I will be spending 6 days at 2 CGs with no water - one is electric only, one is primitive. So, I will need to onboard water, but where? Bringing the trailer to the house is not a terribly viable option due to the way the street is laid out (house is on a curve and the combined truck/TT length is too long). So, I will need to get water - but where?I tried searching the forums and the only thing I found was that at Flying J you can load up water while dumping your tanks - but I won't need to do that right away, obviously. Seems silly to pay a $10 dump fee to load the tank, and since this is the first long (over 1 hr) trip with the new TT/TV combo, I wanted to eliminate the weight factor, and onboard water near the first destination. I'll also likely need to get water between the first and second destinations.Where can I find a nice, potable-water providing hose while on the road? :)

In your case it would be good to know where you are going.Around here even during winter months some rest areas have dump stations and water supply open.We have stopped at campgrounds and paid for water.We have stopped at some community centers and have taken on water.Cabelas, and Bass pro shops

I use rest areas. There is usually always a potable water spigot somewhere on the property you just have to look for it. They do not put signs out pointing to them. You will need to carry a good length of hose with you though which really should be something you carry with anyway. A simple coil of garden hose will work.

Some bottled water stores have an area for RVs to fill up with and a bonus it is filtered water

The first stop is the Stephen C. Foster State Park in Southern GA, and from there to Jacksonville, FL. TyroneandGladys wrote:Some bottled water stores have an area for RVs to fill up with and a bonus it is filtered waterBottled water store? I can't say I've ever encountered one. Can you elaborate, please?

Fill or partly fill your water tank and don't worry about the weight.I always travel with some water on board.Carry your own hose, actually a couple hoses, so when you find water you don't have to depend on someone providing a hose. And, consider getting a Water Thief, you may find an unthreaded faucet.Check at gas stations, state parks, truck stops and RV dealerships for water. Just ask, all they can say is no.Stop at a police station or municipal office and ask if they know where you can get water.It's out there and available, just ask.Enjoy your travels.

Water Sources Enroute | Good Sam Community

Blazing_Zippers
Explorer II
Dec 16, 2015
Search R V dumps in whatever state you are going to be in. Usually wherever a dump is located, there will be a fill hose.
When you download the info, print it off and take it with you for future reference--add to the list as you find new dumps.
Do get two water hoses. There will be that one time you will need them.
RRinNFla
Explorer
Dec 12, 2015
It has been a couple of years, but last time I camped at Foster, the one in Georgia, there was water at each site. There has been some drought in the area, but according to Reserve America, all sites have water hookups.

I agree with the posts that suggest carrying a few gallons of water anyway. You never know when you might want to use the "facilities" in your RV. Once you get off of I-75, there is not a lot of commercial locations. If you go through Fargo on Sunday, you might find everything closed.
Jim_Shoe
Explorer
Dec 11, 2015
I fill my fresh water tank about half full before I leave home, and add to it when I stop overnight at CGs, as needed. But I only use it on the outside of me. For anything that goes inside, like cooking, coffee, drinking or (in my case) soaking my teeth overnight, I buy gallon jugs of distilled water and keep a couple under the sink. Its cheap and available in grocery stores and Wally World everywhere. I've found that local water in CGs often has a "funny" taste. Perfectly safe, but if it flows through iron pipes, I can taste it, and nobody is allowed to mess with my coffee. :)
JoeTampa
Explorer
Dec 11, 2015
Thanks everyone for all of the advice!

I got lucky on this one - I used Google Street View to look at the Stephen C. Forster SP CG sites, and lo and behold, there is an RV with hoses running to the pedestal! So, it looks like I won't have to fill up before I get there - and can fill up before I leave for the boondocking stop. Whew!
2gypsies1
Explorer III
Dec 11, 2015
First I would call Stephen Foster State Park to see if they have a water fill area. Usually there's one at the dump station and no, you never use the hose at the dump itself. When there's potable water at a dump station it will be found a distance from the actual dumping spots. It will be marked 'potable' and it will be perfectly safe to use in your tank.

Also, you just might have water at your site and don't realize it. Ask the park.

When you're ready to leave the state park for your next stop, fill up again and you'll be all set. Have a great trip!
tonyandkaren
Explorer
Dec 11, 2015
You can fill your water at Flying J without paying the fee. The dump station is locked but not the water. The potable water is usually about 20' away from the dump rinse water. Both are potable but the dump rinse faucet could be contaminated because people stick their sewer hoses over the faucet.

We also fill up at truck stops. Most have water at the truck fuel pumps even when there isn't any at the car pumps.
eb145
Explorer II
Dec 11, 2015
JoeTampa wrote:
The first stop is the Stephen C. Foster State Park in Southern GA, and from there to Jacksonville, FL.

EDIT: OOPS, wrong state... the info below is for Stephen Foster State Park in FLorida... The OP is traveling to Stephen C Foster State Park in Ga.
End of Edit.

Stephen C. Foster State Park lists 39 sites as water and electric sites. So maybe you actually have water hookup for that part of your trip.

Site 8 on ReserveAmerica

Electricity Hookup: 30
Water Hookup: Y

In my experience, many state park campgrounds (Mid-Atlantic area) have potable water at several locations around the campground loops. And some even have clearly marked potable water near the dump station.

Note that the potable water _near_ a dump station is in ADDITION to the non-potable water that is typically close to the sewer hole at the dump station. The water hydrant next to the sewer hole can be pretty contaminated from cleaning up after and during dumping. Just read some long "dump station threads" on this forum and you will be amazed at what people report seeing at them. (dump station threads are some of my favorite on this forum - I don't know if all the stories are true but they sure can be funny and gross).
enblethen
Nomad
Dec 11, 2015
Water fill at dump station is not potable, however there is normally a potable water fill station near by at least 50 feet away.
There is several campgrounds around Valdosta that you should be able to fill water. Look them up in Good Sam Directory and give them a call. Jacksonville should have campgrounds as well. Yes, they could charge you. I have paid as high as 10 to use the dump and fill with water.
dave54
Nomad
Dec 11, 2015
Check with nearby ranger stations. Some have them on site, or they will know where in town you can dump or get water.

The front desk usually has a list. It is a FAQ.
joelc
Explorer III
Dec 10, 2015
I would not fill your fresh water tank near any dump stations. You could risk contamination. Every dump station I have been to notes that the water is not potable. If you need the water for showers, dishes etc., then you could trust any source. If for drinking I would only rely on bottled water. I test the water at CG before I use it for drinking. One never knows what is in the water.