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07-29-2016, 08:16 AM
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#1
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Willis, TX
Posts: 548
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Where do you stay overnight between transit from on destination to another?
In the last 5 years, my DW and I travel all over the US for photography. We put in over 150,000 miles on my Jeep Grand Cherokee and more than 40,000 miles on my full-size custom van. We have done many and many tent camping until now, we bought our dream home away from home and was planning to travel extensively on this baby.
That said, during transit between one destination to another, we often stay or should I say "rest" at the state's rest area without any issue. Now I have the RV, and I thought that I could do the same, but... it is a big "BUT", NOT ALL REST AREA ALLOWS OVERNIGHT RVs. Some may allow you to stay, but no more than 6 to 8 hours. Besides the rest area, there are also Walmart, and truck stops. I know that most (not all) Walmarts are welcome RVers if the city ordinance allows them to welcome RVers. But for the truck stops, would they welcome RVers too? if they do, most if not all of their space would be taken by the 18 wheelers already. If you squeeze in (assume that there is space for you), would that piss off the next trucker who will arrive later if you took their last space?
I know there are many of this discussion somewhere in this forum or elsewhere too, but none of them share much of what they did and where. So please don't hate comment me because I am doing this.
I would like to start the thread for everyone to share their experience with Walmart, Truck Stops, and Rest Area and any place that you would think that they welcome the RVers for resting along their transit between one destination to another, not for camping.
With your "hand-on" experience, I hope that I could organize and document the information that I could share with all RVers so that we could use as a baseline guide for the overnight stay. With that, I need the information of your experience such as the state or city that you travel through with good or bad experience of your overnight stay/rest.
Thanks in advance.
__________________
Tam & Ha from Willis, TX
2016 Georgetown XL 352QS
2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee
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07-29-2016, 10:35 AM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: Sunriver, Oregon
Posts: 502
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Almost all Elks Lodges have RV camping. Most have water and power. Some have sewer. Usually around $15/night. Requires an Elks membership.
Sent from my iPad using Forest River Forums
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07-29-2016, 10:41 AM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2011
Posts: 904
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I always overnight at a campground overnight.
__________________
former 2017 Forest River Sunseeker 2250SLE owner - replaced by a Pleasure-Way Tofino and then an Ontour 2.0
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07-29-2016, 10:42 AM
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#4
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(Dry Huunday)
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Eastern North Carolina
Posts: 2,298
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And if you are a Veteran, many VFW's provide a safe haven!
__________________
Beau & Sue
FurKid Express
2015 Coachmen Catalina 303RLS
2016 Chevy Silverado LT 2500HD Duramax
The more people I meet, the more I like my dogs!
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07-29-2016, 10:55 AM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2011
Posts: 548
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Our preferred over night stop has been WalMart BUT Walmart is slowly banning RV/18 wheelers. We were in Mississippi a few weeks go and asked security after seeing the "no overnight parking" signs. We stayed there 3 years ago. He said they got a notice from Corporate last week (first week of June) telling them to post the signs.
We have an app (RV Parky) that's pretty good, it told us the MS visitor center allowed over night parking. We asked and they said "no slides, no jacks, generator is OK enjoy yourself and welcome to Mississippi".
Last week we were in Colorado, evidently they haven't got the Walmart letter YET.
Our #2 spot is a truck stop, NOBODY cares, although you might need to stop before 5 pm. Just be aware that you will hear the trucks running.
You'll probably get some comments telling you "if you can afford a MH then you can afford a few 1 niters... I told the couples in a Newmar, and Prevost they most be cheap, they just laughed and said..
Exit Interstate, pull into Walmart, push 1 button, watch tv, sleep
get up. push 1 button and get back on Interstate, sounds like we just saved an hour times 4 nights on this trip.
__________________
2012 Georgetown 360
SHE wanted "a new motorhome"
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07-29-2016, 10:57 AM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: Benbrook, Tx
Posts: 508
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Always a campground. Usually right off the highway. Just works for us.
__________________
Dwayne and Susan
Jiro and Phoebe-4 legged family members
Mike and Dana - Traveling buddies
2016 Ford F350 XLT 6.7 Powerstroke DRW 4X4
2016 Brookstone 395RL
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07-29-2016, 11:24 AM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2015
Posts: 627
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Depends on where we're going and are we on a schedule or not.
If I'm on a tight schedule, we'll drive 12-14 hours and overnight a trest stops or Walmart, or a casino, etc.
If we're not in to big of a hurry, we'll generally only drive 8 - 10 hours and then find a campground or RV park to overnight.
NOTE - I must have a big sign on the sides and back of the MH that says; "If your driving a Refer truck that the Unit cycles every 3-4 minutes, then This spot is reserved for you."
