Cracker Barrel and Pilot/Flying J questions

Such a sad post.KB
2011 Cameo 37RESLS
2012 Ford F350 Lariet PSD DRW

HappyKayakers wrote:
Don't be 'the ugly RVer'. I pulled into a Flying J in St. Augustine a few weeks ago for diesel and saw a PU/5er combo taking up 2 RV spots, all 4 slides out and generator running. As other posters have said, it's not camping. It's just getting some rest without driving 30 miles off the highway to find a campground.

We pulled into Cracker Barrel one morning just before they opened to find a Class C taking 3 of the RV spots. The coach was in 2nd the toad in 3rd and the slides were blocking the 1st. What was bad was they could have put the slide over the island, parked the toad in any car spot, and only used 1 RV parking place.:S

Never done a Pilot, Flying J or Cracker Barrel, but have done a lot of Wal-Marts.

My typical arrival time when using a Wally-World is well after midnight, some even pushing 2am, and I'm there just to sleep 5 or 6 hours until morning and time to hit the road again. So to all those that say I should find a campground at that hour, I guess you'd like getting woken up TWICE when I pull in and then when I leave. It is also a rare camping establishment that is EZ-off/EZ-on to an Interstate highway too.

I do have the All-Stays Wal-Mart app on my phone, which is a super resource. Since I am a late arrival, the RV section at the stops I make are pretty well populated, the App telling me parking is OK and where to go, so I typically don't try to find management in the store after midnight. If I was there at 8pm I might. They have gotten plenty of business during my stays, with shopping for food, things I've forgotten to pack, or fun stuff the jumps out as I walk the aisles.

I declare that this is a draw.
The data is pretty clear.

You can go on a buy services you think everybody should buy, and I will continue to not buy what I don't need or want.

I just can't help it. - Sorry
I love working with real data.

If you look for places that we might stop when we are traveling, this means National Outfitters, Big Box Home Stores, Casinos, 24hr Eateries, Truck Stops, Rest Areas and of course Walmart, you have to do a little research, but there are more than a few.
In the lower 48 states, there are just a few more than 10,000 places that fit my filter.

If you do a Lat/Long filter that amounts to Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio and Wisconsin for both the above and total campgrounds, meaning private (KOA, PA, TT & SKP), Federal, State and local parks (that allow camping, Special Areas (Elks, military). I tried to include anyplace that expects to be a open campground even part time, like fair grounds (I have been shut out of county fairgrounds in the fall).

The first category comes in with a count of a little under two thousand, the second category count is only a few hundred less. I though that this was really interesting.

Now, I am certain that the regional sample does not represent the entire country. I remember looking for campgrounds in New England and finding them few and far between and driving long distances between the acknowledged free over-night-parking locations in the south-west and there were campgrounds, but there were also lots of just empty flat spots that worked for us.

Well, the analysis is done, and if I am true to form, everybody will think is it wrong but the split for which way will be about even.

I'm done writing code for a few more months. (Or unless someone comes up with money.)

Matt

Cracker Barrel! = supper then breakfast.
Sam's Club (member) = rotisserie chicken or pizza for supper plus I may or may not do my normal grocery shopping. Refuel when possible.
Walmart = normal grocery shopping and redbox movie rental for the night... and movie snacks. I prefer staying at Sam's Clubs over any place else. They have welcomed me without exception. They have never had a problem with me sitting outside my RV nor minded my grilling a steak (bought from them) on my little gas grill. They have even enouraged me to do these things. And I know others who have had the same experiance. I tend to stay 3 or 4 nights in a parking lot then I pull into a cheap full hookup campground for one night to dump waste tanks and refill my fresh tank. As a single RVer I get several nights use on my tanks and battery bank. I always ask permission to stay and if it's okay to sit outside in nice weather and grill when I want to. I also ask if it's okay to run my generator. Basically I follow the guidelines at http://freedomparking.webs.com  (I had some input on coming up with them ;B). These guidelines were written based on actual experiance over several years and speaking with many store managers about what they do and don't allow.

Flying J. I usually fuel up then park for the night (I fuel cause.. Well the generator needs it)

Wal Mart, I chat with the service desk and manager first.

CB Dinner and a chat first (And usually breakfast in the AM)

Same with Four Star Grille where I spent Halloween (Dinner, Overnight, (Great TV reception) Breakfast and the church I belong to for All Saints Day Mass.. Next Door, Literally next door.

Matt_Colie wrote:


Why don't we stop at campgrounds?
It is not because the 15~40$ is too much, it is because they are typically not anywhere near where we want to stop just then.

Matt

Often if we are going from point A to point B and feel like driving no further on the Interstate a Walmart or Truck Stop are much easier to stop at and catch a few hours of sleep...Campgrounds are great and we frequent them often but the quick stop overs that this thread is about is definately a useful tool for any Rver....

As we are travelers more than campers, convenience and availability are the two biggest issues with where we will over-night. Sleep is probably all we are interested in, maybe a meal (usually cooked on board), but not more than an even bet on that. If we do stop in a regular campground, it is probably because DW wants a long shower to wash her hair. Places we stop in order of preference:

Cabela's - Most have a free dump and Potable. Most are quiet.
Casinos with 10~15$ electric (first come first served so slim chance), but sometimes we try, if it is convenient.
Bass Pro - are OK, but not all that easy to locate. I have never been in one with electric available.
Cracker Barrel - but often the big spots are filled with 4 wheels Walmarts - good time to re-provision too
Casinos without power - too many rules and sometimes you get stuck next to a reefer
Any known free (or real cheap) flat spot
Highway rest areas - often noisy
Truck stops - usually make rest stops look good

Why don't we stop at campgrounds?
It is not because the 15~40$ is too much, it is because they are typically not anywhere near where we want to stop just then.

Matt

REmember sometimes (most times?) you get what you pay for when overnighting at retail establishments...meaning it can be noisy. Get some ear plugs!

Rest areas, better yet welcome centers.

I have never done this and probably never will, but I seem to remember that some towns do not allow overnighting in parking lots so there is that issue. We have found that if you go to smaller towns and ask at the police station they will willingly tell you where you can park, and will even know you are there and come check on you.