En Route Campsites

[jim1632]

Some CA state parks offer overnite sites in parking areas that must be vacated by 9 am the next morning.

Has anyone used these sites?

Do other states offer similar service?

[Tiger4x4RV]

I stayed in an enroute area at Colusa SRA a couple of nights ago. Regular sites are $20 and enroute sites are $15. Different and nicer to stay in than the sites i have had in regular state parks (see my prior post).

[rocmoc]

jim1632 wrote:
Some CA state parks offer overnite sites in parking areas that must be vacated by 9 am the next morning.

Has anyone used these sites?

Do other states offer similar service?

Since no one has answered your questions I will have to.

Yes we have done this California. We arrived at Malibu Creek State Park, http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=614 , where the sites have a 30' limit. We were towing a 37' Toyhauler 5er pulled by a Dodge Ram Quadcab 4x4. It was late late afternoon and even tho they had a vacant site there was no way we would fit. They had us park in the overflow parking area but we had to be gone EARLY the next morning. We were more than happy to pay the full fee for a dry camping site for the evening in this area of the LA basin. We were allowed to run the gen until 9 or 10 pm.

I know that some of the Florida State Parks had dry camping areas that always had vacant sites at a lesser fee than the sites with electric. One park being Salt Springs State Park in Northern Florida, Great park! Luckily we had a reservation.

So Yes there are some out there but best to have a reservation in the popular locations or call ahead.

As others have said Rest Areas work and some of them are as nice as a RV Park. Texas & Alabama are two that come to mind that have Rest Areas as nice as any RV Park.

rocmoc n AZ/Mexico

[Tiger4x4RV]

http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=21687

[path1]

Does anybody have a link to these. I remember something about this when CA state parks were in a $$$ mess. In my mind what I thought CA was doing was at some DAY use parks were opening after dark for people to park but had to be gone by the time the day use park opened. It was not free but was not a lot of money. It was also no camping activities (fires, outdoor cooking etc) just a place stay overnight and be gone by morning.

[bikendan]

jim1632 wrote:
Some CA state parks offer overnite sites in parking areas that must be vacated by 9 am the next morning.

Has anyone used these sites?

Do other states offer similar service?

as far as i know, you still have to pay the park's fees, it's not free.

[DwnSth]

There's a park in Alachua Fl. called Travelers. They have a great overnight set-up. Long rows that hold maybe 25 overnight rigs. Clean and if I recall last time about 35/night. Whish there were more like this place!

[dapperdan]

We've used a couple of city parks, works great. One we stayed at a few years ago was in Dumas TX (one night), they had "free" elec and access to public restrooms. They did have a donation box as well, we did leave a donation.

Another one was in O'Neill NE (one night there), that one had water and elec with a dump station right there. Couldn't find a donation box so we went to city hall, we ended up not donating but can't remember why (?????) Stayed there last August.

Dan

[fireman93514]

We have found some small towns will allow you to overnight in the city park. One town in Nebraska even had water and electric. There was a donation box instead of a fee. Yes we left a donation.

[Windwalker55]

Missouri has several Conservation areas where camping is allowed but it is difficult to find them unless your are somewhat familiar with the state and counties. They aren't on most camping maps and sites. Kansas has a lot of city campgrounds that are either free or very inexpensive, plus you can stop overnight at their rest areas.
I always do an extensive search for enroute campgrounds when I am heading somewhere and try to choose those that I think will not be overly in demand, especially in the summer. I much prefer staying at city, county, or remote areas as opposed to Walmarts.

[We_Cant_Wait]

Last time I knew there was a 4 hour stay limit at all Va rest areas, this included trucks, semi's rv's etc.

[tsetsaf]

Tiger4x4RV wrote:
I have used sites in CA a couple of times, although not in recent years. Full fee, no amenities, no privacy. Use only if desperate for a legal place to be.

Agreed. Plus sp can be a little tricky to navigate to or from most are not right off the roadway.

[wbwood]

jbbrick wrote:
They say "no camping" but that means tents, etc.

Probably would depend on who is enforcing it. All it takes is the state wanting to raise a little revenue or for someone in their camper to get hurt or killed and then the "no camping" sign means no camping in a tent, rv, car, etc. The sign won't change, but the extended definition of it will.

[jbbrick]

From our experience, almost all the roadside rest stops allow you to park overnight for free. They say "no camping" but that means tents, etc. The big rigs stop there all night to sleep with no problems. I've stayed in a couple for a quick overnight sleep and its a bit noisy with trucks, and you wake up in the middle of a couple of big rigs but its not bad. Safer than a Walmart I think.

[Tiger4x4RV]

I have used sites in CA a couple of times, although not in recent years. Full fee, no amenities, no privacy. Use only if desperate for a legal place to be.