I keep reading about Cracker Barrel and Pilot/FJ and even Walmart as places you guys regularly use. What is the protocol for doing this? Call ahead? Park and sleep? Eat and nap? Shop and drop? Any advice welcome. Leaving soon.

Many Threads on the Topic , speaking from Experience regarding Walmart and Flying J.....WM pull in, ask the manager if unsure overnight parking is acceptable. Go in, do a little shopping, spend the night Discreetly, no slides, chairs, etc.....it's a privilege not a right...leave by 8 am. Flying J, we have a truck conversion so we blend in, back in , keep it tight, the truckers count on these spaces......no slides, catch a few hours, leave early.......

Walmart 1Walmart 2Walmart - slidesWalmart IVWalmart rant - 2013Why park there? Aug 2013Posts with barrel in heading

Have never stayed in a w/m.Flying J/Pilots and all the rest of the truck-stops often have RV specific areas-we never seem to be able to find a large enough spot in any, but have found a quiet out of the way corner to spend a quick night most times-except close to busy suburban or resort areas. I tend to stop very late so we attract little attention parking way after dark-and no slides open ever. Travelling in the coach is a little more difficult because we flat tow and can't backup-we will park in any pull thru parking spot we can find with the same protocol, no slides out and a quick stay.I've stayed in many cracker barrels, generally much quieter than the others but safety/security should have more attention paid because it's more likely you'll be the only overnight quest. Their RV spots are too small for the coach or fiver so we'll park as far away as possible across some spots strategically aligned to not be able to get blocked in by some commuter trying to hide their car at 5am! I've asked a manager most times but not always(mainly because we've arrived to late). I will say that if we get in early enough for late dinner or dessert we head inside-otherwise we go in for breakfast before departing in the morning.

Don't rule out BASS PRO SHOPS. They have a nice eating facility connected with their stores as well.I have actually run into a couple that had 20AMP receptacles setup where they wanted you to park your trailers.Like others have said I would always check-in and let management know you are going to spend the night in the parking lot. I have stayed at the Cracker Barrel, A few WALMARTS, a couple of BASS PRO SHOPs, sometimes even in the back of hotels, etc.I see trailers sitting in WALMARTs all the time...Roy Ken

I like Flying J/Pilot stations. I open my slides. I buy things, fuel up, top off propane. In fact I broke down at a Flying J. Had to stay there for 3 days. Told them the problem and they said no problem. Truckers stay there. Those trucks are bigger than my MH. If I pull into a Walmart I probably spend more than if I was at an RV park. We usually even buy our evening meal at deli counter. If I see signs no overnight I won't stay overnight. Most of my overnights are in an RV park. I only stay at Walmart or Flying J if RV park isn't available. I do owe them my gratitude and so I do buy things I need and also try to pull off into a far corner of the lot not to block other customers. July 4th in Bozeman, MT there were no RV parks available. There was over a hundred MHs in that parking lot. Not sure another MH could get in the parking lot. I always ask people would you rather meet me on the hwy driving at night when I am very tired or see me in a Walmart parking lot resting?

Cracker Barrel and Pilot/Flying J questions | Good Sam Community

32 Replies

2oldman
Explorer II
Nov 09, 2013
Walmart 1
Walmart 2
Walmart - slides
Walmart IV
Walmart rant - 2013
Why park there? Aug 2013

Posts with barrel in heading
GENECOP
Explorer II
Nov 09, 2013
Many Threads on the Topic , speaking from Experience regarding Walmart and Flying J.....

WM pull in, ask the manager if unsure overnight parking is acceptable. Go in, do a little shopping, spend the night Discreetly, no slides, chairs, etc.....it's a privilege not a right...leave by 8 am.

Flying J, we have a truck conversion so we blend in, back in , keep it tight, the truckers count on these spaces......no slides, catch a few hours, leave early.......

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Cracker Barrel and Pilot/Flying J questions

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