. Depending on the specific park, there may be regulations about water use for non-campers.
Private parks provide water connections and other extravagant amenities, but they come with a price. Meanwhile, public parks are more affordable if you want to stay overnight, but water isn’t always guaranteed to be available.
Since many parks are around, we recommend using app reviews to select the best option.
6. Stores And Other Businesses
When it is tricky to find a dump station or a campground, you might want to visit grocery stores to find a potable water filling station. But, it might not be ideal to get your tank full since grocery stores charge water by gallon, so it will be a more expensive option than others. But, in emergencies, it could be a life-saver.
Many might not know that outdoor recreation company Cabela’s also offers a potable water fill station. Most stores charge a fee for their dump station but not for freshwater.
RV dealerships may also offer a potable water fill station. Look at the map and find the nearest RV dealership, then call ahead to ensure that they have an RV fill station. If they do, ask where it’s located so you’ll know where to go.
7. Fire Stations And Churches
When you see a fire station or church while driving, you can stop by and ask for water to fill up your tank. If the water is a little murky, we recommend using a water filter to remove any bacteria or contaminants.
Finding Places to Fill RV Fresh Water Tank
One of the smartest ways to find places for water refill is to use a campground app. My favorite websites/apps are The Dyrt, Campendium, and RV Trip Wizard.
Dyrt is a leading camping app that helps plan your camping trip to any destination. I like that campers like me share some tips and photos for reference. Also, the interface is quite friendly and easy to navigate.
RV Trip Wizard will show you convenient areas to search for a dump station along the driving course. It also offers a massive library of campgrounds and rest stops for access. I like it best that you don’t need to download this app because it’s web-based.
Campendium also offers important information for campers, like sanitary dump stations and campgrounds. These are where you can find potable water to fill your RV tank. This app is completely free, but you can get a subscription for a certain fee.
Check the reviews to get an idea of how these areas offer service. Also, look at the fees and directions on how to get there. Before you pull in for a water refill, ask if they provide potable water for your RV tank.
Tips in Filling RV Water Tank
Here are some helpful tips on how to get water successfully.
- Use Water Filter: I can’t stress enough the importance of water filters when getting potable water for your RV tank. Poor quality water can’t only destroy your RV’s plumbing system but also your health. You’ll need two types of water filters- one for the inline connection and another to purify drinking water.
- Carry A Water Bandit: Some faucets may be unthreaded or with stripped threads. To connect your hose to these damaged faucets, you’ll need a water bandit or any rubberized captive nut. The water bandit will offer a water-tight connection, reducing water waste in return.
Conclusion
Now that you know where to fill RV fresh water tank, you’ll never worry about potable water even in the middle of nowhere. Just remember to use a water filter to prevent the contamination of bacteria. Also, make sure that you refer to customer reviews to select the best option.
Share your experiences with any of these water refill stations in the comment section below. If you like this article, feel free to share it.
Okay, so I’m Philip Lopez. I join Riverside Trailer as an editor, where I will be doing research for both content and reviews. I contribute to studies aimed at understanding the most typical problems encountered by RVers on the road. I also keep up with the newest RVing gadget innovations so that I can promptly evaluate and recommend the best options.