Boondocking in a national park lodge parking lot?

Freep wrote:

toedtoes wrote:


Yep. My most hated phrase around is "better to ask forgiveness than permission" - it's a justification to ignore the rules and do what you want.

OR it's a way to make a reasonable exception without putting an otherwise agreeable authority on the spot and forcing them to say no because nosy rule sticklers would then get them in trouble.

Really? Doing something that you know is not allowed in order to prevent the authority person from telling you no is considered "reasonable"???

It's the authority's JOB to tell you no or to give you the exception. By not asking permission, you are requiring that authority to do more work than necessary (by now having to remove you from the location, write up a ticket, etc.), but you're concerned about making their job easier...

toedtoes wrote:


Yep. My most hated phrase around is "better to ask forgiveness than permission" - it's a justification to ignore the rules and do what you want.

OR it's a way to make a reasonable exception without putting an otherwise agreeable authority on the spot and forcing them to say no because nosy rule sticklers would then get them in trouble.

Lwiddis wrote:
Think what your are proposing x 100 or 200...overnighting in the Old Faithful Lodge parking lot. Now think about Mary and Joe with a room at the lodge but no place to park because you are overnighting. Now see why the answer is "no?"

As long as it's December 24th, it should be OK.

Common name for procedure is "overnighting".
It's been few years since last time I drove RV across the country, but still remember how each state and jurisdiction can be different.
California has Rest Stops, where truckers can stop for a nap beside truck stops, but don't you dare stop commercial rig in residential neighborhood.
NV seems to allow camping everywhere (but who wants to do that on 120F desert?)
What I am getting to is that years ago, while driving 40' motorhome in one of Easter states I had hard time to pull over to sleep as all shoulders have been packed with semi-trucks (did they dry camp?).
Than it come visitor center of one of local parks. Signs on the road and at parking lot itself did say "no trucks allowed".
Perfect site for RV overnighting and we really enjoy it.

3oaks wrote:

toedtoes wrote:
I agree with you. My point was just that by asking, the worst that will happen is they say no and you go elsewhere. By doing it behind their backs, you risk a lot more.

Exactly! It's amazing how many people think "Rules and Regulations" are not meant for them.

Sometimes there are exceptions, of course, and nothing wrong with that as long as prior permission is granted by those in charge.

Yep. My most hated phrase around is "better to ask forgiveness than permission" - it's a justification to ignore the rules and do what you want.

realter wrote:

bka0721 wrote:
The answer is no.

First, it isn't even boondocking. It would be dry camping in a parking lot.

Enjoy the parks!

b

Sorry to get off track, but what's the difference. I've always read boondocking here, but my daughter who lives in WA with a small TT uses the term dry camping. She never heard of boondocking.

Technically, "dry camping" means camping without hookups of any kind - it can be done in a campground or not. "Boondocking" means what tenters call "dispersed camping" - it is done outside of a campground in a wilderness area (often BLM or USFS lands). Then there is the term "overnighting" - that is done when parking for a quick sleep while on the road (usually in parking lots, etc.). And then there is "stealth camping" - it is done in populated areas and is about staying off the radar of residents and/or authorities (it is usually done on residential streets or industrial areas).

Boondocking is dry camping, but dry camping is not necessarily boondocking.

Overnighting is dry camping, but dry camping is not necessarily overnighting.

Overnighting is not boondocking.

Stealth camping is not boondocking.

Stealth camping may be overnighting.

toedtoes wrote:
I agree with you. My point was just that by asking, the worst that will happen is they say no and you go elsewhere. By doing it behind their backs, you risk a lot more.

Exactly! It's amazing how many people think "Rules and Regulations" are not meant for them.

Sometimes there are exceptions, of course, and nothing wrong with that as long as prior permission is granted by those in charge.

bka0721 wrote:
The answer is no.

First, it isn't even boondocking. It would be dry camping in a parking lot.

