where to leave a trailer while sightseeing?

prof_fate · 08-05-2011, 02:28 PM

I'm planning a trip next june down the mississippi and and back and I've run into some issues I know nothing about...

Staying at a Walmart parking lot...I've heard of this but where can I find out more?

If I want to check out of a campground at say, 7 am and then go check into one 300 miles away at say, 7 pm and alll I do is drive between them - great. But what if I want to sightsee in the middle and pulling a 30' TT just isn't something I want, or can, do - where can I safely park the TT for a day and come back later for it?

08flagvlite · 08-05-2011, 02:41 PM

Good Luck with that.... I can see a need for that scenario- MAYBE some store parking lots would allow you to drop the rig there for a few hours, if you check with their manager first, and the same thing with "camping" at Wal Mart; some allow it- some do not. ASK the manager first- Don't use your slide outs or generators, and don't leave any traces that you were there on the ground/parking lot. Park in the far corner where directed, and come late, and leave early. You don't want to take up much space in their lot, after all, they ARE doing you a favor by letting you stay there for free. Randy

The_Stuff · 08-05-2011, 02:46 PM

id say truck stop but thats really at your own risk!

prof_fate · 08-05-2011, 03:00 PM

I'd heard the slideout thing before about walmarts, but I can't use my TT with the slide in so that's not an option and I've talked with a few full timers at campgrounds that have stayed for a few days at WM - gen, slideout and the whole bit.

I thought the overnnight camping at walmarts was a corporate policy thing.

flyrotor · 08-05-2011, 04:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by prof_fate

I thought the overnnight camping at walmarts was a corporate policy thing.

For the most part, Walmart allows overnighting, however, there are several Walmarts where city code does not allow camping, many of the codes were written to protect the local economy, allowing you to camp for free takes business away from local campgrounds. Some codes are written to protect the local neighborhood, similar to cc&r's that don't allow someone to park an RV in their own driveways.

caper · 08-05-2011, 05:37 PM

If you want to sight see why not find a CG in the area you want to see. If you are going to be there for most of the day you would not be driving 300 miles to the next CG. I know everyone want to save money but my idea of a good site to stay the night is not a Walmart parking lot. It makes me laugh. All the big motorhomes that cost $$$ stay at Walmarts. Our local coffee shop cannot keep TP in the washrooms because some campers are always stealing it. Mostly motor home owners are the people taking the TP. They come back to the CG and brag about all the money they have saved by not having to purchase items for their unit.

prof_fate · 08-05-2011, 07:57 PM

I don't have my itinerary here, but I know I'd like to spend maybe 4 days in Chicago - I'd almost rather splurge for a hotel in the city than camp an hour or two commute outside it.

I could say, spend the day in St Louis and return to the CG for the nite, or drive 3 hours to the next town and the CG there. Most touristy things are closed by 5 or 6 and open at 9 or 10 - so I don't want to waste the day time driving. And it makes little sense to pay for a CG for the day if I"m not going to be there anyway. And depending on where they CGs are there may be back tracking involved to pickup up the camper to continue on our journey.

I figure I can't be the first person to have this issue....

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