Dry Camping

[Jeanbella]

Hi all, I'm new here but have been an egg owner for a few years now. We love it and cannot believe how easy it is to hook up and go! I was just wondering how many of you stop for the night in parking lots? When we are traveling more than 5 hours away, we look for the closest Walmart or Cracker Barrel. I always check city-data.com to make sure it seems like a safe area. We also walk through the Walmart or eat at Cracker Barrel to see the type of clientele. We have only ever seen one other RVer each time. I was wondering if that wasn't as common as I thought? If you do dry camp in parking lots, just wondering what other safety tips you could recommend. BTW, we always have bear mace next to the bed when sleeping in parking lots. Thanks!

[cpaharley2008]

Not all Walmarts nor Cracker Barrel allow overnight. When planning a trip I go to their websites and call ahead to ask. Recent trips to midwest and Maine have resulted in rest area stops for sleep. Some are really nice, segregate the rv's and even have dump facilities. Most of the Walmarts and Cracker Barrels are off the interstates closer to communities and involve rerouting for egress and return..

[mary and bob]

You can find all kinds of info in a google search about overnighting at Walmart, some of it real horror stories. Some Walmarts don't allow it either because of local ordinances or because they've had bad experiences with campers. We only did it once because we got off route (lost) and went in and asked the manager first. I sent an email to Cracker Barrel headquarters a year or so ago asking if they allowed overnight parking and the reply was no. Did one overnight at a Flying J truck stop, and would do that as my first choice if I couldn't find a campground. Flying J will sell you 24 hours of wifi, which we did one time but now we have a Verizon jet pack so we can use our iPad anywhere. Haven't you watched any of those you tube " people of Walmart " videos.

[kirkman]

I like you bear spray Idea! Just so you know if you ever did spray some one inside you trailer you will most likely get a dose of it your self plus it sticks to every thing and does not come off with out hot water and A LOT of soap. I had to spray a bear once and in the proses I hit the water jug we had on the table. I washed it 4 times before I could get the spray off it 4 hours later there was still some in my skin from washing the water jug and when I rubbed my eyes. Well all I can say was OUCH!
If you TV has a car alarm you can also set it off from inside your trailer wit the key fab.

[Jeanbella]

Funny about the Walmart videos, they really do not attract the most desirable people! We stayed at our first Cracker Barrel a few weeks ago in PA. It was very nice and quiet. We called ahead and it is the same as Walmart, some allow overnight parking and some don't. Also stayed at a casino which was nice. I am starting to stress over dry camping and safety. I was just reading about teens causing trouble in an affluent "safe" parking lot nearby. It is just so much more convenient late at night instead of trying to get into a campground without disturbing other campers. We like to leave after work on Friday and have the full day on Sat. Maybe we need to reconsider. We have tried truck stops too, but the trucks generators are so loud...

[Jeanbella]

Hi Kirkman, thats terrible about the bear spray! I would only use it if our lives were in danger, but that is good to know. Plus, it will knock us both out in the process! Yes, we do keep the keys next to the bed too with the alarm, good tip!

[kirkman]

Your best bet if you did have to spray some one inside you trailer would be (if you could in a panic) deep breath, hold it, spray short burst. Have you wife get under the covers so she does not get it and in her lungs or eyes so she could assist you after the fact if you did become incapacitated.

[deryk]

Jean I'm thinking about trying out a Walmart or cracker barrel next month....going to an event in Artemis Pa and if I can leave Thursday after work I might try that route then show up at the festival friday morning...as opposed to midnite lol.... free is nice lol

[papa-t]

We have stayed at Walmart when we had the larger units. It seems to me that it's always loud and alot of teenagers hangout and spin tires, ect. I'm always worried about somone messing with the camper or running into it, so I can't sleep good in those places. Flying J's, are a little more of a comfort feeling I guess because theres always truckers around and unless your pulling up to sleep or take a break there; most other people won't go to the larger parking lots. I have in occasion stopped at rest areas to catnap for a while.

[mary and bob]

One of the horror stories I read involving a Walmart overnight went like this; RV parked overnight, someone trying to break into it, RV owner shot and killed the intruder, and then sued Walmart for not providing secure parking. I was not comfortable in the Walmart lot, I'll stick with the truck stops if I can't get in a campground.

