Community Forums

beyond-there · 08-18-2012, 01:11 PM

Oct. 7 I will be driving to Holly Point State park in Wake Forest N.C. from Cortland NY. I want to avoid Washington DC so I plan to go interstate 81 until Staunton Va where I would like to stay overnight and get to Wake Forest on Monday.
I am looking for a little or no cost place to set up a hard side camper near Staunton Va. on Sunday night. I don't mind driving a little off course if necessary. If you care to suggest a different route that would be OK too.

dsbike · 08-18-2012, 03:13 PM

Welcome to the forum. I am not familiar with that area as far a camping goes, however if there is a Walmart somewhere along your travels that is where I would stay. You can setup your tt without unhooking and not looking like you are camping. Rather just stopped for the night at most Walmarts. Just go inside and ask the manager for permission. They will direct you to park where they want you to. I have yet to be turned away from any Walmart for overnight parking. Do a search on this forum for Walmart parking. There is a rather lengthy thread that will give you some general idea what it is like to overnight in a Walmart. One word of advise, most people staying at Walmart end up stocking up on supplies and spending more than if they stayed in a nice RV park. Lol

baraff · 08-18-2012, 05:44 PM

I'm a big fan of staying over at Cracker Barrel restaurants. Decent people, good food, and they welcome RVers overnight (depending on local ordinances).
There is one in Staunton:
Cracker Barrel - Staunton

I-81 , Exit# 222
I-81 & US 250
128 Rowe Road
Staunton, VA 24401-9100
Located off I-81
*Bus & RV Parking Available
(540) 885-7550

call first and ask the manager if they will allow you to park overnight. Be aware though, this is parking, not camping, (no slides, awnings, grills, etc).

meterguru · 08-18-2012, 07:54 PM

If you don't mind driving an hour and a half longer, down along the Blue Ridge Parkway, there is a nice little campground called Wildwood Campground. Its between Roanoke and Lynchburg. While there your only 20 minutes from the natural bridge and caverns. A site worth seeing. Prices are reasonable and pet friendly. It is under new ownership and is a work in progress but I had no complaints.

But as others have mentioned Walmarts are great. There is a Supercenter in Lynchburg that is open 24 Hrs, so it is a little more secure. There is also a Pilot Truck stop right off of 81. Its smaller then the Flying J's but you can park overnite there is food and fuel 24/7 they offer WiFi for a small fee. It will work in a pinch just not real quiet with trucks coming through.

beyond-there · 08-19-2012, 07:11 AM

I looked at the possibility of staying overnight at Walmart and found out they do not allow popups, I own a 2013 Forest River Flagstaff T12RB hard-side camper. What is the overnight policy at Cracker Barrel an/or other places with similar RV's as mine?

RVThere · 08-19-2012, 07:50 AM

I have seen some popups at WalMart so what their policy is and what they enforce may be two different things.

Just a suggestion regarding your route. You may want to consider taking I-81 to I-66 East and then turning off at Rt. 17 South which will lead you to Fredricksburg on I-95. Rt. 17 is a great road and you bypass Washington. Also saves you about 57 miles from going to Staunton and cutting over on I-64. There is a WalMart on Rt. 17 right before you get to I-95.

As with most WalMarts, if you time your travels so you arrive late, set up only what you have to in order to sleep, and leave early, you should be fine.

beyond-there · 08-20-2012, 04:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RVThere

I have seen some popups at WalMart so what their policy is and what they enforce may be two different things.

Just a suggestion regarding your route. You may want to consider taking I-81 to I-66 East and then turning off at Rt. 17 South which will lead you to Fredricksburg on I-95. Rt. 17 is a great road and you bypass Washington. Also saves you about 57 miles from going to Staunton and cutting over on I-64. There is a WalMart on Rt. 17 right before you get to I-95.

As with most WalMarts, if you time your travels so you arrive late, set up only what you have to in order to sleep, and leave early, you should be fine.

Thanks for your help, I did not realize I could bypass DC using Rt 17 and great advice concerning the Walmart before getting on I-95. i will double the distance to see if it is doable.

ParTheCourse · 08-20-2012, 05:43 AM

We use the Flying J, Winchester Va. (first Va. exit). It's just about the right days travel for us, easy on/off, fuel, lunch, breakfast/coffee and back on 81 south in the morning.

We also slide into the FJ's in Gibson Pa, about 20 miles into Pa., exit 219?? good first pit stop to check the rig, tires etc. and another in Carlisle Pa. if you need to top off fuel. I think there's another near the intersection of 64 & 95 near Richmond, check their web site.

BTW welcome aboard neighbor, have a good trip and sweep the highway clean for us, we will be on our way to Florida about 10 days behind you.