Parking lot Sleeping vs.Campgrounds

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wincom6

Well-known member
Joined
Dec 10, 2009
Posts
312
Location
Robinson Township,Pittsburgh, PA
I have been a part timer for well over 10 years. As I have become more seasoned with a lot of trial and error under my belt, I would like to offer a few thoughts on free rest/sleeping in parking lots vs.Campgrounds. 
I don?t think it?s a good idea to stay in a parking lot if you have children with you. You?ve had them cooped up in a seatbelt all day, now you need to give them a chance to run/play off some of that youthful energy.  A nice campground with a swimming pool would be ideal. Us old fogies can relax by the pool and a good time can be had by all. (Isn?t the trip part of the fun)
Parking lots are really nice when you just need to catch a few winks and safety resume your trip.  They are close to the highway so no time is wasted. 
I have stayed in parking lots but I never get the restful sleep that I get in a safe campground.  Campgrounds are usually quieter, safer and you get hookups.
I have found that some campgrounds have spots for overnighters, pull through that don?t require much work, you can leave your toad hooked up so that you are ready to leave the next morning.
This is just a few of my thoughts, if you found this helpful then it makes me happy.
 
wincom6 said:
I have stayed in parking lots but I never get the restful sleep that I get in a safe campground.  Campgrounds are usually quieter, safer and you get hookups.
In my nine years of living full time on the road I have probably spent an equal amount of time in campgrounds and at Walmarts and other free overnight stops. The only time I was ever threatened by another person was in a campground.
 
I'm guilty, we drive WAY TO MUCH when we are en route.  I never park places that are unsafe or illegal.  I will say that I agree with the theory of the OP, I just dont actually do it. We do travel with a child but he gets several play breaks at parks durring the day and is out like a light in his car seat hours before I ussually throw in the towel.  I find no value to sleeping in a campground while traveling.  First they are always closed when I would arrive and they aren't open yet when I would depart.  I suppose I could theoretically just pull into an open spot close to the front and leave at first light.  Tape an envelope to the door with a 20 in it?  I'm not going to hook up my electical, I'm not going to dump my tanks and I'm not going to put out my slide so I could also put that 20 back in my pocket and park down the road somewhere. (Chances are a 20 wouldn't cover me for a single night most places even though I didnt use any service except for land that was empty anyway.)

We pay plenty of money for RV resorts when we arrive at destinations and and we use the services available.  Even when we traveled by car we generally didnt get hotel rooms for the trip.  If it was more than about 18 hours away we would fly or catnap along the way.

Jeff
 
We occasionally use parking lots to overnight when traveling between destinations. Maybe  2-3 times per year. We have the capability (after all, our rig is designed to be self-contained) and usually don't need or want any services or amenities for a brief stop, and we don't have any kids to be concerned about.  Our stops are not for just several hours of sleep - we don't arrive late at night or depart at first light. We have the luxury of time, so we are off the road by 5 p.m. and seldom leave again before 10 a.m. We level up enough to run the fridge and stay comfortable, put out enough slides to make the interior usable (bed and galley), use the generator as needed, and nearly always make a shopping foray into the host store.  But often the locations are busy with traffic, sometimes all night, and typically rather noisy as well.  Not always the most restful night, and that is a factor in our decision to use a campground vs parking lot.

We also don't use public lots (or no-service campgrounds either) if it is warm enough to want air conditioning. It seems pointless to run the generator for hours to power the a/c if there are campgrounds available along our route.
 
That's the beauty of Idaho any where I go in the state all I got to do is find a wide enough spot to pull in for the night. It's common to see RV's in wide turn outs spending the night. The time this rule doesn't apply is in city areas. So get outside the city limits and find a spot and stake your home for the night. Much safer than sleeping in a parking lots in the city.
 
We also don't use public lots (or no-service campgrounds either) if it is warm enough to want air conditioning. It seems pointless to run the generator for hours to power the a/c if there are campgrounds available along our route.

That's what we do. Works for us.
 