Enjoy the parks!

b

Sorry to get off track, but what's the difference. I've always read boondocking here, but my daughter who lives in WA with a small TT uses the term dry camping. She never heard of boondocking.

bka0721 wrote:

toedtoes wrote:

JimK-NY wrote:

toedtoes wrote:

DownTheAvenue wrote:

JimK-NY wrote:
You will not get away with boondocking in any of the major national parks. I did get away with it in Rainier.

:? I guess this means that Rainier is not a "major national park."

Actually, from his entire post, he did NOT get away with it. He asked the rangers before he parked if it would be OK - they said it was as long as he left very early.

He was given an exception due to a specific circumstance (sunrise photography). Had he just parked there without asking, he would have been sent on his way.

If there is a good reason for an action, most rangers are understanding if you talk to them first. If it's just about being cheap, or you don't bother talking to them first, you will get stopped.

There are a lot of incorrect assumptions here. The rangers did not say it would be OK to park at the sunrise overlook area. They said it was not patrolled after 5pm. Had I parked without asking, the result would have been the same. No rangers would have been around to send me on my way.

BTW, I had actually paid to stay in one of the campgrounds. A vacant parking lot was a whole lot better than dogs and music and crowded conditions.

I don't consider Rainier to be one of the major national parks. It is 17th for the number of visitors, but that is deceptive. It is so close to Seattle that it gets a lot of local, day visitors.

My mistake. I was giving you credit you didn't deserve.

I can't think of a National Park or one I have worked in that stops patroling at 5 PM. That seems really strange. I am sure that many LE Rangers would love to have Banker's Hours!

Yes, it never hurts to ask. But, be prepared to pack up and move on down the road. Think of it this way; "Do you believe this is the first time a NPS Ranger has been asked to stay in a parking lot or pull out?" Actually no. Most times during the summer months it happens many times an evening. Plan ahead. If you are entering a National Park the End of June to the first two weeks of August, get your campsite, room or lodging before 10 AM or sooner. Otherwise plan on staying outside the park and entering the next morning even earlier and get a site before going sightseeing or hiking.

b

I agree with you. My point was just that by asking, the worst that will happen is they say no and you go elsewhere. By doing it behind their backs, you risk a lot more.

toedtoes wrote:

JimK-NY wrote:

toedtoes wrote:

DownTheAvenue wrote:

JimK-NY wrote:
You will not get away with boondocking in any of the major national parks. I did get away with it in Rainier.

:? I guess this means that Rainier is not a "major national park."

Actually, from his entire post, he did NOT get away with it. He asked the rangers before he parked if it would be OK - they said it was as long as he left very early.

He was given an exception due to a specific circumstance (sunrise photography). Had he just parked there without asking, he would have been sent on his way.

If there is a good reason for an action, most rangers are understanding if you talk to them first. If it's just about being cheap, or you don't bother talking to them first, you will get stopped.

There are a lot of incorrect assumptions here. The rangers did not say it would be OK to park at the sunrise overlook area. They said it was not patrolled after 5pm. Had I parked without asking, the result would have been the same. No rangers would have been around to send me on my way.

BTW, I had actually paid to stay in one of the campgrounds. A vacant parking lot was a whole lot better than dogs and music and crowded conditions.

I don't consider Rainier to be one of the major national parks. It is 17th for the number of visitors, but that is deceptive. It is so close to Seattle that it gets a lot of local, day visitors.

My mistake. I was giving you credit you didn't deserve.

I can't think of a National Park or one I have worked in that stops patroling at 5 PM. That seems really strange. I am sure that many LE Rangers would love to have Banker's Hours!

Yes, it never hurts to ask. But, be prepared to pack up and move on down the road. Think of it this way; "Do you believe this is the first time a NPS Ranger has been asked to stay in a parking lot or pull out?" Actually no. Most times during the summer months it happens many times an evening. Plan ahead. If you are entering a National Park the End of June to the first two weeks of August, get your campsite, room or lodging before 10 AM or sooner. Otherwise plan on staying outside the park and entering the next morning even earlier and get a site before going sightseeing or hiking.

b