list of city sleeping places

[Dirty_Jeeper]

Not likely to get any complaints from the residents. If you do, you really don't want to be there! LOL

 

[gadgetMe]

In our city I see many use park&amp;ride lots, some use them for many days in a row, for me it is too noisy (traffic noise) I also use larger restaurants, (cracker barrel welcomes rv'ers) since I have a travel trailer I am not to stealthy.. also have stayed in small hotel and motel lots. (went in and asked no problem)<br>Also use walmarts when necessary, I usually try to find a closed store nearby, less activity, Costco's and Sams clubs work well because they close around 8pm,<br><br>Putz<br><br>

 

[Saguache]

<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; ">Just wondering what about Fair Grounds---many times they have power for a few #$'s

</span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; "><br></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; ">That's a good idea, I'll have to check that out. &nbsp;Next week I'm headed to the North West for a bit.</span></div>

 

[Vanimal]

Almost 6 months as a full timer. I have found its all about the "feel" of a spot. I have just driven around at random and found some great one nighters. I have Google maps on my phone and will drop a pin on a spot if I like it. Then I can simply pull up the map and find the closest one.

I usually stay in buisness lots during the day, and residential at night.

Corner lots are where its at! I always have my eye out. Your not exactly in front of someone's door and no one really claims them. Great spots.

 

[bananafish]

I haven't got my van yet but in my city there are dozens of streets that are 75% university students, the turnover in the flats/houses is VERY fast, people move in and out constantly, nobody knows each other, nobody knows who drives what or who parks where. These are the areas I've lived in the past 10 years and cars park anywhere in the streets. If there was a van parked outside my flat I wouldn't give it a second thought, it wouldn't be the only one. &nbsp;<img src="/images/boards/smilies/smile.gif" border="0" align="absmiddle"><div><br></div><div>Office workers even use these streets to park then walk into the city to work.&nbsp;<div><br></div><div>I think these will be the main areas I'll be sleeping. Can get noisy at weekends tho so I'm always scouting for other areas.&nbsp;</div></div>

 

[Simran]

Just wondering what about Fair Grounds---many times they have power for a few #$'s <br>sparky1.<br>

<br><br>I work predominantly in small town America. Many of the small towns with a park have a couple RV/tent sites. The cost is usually so minimal that these are excellent places to stay. Usually you are the only one there. I now have a van but in the past I've stayed in tents in these places for as little as $5 per night. Cheap cheap cheap for the peace of mind.<br>

 

[VanTrekker]

<p style="margin: 0px;">There's something about the warm weather that makes me want to stealth camp...&nbsp;&nbsp; <img border="0" align="absmiddle" src="/images/boards/smilies/smile.gif"></p><p style="margin: 0px;">&nbsp;</p><p style="margin: 0px;">I live near a university town.&nbsp; There are a million and one places to park along the streets and in larger apartment parking lots.&nbsp; I prefer the streets although the drunk kids make noise about 2:00 AM.&nbsp; My van is 100% dark even with all the LED lights turned on.&nbsp; A wooden bulkhead door helps with that.&nbsp; I just use a crinkly aluminum looking sunshade.&nbsp; Nothing fancy or unusual.</p><p style="margin: 0px;">&nbsp;</p><p style="margin: 0px;">*&nbsp; River accesses - we have a LOT of them in Iowa.&nbsp; Most are public land and you can do whatever you want. The Iowa D.N.R. folks advise to not camp more than a day or two.&nbsp; I have a favorite place along the river that is safe and out of the way.&nbsp; It gets used for other "parking" activities, too.</p><p style="margin: 0px;">&nbsp;</p><p style="margin: 0px;">*&nbsp; 24 hour grocery store parking lot.&nbsp; Nobody notices.&nbsp; This store has like 6 employees overnight and they couldn't care less.&nbsp; I park in the employee lot.&nbsp; </p><p style="margin: 0px;">&nbsp;</p><p style="margin: 0px;">*&nbsp; 24 hour gas stations where you see semi trucks.&nbsp; I figure if a semi can park there, so can I.&nbsp; Some times I don't even bother to task... (Flying J etc)</p><p style="margin: 0px;">&nbsp;</p><p style="margin: 0px;">*&nbsp; Rest areas... In Iowa they don't hassle you too much in the rest areas.&nbsp; After all, you're supposed to rest!&nbsp; Don't overstay your welcome and don't look like you're setting up shop!</p><p style="margin: 0px;">&nbsp;</p><p style="margin: 0px;">*&nbsp; Medium sized&nbsp;towns (like 10,000 people) with&nbsp;a row of buildings... You know, the old main street setups where three or four whole blocks of buildings&nbsp;are connected?&nbsp; I can just slap the handyman stealth signs on the cargo van and park in the common lot&nbsp;BEHIND the building, preferably&nbsp;directly behind&nbsp;a bar.&nbsp; Last year I didn't even have the decoy signs.&nbsp; Nobody knows whose car is whose so they don't care.&nbsp; These setups are safer than residential areas.</p><p style="margin: 0px;">&nbsp;</p><p style="margin: 0px;">*&nbsp; Tire repair/ muffler repair shops...&nbsp;&nbsp;They work great but only if you are stealthy.&nbsp; Get the frick out of there EARLY in the morning before anyone comes in... Maybe 5:30 or so?&nbsp; I slept in a Midas lot last year... It was perfect!</p><p style="margin: 0px;">&nbsp;</p><p style="margin: 0px;">*&nbsp; Motels (stealth campers)...&nbsp; A lot of contractors park their vans at motels.&nbsp; Park next to one and disappear.&nbsp; Most smallish motels/hotels (such as Super 8, Travelodge, etc.) don't have time to patrol the parking lots.&nbsp; There&nbsp;might be&nbsp;one or two people at most working overnight.&nbsp; I know of one&nbsp;that is owned by foreigners.&nbsp; The overnight desk clerk sleeps in the office and you have to ring the bell a bunch of times&nbsp;to wake him up.&nbsp; There is also a "no tell motel" in our area which is a quiet place to doze.</p><p style="margin: 0px;">&nbsp;</p><p style="margin: 0px;">*&nbsp; The hospital parking lot...&nbsp; When I have to go to the dental clinic or eye clinic at the University of Iowa, I like to sleep in the parking lot for a few hours for the novocaine or eye dilation solution to wear off.&nbsp; It's&nbsp;75 cents per hour but works for me.&nbsp; They are doing construction so you can use the porta potty right by the parking lot.&nbsp; </p><p style="margin: 0px;">&nbsp;</p><p style="margin: 0px;">I would strongly discourage parking in any CITY managed parks.&nbsp; In general, it seems like the smaller the locale, the more danger of police intervention...&nbsp; Local cops = nosey.&nbsp; County deputees = possibly nosey.&nbsp; State and federal areas = peaceful sleep.&nbsp; Also, as much as I love Iowa, it seems like there is a Mrs. Kravitz (the nosey neighbor in "Bewitched") in every small town!&nbsp; That's when the plain white van can be a hinderance because people might fear them.&nbsp; If it was a Plymouth Voyager nobody would care!</p><p style="margin: 0px;">&nbsp;</p><p style="margin: 0px;">Anyway, have fun and stay safe!&nbsp; I like the comment about trusting your instincts.&nbsp; It's very true!</p><p style="margin: 0px;">&nbsp;</p>

