Rest Area Overnite Parking

[Melbo]

We have built our bus so we can travel self contained for fairly long periods of time (5 to 7 days) so as we drive sometimes it starts to get dark and not wanting to miss out on the scenery in new and different parts of the country we like to stop and get moving when the sun is shining. In Colorado it says you can't park overnight BUT we have and not been bothered --- they are closing more and more "rest" areas so we keep notes on where there are "safe" places to park to catch forty winks before getting back on the road.

What are your experiences parking overnite in rest areas and have you seen signs at new Walmarts prohibiting overnite parking??? I "have been told" that this is the policy at "new" Walmarts. Just wanting to see what experiences other people have had.

Melbo

[eddiepotts]

Here in Pearland Texas the Walmart has signs saying no truck or bus parking. Nobody has ever said anything to me when I pull up and park on our way out somewhere.

[lostagain]

We stop overnight in rest areas and Walmarts and all kinds of other places, including on side streets if it looks ok. We try to get a feel for the place re: getting a knock on the door at 3AM by security or the police telling us to move. We stay also at casinos, Cabelas, truck stops some times (they can be noisy with trucks or their APUs idling, same with rest areas). Or in restaurant parking lots after asking the staff during supper. That is the beauty of a motor-home: sleep in it pretty well anywhere we end up that night. Speaking of WMs, we have stayed a few times at the one in Kennewick, Wa, where there are signs: "no overnight parking, by city bylaw...". I've asked the manager there who told me that was OK, we are welcome to stay. I am always a little concerned about our safety, but so far so good. The bad guys would have to break in through the front door or a window first. We keep 3 cans of wasp spray, one at the front, one in the kitchen, and one in the bedroom. You know us Canadians aren't allowed hand guns... You might be more vulnerable at lunch time with the door open. This local couple from our town got murdered about 15 years ago like that at lunch time at a rest area in Mexico by 2 American fugitives for the spare change in their wallet... We prefer WMs open 24 hours and park under a street light if possible.

JC

[ArtGill]

Where do you make the split from taking a rest and overnighting?  


Art

[Melbo]

Art

If I sleep on the couch is that rest and if I sleep in the bed is that staying overnight???

I guess that is my question -- particularly in Colorado at STATE rest stops

Melbo

[bevans6]

Where do you make the split from taking a rest and overnighting?  


Art

if I leave my pants on, I'm taking a rest.  If I get into bed in my drawers, I'm overnighting...

I have so far overnighted in truck stops and Walmarts, but if I can I find a campground.  I like to be able to have the power on the pole, dump, and get some fresh water, but I can overnight dry for a week if I have to.

Brian

[Jerry W Campbell]

I have been staying in rest areas for as long as they've had them. No trouble. My feeling is that if you get up in the morning and leave then all is well. So far so good.
Jerry

[John Z]

We spend a lot of nights at walmarts. About half the time we ask, but not always. The only time we got rejected was in Weslaco Tx. We drove a few miles west to the next walmart, and they had a section of the parking lot reserved for motorhomes and trucks, even had a welcoming sign! Go figure. But i sure cant see spending  35.00 or more to grab a handful of hours sleep.

[fe2_o3]

    We stop at rest areas for a rest or nap. But we often spend the night at Walmarts. We check this site

http://autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/walmartrving/ 

before we stop. Although not always correct, it usually is so we haven't been asked to leave yet. I also check in with them when we arrive. That way they know we're there and we know they don't care...Cable

[gus]

We use WM parking as much as possible because of the good 24 hour security, lighted parking and the convenience of shopping.

Truckstops are our second choice for the same reasons as WM but it is sometimes hard to find decent surfaces for parking, too many of them are dusty gravel full of huge holes. If you park between semis be sure to place the front of the bus even with the front of the truck tractors so it doesn't appear that the space is empty. It would sure ruin your sleep at 2AM to have a trailer back into the front of your bus!

We don't mind the trucks, the steady drone of their engines and refer units drown out all the other noise. WM parking lots are not quiet!! Don't park next to the WM driveways or gas stations if possible, they have a lot of traffic.

Parking is not the same as camping. I've seen people get out their grills and chairs, let their kids play ball and romp with their pets and generally make nuisances of themselves. These people just cause more store managers to restrict parking for the rest of us.

Parking is parking, not camping. A lot of people don't seem to understand this.

Rest area parking is too isolated late at night and there have been some really brutal attacks on people parked late at night at rest stops. We never use them.

Cracker Barrel is supposed to be good but we've never used them. Their parking lots are really hard to access sometimes. We prefer a place that is well lighted, open 24 hrs and not isolated.

[Singing Land Cruiser]

Hey Mel, We found it tough in the "Rest Area Overnite Parking" due to all the trucks running alllllll night long. I know, we got to have trucks but can't they turn them off
M&C Hargis

[steve wardwell]

We've used rest areas ,walmarts,Sam's with no problems ever. The only issue we ever had was when we were getting the early jump on hurricane Wilma and had to sleep at a rest area. With all the prior rushed packing and cane proofing I just ran out of steam and stopped at " Coconut Creek"on the fl. tnpk when we got to the tollbooth the next morn they charged us an extra $15 for our 7 hour "rest" stop.

[white-eagle]

i've never stayed at a walmart that put up a no parking sign.  i have stayed at walmart's who have a sign prohibiting overnite parking by trucks and and RV's.  most of those are due to a city council, not walmart, so it's up to the locals who don't usually want that duty.
we've stayed in lowe's, home depot, cracker barrel, flying j, pilot, deserted shop centers and other places we feel safe due to lights and traffic.  rest stops don't usually feel safe enough. Sometimes we ask unless it's obvious someone else already has.  Rest stops are just too full of people in and out for us, but if i were asked to move, i'd want to remind them i'm too tired to drive and i'd like a badge number if they insist, so i can explain why i fell asleep while driving.  they will probably leave you alone.  how do they know how long you've been there?

[luvrbus]

No W/M store owned by W/M will prohibit overnight parking if the local ordinances allow it, just stay out of the truck lane some of the leased stores the owners do but those are easy to spot they will be in a shopping center, with the company stores all other businesses are located on out lots never next to the store.
One great thing about NV they don't allow trucks in the rest area and trucks are prohibited from idling all night,but that doesn't stop the stupid refer engine



good luck

[Ed Hackenbruch]

We just stayed in a Casino parking lot in Nice, CA. ate dinner and breakfast there and donated a few bucks to the machines. The next nite we were going to stay at one of the Walmarts in Fresno, but they told us that even though some people do it and get away with it, the local PD can and will give a ticket if they come by and see you. They did say that at one of the other stores it was ok to stay. We ended up parked on the street in front of RJ Long's place and went out for a great dinner with them. RJ and i talked buses until 1 am and then again for several hours in the morning before we left. Thanks again RJ!!!!