Overnight stops

[Roger rodbolt]

My wife and I choose to RV because of the convenience, freedom and independance that it allows. Save money doing it? No way! We've enjoyed many nice campgrounds and will continue to do so but have also used all the mentioned Walmarts, church parking lots, truck stops, etc. for a quick stops while traveling. Proper planning? We enjoy going at our own pace (usually fast) and don't want to and won't be tied to reservations when we can enjoy the freedom traveling at will. On an Alaskan RV trip we only had four weeks to spend. I drove 2483 miles in the first four days with sightseeing trips to Mount Rushmore, Crazy Horse (and Cabelas). I did all the driving and just didn't have time to locate, check in and out of campgrounds for the first four days. Drive until it didn't feel good, then sleep. Guess I did miss the pecking order of who has the newest, most slides, longest, 'aire in the campground though . Larry

 

[Casey Balvert]

Since we are not yet retired, our time travelling is often limetied and we are on a tight schedule. When I plan my route, I will estimate where my driving time (usually 12 hours) will take me. Then I find a public or inexpensive private park within 5 miles of my route (usually an interstate) somwhere between hours 10 and 12. 12 hours driving is the maximum I will do. I will make a one night reservation if I can. Often you will not need to depending on time of year. If that plan does not work I look for a Flying J (they have designated RV spots), a truck stop that has plenty of room or a busy interstate rest stop. In that order. I look for places that have lots of activity for safety reasons. Walmart parking lots can get pretty deserted at night. I never put out the awning or slide. In other words I don't camp. This plan has worked well for several years. Microsoft Trips and Streets really is a great tool for this sort of planning. Cheers,



Casey

 

[Paul Somers]

While I have never stayed at a Walmart; I don't see a problem with stopping there for a night. I do have a problem with people that take avantage of the welcome and make a week stay there.

We go to Pigeon Forge, TN often and the Walmart there is full of RVs with awning out, jacks down, unhooked from truck and most of them leave a mess. Also leaving a bad name for other RV'r.

Hi WyoJim. Hope Alaska trip went well.

 

[WyoJim]

Good morning Paul... . We had a great trip to Alaska. We stayed at camp grounds in Banff, Valdez, and Fairbanks. We overnighted at Walmart's in Anchorage, WhiteHorse, Grand Praire and Great Falls. We stayed two nights with my cousin in Wasilla... Hope that is O. K. Other than that we stayed overnight at Rest areas, welcome centers and pull offs.

It was an absolute sin the way Walmarts parking lot in Anchorage was being abused. If my memory serves me right there were 42 RV's there and 2/3 looked like they had been abandoned. There were for sale signs on about a dozen and all but about a half a dozen had Alaskan license plates on them. This struck me as odd untill I realized that a lot of Alaskans might rent their personal RV's when they are not using them themselves.

I guess its time I posted about my trip to Alaska. But not today, because I have to haul hay.

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

Lots of good points and opinions above - and as long as posters are able to properly debate an ISSUE - and keep personalities and name-calling out of it, opinions CAN be useful in forming choices...



HERE, the issue is the acceptability of overnighting in various "free" parking spaces - some offered by merchants - others merely "squatted" upon by those RVers looking for a roost for the night - I expressed MY personal opinion - complete with supporting reasons - WITHOUT the need to name names or personally abuse any individual - I oppose the PRACTICE as used by some - but DON'T attack ANY individual, since I have no way to know WHO specifically does those things unless they vollunteer the info...



Counter to what I was accused of above *I* can't in ANY way "force" my opinions made here on ANYONE - and if anyone has a suggestion as to how I can, please point it out, cuz I have LOTS of political opinions I'd like to also "enforce" upon society...



Forums like these are FOR exchanging opinions, nor are all our opinions likely to mesh with mellow harmony - we WILL disagree on some issues, but stick TO the issue, and LEAVE THE PERSONALITIES out of it!



HEY - some wanna plan their entire "RV vacation" around WalMart parking lots and such? Have at it - it's not the style for me and my family, and I've stated why - but there's dern little *I* can do to control or restrict others from doing it, other than expressing my own viewpoint on the subject - and what's wrong with that? Why should any feel threatened or their tranquility disturbed because of MY opinion? I'm against the PRACTICE, not any specific individual!



BUT, for the record, the "acceptability" of sniffing out "free" parking simply because of poor or unusual travel scheduling doesn't really change the ethics involved. Some seem to feel that since their travel is either too hurried, OR too casual, conventional planning is either not required or impossible, and practices they supposedly would NOT "normally" employ, are now just fine and dandy...



