Overnight stops

[fkovalski]

The spirited discussion in this thread is well documented and evident. However, the personal attacks on Gary in other subsequent and legitimate posted threads, whether intentional or humorous, is a very immature and unprofessional reflection of some members of TDR. Set standards in your replies instead of lowering them. -fjk

 

[DBF]

My heavens, folks.



All we have here are the different life styles forced on us by our current circumstances.



When I was young, I'd drive non-stop from Charleston, SC, to Holland, MI, to save motel costs (Navy didn't pay much). I wouldn't think of doing that now.



In our RV'ing community, we have:

a. Young families trying to fit in as much vacation as they can, driving till they need to stop for sleep and going on.

b. Folks who are driving the interstates headed for some destination and also want to pull off, sleep and go on.

c. Folks like me, who hate interstates, love to travel the back roads, like to set up camp in a full-service CG by 3:00pm and then go look around the area we've stopped in.

d. Others - put yourself here if you don't fit one of the above.



I wouldn't feel right putting into a Wal-Mart at 3:00pm, unhooking the 5er, looking around the area, etc.



Others need the quick-in, quick-out.



Let's just let folks do what they feel they need to do. As long as they're not in my way, or taking something from me, let 'em go.



DBF

 

[JyRO]

Here! Here!

DBF - I agree with you 100%. Live and let live. Oh yeah, don't forget to set your standards, don't lower 'em.



- JyRO

 

[clem]

A RV park gives alot more protection then a Wal-mart parking lot . Now is that what you are willing to do without?. I don't sleep well when things are moving around me. The wife gets upset when I sleep with a gun in my hand, but I also don't think everyone should have a blue truck. What would it be like if everyone had a blue truck? Park in Wal-mart if you like,maybe I'll read about you in the news papers. Or a NEW POST (How I got ripperd off in Wal-mart parking lot saving a few dollers) see you around the park

 

[clem]

A RV park gives alot more protection then a Wal-mart parking lot . Now is that what you are willing to do without?. I don't sleep well when things are moving around me. The wife gets upset when I sleep with a gun in my hand, but I also don't think everyone should have a blue truck. What would it be like if everyone had a blue truck? Park in Wal-mart if you like,maybe I'll read about you in the news papers. Or a NEW POST (How I got ripperd off in Wal-mart parking lot saving a few dollers) see you around the park

 

[24vcummins]

Make your overnight stop wherever you want as long as it is allowed. I would not setup camp in a Walmart parking lot, but I also wouldn't pull into a campground late one night or early one morning for a few hours sleep before I hit the road. Different circumstances call for different actions. Different strokes, different folks.



If my goal is to get to my vacation spot as quick as possible to have as much time and money to spend at that location, YES, I will pull off the road somewhere (truck stop, rest area, Wal-Mart, wherever allowed) and catch a few Zzzz's before heading back out a few hours later. (The key is wherever it is allowed).



If my goal is to stop everynight and see new places, unhook and go site seeing, I will stay in a campground.



IMO, you don't camp in a parking lot, you camp in a campground. If your on a long trip and you stop for rest so you can continue on, you are not camping.



clem - "I don't sleep well when things are moving around me. "

I don't either. And I know the poor soul in the campsite next to me won't if I come pulling in at midnight to stay for a few hours sleep.



Happy camping everyone.

 

[John Berger]

Wal-mart encourages this. I read an article not that long ago where the CEO of Wal-mart says it's a win-win deal for his stores and RV'ers. So it's their call. Personally, I like the idea and will utilize it when necessary. It's nice to know the Wal-mart option is there if needed. All I ever do is pull in, pop out the bedroom slide, drink a cold one and go to sleep. Setting up camp is a bit much for me. I would do it though, if it was a hurricane evacuation. The Wal-mart in Waycross, Georgia is right where I'd go.

 

[HBarlow]

I spent years planning my trips around RV parks and finally realized that they are usually more trouble than they are worth to me unless I'm spending a few days at a destination.



When traveling I routinely stop overnight at Flying J "Resorts" as well as all other brands of truck stops and Wal-Marts. I've found truck stops all over the country are generally friendly to RVers and don't mind at all if we park there. I also park at interstate and other highway roadside rest stops and city and county parks. I've stayed overnight behind shopping centers, behind a VFW Club, behind a police station, at weigh stations, and any other parking spot of opportunity I run across. I once spent a night on city property in a very small Kentucky town after asking the mayor if it would be alright.



If in doubt, I ask someone on duty if it is acceptable. I've spent many comfortable nights sleeping in interstate highway rest stops clearly marked with signs prohibiting parking and watched as a patrolling state trooper cruised through and ignored me. I don't make any noise, don't leave any messes, and if possible, I always make purchases where I stay.



One of the many advantages of the RV lifestyle is the fact that our trailers and campers are self-contained and can be parked almost anywhere.



