With no other options available...

[palehorse89]

From the safty approach, No one has more camera's than Walmart! Inside and out(other than fort knox) Every square inch of thier parking lots are covered along with inside.

[becks]

1. Walmart
2. Other big box stores
3. Churches and schools
4. Truck stops
5. Rest area

[jlfbatonrg]

Cracker Barrel is another option. We would only stop at a rest area if we were desperate, and then only one with 24 hour security.

[CampDaven]

Originally Posted by palehorse89

From the safty approach, No one has more camera's than Walmart! Inside and out(other than fort knox) Every square inch of thier parking lots are covered along with inside.

Cameras only record the crime. Color me "cautious".

Color me "spoiled". I like a CG and hookups. Sleeping without worry or anoying sounds for me. And my APPs always find me a place.
Just sayin....

[sdennislee]

Last year there was a post about and RV'er from Canada in a Florida CG that was robbed and fatally shot. Being in a CG does not in itself make it safe.

Situational awareness is the key to safety.

I have stopped in rest areas, wide spots in the road (your only option on the Alcan in the winter), store parking lots, etc... All have provided a much needed rest.

Typically I will only use a CG on my way to the final destination if I need to dump and replenish or do laundry. The rest of the time I try for 500 or 600 mile days and look for a large rest area where I wont be taking a spot from an OTR trucker. I prefer rest areas as you don't have to get off the interstate to find one, no traffic to deal with. I get up in the morning grab a shower and back on the road quickly.

[CampDaven]

Originally Posted by sdennislee

Last year there was a post about and RV'er from Canada in a Florida CG that was robbed and fatally shot. Being in a CG does not in itself make it safe.

Situational awareness is the key to safety.

I have stopped in rest areas, wide spots in the road (your only option on the Alcan in the winter), store parking lots, etc... All have provided a much needed rest.

Typically I will only use a CG on my way to the final destination if I need to dump and replenish or do laundry. The rest of the time I try for 500 or 600 mile days and look for a large rest area where I wont be taking a spot from an OTR trucker. I prefer rest areas as you don't have to get off the interstate to find one, no traffic to deal with. I get up in the morning grab a shower and back on the road quickly.

Well, its a matter of beating the odds.

https://www.google.com/search?q=rest...&client=safari

https://www.google.com/search?q=walm...&client=safari

https://www.google.com/search?q=rv+c...&client=safari

[Hudsoner]

We stay in Walmart parking lots (if the store manager allows it, and the area has a safe feeling) or truck stops.

Our "alarm system", a Black & Tan Coon Hound and a Rottweiler seems to provide the required security.

[Thompsonsgt]

That is close to our security system. We have a Black and Tan coonhound and a Doberman.

[sdennislee]

Our dogs only warn us. They would most likely help the bad guy if he brought them a snack.

[djbmsu]

The point might be just how tired you are and how safe you feel to be driving. Wally World is always available, as are the others.

[Retired and Happy]

Cracker Barrel often has a few spaces reserved for RV's. I don't know how early or often they fill up, though, but it's another option and some good food available.

[PyrateSilly]

1. Welcome centers or Rest areas (usually free wi-fi and free coffee in the morning, also since I have the disabled tag the one spot usually open in the truck parking is the disabled spot)
2. Truck stops
3. In the back of large parking lots for strip malls

[Possum]

Originally Posted by Barbaraok

The premise of the question is false. There are always other options, just requires people to be aware of where they are, where they are going, and to do some simple planning. Barb

Don't be in too much of a hurry to paint all with the same brush. Last April the DW & I along with our dog left Vancouver Island headed for the east coast and we had our trip planned perfectly; perfectly that is until we hit a snag on day one. The campground that we had picked out to stay at with along with the nearby backups were all closed for the season.

UP here on the left coast of Canada we winter camp all the time and camp grounds are open year round; poor planning maybe but we figured our route was taking us far enough south to have open facilities.

All three on day one had nice "See You Memorial Day Weekend" signs posted and we were not about to sit there for a month waiting. Needless to say we went Wally Docking that night and subsequent nights until we finally found an open campground on I-84. Stayed two days because all our laundry was in need of washing.

Once campgrounds were open again we stayed in them as planned but sometimes a trip has to be made when there is no other way around the timing. We now Wally Dock with great abandon when we don't require the services of a campground. With us that's the way it is now.

[Mr_D]

Originally Posted by mgscott4

Walmart over the truck stop. I can park off to side at Walmart with little to no traffic and noise. I don't like hearing a truck idling all night near me.

Same for us until we get to our destination, then we stay in an RV park.