Overnight stops

[sheldon]

One more comment on this subject.



I agree with Gary in regard to camping out at Walmarts and the like. I have found that about half of the RVers in the Walmart parking lot are people I really do not want to be around the couple times I stopped there.



If you are looking for cheap places to stay, the national forests, state parks, and county parks have been great places to stay. Most are priced very reasonable and personify the camping experience.



The best free campground I ever stayed in is the Navajo National Monument between the Grand Canyon and Four Corners. It is a very clean campground and excellent presentations by the rangers. Alas, space is limited.

 

[Stranger]

Our side...

We're headin' to Vegas or Laughlin for the weekend, 500 plus miles from home. Worked all day Friday leaving on the punch, (gone so far as to take te 5'er to work as wifey gets off earlier), drive to Boron, CA where there is a great rest area, pop the slides and relax. We want to maximize our time where we go.



Going to Klamath river for salmon fishing, leave after work drive AFAP (As Far As Possible), stay at Rite-Aid, leave before they open. Hit the river for as much water time as possible.



We use the "free" spots wherevere and when ever possible. However, most places we stay at we buy something, usually a "Large item" $100 or better.



Am I a bad example of an RV'er, maybe.

 

[Stranger]

NVR FNSH

Just one? Semi-Auto for me. Revolver for wifey. (She'll toss it to me and reload the SA's mag. Just in case, ya know )

 

[John Berger]

Wal-Mart is the way to go. Truck stops would be my second choice. I would stay away from rest areas, unless there were a lot of other rigs there, already. Like some others who have replied, I'm usually in these places after 10 p. m. and out by 9 a. m the next morning.

 

[Blakers]

Originally posted by sheldon

If you are looking for cheap places to stay, the national forests, state parks, and county parks have been great places to stay. Most are priced very reasonable and personify the camping experience.



The best free campground I ever stayed in is the Navajo National Monument between the Grand Canyon and Four Corners. It is a very clean campground and excellent presentations by the rangers. Alas, space is limited.

Another good suggestion!!! Let's keep this on the positive and leave Gary alone now.



Has anyone had any bad experiences - such as getting kicked out of somewhere in the middle of the night?



Blake

 

[John Berger]

Hey Gary, way to pour gas on the fire :-laf I like the break Wal-mart parking lots give to grab some shuteye after a long trip on the road. It breaks up a trip as well. We used the Florence Wal-mart last month on our way to Martinsville for the Cup race. What was a 9 hour trip start to stop was broken in half with 8 hours between. I tend to agree with Gary and his points, with the exception of the planning comments. We plan our Wal-mart stops. :-laf When I drove from Charlotte to Wisconsin last May, there was no way I was going to pull into that remote campsite in Stoughton at 1:30 in the morning. The Wal-mart we stayed in overnight was just the ticket. We planned that one too, at a fuel stop in Indianapolis earlier that evening. That was a long day on the road. The Emporia, Virginia Super Wal-mart is another excellent place for RV'ers to stay. It's near the Sadler Truck stop. I got Gary's point, so I would suggest that everyone not take this stuff too personally. I interpret his comments to be aimed at the people who set up shop for more than a day or so, and the RV'ers that empty the shi&ter tank down a storm drain or in the parking lot. Everybody knows you find a good piece of land on the side of the road to do that.

 

[pwr2tow]

The camp ground we stay in most often is a corp camp and the thing that really ticks me off is the people who come in late at night wake everyone up and then leave early in the morning wakeing everyone up again and doing all this without even paying , now that is a free loader.



P. S. the reason we know they don't pay is because there are no tickets from self registration.



P. P. S. I have never stayed at a wal-mart or truck stop or any place to sleep where one does not have to pay for the night, but if I was on the road and tired and needed sleep I would rather stay at a Wal-mart parking lot than endager everyone else on the road.



Ron

 

[Steve St.Laurent]

Enough is enough. I've deleted a couple of the more abusive posts on this thread. Gary's point has been argued on both sides. Let's drop the ethics, bashing, whining, etc stuff now and get back to the point. No need for further responses on either side of that issue.



I've yet to stop in a Walmart parking lot but wouldn't have a problem doing so for an overnight while traveling. As many have said I'd rather do that then pull into a campground late and leave early and wake everyone up when I rumble on it. On one trip I did stop at a weigh station and took a 3 hr nap in the camper in the middle of the day because I was tired at the wheel. I too carry "security" with me when on the road and wouldn't hesitate to use it if need be.



-Steve St. Laurent

Lead Moderator

 

[Blakers]

The official Walmart statement on RV parking.



I think I'll call ahead to the stores in the route I am taking to see what they say. I'd rather do a state park or something like that, but not sure whether they'd be open this time of year.



Thanks for everyone's suggestions. As asked before... has anyone had any bad experiences with rest stops, etc?



Blake

 

[baby.driver]

We were kicked out of the 76 truck stop in Louisiana on I-10 at 6 am by the sheriff of (I think Lafayette county). We were in the back row against a fence. The officer said management did not allow RV trailers. This was 5-6 years back.

