Overnight in a Hotel Parking Lot

mmanning · September 03, 2019, 02:44:57 PM

Will a hotel let you stay in their parking lot if you are there for a conference or other reason besides needing a room? Have you ever stayed the night in a hotel parking lot instead of getting a room at that hotel?

I recently saw a Prevost conversion in a hotel parking lot and I just saw a Facebook post where an Eagle was parked at a hotel. That got me thinking..

I have a work conference coming up near Madison, WI. The conference will be hosted in a Hilton. There are campgrounds nearby, but I don't have a toad currently; so I think I want to be within walking distance. There is a Cabela's near by, but I don't they would appreciate me staying about 24 hours in their parking lot. I booked a room already, but I am thinking of calling to ask about the bus possibility.

...honestly though, I'm just looking for a reason to drive the bus again.

richard5933 · September 03, 2019, 03:16:17 PM

I've parked in many hotel parking lots for the night when I was driving the bus, before it was ready for overnight use. But I was paying for a room on those nights.

Lots of the casinos in Wisconsin do allow RV parking overnight, some even have hookups. Often the parking is free if you spend a few bucks in the casino, others charge a few dollars.

Wouldn't hurt to ask the hotel.

The Cabelas on the NE side of town appears to allow overnight parking according to an app I have with listings. There is also a Cracker Barrel and a Camping World that allow overnight parking, as well as a Walmart.

Gary Hatt - Publisher BCM · September 03, 2019, 03:26:33 PM

A lot of people park their bus in a Hotel parking lot. But generally, it is because they want a Hotel room for the night after sleeping in their bus for a while and want a break or their grey/black tanks are getting full. Another reason is they are giving a seminar or class in one of the hotel conferences rooms so the Hotel is benefiting. Another reason may be because several friends rented rooms for the night.

Unless you have some kind of business with the hotel I would not recommend doing this. And definitely don't do this without getting permission from Hotel management lest you could be met by a nice man in a blue uniform asking you to leave in the middle of the night.

buswarrior · September 03, 2019, 03:41:25 PM

So long as you have business with the hotel.

Buses discourage spontaneous check-ins.

One seen in the parking lot suggests hoards running thru the halls,the pool, the breakfast... and then they book a room next door.

I have driven those buses and sometimes wish my room was booked next door...

Happy coaching!
Buswarrior

Geoff · September 03, 2019, 04:00:55 PM

I've seen buses in hotel parking lots, but the are usually for a group of people spending the night.

I park my bus anywhere it looks okay, and leave at dawn and have never been hassled. But a bus conversion might upset the hotel without paying for a room. Remember, the hotel always wants your licence plate number when registering with them.

Scott & Heather · September 03, 2019, 04:59:33 PM

Yes. Every year I engage in a bunch of hotel conventions singing for events. They always always accommodate our coach. Some even put cones out for us. These are nice hotels too. Hilton's and embassy's. So yes. If you have business there absolutely. It helps if your coach is pretty though.

mmanning · September 04, 2019, 08:33:17 AM

Thanks for the thought everyone.

I think the conference I am attending is justification enough to make the call. On the other hand, I still have some work to do to pretty up the exterior appearance. It's not bad, but perhaps I should finish those issues up before parking in a new Hilton's parking lot.

I'll mull it over a while..

neoneddy · September 04, 2019, 10:04:43 AM

I have two rules for this, just my $.02

1) Am I causing issues for anyone? - Case in point, recently we overnighted at a casino parking lot for RVs, but it also doubled as a staging area for a local trucking company. I tried to park in such a way as to not cause issues for anyone in the morning. We ended up having to move once to let some tractors pickup some trailers, no big deal.

If you're parking in a small hotel lot, eh, maybe not, but if they've got 5-6 empty rows near the back, I think you're fine. There is a hotel by us that is right by a closed down Gander Mountain, I see semis and Busses parked there all the time, hotel lot would be too small.

2) Yes until no - If its not prohibited by sign or common sense, and you're not breaking rule 1, go for it. Some of our best times have been boondocking in small town city parks, etc. Always leave it as good or better than you found it. Maybe that's rule 3.

TheHollands! · September 04, 2019, 09:41:10 PM

Iv'e parked at hotels and convention centers before. I always ask for permission though and explain why I need to. I think if your there to participate in a conference might be good enough reason, I'd run it by them first though. Iv'e even had them let me plug my extension cord in at times too. I'd also check at that Gander mountain too, they often have overnight parking and sewer dumps at many of their stores. Hope you find a favourable solution. Craig

Gary Hatt - Publisher BCM · September 05, 2019, 07:58:32 AM

As a general rule, you should never park on any private property without first asking permission. Walmarts are kind of the exception, (some) allow overnight parking, as do (some) Cracker Barrels. And even at Walmarts, you are supposed to ask the store manager for permission and of course, you should patronize the store by buying something and never set up camp. i.e. no lawn chairs, don't put out slides. These rules have been explained online and many RV trade magazines. It is no fun being woken up in the middle of the night and having to move your rig.