Fuel stops with RV islands

Good question. I've always used Pilot/FJ when I think an RV island is required, and rarely visit the other 2 main truck stops. On those rare times when we do stop at a TA/Petro or a Loves, I've never noticed what they have, because we could always refuel at the regular gas islands in our class B.

If you check the locations guides for TA/Petro and Loves, some of their locations have RV dumping stations listed as an amenity. That doesn't guarantee they have a full island for RVs, but it's better than nothing.

Maybe some of the lesser rans (Town Pump/Road Ranger) that PFJ bought up a few years back might have RV islands, but I can't confirm that. I'm pretty sure Town Pumps are pretty much large gas stations, as are the former Road Ranger locations.

I've found dedicated RV lanes/islands to be really hit-and-miss... even at Pilot/Flying J. I usually just end up in the truck lanes with the big boys (have a PFJ RV Plus card). On the back roads, I'll either fuel up while unhitched or use Google Maps satellite view to find a station I can get to/under for the diesel pump on our way out. In Tyler, TX, about two weeks ago, there was a regular Valero station across the street from the RV park that 18-wheelers were using. I just pulled up there and had at least 3' clearance to the overhead canopy (we're about 13'4" tall)!

Rob

FJ is the only place I have seen "RV" islands. You will find commercial diesel islands away from the automotive pumps at some gas stations that cater to local businesses.

Usually, other brands of stations at the same exit as Flying Js have set up truck islands, but dedicated RV islands (with gasoline and diesel) are rare.

I checked Gas Buddy and AllStays and there wasn't a filter for RV islands in either app.

I have seen a few - less than a dozen - obviously privately owned gas stations with dedicated fuel islands for RVs. In very heavy RV areas.

Otherwise only at Flying J (about 1/2 of them) and Pilot (10-15%) (wasting some cold and rainy days this winter, I put together a spreadsheet from the P/FJ download that shows me all the P/FJ locations with RV Lanes)

I’ve also found some gas/fuel stations with extra room at the regular pumps so that RV fueling is easy. Again those were located in areas with a lot of RV traffic.

In Montana I found two Town Pump locations with RV/gasoline pumps that take the P/FJ RV card in the diesel lanes, on the end of the diesel lanes. The Flying J Town Pump in Missoula, and the Pilot Town Pump in Butte. Both were the island closest to the store building. Those locations do not accept the RV card in the store, nor in their regular automobile lanes.

Flying J has an app that tells you which ones have dedicated RV pumps. We did find one Pilot in the midwest that had them too. There is another RV gas app that lists stations that are RV accessible. The only problem with the dedicated RV pumps is when someone parks their RV their and goes into the store leaving you sit their 20 minites waiting for them to come out. It hasn't happened often.Most people are more considerate. I fill up and let my wife go onto the store. When I am done fueling I move away from the pumps.

While dedicated RV pumps are nice, like it was posted above, not always the best route. Better off at times just to go to the semi pumps. Once done, pull ahead to pay. Word of caution here. These pumps may not be the cleanest of areas due to semi drivers spilling fuel. WEAR GLOVES when handling nozzle. DEF avail at semi pumps as well--not sure about RV lanes.

I like the Flying J's because they have the separate RV islands and RV parking so I look for them first when traveling. Most of the time though we end up using truck stops. We have the book The Next Exit which among other things lists the "RV friendly" fuel stops in red. Not sure what the criteria is for an RV friendly listing but it works for us. When we find one that we like we'll circle it in the book for future reference.

Here in the Intermountain West, Maverik is installing them at all of their new convenience stores, and is retrofitting many old ones to add them. Most have free dump stations, too.

Generally speaking if you’re on a major highway/ Interstate all you need to do is watch the billboards. Stations right off the highway advertised as “EZ In & Out” are big lots with pumps well spread out and lots of room to get to the pumps.