Not sure where to post this, but it is like boon docking. We live in LA and used to stay overnight at the Chukchansi Casino in Coursegold on our way to Yosemite. It broke up the long drive and gave us a good start the next morning. But in October, they had a tribal war and the casino has been closed ever since. I found the Tachi casino in Lemoore that is only 12 miles longer and about 20 minutes overall. I would be taking the I-5 instead of the Hwy 99 to the 41 and it's a straight shot up to the casino and then to Yosemite.I read a few outdated reviews o Tachi saying it's in the middle of nowhere and the food was terrible, but has improved with a new chef. They do have free overnight parking with golf cart security roaming and a shuttle to the casino.Has anyone stayed there with anything to report?

There are no reviews on Casino Camper. If you stay there, would you post a review Here.

DAS26miles wrote:Not sure where to post this, but it is like boon docking.This is the place! Casino camping is dry camping.Too bad about Chukchansi, though. LS

rv2go- I sure will post a review there. Not sure if we are going to stop going up this trip as there's a program on TV I wanted to watch that evening. But may stop on the way back and check it out. Not really out of the way, just a longer route by a few miles. The road on 5 is much smoother than 99 anyway.

DAS26miles wrote:Has anyone stayed there with anything to report?Why yes, just a few days ago.Parking is ample, and they welcome RVs, and they don't mind if you stay a few days either. If you're there on a weekend, best to park as far away as possible as you may find yourself surrounded by parked cars. I did! I've been to so many casinos I can't recall if I ate there, but so far I can't recall any buffets being bad.

DW thinks it may get too hot at night to sleep without running air and generator. Chukchansi is up in the foothills and Tachi is in the middle of the valley.

Free overnight parking at Tachi Casino in Lemoore, CA

12 Replies

DAS26miles
Explorer II
Mar 28, 2015
SwaninWA wrote:
We would much rather overnight at a casino than any Walmart parking lot. They're cleaner, feel safer and have security driving around. We don't gamble but we always eat a meal, sometimes two. We've found most casinos in WA, OR and CA to be extremely RV friendly.

We don't gamble also. Initially, We would eat at the Chukchansi's Gold Diggers restaurant and then I would go and gamble away $20 on slots. Felt Like we should patronize them. But, the food and service were terrible. I hope, if or when they re-open, they get a new chef and restaurant manager. Going in for a late dinner or snack and waiting almost an hour for the food to come is not acceptable. Seems getting there at 10pm when the shift changes was their excuse.
SwanInWA
Explorer
Mar 28, 2015
We would much rather overnight at a casino than any Walmart parking lot. They're cleaner, feel safer and have security driving around. We don't gamble but we always eat a meal, sometimes two. We've found most casinos in WA, OR and CA to be extremely RV friendly.
DAS26miles
Explorer II
Mar 28, 2015
WE go to Yosemite 5-7 times a year. Until I retired last August, we had to avoid summer because of my work schedule. Never went after Memorial Day or before Labor Day to avoid crowds, heat and mosquitoes. With the dry weather, there doesn't seem to be the pools of stagnate water for them to breed. Also, we didn't see the much in the way of wild life up there last week. No bears sightings (we listen on the scanner), on;y squirrels and a few mule deer.
Perhaps when the other two campgrounds open up in the next few weeks, the bears will venture into the CG's and surrounding meadows.

We have reservations to go back again in a few weeks and may try the Tachi Casino if not too hot.
OutdoorPhotogra
Explorer
Mar 28, 2015
With the dry winters, the summers have been ever more brutal in the Central Valley. Lemoore has a nice spring and fall because there is a 30 degree temperature swing. Even if the high is 90 in the spring or fall, it will be in the 70's in the evening and 60's in the morning. The problem in 110-30 is still 80 degrees at sunrise.

I try to avoid Yosemite between Memorial Day and Labor Day anyway although I understand work and school schedules. I lived in Hanford for 5 years and we could make weekend trips to Yosemite in the off months.
NinerBikes
Explorer
Mar 28, 2015
DAS26miles wrote:
On our way home from Yosemite today, we took the detour staying on the 41 to Lemoore. We checked out the Tachi Palace and casino. There are 8-10 stop lights between Fresno and Lemoore, but the speed limit was 55 or 65 on 41. The casino was about 2 miles from 41 on 2 lane side road. Parking was well marked for RVs and trucks in the rear. There were shuttle huts located where we parked. Only stayed about 20 minutes and ate lunch. Didn't go inside. Too HOT! I think the casino is a good overnight option except when hot.
The other option when HOT is the RV park in Pixley on 99. It's about the same mileage to Yosemite give or take 15 miles. The full hookups are a must for AC in the heat.

This has been a rather warm Winter and spring in S CA, with a high pressure system hanging up over CA or NV for days at a time. I think more normal year weather pattern wise you'd find it cooler. Have to play it day by day, week by week, and have options.
DAS26miles
Explorer II
Mar 28, 2015
On our way home from Yosemite today, we took the detour staying on the 41 to Lemoore. We checked out the Tachi Palace and casino. There are 8-10 stop lights between Fresno and Lemoore, but the speed limit was 55 or 65 on 41. The casino was about 2 miles from 41 on 2 lane side road. Parking was well marked for RVs and trucks in the rear. There were shuttle huts located where we parked. Only stayed about 20 minutes and ate lunch. Didn't go inside. Too HOT! I think the casino is a good overnight option except when hot.
The other option when HOT is the RV park in Pixley on 99. It's about the same mileage to Yosemite give or take 15 miles. The full hookups are a must for AC in the heat.
2oldman
Explorer II
Mar 21, 2015
DAS26miles wrote:
DW thinks it may get too hot at night to sleep without running air and generator.
Yeah, depending on when you go.
DAS26miles
Explorer II
Mar 21, 2015
DW thinks it may get too hot at night to sleep without running air and generator. Chukchansi is up in the foothills and Tachi is in the middle of the valley.
2oldman
Explorer II
Mar 20, 2015
DAS26miles wrote:
Has anyone stayed there with anything to report?
Why yes, just a few days ago.

Parking is ample, and they welcome RVs, and they don't mind if you stay a few days either. If you're there on a weekend, best to park as far away as possible as you may find yourself surrounded by parked cars. I did!

I've been to so many casinos I can't recall if I ate there, but so far I can't recall any buffets being bad.
DAS26miles
Explorer II
Mar 20, 2015
rv2go- I sure will post a review there. Not sure if we are going to stop going up this trip as there's a program on TV I wanted to watch that evening. But may stop on the way back and check it out. Not really out of the way, just a longer route by a few miles. The road on 5 is much smoother than 99 anyway.