Loves RV overnight spots and Easy Gas Pumps

[Dan_Frisbie]

I have a reservation at the Love’s RV stop in Steele, Alabama, north of Birmingham. It looks nice…
I’ll let you know in May how it went.

 

[UTTransplant]

6. With the Love's app you get 10% off every gal of fuel. But Love's prices aren't anything to brag about. That discount doesn't apply to the other side where the big rigs fill up. So if you need DEF, you fill up on one side of the store, then drive around to the other side for DEF at the pump.

If you use diesel, get a TSD/Open Roads fleet card. The love’s discount isn’t as good as TA usually, but it is more than the Love’s app gives. We used the truck lanes with our diesel pickup regularly. Easy in and easy out, something that didn’t always happen on the passenger car side when we had a 3/4 ton pickup and a 30’ trailer. Of course we use it all the time with our current DP.

 

[Steven L]

6. With the Love's app you get 10% off every gal of fuel. But Love's prices aren't anything to brag about. That discount doesn't apply to the other side where the big rigs fill up. So if you need DEF, you fill up on one side of the store, then drive around to the other side for DEF at the pump.

Curious to hear of your experience with this, as we stop at Love's every chance we can when we are traveling between our stops as full-timers, and I've yet to see a location where their price was higher than any other fuel stations on the same exits or in the same area.

In fact prices I've witnessed at all Love's we see displayed are either the same or cheaper per gallon than TAs, Pilots, Runnings, SpeedPass or any others. So that $0.10/gallon reduction using the Love's App has always gotten us the lowes price on our gasoline.

The savings per gallon are so consistent in fact that I plan out our trip routes with Love's locations intentionally targeted as our fuel/rest stops.

 

[ziplock]

The savings per gallon are so consistent in fact that I plan out our trip routes with Love's locations intentionally targeted as our fuel/rest stops.

So I figure that means if you want to see something, but there is no Love's around, you don't go there? Is that what you mean?

That would be an interesting response to family: Sorry, No Loves nearby, won't be visiting you..................hahhahah

 

[Steven L]

So I figure that means if you want to see something, but there is no Love's around, you don't go there? Is that what you mean?

That would be an interesting response to family: Sorry, No Loves nearby, won't be visiting you..................hahhahah

Not really, no.

Our particular brand of full-timing revolves around finding camping spots for at minimum a monthly stay near an area we find desirable to visit for multiple attractions/parks/festivals within a reasonable distance from said spot.

So over the course of the months of Novmber through to May we might only have at most 10 - 16 travel days total, and map out or routes accordingly. Plus, we do the majority of our pulling either on interstate or intrastate highways, so for us at least the gameplan is to get from one spot to our next as directly and efficiently as possible.

That way we can spend the maximum amount of time with our base set up to explore the area as many days as possible.

 

[Trivet]

In fact prices I've witnessed at all Love's we see displayed are either the same or cheaper per gallon than TAs, Pilots, Runnings, SpeedPass or any others. So that $0.10/gallon reduction using the Love's App has always gotten us the lowes price on our gasoline.

It's seemed to me that diesel at Love's is usually in the same ballpark as other major brand truck stops, but all of those can be higher, sometimes significantly higher, than non-major brand truck stops (like Maverik or Circle K with truck pumps), depending on the location. But you said "gasoline," so maybe it's different?

 

[JudyJB]

I spent two nights last May at a Love's RV Park in Georgia along I-75. It had pull-through and back-in sites, and full-hookups. The only problem was that the first night I had made the mistake of parking on the side where the big trucks came out of the truck parking area. There was a big fence separating it from the RV park, but the noise was bad. I switched to another site on the other side near a woods, and it was much better. Cost with tax was $48.50. (I drove up to the Andersonville National Historical site, which is why I spent two nights there.)

Interestingly, this place had a little dog wash building near the gas station.

 

[chindog]

I spent two nights last May at a Love's RV Park in Georgia along I-75. It had pull-through and back-in sites, and full-hookups. The only problem was that the first night I had made the mistake of parking on the side where the big trucks came out of the truck parking area. There was a big fence separating it from the RV park, but the noise was bad. I switched to another site on the other side near a woods, and it was much better. Cost with tax was $48.50. (I drove up to the Andersonville National Historical site, which is why I spent two nights there.)

Interestingly, this place had a little dog wash building near the gas station.

JudyJB, I'm curious about which site at that Love's RV Stop you found the best. I stayed there once, and was at the end site the furthest away from the entrance. Like you reported, the truck noise was horrible, particularly when they were parked on both sides of the road just on the other side of the fence between the RV park and the truck plaza. Would parking nearer the entrance be better? I'm traveling through there next month and planning on staying there.

