Walmart 's - Casino's - How Does "free" Overnight Parking Really Work?

[RV-Kitty]

Morgan:&nbsp; Seek out a cheap place to dump your tanks every week or two. Truck Stops usually have "dumps" where you can dispose of your sewerage for a nominal charge and take on fresh water. Once you're out there you will meet others living the same way and most will be willing to share their knowledge.&nbsp; After a short adjustment period I think you'll be just fine.&nbsp; <img rel="lightbox" src="/images/boards/smilies/smile.gif" class="bbc_img">&nbsp; Most of what I know was learned on the east coast so can't make many suggestions about where you are.&nbsp; The people I met were living in everything from $500,000 Class-As through $20,000 travel-tailers right on down to used $1,000 popups (FL). They seemed as happy and carefree as they can be... and I met them from the cool mountains of mid-state NY to hot humid Sarasota FL.&nbsp; <br><br>If you need things for your Class-A such as hosehold goodies, pots, pans, blankets - check out Goodwill and other such Stores. You'll find everything from bedding to TVs to coffee pots - cheap!&nbsp; I know, I shop there all the time.&nbsp;&nbsp; <img src="/images/boards/smilies/wink.gif" class="emoticon bbc_img">

 

[Morgan7600]

This is so cool :::&nbsp; I have a new friend.&nbsp; Hi RV-Kitty! (and I'm a cat lover too!)&nbsp; Great post!&nbsp; I'll tell you, in my mind, I've been basing "having to leave my home &amp; property" on if the bank throws me out but <br>the truth is, something inside me <strong>IS</strong> restless and just the fact that I could actually have some cash in the bank is a huge pull to me.&nbsp; Sometimes at night when I'm in my snugly bed here on my secure property,<br>I think...&nbsp; wow, I could never do that, but then I realize that if I did have to leave here, there is no way I could put up with another creepy crooked mortgage situation and I know dam well I will never rent again!<br>So it is as you and others have told me...&nbsp; just a very serious and somewhat unnerving interim period of adjustment and then I really think I'd like it...&nbsp; Your thoughts enforce the theory big time and I thank U for it!<br><br>I have been interacting with folks here and on iRV2 as well as Escapees at RVnetwork.com<br>I have received a strong recommendation to keep my paid off F-250 Diesel pickup and use a 5th. wheel trailer.&nbsp; I can see that would remove the potential for expensive repairs on a "not so new" motor home and the insurance must be less since there is no motor involved.&nbsp; For me the down side is I hate pulling trailers and I'd have to go to "school" to learn to back it up for sure.&nbsp; I really suck at that!&nbsp; I have so much respect for those big rig semi drivers when I see them back those behemoth's into loading bays like they are going forwards...&nbsp; simply amazing!&nbsp; <br>There is also the idea of using a "toy box" style TT so I can build my recording studio into it which is really a pretty good idea.&nbsp; I do music and would have to continue my work no mater what happens.&nbsp; I just want peace of mind to write music and work on my book.<br><br>So would you say that there is a much larger community of "full timers" than let's say the public would have ever known about?&nbsp; Morgan

 

[RV-Kitty]

To Morgan: Oh yes. The general public I believe is not aware at all what's going on out there. They see RVs and think of campers and snow-birds (which we are both BTW). They don't realize how many people are living in RVs and have been for years. It's just that the economy today has driven more into the lifestyle.&nbsp; OK.. if you buy a 5th wheel you will most likely have to stay in a campground or trailer-park of some kind. They are obvious and they're generally large and higher than other RVs. They're harder than other pull-alongs to maneuver in traffic, at gas stations - you get my drift. But you do get more for your money.&nbsp; If you want to keep your music equipment, a toy hauler would be the thing to get... but again,&nbsp; you have a size problem. These are not small lightweight RVs. You can always get a Class-C and use the back, usually where the double or queen size bed goes for your equipment - just remove the bed.&nbsp; Sleep over the cab or on the sofa. You may have to box in the water tank but plywood and 2X4s to the rescue.&nbsp; Class-Cs, unless you buy one over 28', should fit just about anywhere and are much like driving a big pickup truck.&nbsp; Some practice in a large parking lot and will get you off to a good start.&nbsp; Tanks are big enough to hold your waste water for at least 10 days, more if you scrounge it.&nbsp; You will have a generator for electricity when not docked somewhere.&nbsp; Run it only when necessary.&nbsp; With a Class-C you wont need to stay (and PAY) in a CG, resort or trailer-park.&nbsp; A van-conversion in my opinion is just too small for someone to live in, especially if they have pets too.&nbsp; And there would be nowhere for your music equipment.

 

[Morgan7600]

Hi RV-Kitty,&nbsp; thanks for that.&nbsp; So just to be clear, are you saying that 5th. whlers are not acceptable in Walmart or Casino free Parking lots?&nbsp; How about a nice Lance slide in camper. I'm really still considering that option.&nbsp; By the time I get going, it will be just me and the dog so I think I can make that work for starters.&nbsp; The nice thing is that if I use the Casino's and such I think I should be able to save some cash and then maybe move up to a nicer rig.&nbsp; Also, I'm a contractor so whatever I use will have a good sized solar system.&nbsp; Thanks again, Morgan

 

[RV-Kitty]

