Community Forums

Boeing Guy · 05-04-2011, 10:28 AM

We are new to RVing. We are planning a trip across country and have a question. My neighbors travel and stay at struck stops, flying J Loves etc. They told me they park in and amongst the trucks when they stop at truck stops. I was under the impression (maybe i mad eit up) that truck stops have special places for RVs. What do other people do when they overnight at a truck stop? Do you park among the trucks? Have you gotten any bad vibes like you are taking up one of their spots, or doesn't it matter. I guess an RV is different from trucks, but at 4 bucks a gallon with a 100 gallon tank, I don't think the flying J is being hurt by us stayin gin one of their parking spaces.

Jack R · 05-04-2011, 10:37 AM

Jim

You can park were ever you want in a truck stop. As an X OTR driver I encourage you not to park amongest the trucks. Most truck stops have places for RVs to park thats where you want to park.

jack

bigskymt · 05-04-2011, 10:43 AM

We stay as far away from the trucks as possible to avoid refers, door knockers and trucks coming and going all night long.
We usually find a spot on the edges of the parking lot where we can exit our coach away from all traffic and also not block prime parking spots. While the truck stop staff generally is indifferent to where RVs park we've found truck drivers are often offended to see RVs parked amongst them.

TW · 05-04-2011, 10:44 AM

I would not take a spot away from a Trucker. Away on the side or an RV spot.

GaryKD · 05-04-2011, 10:47 AM

Hi Boeing Guy,
The only fueling places I know that have a place for RVs to park is the Flying J. If you want to stop by 3 PM then you might get a RV spot. Much later and the people who frequent these places have staked their claim for the night.

I see coaches parked among the trucks all the time. Again you'll need to stop early in the PM to get a spot that you can pull through. For me, getting the extra miles in on travel days is much more important than stopping early to get a free place to stay.

trn the page · 05-04-2011, 03:18 PM

I am also a X OTR driver as jack r said try not to park with the big rigs, for lots of reasons.

Steve N Sal · 05-04-2011, 03:41 PM

Flying J's have spots up front for the RV's. Stay at them all the time when we are on the road. You should plan to be off the road early though as those spots go fast in the later afternoon. I usually am off the road no later than 5:00PM.

HD4Mark · 05-04-2011, 04:04 PM

Some states have rest stops that are not only patrolled by police but have separate RV parking. Flying Js are as stated not reliable to be able to get a spot in the RV parking. We have after finding the RV spots full gone over to the truckers area and tried to find a place far away from them as possible. They are working and we are playing so we try not to be in the way.

wa8yxm · 05-04-2011, 04:44 PM

Generally Flying-J truck stops have a special area in the "Cars" area that is for RV's only.. (NOTE: it need not be in the "Cars" area and it need not even be there) Most others do not have segregated RV parking. And I've seen bob-tail semi' tractors parked in the RV only areas, despite the RV ONLY parking (And other commercial use)

Many park at Wal-Marts (Most allow) or Sam's or Costco or other "Big parking lot" stores.. I did visit one Wall Mart sunday night, the lot was posted NO SEMI Tractor or RV parking, So I moved to the Sam's next door.. Sam's being closed for the night it was nice and quiet down there.. Come morning we hit the road (About 7am) and as we pulled up the hill to the much noiser Wall_mart lot on the way out there were about half a dozen RV's and a couple of Semi's including one with the Wall-Mart logo on the trailer. Oh well.. I had a good night's sleep.

Larry & Rita · 05-04-2011, 06:17 PM

We have never been refused a space at Flying J-Most have a special place for RV's, Go in and ask first, when I drop $100 on gas thats when to ask, I normally go face to face with the cashier and if you are a customer they are nicer, if you do all your business at the pump, they have a poor attitude.
You have to be aware of the constant noise from the trucks and the light from the service island, but it's free and not far to breakfast in the AM.

DAN L · 05-04-2011, 11:22 PM

we have stayed at highway rest stops with trucks and at truck stops with trucks. we try to park away from the trucks in such a manner that we can extend the bedroom slide over a curb, grass area, or next to a light pole. it is still noisy with truck engines idling all night or refers running.

we prefer walmarts for overnight parking and breakfast in the morning. we use this free internet site to find the walmarts that allow and do not allow overnight parking. most walmarts have 24 hour security too.

this website is updated by users by email so it is pretty up to date. i always ask store management or security for permission to park and where to park. we stayed at a walmart in reno, nv. that the website says does not allow overnight parking but management said it was ok. we sent allstays an email and they updated their website.

Walmart Store Locations Map - Wal-Mart Guide

wa8yxm · 05-05-2011, 09:07 AM

Dan made a good point there too... Since we need to extend at the minimum one slide and darling wife will whine like a siren if that's all I put out.. I try to extend what I extend over grass when possible... that way I take up only ONE spot.

And a pair of earplugs.

1775 · 05-05-2011, 11:27 PM

Cracker Barrel Restaurants will let RV's stay over night and usually have an RV parking area. Also many casinos have overnight parking for RVs (except in Atlantic City, NJ).

dawnbarnard · 05-05-2011, 11:45 PM

Thanks for opening this up for discussion!!

I drove OTR for 6 years and my husband currently drives regionally. Please please please do NOT take up truck spaces. Trucks can't park anywhere. They don't fit. Their trailers are 53' long and truckers MUST have their rest. The government has mandated that they get 10 hours of rest. If they don't then they could pay heavy fines ---- or God forbid, hurt someone because they were foced to drive tired. There are FEW spots for trucks to park in America. In some states you can use the on/off ramps, but many states are not allowing that - besides, it's not safe.

Trucks cant pull into a Walmart shopping center or a grocery store parking lot. I was forced many many many nights to drive when I really needed rest simply because the spots were taken. When driving 11 hours a day and with the possibility of loading/unloading freight during the day, rest is so needed and the truckstops are so very crowded now. Sometimes just getting a much needed shower is an impossibility due to overcrowded truckstops.

Good topic. Thanks for opening this up for discussion!