sleeping at rest stops - Page 2

**Pick** · 08-25-2003, 08:03 AM

74, the only store in Ohio, Mentor, is real close to me. I have observed up to 3 RV's in that lot, as well as tractor trailer rigs spending the night there. They may be run out of there at midnight for all I know.

Someone posted a file for Delorme Street Atlas 2003, that puts ALL the Wal-Marts in the US in the program. I could not get it to work in mine. Anyone know anything about this?

Pahaska · 08-25-2003, 12:36 PM

I was parked between two idling diesels one night with a window cracked and the Fantastic fan on low when my propane alarm went off near morning, presumably from the diesel fumes which were quite strong in the trailer. That pretty much concluded my sleep for the night, so I moved on about 5am.

John · 08-25-2003, 04:02 PM

I've come across a number of communities that have a free/low cost campground. They're usally near the center of town hoping that you just may spend some money, ie breakfast.

I've stayed overnight in a couple of them and I have found them clean and safe. I do dig while traveling staying in the center of town, a very cool experience!!!

This is another reason why I enjoy traveling on the back roads/non-interstate hwys of America. You truly see America and it's back bone!!

John

rluhr · 08-25-2003, 06:22 PM

Well, I can add to the list above this info, current as of last week:

Portsmouth, NH: no overnight parking due to local ordinance
Seebrook, NH: parking lot posted "No Overnight Camping -- Violators Will Be Prosecuted"
Littleton, NH: no problem!
Manchester, NH: no problem!

-- RL

uwe · 08-25-2003, 07:03 PM

There are county operated campgrounds in many California Counties. Some of them are very safe and nice, usually developed sites, no full hookups but free dumpstation once you've paid your 10or so bucks per night.
We have used several of the ones in our county and always had a good time there.
For you back road fans, if you plan your trip, check out the counties you will be travelling through and check their websites. You just might find a few jewels out there that will make your trip very pleasant indeed.
I don't care for teh rest stops that much, the Diesel and all night freeway noise keepme from getting good rest. I would rather pay a few bucks and sleep soundly.

Pahaska · 08-25-2003, 08:57 PM

On my last trip east, I left home at 7:30 at night so I could pass through Houston with no traffic. It worked quite well and I arrived at Orange, TX in the wee small hours.

I pulled into an empty RV space at the Flying J in Orange. I expected the bright lights and the loudspeaker to go all night "Shower number 999 is now ready. Shower number 999 is now ready."; that doesn't bother me when I am that tired. What I didn't expect was the construction on the adjacent overpass. There was a row of steel plates covering a ditch across the road and they clanked every time an 18-wheeler rolled past; in other words, about every 30 seconds. I sure didn't get much sleep that night.

Flying Js are my favorite non-Rv park stopping place. On my trip to the Homecoming, I expect to stop overnight at 4 or more Flying s.

Porky Pig · 08-25-2003, 10:01 PM

The Escapees have a pretty good letter concerning sleeping overnight in parking lots.

Here's the link.

It's an Adobe Acrobat file.

**Stefrobrts** · 08-26-2003, 10:41 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Pahaska
Flying Js are my favorite non-Rv park stopping place. On my trip to the Homecoming, I expect to stop overnight at 4 or more Flying s.

So when you overnight at a truck stop, does it cost anything? Or do you just find a parking spot, climb into your trailer and get some shut-eye?

Silver City · 08-26-2003, 10:51 AM

Just climb in and sleep with one eye open.

thenewkid64 · 08-26-2003, 11:12 AM

When we full timed we spent more than a few nights in Flying J lots. Normally we would plan our fuel for the day so we were low near the end of the day. After filling up I would ask the fuel desk staff member if I could park overnight. If the answer was yes I would ask for a reccomendation as to the part of the lot for RV's. This way I did not end up parking in the way of the big trucks.

There were a few truckstops on the side roads in kansas or nebraska that had 4-5 spots with water sewer and electric. They ran 3-5 bucks for the night.

I have also used WalMarts, and some of the non-national truckstops, dixie crossroads? was one where we were all alone out in a big open field for the night.