We're missing the boat here. In the US the vast majority of airports are non-towered (as they say now). ATC or "ground" doesn't exist there.
Usually there is a tiedown area, some near the FBO, and some just out on the ramp.
I usually just parked up in the ramp area, which is seldom full these days.
Now at a towered field, you go where they send you, and it's less amenable to free parking.