 

[JudyJB]

I started off in Site 38, which was right next to the fence that separated the trucks from the RVs. The second night I moved to Site 7, which was on the opposite side, but near the front. It was better, but i think it depends on what noise level you can tolerate. I keep my bedroom TV on low volume all night, which I think helps. Mostly, I think they needed a taller wall dividing the two facilities--like 12' maybe?

It was hard to tell, because I really could not see the trucks, but I think the noise I heard was mostly from trucks leaving, not where they were parking. Here is the item I posted on my blog about this experience. 5/10 Love's RV Stop - Cordele, GA

I was looking at some of the other Love's RV parks, and some do not have this truck noise problem. We could use some feedback on some of those, if anyone stays in one. I just randomly looked at a couple of others, and I can see a problem in that their spots were directly off the gas station parking lots! That does not seem to be a good design either.

 

[CharlesinGA]

JudyJB, I'm curious about which site at that Love's RV Stop you found the best. I stayed there once, and was at the end site the furthest away from the entrance. Like you reported, the truck noise was horrible, particularly when they were parked on both sides of the road just on the other side of the fence between the RV park and the truck plaza. Would parking nearer the entrance be better? I'm traveling through there next month and planning on staying there.

You might consider staying 20 miles south of Cordele at exit 82, Ashburn GA. Carroll's Sausage Company and the Worlds Largest Peanut Monument are just off the interstate and Carroll's has an overnight RV park, 47 pull thru, full hookup sites, $46 per night and you get a $10 discount coupon to use at the Sausage store next door. There is a large Circle K truckstop on that side of the interchange and places to eat in addition to Carroll's itself.

In addition, even further south at Exit 62, Tifton GA, is Tifton Overnight RV, Paved full hookup sites, and Walmart, fuel and places to eat, all nearby.

Charles

 

[Knobs1]

Curious to hear of your experience with this, as we stop at Love's every chance we can when we are traveling between our stops as full-timers, and I've yet to see a location where their price was higher than any other fuel stations on the same exits or in the same area.

In fact prices I've witnessed at all Love's we see displayed are either the same or cheaper per gallon than TAs, Pilots, Runnings, SpeedPass or any others. So that $0.10/gallon reduction using the Love's App has always gotten us the lowes price on our gasoline.

The savings per gallon are so consistent in fact that I plan out our trip routes with Love's locations intentionally targeted as our fuel/rest stops.

I don't keep records or anything, but my recollected experience with Love's is if I see a Love's sign from the interstate with x price advertised, just I can pretty much depend on finding it a penny or two cheaper within a few miles... sometimes, though, that will be a few miles BACK!

At the same exit, though? They have to be competitive at the same exit.

Again, no records, no stats, just memory and general impression.

The cheapest gas is typically at the non-truck/travel stop brands, but if I'm towing my TT, I don't bother with the in/out hassle just to save a few pennies per gallon (unless I'm nearing a must stop situation).

 

[RayIN]

I spent two nights last May at a Love's RV Park in Georgia along I-75. It had pull-through and back-in sites, and full-hookups. The only problem was that the first night I had made the mistake of parking on the side where the big trucks came out of the truck parking area. There was a big fence separating it from the RV park, but the noise was bad. I switched to another site on the other side near a woods, and it was much better. Cost with tax was $48.50. (I drove up to the Andersonville National Historical site, which is why I spent two nights there.)

Interestingly, this place had a little dog wash building near the gas station.

Andersonville was very interesting, but I can never go again. I liked the RV/bus parking spaces, but they don't allow overnight parking.
I only spent 1 day there, 2 would've allowed me to see everything.

 

[wbehel]

They just put one near me in Tuscumbia AL. I'v never stayed there but stoped in to see wat it had. The sites were large and looked nice, it had a playgroung, 50-30 amp, water, sewer. A lady was trying to chek in and was having to download an app and create an account.

 

[jymbee]

On this trip we're seeing more "Double Love's". Two nearly identical side by side each with it's own entrance, store, fuel, propane etc.

Just today we stopped at one of these and the outside pump that's easy to get to was occupied by a pickup with no driver. Waited quite awhile for this dumbell to get back and drive away but finally gave up, exited Love's #1 and pulled into Love's #2 next door. Gassed up got propane.

They did have a few RV sites and my guess is that Love's #2 was newer and they added the RV sites when built. However, there were only a few sites and all weren't very level.

 

[Trivet]

In addition, even further south at Exit 62, Tifton GA, is Tifton Overnight RV, Paved full hookup sites, and Walmart, fuel and places to eat, all nearby.

