Illinois and Indiana rest areas overnights??

[MN_Traveler]

Does anyone know whether Illinois and Indiana allow overnight stays in their rest areas? Next weekend I plan to be traveling east on I 74 out of Bloomington/normal and am wondering what my flexibility for stopping will be. ,...

[BFlinn181]

Indiana and Illinois only allow overnight parking in rest areas on their tollroads, I-74 it's not allowed. You can stop at Walmart, Cracker Barrel, or Sam's Club.

Buy fuel in Illinois, Indiana is a bear for fueling without a commercial license.

[John58]

Originally Posted by BFlinn181

Indiana and Illinois only allow overnight parking in rest areas on their tollroads, I-74 it's not allowed. You can stop at Walmart, Cracker Barrel, or Sam's Club.

Buy fuel in Illinois, Indiana is a bear for fueling without a commercial license.

Spent many night in the rest areaS along I-70 and never had a problem fueling in Indiana and I don't have a CDL.

[dancogan]

Originally Posted by John58

Spent many night in the rest areaS along I-70 and never had a problem fueling in Indiana and I don't have a CDL.

The problem we encountered in Indiana was on the toll road. The big diesel islands are for commercial vehicles only. To fill the motorhome we had to find and wait in line at the appropriate pump with all the cars. Generally the diesel pumps were closest to the "office" and had the narrowest lanes.

[BFlinn181]

The reason I said to fuel up before driving across Indiana is that trucks are tax exempt in Indiana. The displayed prices are often lower than you can actually get without the exemption. Most transactions can't be done at the pump, you have to go to the desk and either leave the credit card or estimate how much you want to pump, go out and pump, then go back in and settle up. Sort of a hassle for 140 miles to cross the state. Easier to fill up in Ohio, Kentucky, Illinois, or Michigan, although Illinois has been higher is price than Missouri or Ohio in my travels.

[KenM]

MN Travler: We always stay at the casino on the other side of Indy. They have RV spots on the outer edge of parking lot. A shuttle picks us up when we park and drops us at door. we go in and grab a bite to eat then shuttle takes us back to rv. Easy in and out. Its on eastern side of Indy on I-74 about 20 miles out heading east.

[MN_Traveler]

I'm aware of the fueling issue in Indiana: am planning on topping my tank somewhere north of Normal (maybe in Normal) ... want to keep it full while traveling in the cold!!!

My real stretch of interest is the stretch between Normal IL and someplace just west of Indianapolis. There is a KOA in Crawfordsville I can stay at ... but given my day (driving from Minneapolis) I doubt I can make it that far withought needing to stop (either fatigue or dark!). My minimum target for the day is Normal (Walmart on the west end of town - Allstays reports it as "no parking", BUT I called the store, and was told the New-new manager is OK with RV's overnighting there. (Does anyone know how to update the Allstays info? cant do that on my Iphone App.....).

I have another long day the day after (Western West Virginia), and so if I am able to get another hour or maybe two east of Normal towards Indy I would like to. The "ideal" would be to be able to do that stint, pull of into a rest area, eat/crash, then continue on early the next day.....

The good news is that it looks like I am going to hit a "window of opportunity" in terms of the cold weather and snow that has been passing through the area

[jones47172]

I have never had a problem staying overnight in Indiana rest areas. While it is posted no overnights, no one polices the policy. Make your stop before dark or the 18-wheelers may have filled it up. Do not extend slides or level the coach. Only run the generator a few times, not all night. At least, this has worked for me

[Bigd9]

Originally Posted by BFlinn181

The reason I said to fuel up before driving across Indiana is that trucks are tax exempt in Indiana. The displayed prices are often lower than you can actually get without the exemption. Most transactions can't be done at the pump, you have to go to the desk and either leave the credit card or estimate how much you want to pump, go out and pump, then go back in and settle up. Sort of a hassle for 140 miles to cross the state. Easier to fill up in Ohio, Kentucky, Illinois, or Michigan, although Illinois has been higher is price than Missouri or Ohio in my travels.

[Cat320]

The safest thing to do is call each state's DOT. The information here is not always correct or current.

[BFlinn181]

Originally Posted by Cat320

The safest thing to do is call each state's DOT. The information here is not always correct or current.

INDOT: Welcome Centers & Rest Areas

Rest Areas and Welcome Centers

I try to be accurate. I've been asked to leave at 2:00 am in Illinois.

[Ray,IN]

The rest stops at MM 107 Eastbound or Westbound are huge, very clean, and nearly always have about half the truck/RV spaces vacant all night. That's been my experience anyway. Never say you are staying overnight in a rest area. Instead you are "resting" because you got very sleepy and hungry, so you stopped to eat and get some rest before resuming your travels.
If you get to Richmond, IN and decide to stop overnight, Tom Raper RV is constructing or has a new CG if you want FHU, or, they have a large parking lot in front of their camping store/service building (after hours of course)

Don't let someone with little experience using IN truck stops to re-fuel scare you away. I've lived here all my life, except for my Army years, and the process is quite simple. I pull into the truck fuel island, DW goes inside, talks to the cashier, informing them we are a private RV, and waits until I fuel-up the MH, then pays with a CC. By the time I pull forward to clear the island DW is returning to the MH.
Concerning the pricing, just keep in mind what you see on the billboard is minus federal fuel tax (26 cents), which is the same nationwide. There is no hassle if you know how to work the process. Why is pricing at truck stops that way-- I haven't a clue, it's illogical to me, but I don't sweat the small stuff.
At Flying J, even that is not necessary if you have the GS/PFJ card.

[MN_Traveler]

Hmmm. Not worth the chance of being woken up in the middle of the night. I will keep it to Walmart or truck stops...

Thanks everyone!