Where To Fill Your Motorhome Water Tank

If you’re traveling in a motorhome, the question of where to fill your motorhome water tank has undoubtedly come up. If you’re camping at a traditional site, you may have easy access, but there are plenty of factors to consider when looking for locations to fill your water tank.

There are plenty of places to fill your motorhome water tank if you know where to look and what to look for. Fuel stations, dumpsites, as well as rest stops are all popular options. Keeping a running list of possible locations on your route will ensure you always have a fresh supply of water.

Traveling by motorhome has become a popular way to embark on adventures on the road and see the country in a whole new way. But making sure you plan for items as important as freshwater supply will help make your journey a more enjoyable one.

Can I Fill My Motorhome Water Tank Anywhere?

Filling your water tank and always making sure you have access to freshwater is extremely important when you’re on the road. So, many will wonder if it is okay to fill the tank anywhere. 

The easy answer is yes. Whether you are at a campground, using a city water supply, or a rest stop, the same rules apply. If there is an access point that offers a fresh water supply, you can use it for your motorhome water tank.

You will be surprised to find out just how many different places you can access fresh water for your motorhome. 

You can fill up anywhere that offers freshwater that makes sense for your route and your budget. You will want to plan your fill-ups accordingly, so you are never going too long without having access to fresh water.

Checking with locations ahead of time will be your best bet to ensure you can fill-up without any issues. Some sites may have different specifications, such as a maximum that you can use, and they can have various prices.

And while many locations may offer water fill-ups, if you are using this for drinking water, you also need to ensure it is potable water, as it is considered safe to drink. 

You also want to consider your route and when you may begin to run low on your water supply. When dry camping, it can be hard to determine this. So you always want to overshoot rather than undershoot. And by that, we mean better safe than sorry. 

Looking into options closer together will always be smarter to ensure that you never completely run out before making it to your next opportunity for a fill-up.

So, while you can technically fill up your water tank anywhere, there are still factors to consider.

Where to Fill My Motorhome Water Tank?

When you are traveling by motorhome, chances are you may be staying at a campground or two. These will always be a great spot to fill up on water and many other RV essentials. But if you don’t intend on making any stops at traditional campgrounds, there are plenty of other locations you can use for a freshwater fill-up.

Rest Stops

Many rest stops along highways will have outdoor faucets that are available for public use. These can be extremely helpful if you are looking for a quick way to fill up that doesn’t require going on a hunt or straying from your route.

National, City, County, or State Parks

Even if you don’t intend on staying at any campgrounds, but you plan to frequent some parks, there is a good chance you will be able to fill up there. These parks know many motorhomes pass through their land. 

If checking at a park, you will typically want to start at the visitor center if they have one. In many cases, they will have the faucet or fixture right there. Other times, they will be able to direct you to another location in the park. 

For National Parks, if you are not staying there for the night, they may be a little more hesitant to allow you to fill up. But if you are already in the park, it means you have already paid an entrance fee. That is typically incentive enough for them to say yes to you filling up. 

If you are at State, City, or County Park, you will want to make sure it is potable water. There are typically various spigots sprinkled around these parks, but many are for irrigation purposes and will not be safe for drinking. If the spigot is not labeled, try to track down someone who works there or find a number to call them directly and ask about their water supply.

Dump Stations

Dump stations can be a great find, as many times the water there is free. This is not always the case, but there are plenty you will find that offer it for free or for a smaller fee than you might find in other locations. 

You will also want to confirm it is potable water, as not all dump stations have potable water on site.

Pro Tip: Get creative! Many small businesses or churches are often willing to help out a traveler looking for some clean water. Any companies that you patronize who have water supplies may be able to offer you a fill-up. There are also many churches with a water supply that are willing to help a traveler in need.

Fuel Stations

Fuel stations may offer two different options for you to fill up. Most will have an outdoor spigot that will contain potable water. If you don’t see one, check with the attendant. They may be able to offer the use of a janitorial sink. 

If their sink in the back is near a door, you can run your hose directly into the sink. This may not always be an option, and it will depend on the attendant and location’s rules. But it’s still worth a try.

Fuel stations are one of the most popular locations to find freshwater supply due to their convenience.

City Water Stations

If you are traveling through a city, chances are, you will be able to find a city water supply that you can use.

According to Outdoorsy, you need to make sure your intake valve is set to either “city supply” or “local supply,” and you turn your water tank off.

Do I Need to Clean Out My Water Tank Before Refilling It?

There is no pressing need to clean the water tank every single time you refill. But, as with any stagnant water, it can become old overtime creating an unpleasant smell.

Using a filter will help maintain the water’s integrity in the tank, which will also help keep it clean for longer. 

But it will still be necessary to give the tank a good cleaning from time to time. Here is a great “How To” video, showing exactly How to Sanitize an RV Fresh Water System. 

Filling Your Motorhome Water Tank

Next time you hit the road in your motorhome, plan and make sure you know where it makes the most sense for you to fill your tank. And keep in mind, this is an additional service offered at many locations, so always ask politely and see what they are willing to provide or help you with. 

Mapping your route is important to make sure you get to see everything you want, but it’s also crucial to mark off spots along the way where you can fill up your fresh water supply safely.