Overnight parking

[crofter]

DONE With WALMART - RV Overnight Spots - Cracker …:

Do you love Cracker Barrel for overnight parking? At 28 these people state that Cracker Barrel is by far the best. 

I prefer something more rural, and now avoid Wal Mart. 

CHOOSE YOU FAVE AND TELL US WHY.  -crofter

 

[crofter]

Exactly what is parking? Parking is when you stop for a number of hours, and stealth overnight. No noise, not setting anything out, not cooking a meal. Yes I really eat cold food when in stealth mode. More difficult to do with pets, you are getting out several times and walking the dog. When I had  a dog, he always barked during stealth mode usually about 3am.


I voted for rest area and other. Sometimes I stop at a rest area and take a longish nap there, so far safely. I prefer a scenic rural spot for parking overnight, better sunrises and sunsets.  -crofter

 

[ckelly78z]

I voted rest stop, but not sure about the noise of passing cars/trucks. I would feel safer away from busy parking lots like Walmart, or CB.

 

[user 423]

I've had very little trouble at WMs. They have more of what I shop for, there are way more of them than most other stores and they're nearly everywhere.

Instead of using ATMs, I use cash back at WM. Do CB's have that?

 

[GypsyJan]

I like CBs as they almost always give permission...but, they close at 10 pm and the lots are not patrolled. It's great to have pancakes for breakfast there, though. At Walmart lots I feel more anonymous and can blend in, but sweeper machines and cars cruising through with booming radios are annoying. I like Pilots and Flying Js but the noise of the big rigs can wake one after midnight. I am not choosy....I will park wherever they let me.

 

[rvwandering]

My favorite spots are always on public land but since we're talking just parking I chose casino lots. They're roomy, fairly quiet, and most casinos welcome RVers. So in order:
Casinos
Walmart
Cracker Barrel
Flying J
Rest areas

Keep in mind that you do not have to be stealthy in any of these places. They know you're there and they welcome you. Just don't overstay or make a mess. You want to be so unobtrusive that the general public will ignore you.

 

[cyndi]

Walmart is my least favorite, along with truck stops. I voted for the other three. Cabella's/Bass pro shops being the other spot. Cracker Barrel for dinner and breakfast out, a rare treat. Cabella's for window shopping to pass the time. And rest areas for convenience, not having to leave the highway.

I always only stay one night and it's only when I'm traveling from one area to another. Generally, coast to coast

 

[speedhighway46]

I have stayed at Walmart when I am on the road for the last ten years. Why? Because they are everywhere; have great roasted chicken; and are very safe as long as you stay out of big cities.

 

[Almost There]

My favorite is the 'one that is closest to where I want to stop for the night'...  

I use Freecampsites.net, Allstays W/M listings, CasinoCamper.com, my Flying J listings and interstaterestareas.com to find all the possibilities.

 

[Allan1958]

I voted for Walmart. I have used them the most as they are everywhere. I have used CB only once and it was a good experience. I find the interstate rest area to be very hit or miss.

 

[crofter]

@almost there 

Thanks for all those great resources for those who plan their stops. Awesome.  -crofter

 

[LowTech]

IOverlander is another one that I use often.

 

[rokguy]

Curious, What is the attraction about staying in shopping centre carparks. Doesn't happen here.

 

[cyndi]

There's no real attraction. It's about convenience.

 

[Almost There]

^^^^

The basic attraction is convenience and cost.

The lots are big enough for easy parking of the bigger rigs, shopping and usuallythey have fast food outlets nearby. A lot of the big lots are quite close to highway exits so if one is just passing through, it's an easy on and off. Gas stations are nearby so that's a plus as well.

Given that most RV parks that are close to the highways are also expensive, we're talking $30 to $50 a night and all one wants is to park from, say dinner time to breakfast, paying for a campground each night becomes prohibitive in cost. Yes, cheaper camping can be found but usually a lot further away from the highway.

The lots tend to be much quieter than a truck stop or a rest area. Not all truck stops are RV friendly - as in a separate place to park where you're not hearing the transports either run all night or come and go steadily. Not all states allow overnight parking in the rest areas so that's a factor as well.

Others use the big parking lots for destination parking - can't easily take the bigger rigs down town and want to do some city sightseeing - drop the rig at the parking lot and either take the 'toad' or public transit.

 

[flying kurbmaster]

I stopped at a Walmart parking lot with intentions of staying the night, stayed five minutes and left, another time I drove through another one, thinking maybe, I kept driving, it was so unappealing. Another time I stopped at something like a flying j or Cracker Barrel it was so noisy I didn;t get much sleep, left after a few hours, once stopped at a truck stop found a spot way at the back by a bushy area managed to sleep some but a lot of trucks came and went, it was ok ish. I have found that if something is convenient it is either overpriced, crowded, noisy, bad for the planet, or unhealthy or a mixture of, so I voted for other.

 

[user 423]

^
The thing about WMs is that there are big variations between locations. Some are just terrible and others can be really quiet and pleasant. Same thing with rest areas.

 

[TMooney]

I'm a,Walmart man all the way and back. Super Centers only. 24 hrs. Restrooms with hot water. A deli to eat . I like to buy a bottle of wine and enjoy it with supper. I stock up on groceries and the full walmart list as I call it. Cheapest gas if you buy a card. Drinking water reverse osmosis machine. It's cheap. Collect and send money . I get my drugs from Walmart. I'm in the computer everywhere. Second is flying J with hot showers ,sit down meal , 24 hrs restrooms , safe parking.

 

[kodandi]

Wow I have never parked overnight in Cracker Barrel. I don't even think we have those in California? I don't see Walmarts very often either. I'm usually only in parking lots if I'm on the way to a campsite, and if I have to choose a parking lot I look for a shopping center with a Starbucks that's open 4am-11pm. Starbucks is very friendly towards the homeless community so I've never had any problem washing up in their bathrooms and sitting for hours with one cup of coffee that I got for free using rewards points. One time I ended up parking in some random church parking lot because I could not find any shopping center, and my stay there didn't conflict with the posted church services. Rest areas are always so packed. Last time I stopped at a rest area overnight it was a circus so I just splurged on a Motel 6.

 

[TMooney]

I dont think there's enough listed. I'll name two I used a lot. McDonald's and Waffle House 24 hrs. That's of course for Vans . All night restrooms and hot coffee and cheap food. Also hotels have restrooms in the lobby 24 hrs. The gas pumps at walmarts supercenters also have restrooms that close a midnight and open st 5am.