Oregon to Utah suggestions

[Ericpa3]

Hi, I'm traveling Portland to southern Utah, want to make 300-400 miles/day. I wondered if you have suggestions of no cost overnight stops along the way. Thanks!
Eric in Oregon

[Bob Miller]

Give us a clue about your route....

[Ericpa3]

considering I-84 to I-15 but open to alternatives

[Bob Miller]

There are any number of WalMarts along those routes that allow overnighting. That's about as free as you can get.

Try here for a listing: walmartrving@yahoogroups.com

[David B.]

Originally Posted by Ericpa3

Hi, I'm traveling Portland to southern Utah, want to make 300-400 miles/day. I wondered if you have suggestions of no cost overnight stops along the way. Thanks!
Eric in Oregon

Campgrounds for Camping RV Parks, State Parks USA

[Francesca Knowles]

Since your first day will probably get you out of Oregon, I'm no help....never been that far East!
But:
It sounds like you're in a hurry to cover ground, so my advice would be Interstate Rest areas.

Francesca

[daltenes]

Cabela's - Lehi, Utah
Scipio City Park & Scipio Flying J Rest area - Scipio,Utah
Several Walmart off of I-15 - check their website.

Free Campgrounds for RVs

[Byron Kinnaman]

Interstate highway rest areas, except in Idaho.

[Ericpa3]

Is it legal to overnight in rest areas in Oregon and Utah?
thank you all for your replies!

[Francesca Knowles]

Legal on Interstates in Oregon...don't know about Utah.

Francesca

[Carol H]

Eric when I did it I went from Bend then via the 20 through Oregon into Montana onto the I84. Should warn you there where not many options for camping pay or otherwise on the I84 between Boise and Potcatello that I saw - main reason I ended up putting in a longer day than I would have liked going through that section of Montana. Only recall seeing a couple of large commercial campgrounds in the Twin Falls area close to the highway. Would think there would be a Walmart in Twin Falls or Pocatello though. What I do recall of that section of the I84 was that rest stops were actually few and far between (actually seem to recall that a number of them where closed when I went through the summer before last). So hopefully someone can give you some better ideas of areas to stop along that section. Wish I had thought to asked before heading out there :-) Return trip I went back via the Tetons and then on the 15 to the 90 through Couer d'Alene.

[Carol H]

Originally Posted by Francesca Knowles

Legal on Interstates in Oregon...don't know about Utah.

Francesca

no overnighting in Utah. Max you could expect to stop and rest in Utah with out a fine is about 2 hours.

[Wallo]

I would check and see if there are any truck stops like Pilot or Love's along your route. I pull into one and park under a light, but out of the way of customers. Most truck stops have showers for about $7.

Alice

[Byron Kinnaman]

Originally Posted by carol h

no overnighting in utah. Max you could expect to stop and rest in utah with out a fine is about 2 hours.

utah dot

utah encourages drowsy drivers to take a break. Rest areas are provided to the traveling public for this purpose. All rest areas are posted for no overnight camping. However, extended stays are permitted and are monitored by the on-site staff and the highway patrol. There are no rv hookups or dumps or camping facilities at any site. A list of rv dump sites in utah can be found using the links below. Udot, however, does not guarante the accuracy of the information contained therein.

[Byron Kinnaman]

You might consider I-5 to Shasta, then up through Susanvill and Reno to 50.

Don't know exactly where you're going in Utah but this is very pleasant rout to get south.

And there's almost always a casino close you spend that night at, get breakfast in morning before heading out again.

[daltenes]

I'm a recently retired Utah Highway Patrol trooper. In 20 years, I never challenged anyone snoozing/sleeping in a rest area. I'd rather have you laid up in a rest area than having to investigate your accident. I will say that most Utah interstate rest areas have no facilities and generally suck. The chances of a trooper cruising thru a rest area at night in the middle of anywhere are slim to none - not a lot of security after midnight.

[Ericpa3]

from what I'm finding on the web, the cops in utah look the other way at rest areas if you look respectable and park overnight

[Steve Hammel]

Originally Posted by Ericpa3

from what I'm finding on the web, the cops in utah look the other way at rest areas if you look respectable and park overnight

I think places that post "no overnight camping" mean exactly that. Do not set up camp. If you're just pulling in and "resting" for the evening that is one thing but if you're pulling out the bbq and lawn chairs that is totally different.

[Carol H]

Steve's comments pretty well cover the situation. Like all things were a law prohibits something you take your chances when deciding to push it a little. A great deal as to whether or not you get away with it depends as mentioned above on how frequently the area is monitored or the mood at the time of the party who is doing the monitoring. ;-) Most probable though when at a rest stop you will simple be asked to move on.

A website with info on rest stop policies by state is Frugal-rv-travel.com.

In regards to Utah Blog-RV.com did attempt to clarify what the actual policy is with Officials from the Utah Department of Transportation and the Highway Patrol and their responses can be found on the Blog-RV.com Utah and other states clarify rules for overnight sleeping in rest areas.

Edit: included a link to the blog which was the reason for the party above asking for clarification as it seems some people have stayed overnight in Utah and got up to find a ticket in excess of $400 on their windshield.

[Bob Miller]

Originally Posted by Ericpa3

from what I'm finding on the web, the cops in utah look the other way at rest areas if you look respectable and park overnight

------------------------------------------------------------

"Looking Respectable" must be very important in Utah.

My son & friends, while enroute to a concert in SLC, got stopped and "Inspected" on I-15 near Cedar City about 2 years back because, according to the trooper that stopped them, they were: a) 4 young peeps in a vehicle, b) Had California Plates and c) Had a Grateful Dead sticker on the back window.

After being asked by the trooper if they had relatives in Utah, my son mentioned that he had a direct relative on the 'This is the Place" monument. Then the trooper turned nice and told them why they were stopped and suggested that they remove the sticker while in Utah. They did and had not further problems.....