[floyd]

Originally Posted by mary and bob

One of the horror stories I read involving a Walmart overnight went like this; RV parked overnight, someone trying to break into it, RV owner shot and killed the intruder, and then sued Walmart for not providing secure parking. I was not comfortable in the Walmart lot, I'll stick with the truck stops if I can't get in a campground.

No horror stories from truck stops! nyuck nyuck!

[monB]

Pat Pepin thought Living at Walmart was pretty cool! Check it out on Youtube if you haven't seen the song yet!

Mon

[Jeanbella]

Truck stops are sounding more and more appealing. My husband and I travel to get away from daily stress. Why are we adding to it by worrying about safety? Thanks all!

[floyd]

Originally Posted by papa-t

We have stayed at Walmart when we had the larger units. It seems to me that it's always loud and alot of teenagers hangout and spin tires, ect. I'm always worried about somone messing with the camper or running into it, so I can't sleep good in those places. Flying J's, are a little more of a comfort feeling I guess because theres always truckers around and unless your pulling up to sleep or take a break there; most other people won't go to the larger parking lots. I have in occasion stopped at rest areas to catnap for a while.

With rare exception,I have found Walmarts in smaller towns to be as quiet at night as most campgrounds and certainly quieter than a truck stop. I have stayed in truck stops, Walmarts, Cracker Barrels and rest areas. Each has it's own advantages.
Truck stops in cooler weather we stay off to the side in the car area where it is quiet.
Walmart usually has security cameras, red box movies, hot deli food,and doughnuts in the morning.
Cracker Barrel often has shady parklike landscaping, quiet after closing, and you awake anticipating a great breakfast.
Rest areas are patrolled,easy on and off the highway, often have nice facilities and parklike surroundings including picnic areas.

At rest areas,I suggest not parking too far forward in a truck parking spot, for several reasons...
1] You don't want a Semi driver to think he has found an empty space between two trucks until it's too late.
2] You don't want a straight truck to pull in behind you with it's grill against your back window,then sit there idling all night.
3] You don't want to park up next to a tractor( the trailer is much quieter and more private).

Discernment there is... Absolute safety there is not.
(at home or on the road)

[Bobbie Mayer]

Our rest areas generally limit parking to 4 hrs. (I don't know if it is enforced or not.) I don't think I'd feel very secure at a Walmart unless other RVs were there. No Cracker Barrels here, don't know about Flying J. I think Fred Meyers in some places may allow overnight parking in some places but I've never checked on the few I pass (there is one in Brookings, Or- anyone know if it does?)

[floyd]

Originally Posted by Jeanbella

Hi all, I'm new here but have been an egg owner for a few years now. We love it and cannot believe how easy it is to hook up and go! I was just wondering how many of you stop for the night in parking lots? When we are traveling more than 5 hours away, we look for the closest Walmart or Cracker Barrel. I always check city-data.com to make sure it seems like a safe area. We also walk through the Walmart or eat at Cracker Barrel to see the type of clientele. We have only ever seen one other RVer each time. I was wondering if that wasn't as common as I thought? If you do dry camp in parking lots, just wondering what other safety tips you could recommend. BTW, we always have bear mace next to the bed when sleeping in parking lots. Thanks!

I've NEVER seen a bear in a Walmart parking lot, and I live in the Chicago area!

[Jeanbella]

There seriously needs to be a thumbs up section on this forum! Too funny about the bear Floyd! Great tips for parking in a truck stop too. So happy I found this site!

[RRJR]

Anyone ever dry camped at small town church yards.
Fatherinlaw stayed in a cemetary once, OOOWWWWW!!

[Cyndi B.]

We almost had a bear in our Wal-Mart parking lot and I live no where near bear country.

[mary and bob]

I believe there are a couple websites devoted to free parking locations like Walmarts and such. I think I have them wrote down at home but we're out camping right now. If this thread doesn't die out I'll try to find them when we get home. Only problem we had overnighting at a truck stop was that it was on a hill so a lot of Jake brake noise all night, and part of the yard was dug up so campers were really jammed into a small area. We left early in the morning to avoid being hit by the rear of the big camper next to us when he swung out. To add to Floyd's list of what to avoid, don't park next to a reefer truck or trailer.