I prefer using Cracker Barrel for overnight parking to the Wal-Mart type stops.  We generally will have dinner, and most likely breakfast, in their restaurant where we ask permission to park there.  We have never been refused, and usually the manager will suggest which side of the building to park on for a quiet nights rest.

Cracker Barrel does provide RV parking, but the spaces are usually not long enough to accommodate an RV with a toad.  However, their back lots are seldom over utilized, so they offer the quietest and less obtrusive parking.  I never use slides and/or levelers unless absolutely necessary. 

I don't think I would even consider deploying slides/levelers in a Wal-mart parking lot.  JMHO
 
Over the decades we too use many free parking areas for just an overnight, sometimes just a short few hours. There are thousands of places to park overnight, truck stops, Walmarts, Supermarket parking areas, other business parking lots, open spaces on public land (mostly in the West), manufacturing company employee parking lots, etc. There are actually more such parking places than there are actual RV Parks.

We also park in RV Parks anytime that is most convenient and/or if we intend to stay more than one night. And, many times, is more convenient to stay in an RV Park even for one night, especially if we are in no hurry and may not leave until later in the morning.

We appreciate both Commercial RV Parks and also the many free parking areas and use consideration in each. At no time have we ever felt threatened in any parking area, commercial or free. The only problems along that line has been twice in an RV Park (one a Good Sam and one a KOA) when we had sewer hose stolen while we slept (We now keep locks on all outside compartment doors). We are never personally threatened since both my wife and I are more dangerous to any personal attacker than they could be against us.

I feel that we are not taking advantage of any Commercial Park by parking overnight in a free area. After all, in the Commercial Park we are paying for not only the space but the amenities (hookups, etc) that mostly we really do not need just for a short overnight.
 
manufacturing company employee parking lots

DW and I own a commercial building our tenant uses for manufacturing. In the last three years, rv occupants looking for a place to overnight have stolen power and water, dumped their black tanks into the storm sewers on the lot causing us all kinds of epa issues, dripped engine fluids in large quantities on the asphalt requiring expensive repairs, threatened plant workers when asked to leave, and destroyed fences and locks. Police have found mobile drug labs set up in the lot on weekends. We are now forced to pay for overnight security to patrol the parking lot at night, just to keep overnighters away and our tenants safe.

Maybe Wal-Mart, Cracker Barrel and truck stops can absorb the problems. We sure cannot.
 
This is a primary example of how the few ruin it for the many.  What a shame!  But based on some of the things we've observed it certainly isn't a shock.  Too many people have no respect for other people's property.  We've always tried to leave a site cleaner than it was when we arrived.

ArdraF
 
I will stay at an Elk's Lodge or Moose Lodge, before I will stay at a Wal-Mart if available.
 
When we are travling from here to yonder I will drive until maybe eight or nine oclock.  We usually stop at a truck stop, go in and eat supper and ask permission to park with the big rigs.  We have never been refused and we always park apart from the big trucks.  We will not extend our slide outs unless they go over an ''island'' or an area where no one can park.  The lull of the big engines idleing will put us to sleep in no time.  We usually have breakfast at the truck stop and fill up with gas at the pumps and hit the road again.  This is cheaper than parking at Wall Mart because my lovely wife Willa dont usually go shopping in a truck stop and she just loves Wallyworld.  We have never had any problem doing this either from pandhandlers or bums of any kind. We never put anything on the ground, not even gray water.  NOTHING BUT TIRE TRACKS. 
This is just my opinion and I could be wrong so my advise to you is  DO NOT TAKE MY ADVISE..........CJ
 
If available I will most always stay on a Wilmar, Casino - or any lot that has been approved by the owners for RV parking. But just driving around looking for a parking lot by a commercial building is "way" off limits for me. As a minimum I would simply feel unsafe - not to mention respect for other folks private property.

When I travel across country am usually just looking for a safe place to rest overnight - and paying someone $35 for that is a waste of money. I won't be taking a swim, using their showers, watching their cable, tapping into their Wi-Fi, buying anything in their store - or in need of their hookups. I sometimes see parks that advertise dry overnight camping that I appreciate. There are a number of those in Quartzsite. Of course, there, one can also stay in the 2 week freebee areas as well - tho I believe some $5 to $10 overnight dry camping parks have dump and water either included or as an extra.

