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New to Rv - questions about RV parking outside of campground

jschmelzer
Explorer
Explorer
Hello everyone,

Just picked up our new Winnebago Vista LX 30T. Have been reading topics in this forum for a few months. A lot of great information.

We've planned a couple of short shakedown trips over the next few weeks and going to campgrounds with a second vehicle to sight-see.

We also have a couple of longer trips planned (staying with friends, campgrounds, boondocking, et al) but we're not really sure how to handle these two scenarios while we're traveling between campgrounds.

1) When staying at a business overnight, like Cracker Barrel, Walmart, Flying J, rest stops, we assume that we do not extend our slide-outs to keep under the radar and be courteous to other vehicles? We've heard that we should get the manager's permission before staying.

2) Where do most people park their RV when they want to visit a place when driving between campgrounds and the RV is too big to drive to the location? We would use our tow vehicle to visit those places where a RV will not fit. If we can find legal street parking, then problem solved; however, in rural areas, street parking might not be available and we only have business parking lots or cut-outs along the side of the road or county/state parks.

There might be other questions that we've not yet thought of. Any other words of wisdom and advice?

Thanks,

John (
John Schmelzer - currently based in Northern California - new to Class A camping.
28 REPLIES 28

Dale_Traveling
Explorer II
Explorer II
Multiple options for short day time stops, just got to think a bit beyond the norm. Big box store parking is hit and miss plus a lot of traffic but keep it in mind as a low priority option. Does the town have a sports arena, convention center or a Casino.? Fraternal organizations such as the VFW or Shriners. Church parking lots are another source. RV sales or car lots.

The trick is you need to plan ahead and start making phone calls. Maybe the city visitor, tourist, or parks & recreation office might be a good start.

Good luck.
2006 Hurricane 31D built on a 2006 Ford F53

ThomBoles
Explorer
Explorer
Don't forget to check for a Cabela's. We have overnighted in a couple so far. They usually have a dedicated RV lot that you can use. We didn't run our generator but only stopped to sleep and moved the next morning. They are also a good place to drop the camper to go touring.
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Thom and Diane Boles
2010 Winnebago Vista 32K

1320Fastback
Explorer
Explorer
I only stay at CB if no RV park is available. Every CB ive been to has designated RV parking signs.
1992 D250 Cummins 5psd
2005 Forest River T26 Toy Hauler

gbopp
Explorer
Explorer
Welcome to the forum and congrats on your Vista.

And, a tow vehicle is what you use to pull a TT or 5er.
The vehicle you pull behind the Vista is called a Toad (towed). ๐Ÿ™‚

Enjoy your travels.

jorbill2or
Explorer II
Explorer II
Re your trip from Sacramento to Eugene ......Redding has a casino but I don't believe they allow overnight the one in Corning is great .. We stopped there often I know it's a little soon to stop ..... also if you drive a little longer to canyonville in Oregon the casino there 7 feathers has a 5star $$$$ RV park and overnight pull through parking area ( free) beside the casino. I have also used the Walmart in weed ca . The trip between Sacramento and Eugene struck me as more like 8 hours but it's been awhile and my trip was always Portland to SF
Something to add to your overnight stop options are casinos , most allow overnight
Bill

jschmelzer
Explorer
Explorer
Thank you all for the suggestions and feedback - I think I understand our options. New to multi-destination RVing. Sorry about the confusion caused in my questions.

Let me explain our situation given I was too vague in my questions. For our first long trip, we have two problems to solve.

1) We are planning on taking I5 from Sacramento to Eugene. We did not want to drive 10+ hours straight, so we wanted to take 2 days to get there. We are having a very hard time finding reasonable CGs off I5 near Redding, CA that have space available during the dates planned. That is why we're considering boon docking just to rest and get some sleep overnight.

2) On the trip down south from Southern Washington to Northern California, we're taking the Hwy1 (PCH) route. Along the route, we wanted to visit a few beaches, parks and wineries along PCH. From our research, our RV is too big for some of these attractions and the attractions are 1-3 hours from the CGs we've chosen. We did not want to spend hours driving round-trip just to visit a beach or park that we passed with our RV earlier that day.

We too believe we should simplify and not over-think; but we're new and we want to avoid making costly mistakes.

Again, thank you for the feedback.

John
John Schmelzer - currently based in Northern California - new to Class A camping.

jyrostng
Explorer
Explorer
I've used Walmart many times for overnighting. I have always use a bag and walked the parking lot picking up trash and leave it nicer than I found it. I park on the outer edge and open the slide to the grass.
2000 F53 Southwind 32v

FIRE_UP
Explorer
Explorer
Why some folks worry about putting a slide-out out, while in a Walmart or any other parking lot is waaaaaaaay beyond me. You're putting a slide out out, not building a room addition with footings for Christs sake. What's the maximum a slide out uses, maybe 36"???? A whopping THREE FEET! Wow, that's really in the way!! I really don't want to seem too sarcastic but some folks just way over think things.

Staying in Walmart is a courtesy offered by many of them, along with any other business that offers it. Some don't tollerate it due to local city regulations, campgrounds near by and who knows what else. We've stayed in many of them, in many states and have never worried about security. It's been suggested that you find a campground near by and be more secured. Yeah sure. There are many situations where there's no campground within MILES of a Walmart or, potential sites and places to be traveled to. Walmart's just fine.