To Morgan:&nbsp; No, you can park there but a 5th wheel is very obvious and I assumed you wanted to keep a lower profile. And 5Ws are not very maneuverable.&nbsp; Not all parking lots have large open spaces.&nbsp; They have islands, trees, curbs, light-poles etc.&nbsp; Most slide-in campers would be ignored and unobtrusive.&nbsp; Keep in mind my friend, that you can only stay one night in these places. They don't allow "squatters."&nbsp; Their term, not mine.&nbsp; You have to keep moving. If you can afford to stay in a cheap CG you'd better off taking that route.&nbsp; How will you keep the dog cool in the camper when you're away from it?&nbsp; In the hot summer sun they can become deadly to dogs and cats.&nbsp; Solar systems are good for lights, the water pump, a small fan, whatever, but not to run the A/C.&nbsp; Leaving the genny running would attract attention. <br><br>

 

[vtchris]

This is a link to all of those free overnight parking places (WalMart, Casinos, Cracker Barrel, Flying J's, and more!) with map, all very nicely laid out.&nbsp; <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.overnightrvparking.com/" target="_blank">http://www.overnightrvparking.com/</a>&nbsp; I have been using it for years!&nbsp; There is a small annual fee ($10-$20 I think), BUT once you pay that you never have to pay again IF you contribute updates.&nbsp; Which is what I do.&nbsp; I love this model because it keeps the list up to date.&nbsp; Mention my email address and both of us will get additional free months added to our subscription.

 

[Zil]

i had a 32' rv down 95 to Florida. The slow way. I spent many nights in rest stops even though they are posted "no overnight camping". In the past with a VW bus i parked in a legal parking spot in San Diego with no troubles. Remember if you stay in one jurisdiction eventually the police know you are there and may want to check your papers.

 

[TALLMAN]

Am curious, has any one been told to move on when spending the night at a rest stop in Florida.

 

[WheelEstate USA]

Not experienced with Fla, but in Az, Nv, and Or we found most road rest areas open for overnight parking. A few even had free dump stations. We've parked in some with a creek and short hiking trails where we enjoyed a nice evening and a cool place to have coffee in the morning
Many casinos welcome RVs in their free dry lots. We've stayed in several for a few days and used the casino shuttle to look around town, call and they come return you to your door. We're not gamblers, but use those stops to rest up a couple days in a safe place.

Local laws vary. Watch signage, look for RVs and trucks, ask someone. Soon you'll be spotting good places to dock for the night.

 

[rvwandering]

We stayed in the rest area on I-4 southwest of Orlando a few years ago. Our friends that we were meeting there had asked and got an okay.

 

[TALLMAN]

In 2011 my wife and I left Florida on a combination camping and a trip to Denver to help out with a sick relative. We had the tent you see on my Avatar. We left home in Florida and took I 10 and stopped in Biloxi Ms and stopped at a casino, lost my sixty dollar limit at black jack so tried a game I had never seen before called Mississippi Stud, put down the required 15 dollars, its a five card game and got a A9, added another 5 and the dealer turned over a 9, the ended up turning over 3 9s making me 4 9s, my total bet was $40 dollars and it paid 40 to 1. $1600. We left story does not end there. While in Denver helping out with relative I went to Black Hawk Co. and got in a 69 dollar tournament and out of 70 or so people placed in the top 6 and won 7 or 800 dolllars and seat in a second tournament on Friday. When we got down to the last six players they paid every one 300 or so dollars and I thought that was pretty low and that's when I learned we six that were left were playing for a seat in thee world series of Poker.

I had the lowest amount of chips of the six, so I slowed played and it got down to me and one other guy who had me dominated. I offered him the world series ticket if he would pay me 400 dollars. He refused because he ad so many chips and I had so few. He ended up losing.

PS we nearly froze the first night at Mt Zion National Park so headed to a Salvation Army thrift store and loaded up on cold weather clothes.

We then needed to kill 3 weeks before World Series so we wandered on to Mt Zion National Park, one of the most beautiful parks I have ever seen and camped for 3 weeks. We would take a break and drive to Mesquite NV every once in a while and you could get a 19$ room at the casino.. I got in 4 tournments and won one and money in the other 3 and then went to the RENO and stayed in a suite for $69 a night for WSOP players. Played in the tournament 10 hours and lost, seen all the famous players, played for 2 hours next to Jerry Yang that won 8 million in the WSOP several years ago. Then we went thru Dealth Valley, stayed at Death Valley, then to Yosemite, camped there but got driven out by flooding but was the largest water falls in over 60 years due to snow mount, stopped at RENO and won an upgrade to a fancy corner Suite. Lost 3 69 dollar tournments there so decided my luck had run out and it was time to wander back home. We left home the end of April and got home last week of June.

 

[Lifemagician]

Am curious, has any one been told to move on when spending the night at a rest stop in Florida.

Florida actually advertise that they have night time security at their roadside rest areas, and welcome overnight stayers. This is all as a result of the murder of four German tourists at a FL rest stop, some years ago.

I have accepted their hospitality quite a few times.

This year I noticed that MS has armed security at their rest stops as well - though I am not sure if it applies to all their rest areas. Even at a rest area which had a sign up saying 'no overnight camping', when I asked the security officer about sleeping in my van overnight, I got the OK.

Unsecured rest areas along interstates are probably the most dangerous of all places to sleep in a car or van. Better off pulling into a truck stop. Much more secure.

Lifey

 

[TALLMAN]

I all ways figured people needed to worry about me more then me them, that I was big enough, mean enough, tough enough, and well armed enough that the other guy should be afraid of me rather then me of them.
But now that I am over 70 maybe I need to change my mind.

 

[WheelEstate USA]

I all ways figured people needed to worry about me more then me them, that I was big enough, mean enough, tough enough, and well armed enough that the other guy should be afraid of me rather then me of them.
But now that I am over 70 maybe I need to change my mind.

Two words come to mind, "Smith & Wesson"