IMO, it all boils down to how safe and physically and/or financially comfortable one feels as to one vs. the other.
 
Here is a comprimise in cheap camping .....  We are members of the Passport America (probably the wrong name?) camping club thingie.  If we are just traveling we will ''check the book'' and when we find a participating camp ground we call ahead and check availability of a spot.  The cost of camping is really cheap this way and if we have been on the road for a couple of days we will stop and fill the water tank and dump the gray and black tanks.  We fix supper and watch a little TV and just kick back for the evening.  In this incident we always stop around five if we can and really relax for an evening and get a fresh start the next morning with a full water tank and the other two empty.  We use this method a lot when ''Just Crossing the USA''.   
This is our method of saving some money and it may not work for you so DONT TAKE MY ADVISE ON THIS.........
Some gave their life so we can VOTE......... SO GO DO IT OR YOU COULD MAKE A LOT OF GHOSTS REALLY MAD AT YOU and they still know how to shoot people.........cj
 
When traveling from our home, in eastern PA, to a destination, like a RVForum rally in Moab, we always will overnight in a WalMart, Cracker Barrel, truckstops, Cabelas, or  tollway service area lot. Went we reach our destination, we always use a campground.

When traveling through the central states, we often find the smaller towns have designated areas for RV passing through to spend the night.  Some of our favorite overnights have been in these municipal lots. Sutton, NE; Torrington, WY, McKenny, NE, are several places where we have stopped more than once at these municipal lots. Some are free with power, and occasionally a dump or sewer hookup. We've found several communities where the local fire company maintains the area and asks for a $5.00 donation in a lockbox.

If one puts forth an effort, there are many safe alternatives to the expensive campgrounds that can be found while in route. I have ask local police on several occasions and have even been directed to park in the rear of the the station on two occasions. I have also spent the night in the lot of several grain elevators and farm equipment dealers. (I should mention being an ex-corn farmer and speaking their language does help.)
 
Odie, I am sorry to hear about your experience. I don't blame you for your response. I do hope that yours is a rare exception.

Over the years we have found that most of time when we are ready to park for the night, when we are near a comercial or manufacturing company parking lot, when we ask, we get permission to park over night. Since it is always evening, and often the lot has a security person, we are welcome with the instruction where to park and what time most employees arrive for work the next morning so that we can be out of the way.

If I may give an example, about two months ago, near Springfield, MO, we stayed overnight in a company parking lot. The Security agent, in his pickup truck guided us to the back area along a small stream, where there was a shade tree and a couple of picknik tables. We assured him that we would leave by 7 AM when employes would be starting to arrive. A few days later, on our way back home, we stopped at ElDorado, Kansas where the Ford Dealer gave us permission stay overnight in the rear area of the the Ford Dealership. We had the large area all to ouselves. Just before dark a local policeman stopped by and told us that he would be by through the night and keep watch for us. He had a cup of coffee and a sweet roll with us as we visited a few minutes. We invided the policman to visit us in Colorado if he and is wife ever gets out our way.

There have been a few times when the business declined to give us permission to park over night in their parking lot. We have always been polite when declined since I understand that it their property and, as with my own, everyone has the right to control their property. I would estimate, over the years, at least 80 percent or more  of those businesses who are asked do give us permission to stay overnight on their parking areas. When we arrive after business hours, after employees are mostly gone home, and meet a Security person, we almost always get permission.

I look at the parking situation about the same as I do on our ranches when strangers come and ask for permission to fish or hunt. I have instructed my ranch foremen to give permission provided the hunter or fisherman shows an NRA membership card and understands the rules we need to protect fences, livestock, etc.
It is not hard to determine if the person(s) seem to be respectable and we have had no problems with our own system.

 
Always a hot topic!

