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10-14-2013, 07:17 AM
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#1
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Member
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 83
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Walmart or Rest Area
We will be traveling from Atlanta to Austin Tx Friday, leaving in the afternoon with a stop after 400 miles. Why do most seem to stop at Walmart instead of a Rest Area on the Interstate? It seems to me that a nice Rest where you could park with the Truckers would be easier and just as safe. I am driving a 40ft DP with small trailer.
Thanks Eddie
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10-14-2013, 07:26 AM
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#2
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Senior Member
Monaco Owners Club
Join Date: Jul 2011
Posts: 2,200
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Rest Area's, State Welcome Centers, any strip mall large parking lot area .... all places we have stopped for the night after 800 to 1k miles driving.
Personal note for us, I don't shop at Walmart so I don't stop in their parking lots. Target, Lowe's, Home Depot are all places that we have parked in for the night. Most close by 8 or 9 pm and don't mind you parking there if they know that you will be leaving early in the morning and you park in the back.
__________________
Thom and Christine having fun in a 1993 Monaco Crown Royale Signature Series 40ft 300hp RV. Towing a Fiat 500 Abarth and a Harley.
Our blogged repairs and travels
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10-14-2013, 07:40 AM
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#3
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Member
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Fort Erie ON CA
Posts: 94
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We have used welcome centers, Flying Js with no problems. Some Walmarts have those height gauges that prevent MHs from entry and also not recommended in some States (FL).
Steve
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10-14-2013, 07:43 AM
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#4
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Senior Member
Fleetwood Owners Club Workhorse Chassis Owner
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Fair Play, SC
Posts: 986
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Seems to me that it's just about 50/50 split on where to park overnight. I have only done it once and it was at a Walmart in Pecos Tx and the DW didn't sleep a wink all night. Needless to say, I keep my hours behind the wheel down to about 6 hours or enough time to find an RV park for the night. Your results may vary.
__________________
Richie, Rose and our Australian Terrier Harley
2004 Bounder 35R, 2012 ACME EZtow,2012 Kia Rio Hatchback
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10-14-2013, 07:55 AM
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#5
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Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2011
Posts: 2,454
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I have never stopped overnight at an interstate rest area mainly due to the noise from passing traffic and truckers running their engines. I have stayed at Walmarts a number of times with the permission from the manager. It is quiet and safe and we get in some shopping so they aren't exactly free. 
We have several apps on our iPad that identifies Walmart locations with phone numbers so it is easy to call ahead to get permission. We have been told several times to please take our trash with us when we leave so it would appear that some RVers have been slobs and gave the rest of us a bad name. I have read on other threads on this WEB site where some RVers feel it is a right to park overnight at Walmart and this attitude spoils it for the rest of us.
Currently we are wintering west of Austin and we stopped in a Walmart a couple of times as we wondered our way down here. 
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10-14-2013, 08:02 AM
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#6
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Member
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 83
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I'm not too concerned about the safety, need to pick out a nice place and park in the middle of the Truckers. I have a deadbolt on the door and 45ACP on the night stand.
We are staying at La Hacienda near Austin.
Eddie G
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10-14-2013, 08:20 AM
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#7
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Senior Member
iRV2 No Limits Club
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Naples, Fl.
Posts: 1,303
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Depends of the state. Texas welcomes overnight stays in most of their rest areas. Florida does not allow overnights. 3 hours only.
__________________
Camping Rig: 2006 Outback 27 RSDS--
2005 Dodge 3500 - Dually- Cummins
Full time since June 2006
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10-14-2013, 08:30 AM
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#8
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Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2011
Posts: 2,454
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Quote:
Originally Posted by eddie g
I'm not too concerned about the safety, need to pick out a nice place and park in the middle of the Truckers. I have a deadbolt on the door and 45ACP on the night stand.
We are staying at La Hacienda near Austin.
Eddie G
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Eddie,
We are at La Hacienda, site C30, give us a shout when you arrive.
Jack
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10-14-2013, 08:36 AM
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#9
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Member
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 83
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Quote:
Originally Posted by TheArnolds
Eddie,
We are at La Hacienda, site C30, give us a shout when you arrive.
Jack
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I will do that. We should arrive Saturday afternoon.
Eddie
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10-14-2013, 08:38 AM
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#10
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Member
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 83
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Dog Folks
Depends of the state. Texas welcomes overnight stays in most of their rest areas. Florida does not allow overnights. 3 hours only.
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Do they have a way to track how long you have been there?
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10-14-2013, 08:42 AM
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#11
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Senior Member/RVM #90
Monaco Owners Club
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: Columbus, MS
Posts: 54,782
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I just feel safer in a Wal-Mart parking lot than in a rest stop. Just be sure you have permission from the manager! Also, I can't run in and buy some item I need at 9PM at a rest stop!
Good luck, happy trails, and God bless! 
__________________
Joe & Annette
Sometimes I sits and thinks, sometimes I just sits.....
2002 Monaco Windsor 40PBT, 2013 Honda CRV AWD
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10-14-2013, 08:43 AM
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#12
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Fulltime, USA
Posts: 16,706
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VICKSBURG RV PARK.
It is half way!
Inexpensive, $22.50, pleasant, quiet, etc.
If you leave at 7AM you arrive before 4PM with stops. Plenty of time to relax. Lovely place, good meal from the grill, meet the neighbors, a good nights sleep.
http://mobile.ameristar.com/Vicksbur...l_RV_Park.aspx
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10-14-2013, 08:50 AM
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#13
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Senior Member
Winnebago Owners Club
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Horse Country, FL
Posts: 169
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Quote:
Originally Posted by eddie g
Do they have a way to track how long you have been there?
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Florida Troopers patrol them regularly. I doubt that they would throw you out at exactly 180 minutes, but I'm sure they would notice the same RV being there after 5 or 6 hours at 2 a.m.
__________________
Thom
2012 Itasca Meridian 36M
2012 Jeep Wrangler
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10-14-2013, 08:52 AM
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#14
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Senior Member
Gulf Streamers Club
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Cincinnati
Posts: 19,925
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We've used Walmart as we are en route somewhere. Rest areas are usually too noisy for me with trucks pulling in and leaving. I also like the fact I can walk around in the store and if I see something I 'need,' buying it sort of pays for overnight parking.
__________________
Bob & Donna
'98 Gulf Stream Sun Voyager DP being pushed by a '00 Beetle TDI
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