Loves RV overnight spots and Easy Gas Pumps

[DonTom]

Overnight in a Texas rest stop in August with no A/C and by morning you'll have a come to Jesus paradigm shift, promise.

In that case, I would plug in for the juice only. But I normally only go to such hot places in the winter.

If I am stopping for more than a single night anywhere, I normally have a three-night minimum stay. Otherwise, it is just not worth the hassle to setup water, sewer, unload motorcycle, setup ham antenna, etc.

-Don- Reno, NV

 

[Skookum]

It's nice to have utilities on multiple day drives and when stopping over for a night. Fill up, dump out, plug in, enjoy a limitless shower after a long day. I don't consider rest stops "safe" places to park which is why we don't. I'm not sure truck stops are much safer in general (they all have risk), but by paying for a site we have a legitimate claim to be there.

 

[DonTom]

Love's is just about $47 with fees and taxes,

If that is cheap or expensive depends on the location. There are RV parks that ask for close to $300.00 per night these days. A few others at around $30.00 per night in other locations.

-Don- Reno, NV

 

[DonTom]

I don't consider rest stops "safe" places to park which is why we don't.

I often stay overnight at rest stops. I have never felt unsafe at any of them.

-Don- Reno, NV

 

[Skookum]

I often stay overnight at rest stops. I have never felt unsafe at any of them.

-Don- Reno, NV

Different personal comfort levels. My father-in-law's travel trailer was struck while he was sleeping in it at a rest stop a few years back, which is why I don't like them. I generally don't like the volumes of traffic coming/going at rest stops and the clientele they sometimes attract at night (including me- I'm scary. lol). The Love's RV spots are typically tucked away from the general patrons, even if some of the noise from the truck parking or car/general fuel pumps can be heard.

 

[Tulecreeper]

If I need a place to sleep after 10 hours on the road, and the only place is a truck stop or a popular freeway-side gas-n-grub, I wouldn't care if they had a brass band playing in the parking lot. I've slept above bars that were noisier. As long as no one makes me shoot them for sticking their head in my window at 0300, I'll be gone after breakfast anyway.

 

[Onyrlef]

Different personal comfort levels. My father-in-law's travel trailer was struck while he was sleeping in it at a rest stop a few years back, which is why I don't like them. I generally don't like the volumes of traffic coming/going at rest stops and the clientele they sometimes attract at night (including me- I'm scary. lol). The Love's RV spots are typically tucked away from the general patrons, even if some of the noise from the truck parking or car/general fuel pumps can be heard.

IOW's "any rest stop that would have me I don't want to stay in".

 

[johnhicks]

Whether or not I have to run the generator to keep DW happy makes the decision. If I have to run it all night that's going to cost $32-$40.

 

[Adventurous Traveler]

Don, understood about the location, but for my pocketbook $47 is a lot of money for an overnight stay. Sure there may be FHUs but we don't need them for overnight, electric only is good to run the fridge and perhaps AC.

As far as places charging upwards to $300 per night, I have not nor ever will find one of those places. After traveling 7000 miles over two months last summer our average camping rate came in at, yep $47 per night. Price ranged from free, Walmarts, etc., up to $135 in Jackson, WY (the Virginian CG which just got purchased by the city or county to level and build low-income housing!). We avoid any place that has the word "resort" associated with it.

 

[LMHS]

I'm just wondering when some enterprising campground business opens a string of overnight inexpensive rest stop-type places for RV'ers to utilize charging no more than $25 or $30 tops per night. All that's needed is a large parking lot spaced out for RV slideouts to be opened, and most RV'ers can get by with just having an electrical hook-up. They could have a water fill station to the side and charge extra either by the gallon or tank full. Also, a separate dumb station that also would be an additional charge for those that would need one to empty their tanks.

No escort, no pools, manicured lawns, rec center, or shower and toilet facility. Just quiet, safe, clean easy to access, and adequate spacing between camper parking spots. Someplace like this wouldn't even need an attendant, self-check-in just like city parking lots and pay by phone app.

