Cracker Barrel parking for rv's

I just stopped at a Cracker Barrel for lunch today in Las Cruses, NM...very good food! I have a 24' rig and had no problem parking. Oh, and before anyone corrects my spelling, I know I spelled the name of the city incorrect...many apologies!

With our 40' motorhome and towed vehicle we would never try for Cracker Barrels because of the congestion. However, truck stops offer lots of easy parking and good food along with big portions.

The CB map & listing that they provide indicates the stores with Bus/RV parking. Admittedly, for some of them it's a bit of a stretch. We hope to avoid the meal hours and usually find a spot, but at lunch times people certainly stretch the hospitality.

Dave Hunter's Along the I75 book indicates all the facilities that can handle big rigs.

I go to CBs all the time. Even when the lot is empty, people park in the RV spaces. Why, I have no clue, other than perhaps a self-righteousness streak.

The only downside, unlike a Wally World, there usually is no 24 hour security, so it is a place to sleep that is better than nothing.

I'm not sure if you were asking just about Cracker Barrel or other places that you can park overnight. Just like other posters, we've tried to park in CB's lots and have never found one that had sites long enough or didn't have employees parking there. We stopped to eat in one somewhere and parked in a mall parking lot across the street. They are just not rv friendly, however, there are many other spots to overnight, casinos, Cabela's, Elks Lodges (have to be a member) city & county parks, COE parks (with senior federal pass 1/2 price), and even Wal Marts, Sam's Clubs and Flying J's. The last 3 not being our preferred stopping place but many do it. Buy Don Wright's Free Campground books, east & west edition (available on Amazon & Camping World). There are listings for every states, a lot of federal campgrounds but many city & county parks that are low cost. There are many county fairgrounds that offer rv parking year round but many have raised their prices to $25 to $30 a night.

Don't overlook malls. Many have restaurants out on the perimitter of the parking lots. With CB's I also look at google or msn mapping. First I am looking for RV spots. Second I am looking for the section of the lot furthest from the door. If I can get there odds are there will be room to park across open spots.

Matt_Colie wrote:
Check out the lot before you get there. That is what Google Earth is for.....

We have both eaten and stayed at CBs from time to time. Once, we pulled in and all the RV spaces were full of 4 wheelers, so we parked in front of them. There were lots of other spaces in the lot.

Another time the same thing happened, we parked around the corner of the building so the exit was blocked and you could not tell until you had to back out fifty yards. We heard some people complain, but we told the hostess that all the RV places were full so we parked the only place we could fit.

I love being inconsiderate on special occasions.

Now, If I could figure out how to inconvenience the railroad that sometimes blocks all roads to our east for an half an hour or more.

Matt

Google Earth/Maps, isn't going to be of much help, other than you can see IF they have RV spots. But it's NOT going to tell you if a car is parked in them, as those images are not real time, some aren't updated for years. The one at my brothers house in NY hasn't been updated in 6-8 years, the one at my house was updated last year, but it was 6 years before that.

Due to your possible size, I use the "trucker rule". If a truck will fit, so will I. There are books Trucker Books that truckers use that you can often find in truck stops to aid you planning. My favorite was called "Exit Guide" which maybe called "Next Exit" now. It told you what was at every exit. That combined with Google Maps satellite views you can pretty much plan any trip. There are even app's which you can load to your phone telling you what's at the next exit.

When not on the Interstate I found a Truck Stop Guide to be helpful. Many non-interstate truck stops were the Mom and Pop type and the chance at a good meal or one within walking distance.

I have not used the app's but when I ran long haul I was so tired of truck stop food that my Exit Guide book was full of notes of every Mom and Pop I could park a big truck at.

Remember getting there is half the fun :)

We have never had any trouble with the parking lots at Cracker Barrel (34' fifth wheel), but a couple of times we have had to drive on because cars (or even motorcycles were parked in the RV spaces.) My wife has complained both to local management and to the corporate headquarters. She always get's a courteous apology, but there is really little they can do about it. Maybe some more prominent signs that "forbid" non-RV parking.

BTW, Cracker Barrel is our first choice when it is available.

Yep and I wish I could fit across about 14 car spots....... They're just so busy that people just park whereever pavement isnt occupied.