I sleep very, very lightly and it seems like whenever we attempt to overnight at rest stop or walmart, we end up with refer trucks on both sides with noisy units that cycle all night.
__________________
2001 Coachmen Mirada (Ford F53 6.8L V10) - Toad 2003 Saturn Vue
It won't do MACH 2, but I can get a sandwich and take a pee.
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07-29-2016, 11:27 AM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2014
Posts: 514
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I try to plan my trips out and get a campground right off the highway. it just works best for me. I have only had one issue were I arrived late and couldn't check in....but they had parking outside the gate.
I have had good luck using the Goodsam trip planner and mapping out gas(Pilot/Flying J) and campgrounds on the route.
__________________
2014 Georgetown XL 352QS
2013-2019 Days Camped-502
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07-29-2016, 11:48 AM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: Englewood FL
Posts: 2,797
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We used to use truck stops but now have exclusively used Cracker Barrels. They have very large lots and almost all have RV parking and welcome RVs to stay overnight. Be nice...buy dinner or breakfast from them. There are a lot more Cracker Barrels than Walmarts and they are always right at the intersection of interstates, unlike Walmarts who don't really cater to transients.
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2015 335DS
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07-29-2016, 12:17 PM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Chauvin LA
Posts: 254
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ScottBrownstein
We used to use truck stops but now have exclusively used Cracker Barrels. They have very large lots and almost all have RV parking and welcome RVs to stay overnight. Be nice...buy dinner or breakfast from them. There are a lot more Cracker Barrels than Walmarts and they are always right at the intersection of interstates, unlike Walmarts who don't really cater to transients.
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My wife will like this post she loves some Cracker Barrel
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2017 Georgetown 364TS
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07-29-2016, 12:28 PM
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#11
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Member
Join Date: Mar 2015
Posts: 56
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I've read where KOA's have different levels for either overnight to resort sites.
We usually try to stay at state parks, with senior discounts it half price!
These days use caution, pack protection!
Safe travels....
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07-29-2016, 12:28 PM
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#12
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: York, PA
Posts: 253
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I will be transiting the Ohio Turnpike in late October enroute to returning my rig to the factory for some repairs. Has anyone stayed in the RV parking areas at their service plazas? I see they offer that service... wondering how they are.
As for being "cheap" - I tried booking a night at a campground but everything in the area closes for the season on 10/15 and I'll be passing through a couple weeks after that.
__________________
2016 Coachmen Pursuit 31BD
2015 Jeep Wrangler Sport Toad
Nights camped in 2019: 76
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07-29-2016, 12:29 PM
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#13
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2013
Location: La Mirada, CA
Posts: 528
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Whatever campground I like along the way. I have a database of ones we like and ones we don't like. KOA and Good Sam Mong the tops. In some states, state parks are among the best. We have a King Dome on the roof and AT&T hot spot to use if campground doesn't have wifi.
__________________
Gary and Donna
2005 Cardinal 33TS-LX
Trail Air pin box
Center Point suspension
2018 Ram Laramie 3500 6'4" box 2WD
Demco AutoSlide 18k
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07-29-2016, 12:51 PM
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#14
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 507
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For a quick over night we usually stay at a Walmart.. It usually costs us about $500 since we live out in the boonies so we fill the residential frig and freezer.. If they cut this off its their loss and will save me a bunch.. I guess its time to use Costco more.. We use to use truck stops but it is so noisy and we cant even put out a slide for fear of it being swept off the side of the MH.. Not worth the risk
__________________
364 Georgetown 2016
in Montana
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07-29-2016, 01:00 PM
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#15
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2015
Location: Dunn, NC
Posts: 1,199
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Over night "rest"
Quote:
Originally Posted by tamdle
In the last 5 years, my DW and I travel all over the US for photography. We put in over 150,000 miles on my Jeep Grand Cherokee and more than 40,000 miles on my full-size custom van. We have done many and many tent camping until now, we bought our dream home away from home and was planning to travel extensively on this baby.
That said, during transit between one destination to another, we often stay or should I say "rest" at the state's rest area without any issue. Now I have the RV, and I thought that I could do the same, but... it is a big "BUT", NOT ALL REST AREA ALLOWS OVERNIGHT RVs. Some may allow you to stay, but no more than 6 to 8 hours. Besides the rest area, there are also Walmart, and truck stops. I know that most (not all) Walmarts are welcome RVers if the city ordinance allows them to welcome RVers. But for the truck stops, would they welcome RVers too? if they do, most if not all of their space would be taken by the 18 wheelers already. If you squeeze in (assume that there is space for you), would that piss off the next trucker who will arrive later if you took their last space?