My notes indicate that the rate there was about $35 at some point, probably a few years ago.

I just went to their website and couldn't find the price until I mocked up a reservation. Holy cow. $68.50 plus tax for a total of $73.05. With no amenities whatsoever--just a nice looking concrete pad and full hookups. No bathrooms or showers (which I wouldn't use anyway, but when they say no amenities, they mean it).

Wait, there's a discount of 9.5% for AAA or Good Sam, bringing the total down to $66.09.

The Love's we stayed at in Canon City, Colorado, was less than $50/night, and it had a playground, pickleball court, fire pit, restrooms and showers (separate from truck stop), and a laundry room. One thing that bugs me about Love's is that there was a $3 booking fee for each reservation. We didn't know how long we were going to stay, so we signed up for one night, and every time we extended it it incurred the $3 booking fee. But even with that, it ended up less than $50. Which used to seem exorbitant to me, but I've gotten kind of used to it at this point. But $70 is really pushing it.

 

[CharlesinGA]

I noticed today that the Loves near me was $3.94 on Diesel (cash) and the BP about a thousand feet away, which does have four pull thru truck lanes in addition to the pumps in front) was $3.74 cash or credit. The only reason I pull into Loves is to go to the Arby's or to use the CAT scale. I avoid the Loves/Pilot/Flying J as they all have bio diesel which I started avoiding when I had my Sprinter chassis motorhome. Most of the smaller stations I have visited have straight #2 and not Bio. Fuel that is not marked Bio can have as much as 5% in it however, cannot get away from that. My local Valero says his is straight with no bio at all.

This same local Loves has a dump station, they charge $10 (might be more now) for that and it is not in a good location. If I need to dump at home, I drive down the interstate into Alabama and cross over and return to the Georgia welcome station, which has a nice dump station, properly situated and the water hydrant works. Yes, I burn more than $10 in diesel (though not much) but its worth getting a nice level, properly set up dump station.

Charles

 

[Alta 2810KIK]

Charles, is that dump station(s) on I-85 or I-20 or both?

 

[dave541]

So far, Love's does not have any RV sites along our common routes, at least not in locations timely for an overnight. I know they are expanding their locations, so we shall see.
Love's, Pilot, and the other chains do not always have the cheapest fuel. You can usually find a few cents cheaper down the road at Bubba's Bait, Beer, and Gas, but you have no idea where that fuel comes from. It could be dredged from the bottom of the refinery tank, and that is why it is so cheap. At least with the major chains you know it is a reliable quality. Plus I can easily maneuver in the chain truck stops. The independent discount stations often have such a small footprint a Honda Civic is hard to get in and out.
DW always wants to use the restroom and walk the dogs, and a larger facility makes that easier.
Where there are a Love's and a Pilot next to each other, I have found their prices are identical, or within 1 or 2 cents. I have both, but do not care about the points. Those are only redeemable for junk food in the store, and we don't eat it. The fuel discount is the draw.

 

[chindog]

I noticed today that the Loves near me was $3.94 on Diesel (cash) and the BP about a thousand feet away, which does have four pull thru truck lanes in addition to the pumps in front) was $3.74 cash or credit. The only reason I pull into Loves is to go to the Arby's or to use the CAT scale. I avoid the Loves/Pilot/Flying J as they all have bio diesel which I started avoiding when I had my Sprinter chassis motorhome. Most of the smaller stations I have visited have straight #2 and not Bio. Fuel that is not marked Bio can have as much as 5% in it however, cannot get away from that. My local Valero says his is straight with no bio at all.

This same local Loves has a dump station, they charge $10 (might be more now) for that and it is not in a good location. If I need to dump at home, I drive down the interstate into Alabama and cross over and return to the Georgia welcome station, which has a nice dump station, properly situated and the water hydrant works. Yes, I burn more than $10 in diesel (though not much) but its worth getting a nice level, properly set up dump station.

Charles

Charles,
I looked on the Open Roads app at Love's stations south of Atlanta where they have a discount. The pump price at the Hogansville Loves is $3.94 (diesel), but the discounted price with Open Roads is $3.15. And there's a Speedway 10 miles from there with a discount price of $3.05. The pump price at that Speedway is $3.09.

We took a cross country tip last summer with several friends. I was in charge of finding fuel stations, so I was constantly looking for places with lower costs. They called me the "Gas Master".

 

[CharlesinGA]

Charles, is that dump station(s) on I-85 or I-20 or both?

The Welcome station? I-85 just north of where it crosses the river. The Loves is at Exit 28 on I-85.

Charles