Cross Country Travel Rest Stopping

[Arctic Bos'un]

Am planning a trip from Las Vegas to Michigan and back for September 2017. I am a RV/TT novice. I am towing a 20’ TT. My preference is to push on through to Michigan, stopping only for safe driving rests. This is a destination-orientated journey vis-à-vis a stop-orientated journey.

Can anyone please advise me as to if we are able to sleep for a few hours at roadside rest stops? We’ve noticed that many road side rest stops are posted with “no camping” signs.

How about stopping at truck stops? Do property managers permit or discourage RV’s from resting at truck stops for safety sleeping?

Using campgrounds along the route is unappealing for several reasons of time, distance, and cost. It makes little sense to pay for RV space that will only be used for a few short hours for safety sleeping.

[NVGun40]

During our travels we have never had an issue stopping and sleeping a few hours at roadside rests. My personal opinion is the ones which have "no camping" signs are talking about when people pull in, drop stabilizers, open slides and "set up a camp" as it were. We have pulled into such places while travelling to get a few hours sleep/rest. When we do, we don't open our slide or put the stabilizers down or anything. We just go in and sleep on the bed, get up in the early morning and motor on. We have only been questioned one time by law enforcement, when we identified ourselves and told him we were just getting a couple hours sleep because we were "feeling too tired to continue driving safely", he bid a good rest and went on his way. We have also used Wal Mart, Home Depot and other large parking lots.

I have seen many people who (in my opinion) abuse the privilege. They are the reason so many places are closing down the ability to pull in and get a couple hours of rest. I am sure you have seen the ones who pull up at a Wal Mart and they have their slides open, their awnings out, generators running (I have even seen a guy with a fire pit set up).

[Camper_bob]

We're grappling with a similar situation right now. We're leaving on a long road-trip soon, and we will need to stop for a few hours' rest. I looked ahead to where we'll be stopping and found a spot with 4 truck stops, and a "Safety Rest Area" all within a couple hundred yards of each other. One of those places will suit our needs very well, and we have options if one or another is out of the question for stopping.

In my limited experience, as long as you stay out of the way, a truck stop is a good bet. I like to make sure they have PLENTY of space. I'm not going to stop somewhere that has 6 big rig spaces and assume it's okay for me to use one for the whole night. So, I look at satellite images of potential targets and make my choices based on that and user reviews. Truckers post google reviews just like everyone else, so if you're looking at stopping at a place, find it on Google Maps and look up the reviews.

I have considered Wal-Mart or Home Depot, and would call ahead if I were going to stop there. I've even heard that Cabela's or Bass Pro Shops will allow you to stay for a few hours, but the one where we were going to be (I called a few months before we were going to leave) said they didn't own the lot, so they couldn't say. I didn't press for details, I just moved on to something else.

Of course, there are apps you can use to find "free" overnight stops, but I only need one night, so I wasn't going to buy the app for just one trip.

[DocBrown]

Pay attention to your "spidey sense", that is if it doesn't feel right, get out of there.

We've caught a few hours in rest stops and truck stops. Some we pulled into, we pull right out of. Others were fine. When you see a lot of cars and other RVs parked and people sleeping, more than likely it's safe. In most rest stops you will not get kicked out. LEOs would rather have you rested and refreshed than have to scrape you off the pavement and put you in a body bag.

As said above, no overnight camping means no setting up like you are there to stay a few days.

[Grumpy]

PILOT/FLYING J is an option if you don't mind the truck noise, some even have dedicated RV parking spots. Cracker Barrel is another option, stop, sleep, have breakfast and leave.

[bansai]

We've overnighted at truck stops a few times. It's just me I'm sure, but no matter how tired I am, I can't get comfortable enough at a road side rest stop / Walmart parking lot to get any sleep in at all. My hearing turns into hyper sensitive mode and every sound I hear outside has me freaking out / paranoid. For that reason I just do a little extra leg work and at least find some KOA's in route that I know I can actually sleep at.

[mike837go]

There is a HUGE difference between catching a few ZZZ's and camping.


As long as you are just napping in the driver's seat and the TT is locked with the stabilizers up, nobody with any sense will bother you.