Like Alexandria RV Park in Boyce/Alexandria, LA (currently is is $40 including taxes per night for a W/50/30/S hookup)? I found them when I needed to split up a proposed trip. Haven't stayed there yet but I probably will whenever I pass that way. Downside is I have to switch from US highways and State highways to travel a few miles on an Interstate highway.

This isn't the first place I have found like this. They are out there but because they don't have all the "amenities" far too many RVers don't like them so they either get bad reviews or they are not listed in review sites. What they are is great for travelers who don't need or want "amenities".

As I find them, I add them to my private POI file that I upload to google My Maps. I haven't found a lot but I have found a few. Thanks to covid, there are places that have discovered that they don't need to babysit RVers. Some are smart enough to do a remote reservation/check-in and are actually capable of using their onboard facilities and don't require full hooks PLUS a redundant bathhouse, laundry and "entertainment".

 

[Alan_Hepburn]

I'm just wondering when some enterprising campground business opens a string of overnight inexpensive rest stop-type places for RV'ers to utilize charging no more than $25 or $30 tops per night.

It's been tried: back in the '80s Good Sam started a program in their affiliated parks whereby a traveler could pull in to the park and get a basic site with water and electric for overnight. Cost back then was $5-$10 if I recall and the traveler did not have access to any of the park amenities other than the water and electric.

So, what happened? Folks started using the program, and then decided it was okay to use the park amenities as well. Good Sam's response was to simply cancel the program since people can't be trusted to be honest. In today's society it would be even more difficult to police I suspect...

 

[DonTom]

We avoid any place that has the word "resort" associated with it.

I really like this resort. I always stay there when I am in Tucson. Everything is within walking distance. Grocery stores, hardware, restaurants, etc. A very nice location.

And it is not that pricy. I normally stay there for a week.

-Don- Reno, NV

 

[Ray-IN]

Rest areas; That's what I like about Florida's, they have signage informing drivers if overnighting is allowed, if security patrols them, and some rest areas even have separate areas for autos, another for trucks, and a separate area for RV's to overnight.

 

[DonTom]

That's what I like about Florida's

What I didn't like is all the 3-hour limit signs and "no overnight parking" signs in Florida.

-Don- Reno, NV

 

[Ray-IN]

What I didn't like is all the 3-hour limit signs and "no overnight parking" signs in Florida.

-Don- Reno, NV

I didn't see much of that where we traveled. I do know of one FL rest area (I10) where I overnighted, that changed. One year the signage said overnight parking with security. The next year, signage was changed to no overnight parking.
That was 4 years ago so evidently much has changed. I wonder if it's connected to the wave of illegals?

 

[Onyrlef]

I wonder if it's connected to the wave of illegals?

Really, the only contact I’ve ever had with an immigrant ( They don’t have their status tatooed on their foreheads) is they work their a** off so they can provide for their families. Not one I’ve met moonlights after working two jobs raping and robbing RV’ers at rest stops.

 

[Tulecreeper]

What I didn't like is all the 3-hour limit signs and "no overnight parking" signs in Florida.

-Don- Reno, NV

I've driven the entire length of I-5 from Canada to Mexico, and both I-40 and I-10 from CA to AR, and I don't remember ever seeing any rest areas that didn't allow overnight parking. It's where the OTR drivers get their sleep.

 

[DonTom]

I've driven the entire length of I-5 from Canada to Mexico, and both I-40 and I-10 from CA to AR, and I don't remember ever seeing any rest areas that didn't allow overnight parking. It's where the OTR drivers get their sleep.

Head for the SE US if you want to see them--plenty of them!

I have never seen such from Texas west.

-Don- Reno, NV

 

[jymbee]

Head for the SE US if you want to see them--plenty of them!
-Don- Reno, NV

Have you or anyone you know ever heard of someone being forced to vacate a rest area with a "no overnight" policy? Hard for me to imagine that if you were approached and said you were just too tired to drive, that you would be forced to leave anyway.

 

[Ray-IN]

Really, the only contact I’ve ever had with an immigrant ( They don’t have their status tatooed on their foreheads) is they work their a** off so they can provide for their families. Not one I’ve met moonlights after working two jobs raping and robbing RV’ers at rest stops.

Where did that come from??? I was thinking they might be sleeping on the sidewalks like they are in El Paso and other border cities.