As for temp parking, well, that can get a bid dicy. Parking it along any street, business etc. could possibly render you a parking ticket, depending on local ordinances or, even worse, you return from your little escapade and, your coach has BEEN TOWED! Not good!

We've done that many times. We've parked our coach in a Home Depot, lowes, Walmart, K-mart, empty Church parking lot and more, so that we can disconnect and, go do some running around business, i.e. find parts for the M/H, or toad, or whatever. Or, just to run and see something of some value that we don't want to bring AMTRAK along with us. No one, in any of those parking situations, has EVER complained, or left any notes, stating "do not park here", EVER!

Now, we've not parked in those situations FOR DAYS! It's only been maybe a few hours or so, for temp parking anyways. If it's an over night thing, then as stated above, we've done it many times but, we've stayed with our coach.

You can make RVing hard or, easy. Don't over think things. If you do use a Walmart or any other business that allows overnight parking, you can put slides out, a couple of chairs etc. You're NOT BUILDING A HOUSE, just relaxing for an evening. We're always GONE in the morning with absolutely ZERO evidence we were ever there. Your choice.
Scott
Scott and Karla
SDFD RETIRED
2004 Itasca Horizon, 36GD Slate Blue 330 CAT
2011 GMC Sierra 1500 Ext Cab 4x4 Toad
2008 Caliente Red LVL II GL 1800 Goldwing
KI60ND

smlranger
Explorer
Explorer
If we plan to visit places or sightsee, we always get a site in a RV park and use it as our base. If we are just traveling from point A to B, we may elect to stay overnight in a Walmart, Lowes, Sam's, Cabelas. We park out of the traffic flow and only put out two slides. As far as danger or risk, we use our common sense and don't stay in places that don't feel or look right. As always, be aware of your surroundings.
2019 Grand Design Solitude 384GK 5th wheel. Glen Allen, VA

jorbill2or
Explorer II
Explorer II
If your talking about 800 mile days and just stoping overnight and leaving first thing then sure Walmart etc can fit the bill. Not my kind of travel to be sure , never again but I was there once and had to make the most of the time I had
re sight seeing on the way we hardly ever leave the rig to do that .. Many places have RV parking for your visit and if not we get a RV park and spend the night before or after and add it as a stop on the way. I kinda always felt if you could stop and sight see you had time to spend the night in a paid park
Bill

midnightsadie
Explorer II
Explorer II
CB for over night theres plenty of room and put out the slides run the gen, for site seeing I,d stop at wall mart or other big lot. leave the rv and use the car. we ask but never been turned away. also you can do both at a church, parking lot ask before you stay. just being nice. even been invited to a supper diner .

ScottG
Nomad
Nomad
Businesses dont care about slide outs. So put them out as long as they don't impeded traffic.
Not sure I understand the second question. We stay at a CG and make trips with the TV from there to visit attractions. It never occured to me to take the RV with me to them.

rockhillmanor
Explorer
Explorer
jschmelzer wrote:
Hello everyone,

Just picked up our new Winnebago Vista LX 30T. Have been reading topics in this forum for a few months. A lot of great information.

We've planned a couple of short shakedown trips over the next few weeks and going to campgrounds with a second vehicle to sight-see.

We also have a couple of longer trips planned (staying with friends, campgrounds, boondocking, et al) but we're not really sure how to handle these two scenarios while we're

traveling between campgrounds.



1)

When

staying at a business overnight

, like Cracker Barrel, Walmart, Flying J, rest stops, we assume that we do not extend our slide-outs to keep under the radar and be courteous to other vehicles? We've heard that we should get the manager's permission before staying.

2)

Where do most people park their RV when they want to visit a place when driving between campgrounds and the RV is too big to drive to the location? We would use our tow vehicle to visit those places where a RV will not fit. If we can find legal street parking, then problem solved; however, in rural areas, street parking might not be available and we only have business parking lots or cut-outs along the side of the road or county/state parks.

There might be other questions that we've not yet thought of. Any other words of wisdom and advice?Thanks,John (


A little contradiction in your question. You ask for only during the day parking and then ask about parking overnight at a business?

1)

Save your self a lot of headaches and avoid unsafe parking situations for your family by simply just finding a CG near by to spend the night. You just bought a new MH why on earth do you want to spend your nights with your family in a parking lot????

Because of all the meth dealers now choosing Walmart to do their selling and making of drugs, 'many' Walmarts have banned overnight parking.

2)

Parking off to the side of a road is just too dangerous with a large RV. And I really doubt you will find a spot large enough for your MH to park on a street.

When you want to sight-see during the DAY. Find a large grocery store parking lot and park way in the back of the lot.

Needless to say you will get a ton of responses about parking at Walmart. And the old standby response if you can afford a MH you can affore to stay at a CG. :W

We must be willing to get rid of the life we've planned,
so as to have the life that is waiting for us.

dfletch
Explorer
Explorer
When we stay at Cracker Barrel or Walmart we park out of the way. I do put slides out and run genny. Leave no trace behind is our moto.
David & Teresa
2017 Cedar Creek Silverback 37 MBH
2017 Silverado 3500HD Duramax 4X4 Crewcab longbed dully