Overnight Parking Etiquette/RVers' Good Neighbor Policy

[Route 66]

From the Escapees web site;

Dear Fellow RVers,
Some of the most respected RV consumer clubs have joined together to support
your right to park on private businesses' parking lots overnight under the
following code of conduct:

Industry-Sanctioned Code of Conduct
(RVers' Good Neighbor Policy)

1. Stay one night only!
2. Obtain permission from a qualified individual.
3. Obey posted regulations.
4. No awnings, chairs, or barbecue grills.
5. Do not use hydraulic jacks on soft surfaces (including asphalt).
6. Always leave an area cleaner than you found it.
7. Purchase gas, food, or supplies as a form of thank you, when feasible.
8. Be safe! Always be aware of your surroundings and leave if you feel unsafe.

If your plans include touring the area, staying for more than one night, or necessitate
conduct not within the code, please relocate to a local campground.
It's the right thing to do!

Most of the complaints lodged regarding RV parking on business parking lots have
to do with aesthetics and perceived abuse of the privilege. There are a variety of
competing interests that were balanced to arrive at this industry-sanctioned code of
conduct. As you can see, the Code of Conduct is nothing more than an RVers' "Good
Neighbor"� policy.

Not following the code has serious consequences and is detrimental to the rights of
all RVers. Already, some municipalities have passed ordinances to prohibit parking on
private business property overnight.

[TXiceman]

Sounds like good common sense to me.

Ken

[Juggler]

Agreed!

[Lorna]

Just keep in mind...

Not all those RV's that you see in the parking lots for several days are folks "camping"! There seems to be a growing number of vendors that park in the parking lot of the store they are working. I've seen these folks stay anywhere from 2 days to 2 weeks. After the Kimball TN Super Wal-Mart was flooded, 2 RVs stayed parked in the parking lot for a month. They were pressure steaming the store. The (currently) local Lowes has vendors (they wear vests that say "vendor" on them) that stay in the Lowes parking lot for up to a week. They set up displays etc. Our (currently) local Wal-Mart shares the parking lot with several other stores. My daughter, who works in one of the stores, has run into several folks working as vendors for the other stores that stay in the parking lot due to the hours they work (while business is closed at night and early AM). We are currently in a "tourist destination" area. Most of the campgrounds here are not geared for work-traveling folks. The reservation lists run from 3 months to 18 months.