Renting a class c and taking our first RV trip - two weeks, Maine to Florida. Planning to stay 3 or 4 days in the same place once we get to Florida, Lakeland. My question is where does everyone pull off the highway for an overnight? Truckstops, Walmart?

Everyone? No. But many do, at Walmarts, rest areas, restaurants or other businesses with large parking lots, etc. Just have to make sure it is permitted.

we usually try to find an RV park/campground near the highway.Otherwise we use truckstops & rest areasWe have stayed in church or grocery store parking lots and gas stations....all of these are with permission of the manager, pastor or owner.

Truck stop or rest area?rest area safe? 2013Truck stop or Walmart?The smaller the town the easier it is to overnight. Many have nice parks with real grass, or large parking lots of abandoned stores, or huge truck stops where there aren't that many trucks.

Most rest stops I've seen don't allow overnight parking but some states do. If it's allowed I would use it. Truck stops can be hit or miss. They are usually loud and if they are small the truckers don't like us taking a spot they feel should be theirs. Wal-Mart is usually easy with several websites and apps that help find those that do or don't allow it and they are used to us when other businesses sometimes aren't sure what's allowed or if they would have insurance/liability issues. Churches have been good if I was visiting a member who would vouch for me, but I guess I was reluctant to ask if I didn't already know. I usually Wal-Mart it if it's just a stop over.

Newbie question about quick overnights | Good Sam Community

33 Replies

Jagtech
Explorer
Mar 10, 2016
Most casinos will also welcome your overnight stay, especially if you visit their facility.
Mtnbikerx
Explorer
Mar 06, 2016
rjxj wrote:
Walmart

May help

VERY useful! Thank you
azrving
Explorer
Mar 06, 2016
Walmart

May help
grandma_lynn
Explorer
Mar 06, 2016
We've used FreeCampgrounds.com with success and found some neat places to stay that we've gone back too. I don't know how many you'll find on the east coast but it would be worth a try.
tatest
Explorer II
Mar 05, 2016
Don't know about "everybody" but we've always found a RV park or campground with 30 amp electrical hookups for overnights. Comfort in the Midwest, South, and Southwest often requires heating in the winter, cooling for most of what is not winter. I can get this by running the generator on my C, but I do not want to be running it while sleeping. One can never be sure where the breezes will move the exhaust fumes.

We've found, in the middle of the country, quite a few municipal or county campgrounds priced in the $5-10 range. I do not know if you will find such on a run down the East Coast.
Mtnbikerx
Explorer
Feb 29, 2016
Thanks so much, we will be staying at a designated campground (Lakeland Airport Fly-In) for 4 days once we get to Florida. I've driven to Florida and back a number of times towing a trailer with motorcycles in it so I know and agree wholeheartedly about the Tappan Zee bridge and NJT. We plan to take the Penn. route. The trip down should be 2 maybe 3 overnights and then we will slow down and enjoy. Thanks again!
ncrowley
Explorer II
Feb 27, 2016
Most of the time we use campgrounds, but on a long trip out east, we had a LOT of rain. We were concerned because all the campgrounds were gravel and very water logged. Rather than risk getting stuck, we overnighted in Walmart parking lots for 2 nights. It was the first time we had done that and it worked out very well for us. We parked way in the back and had a good nights sleep.
72cougarxr7
Explorer
Feb 27, 2016
I overnighted in a Walmart in Ohio on my way from NY to IL. Wasn't bad, a little bit of noise and traffic but if you park in a quiet section of the lot its not bad.
Well lit and safer than roadside rest areas in my opinion.
Convenient to buy whatever supplies you forgot to pack!
colliehauler
Explorer III
Feb 27, 2016
Passport America can be great for a cheep overnight with power. I want A/C when it's hot.
Redterpos3
Explorer
Feb 26, 2016
We seem to like campgrounds and KOA's have been extremely convenient for us. Many are close on our travel roads, and they have a good online presence, and we know what we are getting pretty much. Works for the way we travel, so far.