As I said, on our cross-country trip whan I retired in '96, we stopped at MANY extremely attractive spots along the way - we were total strangers to the various areas we traveled thru, but we DID have and USE a good up to date campground directory, and it doesn't take much time or real genius to select decent overnight options as the end of our day is near - and some of the state CGs in the southern states - leaves turning with the fall colors, beside picturesque lakes - nearly deserted in the Fall - are memories that will LONG last past the memory of the few minutes off the main road it took to get there, and the few paltry dollars the stays cost us - especially as compared to the Walmart asphalt and neon lights...



In our conversation of that perticular trip, we have MANY TIMES described to friends and shown pictures of the beauty we viewed in those places and states - but not ONCE have we EVER glowingly described some Walmart or Flying J RV space we saw along the way...



Honest, *I'm* not a bad guy for feeling the way I do on the subject - or for expressing my opinion here... NOR are any of YOU bad guys for having and expressing your countering opinion - can't we accept and leave it at that - without personal attack?

 

[WyoJim]

Hey Gary - KJ6Q... Go take a flying leap!!!

 

[JyRO]

Overnight stops...

Why does Walmart (some anyway) welcome RV'ers? Because the RV'ers may also spend their money there when they're parked in the parking lot. The times I've stopped at a Walmart (2 or 3 overnights), I'm usually pulling in around mid-night. And I have gone in and bought a couple things. Hey that's good business sense for Walmart to do that. I don't sleep easy in parking lots, subconciously I'm a little worried about security. I'm gone usually between 6 and 7 AM. I've never hung out or left my 5'er there the next day.



As for poor planning, as brought up by Gary. Actually I think my Walmart overnight stays were EXCELLENT planning. Like traveling the 1,200 miles to Mt. Rushmore. I did it in 2 days, with one night at Walmart. Poor planning? I think not, I maximized my time in the Mt. Rushmore area. Not dragging a$$ around trying to get there because I'm too uppity to stop where its convenient because its free. I purchased a couple of necessary items while there, didn't unhook from the truck, and was gone the next morning bing, bang, boom. I have all the camping books too, but there's no way pulling into a campground, checking in, finding the spot, parking straight in the darkness (not even unhooking in this case), checking out, and then driving by a Walmart to purchase some necessary item is convenient. Plus, I don't give a cr@p if I'm parked next to one of the wonders of the world OVERNIGHT if that's not where I'm going, because I'll never see it. That's the point Gary with overnight camping/parking. I'm not trying to see beauty at the same time. Its for convenience. Stopping overnight at the Walmart was a great help when I was covering 600+ miles in a day. Fuel, drive, fuel & eat, drive, stop. That's the way I cover ground, and stopping at the various overnight spots that's been mentioned is way more convenient than finding a campground and checking in, regardless of the, "few paltry dollars," it takes.



- JyRO

 

[Fireman]

Gary,



I respect your opinion, even though I disagree. Furthermore, I will defend to the death your right to express that opinion, as I would for everyone else that has replied here.

That said, Lighten up dude! Your intent is good, but your view is entirely too rigid (imo). The best example I can think of would be, have you ever been in a campground and had someone pull into the vacant site right next to you after midnight, diesel rattling, only to rise at 6:00 am, crank that diesel and pull out. Sometimes I think the "freeloaders" are doing others a favor by camping elsewhere overnight.

As for planning, I don't pull out of my drive that I don't have an itinerary and an alternate or two, but more than once circumstances have conspired to make a shambles of my plans.

Lastly, I've only met one person in the last 4-5 years that has never been in a Wally World. Whether or not you make a purchase at the one you overnight at, you are still a Wally World customer. I think it is a fine thing that Wally World does for the RVing community, just a way of saying thanks for your patronage. It's also a good business move because if you need anything they have and it will be reasonably priced. Most WWs also have enormous lots were a number of RVs could park and not interfere with any of the customers at the busiest of times. Locally I have never seen more than4 RVs on the lot at one time, none were stabilized or had awnings out.

I will add, SHAME on anyone who sets up housekeeping in someones parking lot and abuses the privilege that has been so kindly granted.



Love ya' guy,keep on camping

Fireman



Thought for the day: If you want to give God a laugh, tell him what you plan to do tomorrow.

 

[Ron Bissett]

Gary do not base your idea of camping or stopping for a rest on your ability to pay the cost of a stay in a camp ground . Income here on this TDR range from the lowest to the highest . Some of the best people in the world do not for one reason have income that would support a life stile like you seem to have and have to make do with what they have and stretch the few paltry dollars by stopping when and wear the fine folks let them stay without going to jail or paying a fine . I think that there are enough RV folks with plenty of time and money to spend and support the camp ground owners of America with out putting pressure on the folks that can not afford or wan't to stay in camp grounds for a short stay and pay the few paltry dollars . Just a thought LOL Ron in Louisville KY

:-{} Oo.

 

[LarryB]

I thought I'de take a chance and read one of Gary's posts. (He's on my "ignore" list). Guess I was right the first time. :-laf :-laf

 

[Boldt's Wagon]

Hey, I drug my lawn chair and cooler over here from the transmission threads to watch the fun with another WallyMart thread.

