If you must go downtown...

[redcedar]

Hi, I'm a newbie, I didn't buy my TT to visit the city but I was wondering how one deals with the following scenario: You are on the road, approach a big city and want or have to spend the afternoon there to maybe visit a restaurant, shop or family member. Do you find a city lot and pull through, pay for 2 spaces, take up 2 parking meters or can you find somewhere like a KOA in the burbs and unhitch (hourly storage rate?) then drive downtown. Do you trust your TT to be unmolested at either?
Any strategies would be appreciated.
Thanks

[Jagiven]

We live in the big city. if we must stop at a mall or a restaurant, I plan to walk a little bit. I park in the back 40, pretty much in the over flow parking areas. I have never parked at a parking meter. If I did, I guess I would be required to pay for all slots used, but that is just a guess. Most big cities have surface lots that you can park in, that will accommodate busses and the like, I bet they will just charge you a bit more than if you were a small car. If you are planning to visit some place in particular, you could call ahead and ask for recommendations.

[spoon059]

Another suggestion is to see if they have a tourism center or visitor welcome center. You might be able to park there for the day.

[Salsa03]

Never do the parking meter or the pay parking lots... I park in a shopping mall, take 2 space far from the crowd, or close to a main road...or again I find a spot somewhere I can park on the side of the street with no parking meters!

[krsmitty]

Check the local Wal-Marts, Sam's Clubs etc. I have done the shopping mall myself.

[kvangil]

If I was approaching a big city and was going to stop to sight-see, I'd likely stop at the nearest KOA or other campground on the road, unhitch, and tour the town. Then spend the night at the campground, and continue with my trip the next day.

[eldermike]

It really depends on how big is your rig. We are 65 feet hooked up so we plan our trips around campgrounds.

[robkelly]

Originally Posted by kvangil

If I was approaching a big city and was going to stop to sight-see, I'd likely stop at the nearest KOA or other campground on the road, unhitch, and tour the town. Then spend the night at the campground, and continue with my trip the next day.

X2 - we've done this a few times this season

[perfpix]

Years ago my in-laws were passing through St. Augustine Florida on a Sunday afternoon and wanted to stop to eat. There were no other cars parked on the Street and they couldn't find anywhere else to park, so they parked on the street taking up 3 metered spaces. They put coins in all three meters. When they came back they had a ticket with a hefty fine on their TV.

John

[wwsmith111]

I just parked all day in Manhattan with a 72' rig for free. I found the truck waiting line for the convention center. It was 10 blocks long and wrapped around the corner. There were several other RVs in line as well. It seems that convention centers have people coming in and going out all the time loading and unloading so they have put aside a place for them to park to get in and out. Many of the trucks had been waiting for days so no one said a word to me and I saw many NYPD during the day. FYI, this waiting line was on 12th avenue at 34th st. at the Jacob Javits Convention Center which is right at the end of the Lincoln Tunnel.

[KiltDog]

Sounds expensive. I don't like driving a compact car in the city, so good luck with a camping rig. If you want my advice, skip the city altogether an go somewhere relaxing. JMO.

[SecretCoveDave]

wwwsmith111 - New York! All day! NYPD!

You should get some kind of RV Award man.

[RoyBraddy]

DO NOT leave valuables in your RV. Most locked RV's can be accessed with a large screwdriver with their aluminum frames.

Carry you valuables with you out of sight...

We always see someone parked at a WALMART. Some church lots allow it. Other places like food places with a large parking lot - Bass Pro Shops is a neat place as well...

We parked one time at a RV dealer lot.

We always park and then go inside and let the management know we are parked for a few hours. A few times WALMART has told us their local town laws prohibit over night parking...

Roy Ken

[Seann45]

Park at the mall or Walmart but at THE FAR END of the parking lot... dont try to cozy up to the front door with the RV. Any mall that says you cannot park there during the day obviously does not want your business. (Not talking about overnighting that is different story)