Feedback on overnight parking...

Mcamper wrote:
I have never stopped overnight anywhere except a campground. That is the reason I put up the orginal post. I wanted to hear from those of you that do use other places. I do not like going into a campground late, and possibly waking people.

I live in North Carolina, and it is my understanding that you can not stay parked at a rest stop for longer than 2 hours.

I understand that even though a truck stop would be more noisy, it is probably a relatively safe place to park for some sleep. I guess one reason would be because there is more activity there. I did stop late one night at a truck stop for fuel and a snack. I saw what appeared to be a "working lady" knocking on the doors to some of the trucks there. I would hope that she would not knock on the door to any type of RV since there is usually a family inside.

MC,

You are not alone in not sleeping anywhere but a campground. We used to do that, but we did not have the freedom that a motorhome or solid trailer allows. Truck stops and highway rest areas are noisy, but they are often where you need them, except in Kentucky where they have plowed in more than half - so, we don't stop in Kentucky anymore. Inbound from a long command excursion, we were looking for a mapped rest area in Kentuk, I did not even see the first at all and was watching carefully for the next (an extra 30 mi) and I could see the torn out ramp, but the signs were gone. There were NO Campgrounds in striking range, but there was a Cracker Barrel. That is why we don't stop in Kentucky.

The 2 hour law is pretty much a North Carolina thing. I have heard of it in other eastern states, but I have not been able to confirm it. That just puts North Carolina on the same don't stop (and spend money) here list. An acquaintance was/is a lawyer. He got told that he had been in a rest area too long and he should move on. He collected the officer's badge number and other identification, and - in front of the officer - used his cell phone to leave a message with a colleague that, should he have a problem on the road, this is the man that forced him back out onto the highway. He didn't move and the officer left.

We have recently been in Walmart lots that had pop-up popped.

These days, if I am going to pay for a nights sleep, I check Google Earth to:
A - Find the actual campground and see if it compares to the description at all.
B - Look for grades that truck will be engine braking down.
C - Find the nearest railroad tracks.

So Far, this has been successful.

Matt