Staying at truck stops?????

you said friends' "kids"
how old are these "kids"
what type of rig will they be traveling in?
How experienced are they?
We don't like truck stops due to the noise. Flying J's sometimes have RV parking spots away from the semi truck parking. A bit quieter. We prefer Walmart parking or Cracker Barrel. Even Walmart parking lots can be dangerous if they aren't aware of their surroundings. Lock the doors and don't open them for anything. Park in a well lit area not too far from the door. Park in a Walmart that is open 24 hours. Park near one of the poles with the video camera. If they use their heads they will be fine.

Flying Js have the best rv parking. I would stay away from Loves and poilts truck stops. There parking lots are small.

Now I did a trip this year and I thought about using truck stops for the over night, but we ended up using camp grounds basically so the kids get out and run around.

Now when the kids get older (1 @ 4 years old now) I'LL probably use a truck stop for the over nights.

Walmarts are quieter than truck stops, and generally very safe. Look for one in a small town (like less than 20,000). They are everywhere. Get out a map and look at the general area, then go to Walmart.com and find a store. Call the store and see if overnight stops are allowed. Very few do NOT allow it.

I frequent a couple of different Walmarts in the evening or early in the morning. There are always several semis and RVs stopped in them, especially the one closer to an interstate highway.

Over nighters in waysides, truck stops, and Wal-mart parking lots are generally pretty safe. Tell them to pay attention to their surroundings and use their "spidey sense". That's one of the things international travelers are told. If it doesn't feel right, it probably isn't. Look for places where other RVs and TTs are. Avoid the waysides in Georgia and Florida after dark. Very strange places.

Regarding Wal-Marts, Cabelas, etc., often if you can't park there it's not because management won't allow it, it's because the local municipality doesn't allow it. Call ahead or stop in and ask a manger (not a general employee!)

RoyB wrote:
Truck stops are well known for the ladies of the night making money. Don't know if they would be knocking on a trailer door or not????

Roy Ken

2 million miles over the road here. A few truckstops have this problem Very few. I have had my door knocked on twice in all those miles. Just say no, and they move on.

The truckstop "dangers" are way overblown. All in all, they are very safe.

I have heard of murders, assaults, robberies, rape, prostitution, etc., in campgrounds. Should we all stay away from them too?

There are potential problems everywhere. One could lock themselves in their home, and never leave. But, guess what, all of the above can happen there too!

I don't know where in Ontario they're leaving from, or which route they're taking, but I generally cross at Buffalo and find that the beckley, WV service plaza / Best of WV / The Tamarack is by far the best place to overnight.

It just seems to be the perfect spot for us, after coming down 19 at the end of a long day it's exactly where I want to stop. Besides, then you drive, and see, the rest of the mountains in daylight the next morning.

Dunno what type of RV they're traveling in. Personally, I think there's a minimal risk to truck stop overnighting if you're in a class A, B, or C where you can go between living quarters and cab without going outside. There's maybe more risk in a towable or TC, but I have no idea of how much more.

I've stayed in a lot of truck stops, rest areas, and a few WM's, but I'm a solo traveler in a 19 foot C that fits in the car spaces. I actually prefer truck stops. WM's are quieter on the average, but there's always the lot sweeper or a jasax with no mufflers at 2 am. Trucks stops tend to be at a continuous low roar, which I can sleep thru. But I do carry throw-away foam earplugs in case they're needed. I keep my wandering around outside to a minimum day or night, and look around before opening the door.

Jim, "Mo' coffee!"

Truck stops are well known for the ladies of the night making money. Don't know if they would be knocking on a trailer door or not????

Roy Ken

2012Coleman wrote:
Wow - I'm exahusted after pulling my TT for 6 hours. Ontario to Orlando with only one night stop? Must be sharing driving duty. Good luck to them, hope they have fun at the mouse house.

That is similar to what I'm thinking. Are they traveling with kids? If so, staying overnight at a campground will give them full showers, maybe a pool and/or playground to burn off energy.

We have not stayed in a truck stop or parking lot (yet, at least). I have heard from a trucker friend that Virginia is one of the states that does not allow "overnight" parking, only two hours at a state rest stop.

Wow - I'm exahusted after pulling my TT for 6 hours. Ontario to Orlando with only one night stop? Must be sharing driving duty. Good luck to them, hope they have fun at the mouse house.