Where To Stop For Quick Overnight?

[Desiday]

I am currently planning a 1500 mile trek in my DP. I am planning on 3 days to do it. This leaves me staying 2 nights somewhere. What are some safe and easy alternatives to stay somewhere just to sleep and streatch our legs? I have stayed in Walmarts multiple times but there are usually "shady" characters lurking. My 40' coach won't fit at Cracker Barrels. Truckers are rude and disrespectful to us RV'ers at truck stops. I don't really want to pay an RV park when I won't be hooking up to anything. What do you do?

[swampdog2]

Good question ! Hospital?

[Biljol]

Casino have parking, also other places like bass pro shops (some of them) look at the resources like rv parkey and Campendium.

We have found fairgrounds and state county parks that yes may charge a fee but less than an rv park.

There is also forest services campground ect.

Some of these may be a bit off the route but we find that the side roads have some of the best sites.

I am surprised you have had issues with truck drivers I have stayed at truck stops and the like and never had an issue with a truck driver I find them to be the most helpful on the roads maybe it’s just been my experience.

[Biljol]

It would also help to know where your going and coming from.

[Mr_D]

Wal*Marts, truck stops, rest areas, casinos.

[HavingABlast]

We’ve stayed in all of the options mentioned above over the last 6 years. We haven’t experienced what you’ve reported.

Initially we traveled 500 mile days…and were completely exhausted (maybe just be because we are old). We now limit our daily travel to 250 miles, or less…and after two consecutive travel days, we sit still for a day or two to reset and refresh.

You might try Harvest Host or Boondockers Welcome.

[Kenny Loney]

We use Walmart quite often, but usually only in smaller towns, never had any problems. The only issue that we have had was in a medium sized city in the midwest. Just a noisy truck with a loud subwoofer (1000 watts vibrating) . They drove around the RVs and truckers for 10 minutes or so and then left. Other than that no issues overnighting in any of the areas, Walmarts, rest areas, truck stops and the only one Cracker Barrel that had a large enough parking area for our 30' and towed.


Ken

[Busskipper]

Originally Posted by Desiday

I am currently planning a 1500 mile trek in my DP. I am planning on 3 days to do it. This leaves me staying 2 nights somewhere. What are some safe and easy alternatives to stay somewhere just to sleep and streatch our legs? I have stayed in Walmarts multiple times but there are usually "shady" characters lurking. My 40' coach won't fit at Cracker Barrels. Truckers are rude and disrespectful to us RV'ers at truck stops. I don't really want to pay an RV park when I won't be hooking up to anything. What do you do?

Hard to give anything but general advice, not knowing where you are traveling - Walmarts have been good to us from Maryland to Yellowstone and then Back to Maryland before returning to Colorado for 8 more weeks then home to Maryland.

Never had an Issue just talk to the Manager and Pull in with security.

Probably - 10 - 15 different ones - never an issue and a number of great Sunset.

Best of Luck,

[tmandoug1]

Originally Posted by Desiday

I am currently planning a 1500 mile trek in my DP. I am planning on 3 days to do it. This leaves me staying 2 nights somewhere. What are some safe and easy alternatives to stay somewhere just to sleep and streatch our legs? I have stayed in Walmarts multiple times but there are usually "shady" characters lurking. My 40' coach won't fit at Cracker Barrels. Truckers are rude and disrespectful to us RV'ers at truck stops. I don't really want to pay an RV park when I won't be hooking up to anything. What do you do?

Not sure why you can't pony up max 80 bucks for over nighters and find truckers to be rude at " truck stops". You could actually sneak into some Gander or Cabellas. But if you are on a mad dash......hit a restt stop for four or five hours and get back on the road. Good luck.

[Rob_M]

We like welcome center / rest areas at state lines. They sometimes have RV parking separate from the truck parking.

[geordi]

$80 for a parking place and a power outlet / sewer connection is pure insanity.

My 40' diesel has spent far more nights at a truck stop than it has spent at any RV park, and I've found truckers are perfectly reasonable people (more likely to just live and let live than get in your face about anything) and don't bother me at all.

A couple suggestions: Don't go to small stops, use an app like TruckerPath to look at the options along your route and see how many parking places / showers they have. Truck stops with less than 50 parking places or 5 showers are going to be the smaller locations, and should be avoided to let the trucks have those. Places where there's 2+ truck stops in close proximity will be the best options.

All the spots are first-come-first-served but you are self contained.... So park away from the building as much as possible, and against a curb on the side that you want to use your slides so you aren't blocking any extra space. Your RV can overhang the curb with the tires right against the curb, leaving close to 3 feet to the line on the other side - which MIGHT allow you to use both sides of slideouts.... But don't plan for that.

If you really want to be a hero, buy the reserved parking (it is also first come on which particular spot) and for $15 you aren't taking a free space from any driver AND you get to be close to the building.

[Rob_M]

Originally Posted by tmandoug1

Not sure why you can't pony up max 80 bucks ........Good luck.

It’s never about the money it’s about the time and hassle of getting in and out of an RV park when you have a lot of miles to go and a short time to get there. Some of us still work full time and are weekend warriors.

[New2road]

We plan our route with RVParky. I find CG's within the range I wish to drive, in transit I find pull throughs.

We just aren't comfortable with the parking lot thing. I know we wouldn't get a good nights sleep.

It works for us. You do you.

j

[Rob_M]

Originally Posted by New2road

We plan our route with RVParky. I find CG's within the range I wish to drive, in transit I find pull throughs.

We just aren't comfortable with the parking lot thing. I know we wouldn't get a good nights sleep.

It works for us. You do you.

j

Close your eyes and pretend you’re parked in your driveway lol.
Most (I mean all) CG’s don’t like you pulling in at midnight and heading out at 5am.