Rest Areas

[Kevin21]

Traveling from Kentucky Horse Park to Mammouth Cave the first of June. I don't see any rest stops along the route. We will be traveling with our son's family with two small kids and I'm sure we will need to stop.

I"ve looked at the map and Google and can't find anywhere to stop. Anyone who has traveled this route have any suggestions or info?

[RAurand]

When we travel, we stay in wallymart parking lots. I do my research and find the nearest wallymart where I plan on stopping, as close to the route of travel as possible, get the phone number and call the manager (always speak with the manager) and ask for their permission to spend the night in the parking lot. park as far out in the lot as you possibly can. 99% of the time they will give you the OK. It's a lot quitter than in the truck stops and I have never gotten to a wallymart and the lot was full.

[ccso2213]

Can't say about the route, but I fill my fw tank about 1/3 full or carry a jug of water to use the tt bathroom in emergencies. I have a tiny bladder, so I have to stop more than the kids. Lol. I just pull off at an exit and pull to the side.


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[oldmanAZ]

If you are traveling the interstates, take a look at a book called 'The Next Exit.' It should help.

[Grumpy]

Click on this link:

Interstate Rest Areas – Rest Areas along Interstate Highways

[RedHorse1]

The Allstays app for smartphones will show rest stops, Wally's, CGs, fuel stops and the like. It doesn't do any route planning or mileage calcs tho, just where things are but its my go-to app for what it offers.

[Hohenwald48]

Pull off at any exit. There are lots of McDonald's and other fast food restaurants, gas stations, grocery stores, Lowes, Wal-Marts and such. Finding a place to stop for a little while should never be a problem.

I hate stopping in rest areas. You always have to park on the truck side and the whole parking lot smells like engine oil, diesel fuel and urine all baked in the hot sun.

[BigJohnD]

We only use our bathroom on trips. One of the benefits of owning an Rv. Don't have to deal with any public bathrooms.

[Rustysocket]

My RV is a travelling rest area. Stop wherever I want to.

[schrederman]

Originally Posted by BigJohnD

We only use our bathroom on trips. One of the benefits of owning an Rv. Don't have to deal with any public bathrooms.

This is also what we do... To the OP question, I stayed in a rest stop for about 6 hours of sleep and a couple of my marker light lenses were ripped off along with my bumper cap. I think they were after the hose but couldn't reach it. They had awakened me and I came out, and they ran off. The next morning I found screws standing under 2 of my tires. They would probably have jumped me if I had pulled off to fix a flat. I have no doubt they intended to follow me but saw me discovering the screws... that would have punctured if I had pulled forward or backed up. No more rest stops for me for any purpose...

[SmokerBill]

Originally Posted by schrederman

This is also what we do... To the OP question, I stayed in a rest stop for about 6 hours of sleep and a couple of my marker light lenses were ripped off along with my bumper cap. I think they were after the hose but couldn't reach it. They had awakened me and I came out, and they ran off. The next morning I found screws standing under 2 of my tires. They would probably have jumped me if I had pulled off to fix a flat. I have no doubt they intended to follow me but saw me discovering the screws... that would have punctured if I had pulled forward or backed up. No more rest stops for me for any purpose...

My gosh, where in the heck was that rest stop? Let us know so we can avoid it! That must have been a nightmare situation.

That being said, I've overnighted at many rest stops in many different states and never had a problem, other than the occasional loud diesel engine cycling on and off in cold weather.

[Jflyboym]

I am familiar with that area. If you are coming down I65 there are some rest areas along the way. There is one before the Columbus Bloomington Indiana area and another Just a few miles south of Louisville Ky. It is a very clean nice rest stop. That stop is about an 1.5 hours away from Cave a city.

Like others said, there are several restaraunts such as a Cracker Barrel, McDonald's and stores that have large RV parking spots that will allow parking for several hours.

We camp at Jellystone park in Cave City occasionally and always take a cave tour at Mammoth Cave. It's a beautiful place. Have fun!

[schrederman]

That was just outside El Paso on I-10.

[RedHorse1]

Originally Posted by schrederman

That was just outside El Paso on I-10.

East or West?
That is a true horror story.

[schrederman]

This was east on the fringe of the El Paso area. On the return trip, I stayed at a rest stop on the western edge of Las Cruces and had no problem. After thinking about it I decided to do Wal Mart parking lots and leave the rest stops alone.

[BuddyRay]

I think rest stops in most states are becoming dinosaurs anyway.
In an era before every exit had 4 gas stations and 8 fast food restaurants they were a necessity. Today they are really only important in the more sparely populated areas of the west.

Here in Georgia the legislature keeps cutting and cutting the budget for rest areas. They have closed all but a few. They even closed the state welcome stations for a year or two but most of those are back open - at least on the major interstates.

[Mwade]

Yep, rest stops are not safe places to spend the night.

[oldmanAZ]

I've spent a few nights in rest areas, most of them uncomfortable.

I've spent many nights in the RV area at Flying Js. I felt they were safer so I slept better there.

[koko]

We would never stay in a rest area unless we were too tired to go another inch. Walmart, when in a good location, is great; but we particularly like Cracker Barrel. They always say yes when we ask if we can stay in their lot - we always either get dinner or breakfast there to patronize their kindness.