Parking lot RVing ~ When do you stop?

[Taftcoach]

I've been thinking about our next cross country run from Texas to Maine
and quick overnights in WalMarts, Flying J, Cracker Barrels, etc. I've found a lot of great information on etiquette etcetera. I'm wondering about the time frames. I was thinking I would be stopping when I was too tired to drive. I'm thinking stopping at nine, ten o'clock, grabbing some sleep and keep moving. Then I've read a couple of posts that seem to imply that people stop much earlier, like five o'clock early. Could someone walk me through a typical night at a big box retail stop? (If there is a typical night)


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[SecretCoveDave-JAY]

Well, good question. I would like to know as well. Planing an East coast US trip next year.

 

[oldmanAZ]

I'll throw a couple of things out there...
1) It's harder on me now (I'm pushing 70... yrs, not mph) to spend long hours on the road so I usually start early and stop early.
2) I like to know my surroundings so I stop early, get settled before dark, and watch what is happening around me. I'ts hard to keep an eye on what is going on when I roll into a parking area at 'O dark thirty.'

 

[Taftcoach]

Oldman, so you are sitting in your unit hanging out? Walking around?


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[Taftcoach]

Well, good question. I would like to know as well. Planing an East coast US trip next year.

Congrats on 10,000 posts. From where to where?


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[oldmanAZ]

Oldman, so you are sitting in your unit hanging out? Walking around?

In most parking lot situations, if I'm walking around, it's before dark. After dark I'm usually inside the RV and make occasional trips out to walk a dog.

 

[RogerR]

I stopped for gas at 7 and asked a local where I could camp free. He suggested the Indian Casino 2 blocks away. Parking lot was very large and the office said park anywhere on the edge. Did so and felt safe. Good meal at the casino for a reasonable price.

 

[RAurand]

We stop in Wally Marts. We usually call them ahead of our stopping to make sure it is ok. (Almost all are Ok to camp overnight in the parking lot) BUT..... If the parking lot is owned by a city or township, it is a local ordinance rule that camping is not allowed and management will tell you that. A few managers have even told us that we can park overnight but they wouldn't recommend it as they have had crime issues. We thank the manager and continue on to the next one.
I usually plan my trips and am pretty good at determining where I will be ready to stop for the night and check for Wally Marts and call them before we leave.
Wally Marts are a lot quieter than the truck stops.

 

[Big1]

Theirs a lot of good info here, the wife and I are or will be planning a trip to Las Vegas this summer which is a 1,100 miles trip one way for us. Like it being said if you plan your trip out as best as you can you will have no problem.

Those places that you have are all good places to go, their is some good app out there that can aid you in you trip. Here is a good place about Wal-Mart to stay or not, No Overnight Parking at Walmart – Walmart Locator and here are some good all around places that might be useful RV Park Reviews - Trusted Reviews of Campgrounds & RV Parks


Also I would think about some rest stop are good to stop and those are right the highway but you will have to check it out because are some that you want be able to, most you can and they are setup for that.

 

[Big1]

One more good app. Allstays Camp and RV | RV Parks Campgrounds App

 

[Taftcoach]

Thank you. I guess I still have the question are y'all stopping early, walking to dinner, shopping where you stopped, sitting around your RV or pulling in as the last thing before going to sleep?

 

[OH341RDS]

We pull in at dark'o thirty, crawl in the camper for a few hours sleep and then head out again. We have done this at Walmart and Bass Pro (think it was a Bass Pro, whatever it was it had a very large truck parking area in the back, even places to walk your dog and board your horse for the night). We didn't shop at the Bass Pro because it wasn't open, pulled in after it closed, left before it opened. Since the Walmarts are usually 24/7 we try to buy something in the store. We have never done rest areas or truck stops, try to leave those for the truckers. I leave the truck hitched, might put the stabilizers down and only the slide or slides that are needed to sleep. We always park on the edge, trying to put the slide over the curb. Only problem I have had was last year, Walmart in Ohio, the parking lot sweeper parked at our door for at least 30 mins, I'm sure he was messing with us. We had only been sleeping for an hour or so, we got up and left, stopped again a few hours later.