I wrote a complaint to their corp. , National truck stops, and c. c. 'd the manager explaining how they lost our restaurant business

( we're 6) and a tankful of fuel.

We'd pulled in there about midnight and visited with a pair of US Express drivers swapping trailers before we went to bed. Nary a word we wouldn't be welcomed by the management.



Another time on Thanksgiving day we were run off a truckstop in Arkansas when we stopped to eat! We were the only RV in a nearly empty P-lot but the security guard said they needed the space for all the trucks coming in to dinner.



If they don't want my business, that's OK!



Jay

 

[NVR FNSH]

Here is the WalMart RV parking/overnight policy - link didn't work for me:



RV Parking





Wal-Mart permits recreational-vehicle (RV) parking on our store lots, as we are able. The ability to accommodate RVs is determined on a store-by-store basis, contingent upon available space, local regulations and ordinances.







Brian

 

[shoveljunk]

Blaker,

I plan trips around the kids school schedule. I have been known to leave town Friday noon, and use rest areas. I would use a parking lot if permitted. Texas has RV dump stations at many rest areas. There is one on Califas hwy 99 south of Fresno w/RV dumps. I have planned trips in the hot summer, to climb tehachappi after dark and rest at the top (Mojave). I always feel worse pulling into camp late at night, than using a lot. Some road side AM/PMs are ideal. " Use good edicut".

 

[Blakers]

Well we're finally leaving later today on our trip to the Smoky Mountains. We have a campground lined up for 6 nights down there, but will stop somewhere in West Virginia on the way down just to sleep. Just to be sure, I called ahead to the Walmarts in Clarksburg and Beckley and the managers of both said "sure we could stay the night there... no problem at all. " They both said to park kinda out of the way so as not to block anything. We'll probably stop at the one in Beckley, but if I get too tired, we'll do Clarksburg. All depends when we leave, as I'm at work all night and have to sleep some in the morning.



Thanks again everyone for your suggestions.



Blake

 

[rrl989]

I never considered catching some Zzzz's to be camping so why do all of the states rest stops ( I95 NY-FL) prevent motorists, Rv's, etc from parking there. I read all sorts of threatening signs, " 2 hr parking only", "No overnight stays", "No camping". Why can't I sleep a few hours at night after 12-15 hours driving in my RV, car, or truck?, wouldn't it be safer for everyone? why are they called "Rest areas"?



Ron

 

[Fireman]

Ya'll have a good trip Blake, and tell us all about it when you get back.



Be safe,

Fireman

 

[46mech]

Glad someone finally jumped in and said enough is enough, but 5 pages was too late. By the guidelines of forum usage, Gary-KJ6Q's first post was pure "baiting" and not constructive to answering Blakers' question. After reading his replies, sounds like he enjoys being blatantly antagonistic and creating what he created in this post.

 

[GLASMITHS]

Gary is partially right. Name calling is WRONG. There are people who stay there all the time, go to FlyingJ, dump and fill up with water and go on to the next one. One regular writer in a RV mag explained how it is done, and, how you could take a shower and not use more than a quart of water. Who would want to sleep with a woman who only used a quart of water.



Having said that, we recently upgraded our battery so that we could dry camp where necessary AND desired. If it is Walmart or where ever. Gary, you surely didn't give $50K for THAT 5er, did you. If he tried to park that one beside me I WOULD move.

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

'02 Dodge Cummins = $31,000

'88 Kit 24 ft fiver w/extras = $16,000

Misc extras, tool/fuel box, hitch, etc. , = $2,000





Do the math... .



Or do some of you folks pull your rigs with bicycles... ?



Or perhaps someone GAVE you your truck and/or rig... ?



*I* had to BUY both of mine...

 

[GLASMITHS]

Do the math

I have over 50K in the truck, paid cash, no credit card. Morfe than that in the 5er, paid cash - . I do not ride bycycles because of my age, and you should not eathier.



Actually my wife and I do what you do; like we plan most of our trips to be at some RV park between 4 and 6 PM, and leave around 8 am. 8 or 9 hours is enough on the road; and I like to have all the comforts of home, which we do. Heck with all the scenery, just give me 50 amps and cable tv. I like unlimited hot water for a shower.



To the origional question: my advice would be to carry some "security". Mine is a 12g with 3 rounds of 00 Buck. If that is not enough, I WILL run . Rember though, if you decide to have the "security" you should make the decision that you will use it. You can get hurt by trying to scare someone by pointing it.

 

[AHuber]

overnite parking

Joyce and I overnight park in a Wal*Mart parking lot and believe me, she always buy's something in there and it gives us a chance to walk around a little . Most of the time there is a resturant close by and Wal*Mart parking lot is lit up . Store security cameras are on the roof. We don't set up camp and only stay at the ones on the interstate so we can get back to rollin down the road.

A lot of campgrounds are like seven miles from your exit and if it is past October here in the north , good luck finding one to take you in after seven at night or even if there is anyone there.

Every so often we do use the campgrounds when they are open to hook up to the water , elec. recharge the batteries , ect.

Al