 

[Captain Logos]

I live and work in a beautiful and expensive part of an expensive city (Calgary, AB: second highest parking rates in N.America, New York being the highest). As an avid walker and driver of other people's vehicles (I'm a mechanic), I see TONS of potential free parking, despite all the regulations for this area. Just look at the signs on the streets: on one side of the street, you might require an annual pass but on the other, it might be two hour parking between 0700 and 1800. Bam. There's your spot for the night/week/month. I plan on parking my 21' class C on these upscale streets when I move in full time (June 1st 2012).&nbsp;<div><br></div><div>Other ideas:</div><div>-community centres/arenas typically have large parking lots.</div><div>-construction sites (leave early because they start early and they are loud).</div><div>-semi-industrial/office areas: I've seen a few campers here and there in these areas regularly. I'm thinking there's people living in them; why else would they be taking their campers with them to work daily?</div><div>-as a mechanic, I think other people's suggestions about parking in their lots is a fantastic idea... just keep in mind the "leave early" rule. Can't stress that enough. Leave before 0700.&nbsp;</div><div>-Between houses. Even better, between apartment buildings.</div><div>-All kinds of businesses' parking lots. Just avoid places where security guards might be present 24/7 (like malls and stadiums or downtown lots... just avoid downtown altogether).</div><div>-Bars/pubs (probably noisy).</div><div>-etc</div><div>-Honestly, I think there are hundreds of easy free parking in most cities (I've heard and believe the exact opposite is the case for places like Los Angeles). It's right there in front of our eyes, we're just not seeing it right away. This coming from someone with a big Class C (and who is constantly learning from others with similar motorhomes). If &nbsp;I had a stealthy van, I wouldn't be stressing about it at all.</div><div><br></div><div>Cautions about public parks:</div><div>-Calgary has a number of beautiful public parks (forests, hills, trails, etc), and despite the relatively low homeless population, this is where lots of them like to spend their nights. Keep your stuff <i>secure.</i>&nbsp;In places with strict gun laws, try a flare gun, "bear poppers", or bear spray for personal protection. If those don't scare off a desperate drunk (or a wild animal!), I'd like to hear other suggestions.&nbsp;</div>

 

[Vivid-Dawn]

I'm supposed to be at Petco cleaning the cat cages... but I got distracted with this wonderful site! LOL<br><br>Anyhoo, been looking at parking info. Here's a link for Wal-Marts that allow parking<br><a target="_blank" href="http://www.allstays.com/c/walmart-utah-locations.htm">Utah Wal-Mart overnight parking list</a><br><br>I also found a site that actually seems to encourage boondocking, and gives tips and advice about how to do it properly/safely.<br><a target="_blank" href="http://www.rv-camping.org/Boondocking.html">boondocking article</a><br><br>Of course, these are for Utah. The Wal-Mart one has a list of all the other states. I'm sure if you did a search for "(state) overnight parking law" like I did, you'd find resources for a certain place.<br><br>