Personally, on several particularly rainy trips, we've pulled into rest stops and slept while the storm passed.

[oldmanAZ]

Originally Posted by Grumpy

PILOT/FLYING J is an option if you don't mind the truck noise, some even have dedicated RV parking spots. Cracker Barrel is another option, stop, sleep, have breakfast and leave.

X2 on PILOT/FLYING J. Most have a RV island for fuel (gas or diesel) and a RV parking area that is away from the semi trucks. Of course being a truck stop, they are busy all day and night and have restrooms and a restaurant. I've always felt better about sleeping in a busy truck stop like that than a virtually deserted rest area.

Also, if you are new to towing a TT, in many cases maneuvering through the RV island for fuel is easier than most gas stations. You can use Google earth to check the layout of the Pilot/Flying J fuel and parking for RVs.

[Big1]

I too have been wondering about this also, because next summer I'm planning a trip or two back Midwest or even to the East coast.

[Kim Gass]

This might help though I believe VA discourages over two hour stops

Rest Stops

Down at the bottom is a more comprehensive link

[WyEm]

Google the Department of Transportation rest stops in the states you will be traveling thru. They should list their various rest stop "rules." For example, here in Oregon, camping is not allowed in ODOT rest stops, but you can stay up to a maximum of 12 hours which allows an overnight "rest." Truckers use them for that purpose all the time.

[Jagiven]

I have slept in the TT for 4 hours or so at a time in the TT in a rest area. I prefer longer rest periods, and a quieter environment.

Checkout places like Wal-Mart, Cabalas and other stores. Many of them will allow for overnight stays as long as your are fully contained. A friend stated he once stayed at a Cabalas that had power in the curbs for RVs to plug into and run the ACs.

[norty1]

Some Cracker Barrels allow overnite sleeping. Just ask the store manager before hand. Some communities out law it.

There are web sites that will list Walmarts with overnight sleeping allowed.

[maromeo]

Don't rule out casinos. Some provide free overnight parking. We have used them several times in the fall. Summer may be a little tough with the humidity unless you use a generator and they may frown on that. We also found a few that had an rv park associated with them and they were very inexpensive. It ran us $10-$17 a night with full hookups. It came in handy so we could flush out our tanks.

[norty1]

Flying J has spots for rv's to overnight. I have seen rv's backed in at truck stops along with trucks. I do that in the day time but at night, I would try and get in a area with other rv's just to eliminate the noise. There are a lot of traffic in there at all hours of the night.

[WyEm]

You can also download (free) the Pilot/Flying J Travel Guide. It lists and maps Pilot/Flying J travel centers in each state and whether they have such things as "RV Parking," "RV Lanes," "RV Dump," "Restaurants," etc. I find it pretty handy. "If the women don't find you handsome, they should at least find you handy." Red Green.

[Cdash]

We often do what you are considering. When we go west, we push it hard to get to and from our destination. Here are my thoughts:

We are usually at a Wal-Mart or a Cracker Barrel as a first choice. There are very few that don't allow parking. Usually by the time we stop for the night, several others are there and fast asleep. If there is another camper there, we park and don't worry.

We've done Cabelas and Bass Pros before too, but they are more scarce.

Generally speaking, we try to avoid rest stops and truck stops. We've used them before, but they are noisy and I feel bad taking a truck spot since they have limited places to go. We use this as our last resort. In 10 years we've stayed at 3 rest stops (one in Wyoming on a 2 lane highway was awesome and very quiet!) and 2 truck stops. They work when there aren't better options.

[NY RVer]

We prefer Cabela's and Cracker Barrel. The Cabela's we stop at has a dump station and fresh water. Usually 12-15 other RV's stopped for the night.

[RAurand]

We stop in Wallymart lots when we travel. We just call ahead and ask the manager for permission to stop for the night in their lot. Almost all have said OK. However, (and this is the reason for calling ahead) if the parking lot is owned by the township, city...etc, then you can not stop overnight there as it is a township ordinance.


Much quieter than the Flying J/Pilot truck stops.

[norty1]

...and no matter whose business you use for overnight, make sure to go in and make a purchase.

When you leave just hope they are glad you were there.