motel 6 parking lot?

[waverider1987]

On my cross country journey, motel 6 was very much my friend. About an hour before deciding to stop, id figure out where the next motel 6 was and drive to it. Plus side, there was usually a Denny's near by. This was when I was paying for a room tho. I'm wondering if anyone has parked and slept in their van in the parking lot before of a motel 6 or any motel. I know you have to put those tags in your rearview mirror if you're a guest, but I figure you could get by without one if just staying the night and leaving early. But Idk, anyone tried this?

 

[Yogidog]

Yes have done motel 6 and other ones. What I have found is big cities or where alot of other people are doing the same thing it is a.problem. much better to be 30 miles outside the city. I couldn't find anything around Atlanta even McDonalds made u keep moving.

 

[waverider1987]

Ya I'm probably not going to be spending time in cities other than just driving through and maybe checking out the sites for the day. Big cities make me nervous...all these people you don't know walking around everywhere. Then again, i guess deserted areas are just as scary, ha. Happy to find the middle ground in small cities / big towns. Makes me miss Asheville.

 

[B and C]

On cross country trips we usually use the roadside rest areas and truck stops.  They can be noisy though.  I can usually sleep through anything and DW sleeps in the passenger seat a lot while I drive :sleepy:  We sometimes spend the night near the railroad tracks in small towns away from any buildings.  We have not had a train in the middle of the night yet   I know it is only a matter of time but the train will pass in a short amount of time and then there is the silence for the rest of the night.  We have also used Walmart parking lots.  Never been rousted.

This is all destination type driving and that is the way we used to travel.  Gotta get to the destination and back in a certain amount of time.  We never stop in big cities and drive around them when feasible.  We also look like what we are, a retired couple traveling in an rv pulling a toad.  Not much of a threat there.

If you are talking about a leisurely trip and want to sight see, then the leave by 10 and arrive by 2 method. This method allows for smelling the roses along the way.  This is for when the journey is more important than the destination.  Leaving by 10 gets you moving after the morning rush and arriving by 2 gets you a place while it is still daylight.  Gives you time in the afternoon and evening to check things out.  In this case Walmart parking will probably be utilized for checking out the towns.  If no Walmart or other likely place, a stop by the police station and inquire would not be a bad idea.  If they tell you that you can't, do you really want to spend time or money there?  We are not looking at exploring towns and cities much, we like wilderness.  Get me away from all the crazies for peace and solitude. Sleeping on BLM or NF land is what we will mostly be doing, even going from place to place.  This is out West, not sure that much exists East of the Mississippi.  We would like to visit most of the National Parks plus I have a geezer pass    A couple of nights in the NP at half price camping and then back to BLM or NF land.

 

[Yogidog]

Great advice from Brian I was surprised how great the loves and travel centers were. Nothing like steroype of truck stops, never any trouble.
Yes I am same as u avoid big cities and boonies because of being by myself. Love the wilderness but freaks me out being out there by myself did it a few times and my dog and I freaked out anranger, a couple and a band of hunters!

 

[Yogidog]

Agggh, my phone keeps posting before I mean to wanted to say camping right outside the pay campgrounds in the national forest has been working well, feel safe but still have nature solitude and free.

 

[B and C]

Agggh, my phone keeps posting before I mean to wanted to say camping right outside the pay campgrounds in the national forest has been working well, feel safe but still have nature solitude and free.

X2 - used it a few times too

 

[waverider1987]

So you don't feel safe camping in the forests? I was wondering that. Maybe too deserted to feel safe...but idk.

 

[Yogidog]

Yay, I wish I could but I don't. I don't want to have a gun or protection. Bob Wells says a good saying it really does not matter if u are objectively safe it isn't any fun if u can't relax and feel safe. Parapharse. I pay part of time an national forest then go outside the campground. While I am paying I go look for spots outside. Best solution I have found.

 

[B and C]

You started with traveling and are now into camping :huh:  I feel a lot safer in the forest/wilderness than I do in a city that is for sure.  Humans are more evil than the animals.  If you are freaked out about it just because you are by yourself, you may try to hookup with another like minded soul just for the comfort factor of company.

 

[Yogidog]

For me being inside the campground too long gets irrating in my experience people are intrigued by why a woman would be camping alone. I start to not feel safe if I am anywhere people have time to study my routine. So I keep moving. I like it!

 

[Yogidog]

Brian, not sure if u mean me? No I love the animals.not worried about them at all. The people

 

[B and C]

My only use for campgrounds is National Park camping because I am in the park and everything is handy and to dump/refill tanks.  Outside the NP's, campgrounds are good for laundry, long showers, dump, refill, propane and free WiFi and maybe a dip in their pool.  One night usually does it every couple of weeks.

The rest of the time is away from the maddening crowd.  No one around to check patterns, etc. and golden silence.

 

[waverider1987]

You started with traveling and are now into camping :huh:  I feel a lot safer in the forest/wilderness than I do in a city that is for sure.  Humans are more evil than the animals.  If you are freaked out about it just because you are by yourself, you may try to hookup with another like minded soul just for the comfort factor of company.

Not sure if you mean me or the other poster...but if me....no.  I've been camping, and now getting into traveling.

 

[LeeRevell]

My only use for campgrounds is National Park camping because I am in the park and everything is handy and to dump/refill tanks.  Outside the NP's, campgrounds are good for laundry, long showers, dump, refill, propane and free WiFi and maybe a dip in their pool.  One night usually does it every couple of weeks.

The rest of the time is away from the maddening crowd.  No one around to check patterns, etc. and golden silence.

+1   Good plan.  

 

[MK7]

Ya I'm probably not going to be spending time in cities other than just driving through and maybe checking out the sites for the day.  Big cities make me nervous...all these people you don't know walking around everywhere.  Then again, i guess deserted areas are just as scary, ha.  Happy to find the middle ground in small cities / big towns.  Makes me miss Asheville.

Motel 6 in big cities is usually BAD NEWS. That's where a lot of the druggies and drug dealers do business, at the cheap motels.

 

[WriterMs]

waverider,
Since you've done a lot of backpack camping, I think you just need more experience with camping alone in your rig in backcountry and you'll begin to feel more safe.

In my younger years, I camped a lot over weekends in Montana. Even sleeping in a tent most of those times, I did not feel worried as I camped with no others in sight. My longest trip in my van was more than 6 months with only a few weeks total in campgrounds with others.

Statistically, as Bob also points out often, the fewer people around, the safer you are. Just listen to your gut about any particular place and move on if it does not feel right. If being near established campgrounds makes you feel safe, do that until you feel safe in other boondocking spots too.

 

[waverider1987]

I've only been backpacking once, actually.

 

[MK7]

My last trip from DC to CA and back to DC, I charted for Motel 6's also to stop for the night and rented a room. Best deal in terms of the low end motels and I don't recall any trouble, but these were not in big cities. It seems that if you're in a big city, like Chicago, etc. and go to a Motel 6, then it's usually in the rougher parts.

If I camped in the woods alone for a days to weeks, I'd bring along a shotgun or at least a .22LR rifle. I picked these 2 types of rifles because they are more oriented for hunting and are less menacing as a carry-on item in a vehicle as opposed to a handgun. And a 12g shotgun will take care of most problems for $150-200. But you still can't drive through Washington DC or such, I think. And buy a hunting license too.

 

[waverider1987]

What do you mean by charting for Motel 6?