How to Search Craigslist Nationwide Without Hassle

by

Looking for an awesome deal on Craigslist but don’t want to check every single city one by one? Yeah, we feel you. Craigslist is awesome, but it can be a bit of a maze when you’re trying to search outside your local area. But don’t worry—we’ve got the guide to help you search all of Craigslist in the USA without pulling your hair out.

Contents

Why Search Nationwide on Craigslist?

Sometimes the thing you want just isn’t in your city. Maybe it’s a rare guitar, a vintage sofa, or even a used camper van. Expanding your search gives you:

  • More options
  • Better deals
  • A higher chance of finding what you want

The only problem? Craigslist doesn’t make it easy. By default, it only shows listings in one city at a time. Boo!

Option 1: Use SearchTempest.com

SearchTempest is AMAZING. It’s a free tool that does all the heavy lifting by searching multiple Craigslist cities at once.

Here’s how to use it:

  1. Go to the site.
  2. Type in what you’re looking for.
  3. Select the region (or the entire USA!).
  4. Set your max distance if you want local + national.
  5. Click search and boom! Listings from everywhere.

It saves so much time. Plus, it even gives options to search eBay, Facebook Marketplace, and other classified sites at the same time.

Option 2: Use Search All Junk

Search All Junk is another tool for power-searchers. It focuses just on Craigslist, and you don’t even have to type in a city.

How it works:

  • Enter your keywords.
  • Refine by price if you want.
  • Choose only Craigslist or include others.
  • Click search. Done!

It also lets you filter by category (cars, furniture, appliances, etc.). That means less scrolling through stuff you don’t care about.

Option 3: Use Google Smart Searches

If you’re cozy with Google, you can craft up some special search tricks.

Start with this:

site:craigslist.org "your search term"

Example:

site:craigslist.org "vintage leather sofa"

This tells Google to only show results from Craigslist that mention “vintage leather sofa.” Want to spice it up?

Try regional tweaks:

site:craigslist.org "van for sale" california

Or zoom out with:

site:craigslist.org "electric scooter" usa OR nationwide

It’s sneaky, but super effective.

Option 4: Use Craigslist Mobile Apps

Apps like cPro (iOS) or CL Mobile (Android) help do nationwide searches inside a simple mobile interface.

They let you:

  • Search in multiple cities
  • Save your favorite searches
  • Set alerts for new listings

Just install, type in your search term, choose “All U.S.” (or similar), and go wild!

Option 5: Manually Search Nearby Cities

Not ideal, but you can do it yourself if you’re up for a brain workout. Craigslist lets you pick nearby cities.

Here’s how:

  1. Go to craigslist.org
  2. Choose your primary city
  3. Click the ‘nearby cities’ box on the search page

This expands your search radius. It’s not nationwide, but covers a larger area fast.

Don’t Forget to Verify Sellers

Nationwide searching means you’ll find listings far from home. Be smart when you deal with out-of-area sellers.

Savvy tips:

  • Never send money upfront
  • Use video calls to see items live
  • Use services like PayPal for protection
  • Ask for extra pictures and proof of ownership
  • Meet halfway if possible

Scammers are out there, but with a little care, so are amazing deals.

Make It a Habit: Save and Set Alerts

Found the perfect search combo? Don’t forget it!

You can:

  • Bookmark your SearchTempest or AllJunk links
  • Use app alerts for when new items pop up
  • Keep a list of your best Google search phrases

This way, you’ll always be just one click away from scoring the next big find.

Wait… What About Facebook Marketplace?

We know this is a Craigslist article—but if you’re going all out, it doesn’t hurt to peek at other places. Sites like OfferUp, LetGo, and Facebook Marketplace often have the same stuff.

Bonus Tip: SearchTempest already includes others. Two birds. One screen.

Conclusion: The Hunt Is Worth It!

Craigslist still rocks. It’s a goldmine if you know how to dig in the right spots. With a few useful tools and tricks, you can unlock all listings across the country without frustration.

So whether you’re flipping items, looking for your dream motorcycle, or obsessed with vintage furniture—nationwide Craigslist searches just make sense.

Start searching smart. Save money. And have fun hunting!