Warning signs not to park there

[Iggy]

Besides seeing an actual sign forbidding parking in that location, what do you watch out for?
If I see anyone actively watching me park for the night, I usually sit there for a bit, pretend to make a phone call, and move on. There will be a better spot somewhere else.
If the road has a high crown in it or is on a hill, I know I would not sleep well. My bed would be too sloped.
I research the crime rates of cities that I go to. I also check out what houses sell for and annual incomes. It only takes a few minutes. One time that I didn't do this was in San Bernardino, CA. I had people trying to break into my van, shining flashlights in the windows, trying to steal my gas. I tried 3 spots that night, all were mistakes. Never going back!
Any bars close by. Too much activity late at night and maybe drunk jerks causing trouble.
Any hookers doing their business nearby. No matter how cute!
I'll probably think of more later.

 

[compassrose]

If you have Streets & Trips, you can get a mega POI file from LaptopGPS .com that has the no parking walmarts as well as the RV Unfriendly towns. We avoid the RV unfriendly towns simply because if they don't want our RV there, then we feel they must not want our money either. As for no parking signs, those sometimes mean no overnight parking and other times they mean don't park your vehicle to sell for weeks on end.

 

[Iggy]

I haven't heard of those before. I'll research them next time at the library. Thank you. I can always use more useful knowledge.

 

[compassrose]

Streets & Trips is a mapping program from Microsoft. You can add a GPS dongle (which we will do to my laptop) and use it like a TomTom, etc. Check out the POI Factory also. I think the Mega POI File originates with them but is compiled/updated by LaptopGPS. Updates are put out twice a year. Additional POIs are available for download at the POI Factory.

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BTW, the POI files are free.