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tev123's avatar
tev123
Explorer
Jul 12, 2016

First "long" overnight trip

Drove to Canada (Quebec City and Montreal) from Southern NH (USA) over July 4th weekend

On our way to Quebec, just after the USA/Canada border, we stopped at a campground. It was packed with lots of campers (felt like a parking lot on grass) thus we moved on and pulled off to another campground in Windsor, Quebec; Attendant charged us $30US! for a spot by some river with electric/water hookups.

Second night we slept in Quebec City, in the middle of the city, in a parking lot. We only paid $12 for the entire day and the attendant said we could sleep overnight if we wanted to, which we did and thought it was great and very convenient.

Questions:
we see lots of rest areas, parking areas, pull off areas, on the highways. Some say no overnight and some don't say anything. Is it normal to pull off in these rest areas and park for the night without being bothered or asked to move along?

The whole idea of having a class-B conversion van is to be able to sleep anywhere without having to pay "campgrounds". We are self sustained and need to offset the horrible gas mileage with not having to pay hotels....

Thanks!

18 Replies

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  • tev123's avatar
    tev123
    Explorer
    Jul 12, 2016
    Matt_Colie wrote:
    Tony,

    You have hit squarely on the value of self contained travel.

    You need to get on line to RVParky and the other resources. There are lots of possibilities.

    In a few states, the highway rest areas have signs posted as you mentioned. We have crashed in those a number of times and never been bothered. Most states do not have such rules. But then there is either Kentucky or Tennessee that plowed in most of the highway rest stops.

    There are always alternatives to campgrounds. Learn to work the resources that are available on-line or by smartphone.

    Matt


    Thanks Matt.
    Agree and will do. One thing that crippled us and did not account for in our trip is that as soon as we crossed into Canada, we were without cell data and research online was only possible when on wifi (or by paying exorbitant cell data charges to AT&T);
  • Matt_Colie's avatar
    Matt_Colie
    Explorer II
    Jul 12, 2016
    Tony,

    You have hit squarely on the value of self contained travel.

    You need to get on line to RVParky and the other resources. There are lots of possibilities.

    In a few states, the highway rest areas have signs posted as you mentioned. We have crashed in those a number of times and never been bothered. Most states do not have such rules. But then there is either Kentucky or Tennessee that plowed in most of the highway rest stops.

    There are always alternatives to campgrounds. Learn to work the resources that are available on-line or by smartphone.

    Matt
  • doxiemom11's avatar
    doxiemom11
    Explorer II
    Jul 12, 2016
    You should try staying at some of the Corp of Engineer parks, especially if you are eligible for the senior america the beautiful card ($10 for lifetime). We have been at some where the next camper was a football field away. Clean, well maintained, clean bathhouses, sometimes laundry and usually water & electric, however some have a few FHU sites. With our discount we usually pay $8-$10 per night. There are also some smaller ones, more remote that are for tent only or walk in only.
  • MarkTwain's avatar
    MarkTwain
    Explorer
    Jul 12, 2016
    Class B van questions:
    It is not clear what your idea/plan of RVing is??? never use campgrounds, some times, what is your plan for toliet, water, propane needs? Rest areas, Walmart parking lots are used by some RVers overnight but IMHO these areas are less than ideal for a number of reasons but primarly for security reasons. Yes there are many RVers who disagree and for a number of reasons choose these areas primarily for money costs which make sense but it is just not my choice. My opinion is not intended to be judgmental of others. Rest areas are intended to be used for resting for a short period of time, not for overnight. Many Wallmart's do not allow overnight parking as the result of some who have in the past been inconsiderate.
  • tev123's avatar
    tev123
    Explorer
    Jul 12, 2016
    Nutinelse2do wrote:
    Free and very low cost camping with reviews

    Casino camper

    I use these two web sites frequently. Also, we stay at Cabela's, Bass Pro Shops, and Home Depot, rather than truck stops or rest areas, which are too loud.

    Since you have a smaller rig, you can use Cracker Barrel's. Also, church parking lots are very nice.

    Always get authorization from management.

    Cabela's is our favorite. Most have 24 hour security, and fresh water. Some have dump stations too.


    thanks for the tips "nothing" :) will use the links for sure
  • tev123's avatar
    tev123
    Explorer
    Jul 12, 2016
    midnightsadie wrote:
    should have bought a mercedes benz diesel we get 20mpg, but ,theres tons of places to spend the night cracker barrel is our favorite or a nice church lot. most important thing is watch the surounding area ,and never ever open the door for no one except the police.we travel the same way ,stop along a nice creek now and then, camping in a camp ground is like a bunch of in a bucket. I like lonely places.


    thanks for the tips midnight; will certainly come in handy.
    as for the MB diesel... the diff in price would have paid for hotels for possibly 10 years :)
  • Nutinelse2do's avatar
    Nutinelse2do
    Explorer
    Jul 12, 2016
    Free and very low cost camping with reviews

    Casino camper

    I use these two web sites frequently. Also, we stay at Cabela's, Bass Pro Shops, and Home Depot, rather than truck stops or rest areas, which are too loud.

    Since you have a smaller rig, you can use Cracker Barrel's. Also, church parking lots are very nice.

    Always get authorization from management.

    Cabela's is our favorite. Most have 24 hour security, and fresh water. Some have dump stations too.

    Sorry for the dup... Sadie and I were posting at the same time.
  • midnightsadie's avatar
    midnightsadie
    Explorer II
    Jul 12, 2016
    should have bought a mercedes benz diesel we get 20mpg, but ,theres tons of places to spend the night cracker barrel is our favorite or a nice church lot. most important thing is watch the surounding area ,and never ever open the door for no one except the police.we travel the same way ,stop along a nice creek now and then, camping in a camp ground is like a bunch of in a bucket. I like lonely places.

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