 

[LarryB]

Originally posted by Boldt's Wagon

Hey, I drug my lawn chair and cooler over here from the transmission threads to watch the fun with another WallyMart thread.

:-laf :-laf :-laf

 

[M Barnett]

I agree, lets not make this personal, but some body here needs to get a life real bad. Maybe its menapause. I can't even imagine anybody getting so upset about a little thing like this when Wal-Mart welcomes travelers but somebody here doesn't like it! Oh well, it takes all kinds.

Michael

 

[Roger rodbolt]

I think that it's worth mentioning the original post asked about "overnight stops" and "moving on in the morning".



If all the over the road trucker's used the state parks and commercial campgrounds for a sleep stop... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... .....

 

[Joe G.]

I was wondering how an "Overnight stops" thread could go to three pages.



I dunno about a planned itinerary business anyway. Some of our best vacations were of the "follow your nose" type. General destination and then see what attracts our attention. Shortly after buying our truck we went on an extended vacation (did REAL good that year) that put over 10K miles on the truck. We had a general route in mind and usually stopped at a camp ground. Not always, sometimes we would get distracted.



For example, going thru TN we kept seeing signs advertizing the Apillation (sp?) Museum so we got interested and went there. Fasinating place! I think the nearest town is Norris. After we spent all day there we didn't know where to find a campground so we just stayed in a parking lot overnight. No big deal. Didn't get arrested or yelled at.



As far as the remarks not being personal, phrases like "Parking lot welfare" are a real slam against anyone who parks overnight. That sounds personal to me.

 

[Midnite]

I find this thread extremely interesting--and not because of the bickering!



My wife and I did two trips in my truck from Alaska to the lower 48, one month each (April 2001 and June of this year, our honeymoon). The first trip was the longest--down through Canada, down I-5 and then into Nevada; down through Las Vegas and into AZ, over to TX and then back to Alaska via OK, KS, CO, WY, ID, MT, etc. It was my first introduction into overnighting in different environments.



I should point out that we're on the "low end" of the RV spectrum--nothing more than our fiberglass shell, sleeping bags and cooking stuff!



What seemed to work best for us were parking lots of diners/restaurants, with the exception being the Los Angeles area. I just didn't get a warm fuzzy thinking about crashing out in a parking lot in LA, so for that night we went with a hotel room. We tried the truck stop thing early on but it was pretty noisy, convenient as it was.



British Columbia, Yukon and Alaska are dead simple when it comes to pulling off the road for a quick night's sleep--turnouts 'n gravel pits! Just pick one that looks good and that's it.



Mike

 

[mberry]

Re: Overnight stops...

Originally posted by JyRO

Why does Walmart (some anyway) welcome RV'ers? Because the RV'ers may also spend their money there when they're parked in the parking lot...

- JyRO

Gary,



Wal-Mart invites RV'ers exactly for this reason. For those of us who are into boating (a different form of RV), we welcome and patronize those grocery stores that give out free ice when we show the boat's registration. Soda's and beer are a money maker for the store so it's in their best interest to intice a group of people (boaters) to shop there. Wal-Mart is doing the same thing.



I personally think it's more tacky, rude, inconsiderate, and white trash for people to park in the handicap parking spaces to "run in for a pack of chewing gum" than to have the last few rows in the back 40 of the WallyWorld parking lot with a few RV's in it.



The constitution states you have the right to speak, however, you do not have the right to be heard. I, for one, welcome your opinion.

 

[Texas Diesel]

Parking lot welfare? Where do I sign up?



We stay at Camp WalMart, truck stops, rest areas, under overpasses etc. Wally World has always been very open to us squatting on their property, we have even dropped the trailer to go sight seeing (w/ manager's permission). Never a problem, they even have had their security watch the RV for us.



Guess I'm cheap but sometimes just stopping to sleep makes sense to us.



This is some of the adventure plus it saves a special stop to buy supplies.

 

[dalton4]

Gary-KJ6Q, you started your first reply by saying you often got into heated discussions on this subject. This leads me to believe you might enjoy taking this subject to the soapbox.



I can't figure out for the life of me how anyone could become upset at your reply. Factor in how considerate and tactful you were in calling others panhandlers, cheap, tacky, begging for parking lot walfare, cheapskates and that all should get out of rving if they don't meet your standards. Sounds like you have a solid proven method for winning everyone over to your point of view. I'm sure you must have a patent pending.



Safe rving to all ... yes, even the ones that may be stopped at WalMart.



Jerry

 

[Joe G.]

Vaughn,



If you keep wandering around like that you will probably run into us one of these days. Just meandering in a general direction, but we might get lost and claim we changed our minds about our destination.