Daytona Beach van parking tips?

[Mackerous]

While I'm set up perfectly in Orlando with a spot at a friend's house, I might be working in my hometown of Daytona soon. Has anyone been through and have tips for overnighting here?

I figure I'll be rotating through a list of standard places. All the Walmarts in the area are no-park (according to the All Stays app), as most of the ones in Florida are. I've parked a time or two at one without issue. I've never used a Home Depot but will look into it now (are there overnight workers at most? Is it officially allowed?). Denny's, IHOPs, possibly Steak n' Shakes. One good thing is Daytona has more hotels/motels beachside than anyplace I've ever seen, so I can find a few mid/large sized ones to work into my rotation.

I obviously prefer allowed spots so I don't have to worry about light coming through from inside. It was quite the lesson when I learned in the dark, the light from my laptop makes my cargo windows with perforated window film on them 100% translucent.

Any tips are appreciated. I'm always nervous when overnighting at a new place.

 

[Darth_Muerte]

I have stayed a couple nights at the walmart just south of Daytona with no issues. I was in a plain old conversion van though. There is also a two story 24 hour Mcdonalds just off of International Speedway Drive where I have parked for the occasional overnight.

 

[Zil]

Up on the interstate find a truck stop. Flying J or what ever. Buy your gas from them.

 

[rvwandering]

There are two Cracker Barrels near Daytona where we stayed for several nights about a month ago. The one next to the speedway can be noisy. We've stayed in Home Depots and Lowes in numerous locations without a problem. I think we ran into a "No Overnight Parking" sign one time. The free WiFi at Lowes and Home Depot is nice!

 

[Mackerous]

Thanks, all! I forgot about the Cracker Barrel and I know that McD's, just didn't know it was 24 hour. Looks like I could have a larger rotation than I thought, which is good because my van sticks out a wee bit. People remember it to say the least.

When parking at a Lowes or Home Depot, do you normally park near the overnight workers? I would think you would but read in another post to avoid it.

And one nice thing about Florida are the free cable wifi hotspots. All over you'll find CableWifi and Bright House Networks wifi that you can use. Sometimes they'll ask for a cable username/password (which my family graciously lets me use) but a lot of times it does not. I've found a few Wal-Mart's with a sweet spot for them where I would normally park anyway.

 

[rvwandering]

We park out where nobody usually parks. Oil stains and other car fluid drips on the asphalt are signs of popular spots. We try to stay away from the employee sections - no sense in taking their favorite spots getting them mad. We've never had a problem even when we've stayed the night, through the next day and night on occasion when we were working on something and wanted an easy, close source of supplies.

 

[Lucky mike]

I think the important thing is to remember.......dont stand out and dont hang out , I like a few others travel in a class A.....when I pull into a parking lot its noticed !!! the thing I've learned is not to hide...let them admire while its there.....dont hang around enough to let them inquire why its there!!

 

[SoulRaven]

Greetings!

I'm in a camper van, and there are several places by the boardwalk/carnival area that have told me I could park as long as I liked as long as I was out of the way and not a bother.

Nice folks in Daytona.

Cheers!

The CamperVan_Man

 

[compassrose]

... When parking at a Lowes or Home Depot, do you normally park near the overnight workers? I would think you would but read in another post to avoid it...

Don't know about Lowe's as I work for HD. Freight doesn't always work overnight but the normal workers start coming in at 4AM. ASK the manager on duty. Go to the Service Desk and ask to speak to the "Manager on Duty" , you may have a lengthy wait and they may have to call a few times. They can tell you if you can park and where to park at. At the store I work at, we aren't supposed to park up close to the store (but some do) and tend to park in the two rows closest to the store entrance from about the middle out to the end. I park out near the end of the parking lot. I've had the hitch-haul on my jeep "bumped" more than once by a co-worker. They park as well as they drive out here.