There are websites listing free RV parking sites and at least two commercial publications for sale in RV retail stores listing free parking spaces all over the country.



I figure my RV parking decisions are a matter between myself and the owners/managers of private facilities or between me and law enforcement officers if I'm parking on public property. I frankly don't care who doesn't approve of where I park.



Harvey

 

[Blakers]

Wrap up to the original question

Well as a final wrap up to my original question about where to stay for a quick night... we are now home from a wonderful week in the Smoky Mountains. We stayed at the Mountaineer Campground in Townsend, Tennessee (more on the trip will be in a different topic) for all nights except on the trip down and back, where we stayed at Walmart in Clarksburg, West Virginia. I called the manager ahead of time and he said it's fine to stay there. Both times there were a couple other RVs and a semi truck or two. No problems whatsoever and we did a little shopping in the morning. A win win situation for both of us. I would highly recommend it for the short stop over.



Blake

 

[Joe G.]

freecampgounds.com

I thought you might be interested in: http://www.freecampgrounds.com/index.htm

 

[dgieson]

Staying in rest areas is not free I pay about . 53 cents in state and federal taxes per gallon of fuel. Staying is a service I have paid for and will use.



Also Gary mentions free trails for horses, I know of none. Once again we pay taxes for the public ones and fees for the private ones. Some of the horse clubs in this area donate time and money to maintain the trails on public land, again nothing is free.



So stay were you want and ride were you want you are paying for it.

 

[pathaymond]

Hats Off to the previous post. my sentiments exactly. I have learned allot from this thread. Allot of good men and women have fought hard and some died for our freedoms. Rude to me would be rolling into a campground at 11. 00 pm and resting a few hours and leaving. People that are camping want to relax . Travelers want to be at our destination as quickly and safely as possible. The world has larger problems than a traveler finding a place to rest. sounds like allot of good folks welcome us to do so.

 

[Whitmore]

The only thing I dont like about campin at wolly world is that it is so difficult to drive the stakes for a horseshoe game :{ :{ :{



just kidding , just kidding, dont get your panties in a twist



cheers, Kevin

 

[klenger]

I always get some dirty looks when I light up the campfire at Wallyworld.

 

[dgieson]

You ought to see the looks when you pull up unload 4 horses and throw up a picket line.

 

[AlFischer]

1. One bad experience in a rest stop. Fast asleep and in comes a big rig parks 2 ft away and leaves his engine run. LOUD. Had to move to get some rest.



2. In TOP NOTCH HIGH PRICED KOA was eating breakfast at the picnic table and some inconsiderate idiot with a HUGH diesel pusher pulls out of his site and stops with his exhause dumping stinking smoke across our table for about half an hour. Worse than a rest stop and cost $35/night.



3. Have never tried WalMart but sounds like a good solution for some needed rest. Have seen many fine looking rigs parking overnight at most of the WalMarts. Gonna try one.



4. Never had a security concern at rest stops along Hwy 5 in Calif. Maybe I am either lucky or just unaware.



5. Stopped in Coquille Ore and asked at the local visitor center if there was any place we could stay in town. Were treated like long lost family and directed to the local park that had an area set aside for camping. They told us where the FREE dump station was and made us feel really welcome. No charge. Met some FINE folks that night. A local resident walking through the park that night stopped and talked with us and even invited us to attend HER church. I would gladly live in a town like that!!

 

[klenger]

This is the 100th reply to this topic. Do I win anything? Should we go for 200?

 

[WyoJim]

Ken, I think we should go for 200. I haven't found out the proper stopping place for lunch yet. Will a KOA want a full days pay for a lunch stop? Walmart don't, its all the same price. FREE



Ken, How are you doing with that shoulder?

 

[klenger]

Thanks for asking about the shoulder. Every day, it gets a little better, but the pain is more than I expected this long after surgery. I can use the arm, typing, driving, and carrying light objects. Still working on more range of motion. Trying to balance the use of drugs against the pain. I'm finding that the therapy goes better if I take some drugs first.



Let's see, this is reply #102; 98 more to go.

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

"Will a KOA want a full days pay for a lunch stop? Walmart don't, its all the same price. FREE "



Why shucks, why not go fer the WHOLE enchilada?



Stop at a Cracker Barrel - there, ya can bum a "free" parking spot, THEN go check out the left-overs at some of the tables - probably get a good "free" meal as well...



HeII, if yer gonna "bum" why not do it up right - no "half measures"... Besides, it's not illegal, and you'd actually be "paying" for yer spot by helping clear tables - and who cares what "other people think"... . It would be "considerate" for other diners, since you wouldn't be taking up table space of your own, and they wouldn't be "disturbed" by the sight of leftover food being wasted... I mean, after all, isn't being "thrifty, and considerate of others", while meeting our own "unique" needs what this is all about?





There - that oughta get us to 200 in a hurry...