I know there are many of this discussion somewhere in this forum or elsewhere too, but none of them share much of what they did and where. So please don't hate comment me because I am doing this.
I would like to start the thread for everyone to share their experience with Walmart, Truck Stops, and Rest Area and any place that you would think that they welcome the RVers for resting along their transit between one destination to another, not for camping.
With your "hand-on" experience, I hope that I could organize and document the information that I could share with all RVers so that we could use as a baseline guide for the overnight stay. With that, I need the information of your experience such as the state or city that you travel through with good or bad experience of your overnight stay/rest.
Thanks in advance.
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Have used rest areas for years; have yet to see anyone in parking area marking tires to limit stay as is done on street parking in town. Just don't put your slides out, set up grill and lawn chairs!
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07-29-2016, 01:23 PM
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#16
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: NJ
Posts: 606
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We stay at campgrounds in our 5th wheel. We don't unhitch and do minimum hookups. Yes, its expensive, although we have seen a few parks offering special lower rates for transients, they're few and far between and difficult to find. There is a website that continuously updates a list of Walmarts, etc. that permit overnight RV parking. There's a small membership fee and members are expected to submit updates. You'll find it at https://www.overnightrvparking.com/index.php if it's still in operation. We signed up when we set out on our RV adventure 6 years ago, but have yet to stay anywhere but a campground, so I haven't renewed our membership.
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07-29-2016, 01:54 PM
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#17
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Pickin', Campin', Mason
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: South Western PA
Posts: 19,051
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ScottBrownstein
We used to use truck stops but now have exclusively used Cracker Barrels. They have very large lots and almost all have RV parking and welcome RVs to stay overnight. Be nice...buy dinner or breakfast from them. There are a lot more Cracker Barrels than Walmarts and they are always right at the intersection of interstates, unlike Walmarts who don't really cater to transients.
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Not to be argumentative... there are 6200 Walmarts in the US and only 630 Cracker Barrels in the lower 48.
__________________
2022 Cedar Creek 345IK 5th Wheel•Solar & Inverter•2017 Ford F-Series SCREW 4x4•Factory Puck•B&W Companion•TST Tire Monitor w/Repeater•Sinemate 3500w Gen.
F&AM Lodge 358 Somerset, PA - JAFFA Shrine - Altoona, PA
Days Camped ☼ '19=118 ☼ '20=116 ☼ '21=123 ☼ '22=134 ☼ '23=118☼ '24=64
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07-29-2016, 02:10 PM
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#18
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2013
Posts: 168
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We typically plan to find a Walmart when we know it will take us more than one day to travel. I typically call it quits when the sun goes down and I am never quite sure where we will be. If there are signs up, we will push on to the next town.
There is an app that I have a called rvovernight - it mainly lists Walmart's and Truck Stops...haven't had to use it but I have it just in case. We stayed on the north side of Waco a couple of weeks ago on our way to Dallas with no issues...it's always surprising to see who is parked by you when you get up the next day to pull out.
__________________
Mickey Alberto
2020 F350 4X4 6.7 CCLB, SRW
2020 Heartland Elkridge 38MB
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07-29-2016, 02:15 PM
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#19
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: Whereever our Berkshire is Parked!
Posts: 7,082
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Cracker Barrels are very RV friendly
A lot of Shriner lodges have RV facilities and their modest charges go to the Shriner hospitals
I am also not averse to pulling in to a rest area and parking with the trucks but then again we have a Motorhome.
For the price of a good meal, I am thinking Cracker Barrel is your best bet
__________________
Bob & Anne-Marie [BamaBob & 6 Actual]
| 2017 Berkshire XLT 43A with Ultrasteer Tag | Blue Ox Avail + KarGard II |
| SMI AF-1 Air Brake | 2016 Jeep Cherokee Overland TOAD | Pedego Bikes |
Nights Camped: 2013 - 24 • 2014 - 42 • 2015 - 56 • Jul 2016 - Fulltime •
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07-29-2016, 02:38 PM
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#20
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Junior Member
Join Date: Jan 2015
Posts: 5
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Over night stops at Walmart
We will be leaving on our trip out west in a couple of weeks and became quite concerned about the postings about no longer being able to park overnight at Walmart. So I called the corporate office in Bentonville, Ar. I spoke with Marlene in the public relations dept. The young lady was very nice and informative. She stated that she was not aware of any letter and that they have to stay on top of public relations. In some cities and towns there are city/county ordinance that do not allow overnight parking whether it be an 18 wheeler or an RV. The parking is left up to the Manager of the store as the manager is aware of any ordinance. Always check with the store manager regarding RV overnight parking. Always be a good overnight guest..
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