Different advice for college town stealth parking Boone NC

[ORANGE]

Boone NC       http://www.city-data.com/city/Boone-North-Carolina.html       Says population 19k but Appalachian State University 17k!!!

So I have my bed in the van and will have what I need all in place within days. 

 I want to go somewhere cooler but close.  Boone has much cooler nights and better days than where I live plus it is only an hour and a half away. 

 I dont want to disperse camp.....yet.  Feels better though to stealth camp in the city at this point.  I was gonna go daytripping in my local https://www.bristoltn.org/166/Steele-Creek-Park  park  but ya know hot and icky not so nice and then I found out about this higher in elevation yet close to me cooler weather and now THIS is what I want to do this coming week.  

Bob's videos advises I need to find 7 different places for night sleeping.

But I want your advice, especially anyone who did this in a college town.  Will my babystepping first time in Boone NC  be MORE complicated or EASIER or SAME as anywhere else.  

Anyone want to be my Private Message advisor/pal that can look on Boone NC map and give me what 7 places where YOU would look to sleep?  Just to hold this toddlers hand stepping out there at the first?

Thanks folks!    So excited!

 

[bullfrog]

If you want to urban camp see if you can visit the university and buy an overnight parking pass. Often they have summer programs or senior classes. Tell them you are considering attending and want to check it out. Is there a local 24 hour gym that will give you a free two week introductory pass? Is there a Cracker Barrel or other bar/restaurant that will let you park overnight? Walmart? Hospital with parking? Check with a church you might want to visit for services and spend the night? Motels that have semi-truck parking areas or overnight street parking. Truck stops. Check with local police discreetly. Check for visitor or street parking at apartment complexes. Talk with local waitresses and clerks at 24 hour stores as well. Industrial / train /bus/airport terminals that have nearby long term areas to park.

 

[lenny flank]

The more spots you have, the better. Rotate between them so you are not in any one place often enough to be noticed.

The difficulty with a small town is that everyone knows everything that goes on. So once somebody spots you, everyone will know you are there. That makes it a lot harder than some anonymous big city.

My advice for stealthers is always: don't park where you are not wanted, and don't do anything that attracts attention to you or the vehicle.

 

[INTJohn]

Dude.
Stealth livin in a college town is EEEEE Z! I've done it off & on at Greenville/ECU for like awhile.
I wouldn't go anywhere & get a 'permit' - sorta destroys the stealth concept.
.......AND No; everyone doesn't know everyone, even in a small college town. Young peeps college peeps are coming & going all the time frum other Uni's too. Its eee z to stealth it dude.

Besides the usual spots that vry town/city has - you've got the Off campus appartments complex - full of students coming & going. Get to know & befriend some. They'll give you cover & credibility; give the impression ur a student tryin to gather up money to reenroll, etc. Be honest too! Many college peeps will fall in love with you for the lifestyle ur hittin up on......... trust me on this! You'll know your 'in' when you start getting invited to their parties - just dont' be a creep! Weird/different is cool but don't be an effing creep!

College towns are some of the easiest city places to stealth at - don't let the campus cops find out what ur doing & stay away frum criminal justice majors...........Good Luck!

Ciao.............INTJohn

 

[skyl4rk]

https://drive.google.com/open?id=1ysJyvBLA_tnjvSp0aHQvLLqx9Bz7sUm4&usp=sharing

 

[Allan1958]

I stayed in Boone for two nights in early July. It was really great to get away from the hot and muggy weather.

I checked on-line for some free dispersed camp sites in the area, but decided to keep it as simple and convenient as possible. I spent the two nights in the Walmart parking lot. I felt safe and it was quiet.There was one other obvious van camper he had a kayak and a bike attached to his van. He was there both nights. It looked like there was one long term car guy living there.

I spent most of my days on the Blue Ridge Parkway.


I have no advice for residential or street overnight parking as I have not done it. YET!!

 

[wayne49]

In a town where 17K out of 19K are temporary residents, the smaller percentage of the 2K permanent residents that are busybodies would be overwhelmed trying to know what everybody's up to.
A place where an out of state plate may not attract attention.

 

[ORANGE]

You guys have made this very encouraging for me! And given me great advice.

I can map out a bunch of places on a map (paper) for nighttime sleep. As many as possible so I wont be at a loss. And nice parks/library/ whatnot to hangout in the days.

May it go easy!

And INTJohn you just crack me up as I am a mature woman in a soccermom sort of van. But maybe the kids will think me cool and the professors even cooler : )

 

[bullfrog]

Tioga George did this for years before recently passing. He would arrive late ready to just go to sleep and wake up early and head to a day use type place for breakfast. Most people were unaware he was ever there as he never seldom stayed in the same spot twice.

 

[skyl4rk]

Lowes is probably your best bet to get a good nights sleep. They close at night. Try to find where the employees are parking and park in that area, not right next to them but a little bit away. That way your van wont be obvious as a camper untill the late night stocking employees leave. Lowes also has internet on 24 hours, so if you park close enough, you can wifi away the night.

 

[Natgreen]

My advice. Stay as far away from police as you can. Don't ask them for anything. Not advice. Nothing. I always find parking spaces on street around businesses. I. Usually there late and leave before they open.

 

[INTJohn]

You guys have made this very encouraging for me! And given me great advice.

I can map out a bunch of places on a map (paper) for nighttime sleep. As many as possible so I wont be at a loss. And nice parks/library/ whatnot to hangout in the days.

May it go easy!

And INTJohn you just crack me up as I am a mature woman in a soccermom sort of van. But maybe the kids will think me cool and the professors even cooler : )

YOU krak me up! First off my use of 'dude' is a general written metaphor and I don't know what 'mature woman' means but I'm 66 and I party with college peeps all over murahka........ cause they aint old! & neither am I tho I too might be 'mature'

The best college peeps to hang with are thoz majoring in STEM degrees (IF ur able to run with them intellectually; otherwise they jez gunna think ur an idyut), Philosophy & Psych to. Stay away frum accountants & business & already mentioned criminal justice peeps. Philososphy & psych majors will want to study observe & interrogate you cause theyll think you an interesting new life form worthy of being given an unpronounceable Latin Name.

When you get 'in' with em; they'll invite you to parties and get you weekend parking passes.......

INTJohny Luzsha Bay Bee; alway have & alway will!