Staying The Night at the Waylon Jennings FREE RV Park

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Not much in life is truly free anymore, if it ever was. But there’s one glaring exception, beckoning to weary travelers and country music fans alike like an shimmering oasis in rural West Texas. Well, let’s not oversell it. You probably wouldn’t plan an entire trip around it, but you sure do appreciate it if you’re passing through. And it’s all courtesy of country music legend Waylon Jennings and his hometown of Littlefield.

Right in the middle of the small Texas town (pop. 6,000) is a truly free RV Park where folks in motorhomes and travel trailers can pull up for the night, not be hassled by the cops or security guards, and even provides pro bono electricity and water hookups—stuff that even sketchy RV parks charge you 50 bucks a night for these days. There’s a dump station too, it’s pet friendly, and you can probably get away with pitching a tent there if you’re on a camping trip as well.

And the best part is everywhere you turn, there’s little bits of Waylon’s presence that he left behind. In the center of the 10 or so free spaces is a sign dedicated to Waylon with his boot prints cast in concrete as a memorial, commissioned in 1990. The Waylon Jennings Free RV Park also includes a competition level horseshoe pitch field complete with 10 regulation pits and a plaque commemorating Waylon pitching the first shoe in 1991.

Is it the nicest RV park you’ve ever been to? Probably not. It hearkens back to the time around the Route 66 era when towns across the American West and Midwest offered up motor parks to travelers and tourists to entice folks to stay a bit and spend some money. The park was first set up in the early 60s, and was named after the hometown hero later. The sign says you can stay up to 4 days for free. Any days after that will cost you 20 bucks.

The night I stayed there I got the final spot, and it was quiet with no complaints. Most of the clientele were passers through in well maintained rigs. Only a couple of spots were occupied by folks who seemed to have no other alternative for housing. But compared to Walmart parking lots and rest areas in this dodgy era for RV boondocking due to the housing crisis, the Waylon Jennings free RV Park felt clean and safe.

Each spot also comes with a covered picnic table, extra wide spaces where two folks can park if need be, and plenty of shade. Sorry, no pull thrus. I’d known about this place for years after having done the Waylon Jennings Littlefield excursion back in 2011. But this was my first opportunity to arrive in Littlefield in an RV, and at the right time for an evening rest.

And of course the next morning, you can make your way to Waymore’s at the corner of Hall Ave. and Waylon Jennings Blvd., owned and operated by Waylon’s brother James Jennings and his wife Helen. Waymore’s is within walking distance of the RV park. Along with the old gas station housing Littlefield’s local liquor store complete with drive-thru, it’s also the home of the only living Waylon Jennings Museum. Helen is always nice, and if you catch James in there, he’ll talk your ear off about all things Waylon if you let him.

It’s probably not worth postponing your trip to Disney World to stay a night at the Waylon Jennings Free RV Park. And don’t worry, I’m not blowing the lid on this place. It’s not like most people have the occasion to pass through Littlefield in an RV. Unless you have business in Muleshoe, it’s kind of between nowhere and nowhere. But for Waylon Jennings fans, a day and night in Littlefield, Texas is still pretty cool. It’s always warm and reassuring to see the legacy of country music still alive in the places it was born and raised.

The park is located at 1398 Hall Avenue in Littlefield, TX. First come, first serve.

To see photos of Waymore’s in Littlefield, CLICK HERE.

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