 

[Taftcoach]

I seem to hear about the sweepers a lot.

 

[SecretCoveDave-JAY]

We are going across Canada to South Saskactchewan then south through Montana, Wyoming, North & South Dakota. Just a great big wandering S curve down and then back up the Eastern coast.

This will finish off the list of all US states. However the plan is subject to modification on a whim. After we started RV'ing I became much easier going about the small stuff.
Dave

 

[Taftcoach]

We're going Texas to Maine and across Canada down through Illinois.

 

[Camper_bob]

We usually show up pretty late at night, but for a different reason. Our son goes to bed at 7pm. He's 2, so entertaining himself in the back of the truck all day while we drive simply isn't going to happen. So we'll usually begin our journey around 9 or so in the morning, and stop quite often throughout the day to keep him entertained. But when 7pm rolls around, and we put him to bed (in his car seat) I drop the hammer for about 5 hours or so and only stop for fuel when needed. This will put us stopping for sleep around midnight or 1. We transfer him to bed in the camper, take the dog for a short walk, few hours sleep, eat a quick breakfast (that we usually cook and eat at our dinette as a family which necessitates putting the slide out for a little while) pick up necessities if needed or available, fill fuel and we're off to do it all over again. He also naps after lunch, so that's another time when we can get some good mileage booked.

As for WHERE we stop, my DW and navigator is in charge and will begin scouting (on mobile phone, tablet, and paper atlas, yes, we absolutely still carry paper maps) a few hours before we need to stop. I usually have a pretty good idea of where we're going, but her job is to verify and find alternatives, and make any necessary phone calls. When we stop, I will take a short walk (with the dog) around the area and I will observe my surroundings. If there are other RVs there, I'm usually pretty comfortable. If there are trucks, I'm okay. I try my best to find a spot out of the way, especially of those working, and I won't stay if we're all alone or I don't like how the area looks (and I have VERY high standards). In fact, I passed on what looked to be a good spot on paper, but when we got there, I didn't like it. The diversion cost us about 30 minutes of time, some fuel, and a little frustration, but it was worth it to be a bit more comfortable for the few hours we needed to stop and rest.

ETA: Don't underestimate rest stops. Typically, at state borders, there are fairly nice rest stops that also provide information about the state (good place to get a free map). One of our best nights on our last trip was at one of these "Information rest stops" just outside Amarillo. There weren't a lot of spaces, but the area was well lit, clean, there were other RVers there, and a nice large open area where I could walk the dog.

 

[Taftcoach]

The one north of Dallas is nice. I stopped there once coming back to Texas.

I like driving after dinner. I'm thinking a couple three hours drives in the morning and afternoon then four or five hours after stopping for dinner.

We also are planning a longer stop in Charlottesville possibly two nights which is just past the halfway point.

I too am fairly conservative where we stay. I'm wondering about what problems people have had in parking lots. So far sweepers are about all I've read. Nothing about crimes.

 

[DanNJanice]

I usually stop right about dusk, only because I do not like driving at night, too many critters running across the road for me.
Then I just walk to the nearest store/restaurant/truck stop, get some food and do some shopping.

 

[The Logans]

Well, we usually travel 5 to 6 hours a day. No great hurry to get anywhere.

Camping at Wall-Mart or Cracker Barrel...

Always check with the management... several managers said that even though it was legal, he/she wouldn't recommend it as several RV's had been gang tagged (spray painted), and one RV'er had been hustled for "protection". So, always check with the management.

Buy something at the store/restaurant.

Park under a light, with the door facing the store.

Don't make it look like you're moving in (don't put out lawn chairs, umbrellas, etc.)

Try not put down landing jacks, they can damage the parking lot.

If you have dogs, and they alert during the night, take it seriously.

 

[53kycamper]

We usually stop when there is still enough light to scope the area, walk to get something to eat and/or shop and go into the Walmart for any needed supplies. Then early out the next day. Don't drive much more than 6 hrs a day - retired - no hurry.