Community Forums

Bigd9 · 05-24-2018, 11:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pduggs

On my trip last week from Florida to Michigan, I stopped at several rest areas along the way...actually in every state I went through. I found that only Kentucky allows overnight parking. All others have time limits. It seemed TN and GA had very small rest areas. FL had very busy rest areas where a couple times I couldn't find a spot to park.

Near the KY border north of the TN line on I-65, there is a very large rest area that can hold over 100 semi trucks, according to the lady in the welcoming center. She said overnight parking is welcomed in all rest areas of KY.

Actually she was only partially correct. According to 603 KAR 5:040. Use of rest areas
603 KAR 5:040. Use of rest areas.
there is a 4 hour maximum time limit. BUT, that rule is generally ignored and many travelers spend the night in cars, RV's and trucks.

In my past life and many moons ago, I was the lead construction engineer on the building the rest areas along I-64 east of Lexington. Many interesting stories to tell.

enri1982 · 05-24-2018, 01:30 PM

I feel you same here im in SouthFlorida (Miami)

Quote:

Originally Posted by brobox

As more of the "Me Generation" moves into RV'ing it is going to change. Those Walmarts that have problems for their area are going to close the parking lots. I live in an area of "Free Loaders" for Florida Beaches so the City closed the parking lots to RV's years ago and there is not an RV park in the City limits. Abuse it, you'll loose it, that simple.

MRUSA14 · 05-24-2018, 01:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by twogypsies

There's a gal that posts regularly in an Alaska forum who lives in Whitehorse. She commented on this once that property is so expensive there and many of those people are homeless and live on that WalMart parking lot year-round. Obviously, the city is o.k. with it, as is WalMart.

They may be okay with it for the moment, but I see black clouds ahead. As more and more people take advantage of "free parking", the store may find itself over-occupied and then things will have to change.

Jeffcarp · 05-24-2018, 05:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PJStough

The problem with local RV parks is the cost. It seems stupid to me to pay $25.00 on up just for a place to park overnight. If we had to stay in an RV park every night we would probably quit RVing.

I don't understand that logic. Nearly every RV publication and forum is talking about the shortage of campgrounds and the consolidation of the campgrounds that do exist to conglomerates like KOA at a higher nightly cost. We can't have it both ways. What do you think it is that allows those campgrounds to be a viable small business opportunity for someone? It's your $25 per night payment. That's how they afford to add more sites and keep the rock on the sites and put in the Wi-Fi that everybody demands.

By parking for free at Walmart you are doing exactly to small businesses what some claim Walmart does to main street. The small independent Campground owner struggles to maintain or improve what they own. They're forced to sell out to KOA and you've turned a $20 per night camping opportunity into a $50 per night camping opportunity. Or they maintain a substandard product that is only patronized by those that have no choice.

The result of this is that camping will increasingly be something that is unaffordable for many people, you will run the low-cost providers out of the business and cities will increasingly tighten overnight parking requirements because of their over use.

Will be left with low-cost dumps, too few government parks and "expensive" KOAs where only the well off can stay. Not paying that 20 bucks is in my opinion one of the most short-sighted things an RV enthusiasts can do.

rarebear.nm · 05-24-2018, 06:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tfryman

You know that "Toads" (toweds) are a vehicle being towed, not the vehicle doing the towing. I've never seen a fifth wheel with a toad.

I have multiple times.

CampDaven · 05-24-2018, 06:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MRUSA14

They may be okay with it for the moment, but I see black clouds ahead. As more and more people take advantage of "free parking", the store may find itself over-occupied and then things will have to change.

The situation in AK has been basically status quo for a long time. It is not very different than when my folks did the trek in 78 and 80. It wasn’t Wal-docking then but the principle was similar. There are a ton of pull offs on the Alcan, where folks stay!
I could go on.... but it is a LONG way from full.
Me? I will take the Seattle to AK cruise by debarking at Anchorage and renting a car, explore it more than we did before, and re-board after a few weeks for the return cruise leg.

Honwing · 05-25-2018, 03:07 AM

Just drove from Florida to Seattle in our 40’ DP and stayed in many parks for under $25. Spent 3 weeks in a very nice city park in Akron, Iowa with 50 amp hookups for $10 a night. Other Parks using Passport America got us a sight for 50% off. Now staying south of Seattle in a very nice Park for the next four months for $14 a night.
As stated above the day I stay in a Walmart Parking lot is the day I put it up for sale. Need to support the little guy.

Honwing · 05-25-2018, 03:10 AM

Meant “site”. Sorry

GoneToTheDog · 05-25-2018, 10:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Honwing

Just drove from Florida to Seattle in our 40’ DP and stayed in many parks for under $25. Spent 3 weeks in a very nice city park in Akron, Iowa with 50 amp hookups for $10 a night. Other Parks using Passport America got us a sight for 50% off. Now staying south of Seattle in a very nice Park for the next four months for $14 a night.
As stated above the day I stay in a Walmart Parking lot is the day I put it up for sale. Need to support the little guy.

x2.

Coarsegold · 05-25-2018, 12:44 PM

When in a pinch I actually like to go casino camping, usually safe and free. Sometimes hook ups, for a small fee. You also have the option of good food and entertainment. I recently went up and down the western US and this worked well for me. Walmart is down the list when in a spot to find a quick place.

MRUSA14 · 05-25-2018, 12:50 PM

I like casino parking too, except there are hundreds (thousands?) of Walmarts within a mile of major highway exits and very few casinos that are so conveniently located.

bfisher003 · 05-25-2018, 01:11 PM

My wife loves it when we overnight at a casino! LOL. Of course it’s never free. She never wins, but I do usually like the buffets! [emoji16]

twinboat · 05-25-2018, 01:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Honwing

Just drove from Florida to Seattle in our 40’ DP and stayed in many parks for under $25. Spent 3 weeks in a very nice city park in Akron, Iowa with 50 amp hookups for $10 a night. Other Parks using Passport America got us a sight for 50% off. Now staying south of Seattle in a very nice Park for the next four months for $14 a night.
As stated above the day I stay in a Walmart Parking lot is the day I put it up for sale. Need to support the little guy.

If you really want to support the " Little Guy ", maybe we should campaign to let them run all of the Federal, State, County and Town campgrounds.

That will help more then ending overnights in Walmart.

Superslif · 05-27-2018, 09:40 PM

Most of our Walmart over-night stops are well after dark 8,9,10pm our later. Take a quick shower, bite to eat and go to bed. Usual up at sunrise. If it's a 24 hour store will ask the DW if she needs anything in the store where I'll grab a paper and a coffee myself.

In a un-known area, do you want to be venturing down a dark country road looking for a campground. Or miss the entrance, or get on the wrong road and encounter a road you should not have gone down, or the campground is closed, then what, or they have a security gate and there is no one there.