Poll

Where have you made an overnight stop?

Camping Worlds: 6 (2.2%)
Casinos: 26 (9.6%)
Churches: 9 (3.3%)
Costco Stores: 1 (0.4%)
Cracker Barrels: 17 (6.3%)
Flying J Truck Stops: 31 (11.5%)
Fraternal lodges: 7 (2.6%)
Home Depot: 5 (1.9%)
Kmart Stores: 2 (0.7%)
Loves Travel Stops: 12 (4.4%)
Lowes Stores: 5 (1.9%)
Meijer Stores: 1 (0.4%)
Menards Stores: 0 (0%)
Pacific Pride Fuel Stops: 0 (0%)
Petro Truck Stops: 7 (2.6%)
Pilot Travel Centers: 24 (8.9%)
Rest Areas: 35 (13%)
Sam's Club Stores: 5 (1.9%)
TA Travel Centers: 12 (4.4%)
Target Stores: 1 (0.4%)
Wal-Mart Stores: 47 (17.4%)
Other: 17 (6.3%)

Total Members Voted: 62

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Overnight Parking - Nontradional Campgrounds

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Barry-Sue

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Overnight Parking - Nontradional Campgrounds

« on: April 30, 2012, 08:44:13 pm »

When traveling between locations there are a multitude of places to stop for a meal and a good night's sleep. Where are the best spots you have found for the night when you don't need the facilities offered by a campground or RV park?

Add any other locations or tips you might have.

« Last Edit: April 30, 2012, 08:52:26 pm by Barry-Sue »

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Barry and Sue
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TomHanlon

Re: Overnight Parking - Nontraditional Campgrounds

« Reply #1 on: May 01, 2012, 08:06:47 am »

We have only stopped at a Walmart a couple of times. One was when we would not pay for three nights on a holiday weekend, the other we where meeting a friend who wanted to try Walmart camping. We just pulled in and went to bed without talking to anyone. We prefer to meet new people when we travel, so a campground offers us that opportunity to do that. Plus we like the security of the campground over a parking lot. Oh we did send one night at the Cabelas in West Virginia. Do you know how may trucks come in there at night and change trailers? Never again.

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Barry-Sue

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Re: Overnight Parking - Nontradional Campgrounds

« Reply #2 on: May 01, 2012, 10:03:08 am »

Quote

We prefer to meet new people when we travel, so a campground offers us that opportunity to do that.

We feel like that too, Tom. We prefer a campground and generally spend our one nighters there but on a few occasions we were just not able to find a campground so had to stay on the road. We choose the Flying J and TA and spoke to the employees inside. They said park in front and we'll keep watch at night.

Sue

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Barry and Sue
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bigbadjc

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Re: Overnight Parking - Nontradional Campgrounds

« Reply #3 on: May 01, 2012, 12:27:38 pm »

While I'm sure the posting about a Cabela's was talking about the parking lot at a store, if you stop at the Cabela's in Sidney, Nebraska, they have a really nice full hookup campground in the back of the property. Yes, it costs as much as any other private campground, but they'll give you a ride in their van or golfcart to the store entrance where you can shop neat travel and camping gear and eat neat stuff like bison burgers in their snack bar. Sometimes the "nonconventional" is actually conventional.

Jerry

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TomHanlon

Re: Overnight Parking - Nontradional Campgrounds

« Reply #4 on: May 01, 2012, 05:15:55 pm »

Jerry, we have been there and done that. That is the only Cabelas that we have found that has a campgroung.

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Ron Dittmer

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Ron and Irene
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Re: Overnight Parking - Nontradional Campgrounds

« Reply #5 on: May 02, 2012, 10:18:11 am »

For us...

#1 - Walmarts
#2 - Rest Areas
#3 - Truck Stops
#4 - Casinos that allow over-night RV parking
#5 - nothing else consistent enough to mention

« Last Edit: December 16, 2019, 11:42:15 am by Ron Dittmer »

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Ron (& Irene) Dittmer

billy

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Re: Overnight Parking - Nontradional Campgrounds

« Reply #6 on: May 03, 2012, 10:23:08 pm »

Sharon would prefer a guard at the front door?