We've done the Wal Mart thing 3 times in 9 years - each time the plan was for late night stopping and getting out early the next day. Twice we stuck to the plan and left at first light (after a trip to the bakery, of course  :) ). The 3rd stay was on our return route from Yellowstone back to NY. I needed an oil change so in the morning I unhooked the truck and headed over to their auto service. Yup, while the TT was sitting there solo, the manager came out and rapped on the door. I told him where the truck was, he had a good laugh and was cool with it.

I always felt safe but each of those stays were hot nights and we did not sleep well. So, last year I decided to stay in a campground outside DC on our way down to Myrtle Beach so we could have A/C. Chose a pull-through so we did not have to unhook. Office opened at 8:00 so I figured we'd still get a nice jump on the day. We slept well with the A/C but the owner didn't stroll in until about 8:45 so we were delayed in leaving. No big deal but it just irritated me - I "did the right thing" and I paid for it. But the DW reminded me that the A/C made the delay worthwhile. Oh well.
 
Certainly this is a topic that has been beat to death in several threads in this FORUM. So ... I'll add my 2? as well. Parking overnight in a parking lot, whether it be Walmart, Cracker Barrel, rest area or any other lot ... is a personal decision that each of us must make based on your our personal comfort level taking into consideration convenience, privacy, noise, security etc.

I for one have no problem taking advantage of the hospitality of Walmart or some other stores/premises. In fact during the past year I have not spent one night in a campground. As I have mentioned in several threads I am a traveller and not a camper. You won't find sitting in front of a campfire roasting marshmallows. I travel the country and explore.

I am noticing more and more that some folks are taking advantage of the hospitality being extended by some of these store by "camping" in their lots for extended periods of time. Slides out, BBQ's fired up, lawn chairs out and basically making a nuisance of themselves. I have seen several YouTube videos of this abuse ... the one that really stands out is at a Walmart in Williston, ND. Because of the huge problem there Walmart has severed "notice of eviction" to a large number of long terms campers in their lot. One fellow was complaining because he's been there for a month and doesn't have a place to go. I am not going to get into the issue of the homeless and unemployed but this is ridiculous to see this many RV type vehicles clogging their lots.

It has already started to affect the casual overnighter when we see overnight parking being prohibited at so many Walmart's across North America now. I have found another reasonable alternative that has been mentioned in this FORUM and I have taken advantage of the FREE overnight parking through the web site of BOONDOCKERS WELCOME at  http://www.boondockerswelcome.com. Right now there are over 400 locations in North America. It is worth checking out and I would urge as many RVers as possible to join, it is still free to join. And by the way ... I have no affiliation with the web site other than being a member and having taking advantage of the hospitality of some of the members.

It's all about having fun ... exploring the country and making new friends along the way.

Safe travels.

Karsty
 
odie1234 said:
DW and I own a commercial building our tenant uses for manufacturing. In the last three years, rv occupants looking for a place to overnight have stolen power and water, dumped their black tanks into the storm sewers on the lot causing us all kinds of epa issues, dripped engine fluids in large quantities on the asphalt requiring expensive repairs, threatened plant workers when asked to leave, and destroyed fences and locks. Police have found mobile drug labs set up in the lot on weekends. We are now forced to pay for overnight security to patrol the parking lot at night, just to keep overnighters away and our tenants safe.


SORRY TO HEAR THAT! AS STATED THE FEW RUINING IT FOR THE MAJORITY THAT HAVE RESPECT AND TRY TO SAVE A FEW DOLLARS!

[Moderator added missing end-quote tag]
 
:mad: I sure hope the few idiots who are taking advantage of property and abusing and vandalizing it get their just do! I know if I see any of this behavior I will call the LEO's. I mean really: It has gotten so expensive just to stay over-nite in a commercial campground and even some of the Federal, State and County campgrounds had to raise their rates. 
    When most of us are on a long journey all we need is a place to get some shut-eye and a belly-full and were are on our way. I go on the web to AllStays.com and check there first as they list all box stores, truck stops, federal, state and county campgrounds, plus if needed motels, hotels etc.
I looked at Boondockers Welcome and this is really catching on and at no charge, as some of the other sites do. This forum also has memebrs who some time have space available and although have not needed it yet, I THANK THEM IN ADVANCE!  8) 8) 8)
 

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