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keelhauler

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Re: Overnight Parking - Nontradional Campgrounds

« Reply #7 on: May 14, 2012, 03:49:34 pm »

We travel all over Mexico. When there are no campgrounds we always stop at 24 hr Pemex gas stations.

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John

Anne and Bob

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Re: Overnight Parking - Nontradional Campgrounds

« Reply #8 on: August 11, 2012, 11:30:46 pm »

We normally stop at campgrounds because we like the security. And, if you belong to the Elks, there are quite a few Elk campgrounds and one of the benefits is having dinner at the lodge and not having to cook. On a couple of occasions we stayed in the Elk's parking lot.

We decided we didn't want to stay at rest stops etc. because we feel safer in a campground but that is just us. I know a lot of people stay in parking lots. Spent one night at a WalMart waiting for the plow to get rid of the snow on the Sisique Pass.

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Pax

Re: Overnight Parking - Nontradional Campgrounds

« Reply #9 on: August 21, 2013, 11:57:58 am »

While we are still (impatiently) waiting for delivery of our first RV and obviously haven't parked one anywhere yet, we did hear about a fairly new club that lets you park overnight for 'free' at many public and private golf courses and country clubs, and two free nights with hookups at some RV resorts. Some also give discounts for golf, pro shop, restaurants, etc. We signed up for it, as it was only $50/yr to join and we'll let you know how it works out once we test it out. Hiddenbrooke is listed, which has a gorgeous course, grounds, pool, restaurant and is about 5 miles from us, so we'll probably drop in there first. ( www.rvgolfclub.com )

-Mike

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RheaNL

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Re: Overnight Parking - Nontradional Campgrounds

« Reply #10 on: August 21, 2013, 07:14:56 pm »

Just returned from almost 4 weeks in northern Rockies (US and Canada). We spend lots of nights at WalMart and feel very safe. Last stop was Rock Springs, WY and you would have thought it was an RV convention. Even met some very nice people. Also us casinos when available--a great one outside Santa Fe, NM. Two of our nights on this trip were spent at city park campgrounds. One in Coalhurst, Alberta was only $10 CD and even had a wonderful hot shower (no electric). There are web sites for boondocking on someone's property. Have not tried that yet.

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BarbRN

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Re: Overnight Parking - Nontradional Campgrounds

« Reply #11 on: August 21, 2013, 10:33:50 pm »

Traveling cross country last fall we found several non accepting Walmarts. One time we found one that was too full of RV's because we arrived after sundown.

We stayed in a truck stop one night and had to leave about 2 AM, just too noisy. we drove all the way home ! Ugh!

Cracker Barrel is usually accommodating but they close and it's kind of alone there at times.

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2 Frazzled

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Re: Overnight Parking - Nontradional Campgrounds

« Reply #12 on: September 15, 2013, 08:46:25 am »

I ran into this one a while back. http://www.harvesthosts.com/ " network of wineries, farms and attractions that invite self-contained RVers to visit and stay overnight for free!" We haven't joined so have no say one way or the other. There is a $40.00 annual membership fee and I don't know how many "hosts" they have signed up. I just thought I'd post the option as it may be of interest to someone out there.

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John, Holly, and sometimes Chloe.
Travel Blog: Spiritofthewoods.net

Ron Dittmer

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Re: Overnight Parking - Nontradional Campgrounds

« Reply #13 on: September 15, 2013, 01:08:29 pm »

Our trip last month was for 30 nights. Here was the break down with overnight accomodations.

- 9 nights $20/night in Glacier NP
- 2 nights $12/night in North Cascades NP
- 1 night with electric, $27 in a state park near Mount Baker
- 1 night with electric, $35 in a state park near Seattle
- 17 nights FREE in national forests, rest areas, & Walmarts

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Ron (& Irene) Dittmer

billy

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Re: Overnight Parking - Nontradional Campgrounds

« Reply #14 on: October 09, 2013, 09:38:58 pm »

None of the above!

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