Overnight at Truck Stops

[slowpat]

I stopped at the just north of Yakima rest area, as I usually do, and was approached by a truck driver who asked if it was OK to take pictures of my Casita and pickup. He had a relative who was looking for something similar.

I've never overnighted at either a Walmart or rest area, yet. I travel with a medium sized dog as a burglar alarm.

[Steve Hammel]

Don't overlook all of the Indian Casinos that seem to have popped up everywhere. A lot of the most popular ones have started charging small fees but most including the fee spots also offer "overflow" lots where it is free to park.

[slowpat]

Originally Posted by Steve Hammel

Don't overlook all of the Indian Casinos that seem to have popped up everywhere. A lot of the most popular ones have started charging small fees but most including the fee spots also offer "overflow" lots where it is free to park.

Now I have stayed at one of these, practically on the beach. In the off season, it was free but they wanted you to check in, and in the summer it was five dollars. The spaces were off in a gravel lot and lines were spray painted on the gravel with corresponding numbers.

Dunno about the local one. They put in some $40? a night full hookup spaces.

[Steve Hammel]

Originally Posted by slowpat

Now I have stayed at one of these, practically on the beach. In the off season, it was free but they wanted you to check in, and in the summer it was five dollars. The spaces were off in a gravel lot and lines were spray painted on the gravel with corresponding numbers.

Dunno about the local one. They put in some $40? a night full hookup spaces.

That sounds like one we stay at at Ocean Shores Wa.

[slowpat]

Originally Posted by Steve Hammel

That sounds like one we stay at at Ocean Shores Wa.

Yup. That would be the Quinault Casino with the swamp between the RV parking and the beach.

[Bruce H]

Most truck stops have a separate area for RVs and cars to fuel. You can usually find some place along the edge of that lot to park an RV and most truck stop management doesn't mind. I don't like the idea of going back and taking up a truck space. It is noisy back there and you may be taking a space that trucker who has done his 11 hours needs. They have electronic logging devices that prevent them from driving over that amount of time in a day.

[Joe MacDonald]

the last time I stopped at a highway rest stop, I was told I had to move into the truck side because I was towing a trailer, and the side I was in was for cars only!

[Rzrbrn]

We stay in rest stops as needed usually getting in about 10:00pm or later and leaving about 6:00am. Have never been asked to move. But we are careful where we park in truck area unless full then we try the car area if we can get to it.

Suggestion: If you park with the trucks put the rear of the trailer about even with the back of the semi's on either side so a trucker will see you early enough to not have to back up.

There was one time we pulled into a rest stop that had an attendant. We were in a car and not towing. He thought we were the people who had parked a class C mot home in the car section and was irate and asked up to move it. I told him not us. He watched as we walked to the Car and drove out. The only time we have ever encountered anyone who asked us to move.

[cpaharley2008]

When we stop and stay in the "Trucks and RV" areas I always leave my trailer lights on at night. I installed a 7 way plug where I just plug in the trailer and fused the 2 pins that allow the lights to stay on. That way I am well lighted and can be seen by the other trucks. With all LED lights and dual 6 volts, there is minimal draw.

[Sunrisetrucker]

Originally Posted by Joe MacDonald

the last time I stopped at a highway rest stop, I was told I had to move into the truck side because I was towing a trailer, and the side I was in was for cars only!

Did that happen at night or during the day? During the day I use the truck side but when we overnight I use the car side to leave more space for big rigs who have stop by law to rest. Never been asked to move but if I was I would tell them why I was there and how dumb it would be to move.

[Joe MacDonald]

it was mid afternoon, and I wanted a 2 hour siesta
Joe

[jimiller5]

We prefer to overnight at state parks, but a lot of states have gone to a 2 night minimum stay, especially on weekends.

[Jann Todd]

[QUOTE=jimiller5;732459]We prefer to overnight at state parks, but a lot of states have gone to a 2 night minimum stay, especially on weekends.[/QUOTE

A lot of states charge a campground fee and a day fee. So it can cost up to $35 just to stop for an evening to eat and sleep just to leave early the next morning. State Parks are not what they used to be.

[cpaharley2008]

Another vote for Cracker Barrel, stop in evening for late dinner, 10 pm, spend the night and get breakfast to go at 6 am....

[Iowa Dave]

Here’s a multi-benefit tip for all those who travel through the great little state of Iowa.
We have 99 counties, every county has a conservation board with land holdings. There are over 10,000 county conservation campsites in Iowa. Once in a while there are sites that cost $20, most with electric are $15. Many are cheaper. Get off the four lane, stay at a county park, meet nice people, spend a few bucks in small town Iowa. Buy sweet corn at roadside stands. “Is this Heaven? no it’s Iowa.”
Iowa Dave

[steve dunham]

Some Wisconsin State Parks have raised their fees at their most popular parks
For example
Devils Lake SP
1 nights camping for a non resident on a weekend = $42.00
Park pass for a single night. =$16.00
Reservation fee = $9.65
Total. = $67.65
This is for an electric only site ( no water or sewer)

Iowa Dave is right , Iowa has great state & County parks and camping at a reasonable price
We are Wisconsin residents but will be spending a week camping at an Iowa State Park this Spring . Iowa wants and appreciates our business

[Raz]

I too am a fan of Iowa State parks. They are well run and inexpensive. But last year even with 25% of the sites fcfs we found the ones we went to full on the weekend. In talking to a host it appears the demand is so high that once the reserveable sites are gone, locals will come and book Wednesday through Saturday night fcfs to get a site for the weekend.

In general state parks have become expensive destinations that are in high demand especially on weekends. Unless you are willing to plan your trip well in advance they have become less of an option.

[Iowa Dave]

We have found that areas 25 or so miles from metropolitan areas are less likely to be full. Lots of county operations have gone to non reservable sites. This does bring out the Wednesday through Saturday crew in many cases. To peruse the county park offerings in Iowa, the overall website I use is www.mycountyparks.com. Again, sometimes one has to get off the main highways and also do some research. Three years ago when the Mississippi River Rally was flooded out of a COE campground. I contacted the folks at Scott County and we used a very nice camping loop that would otherwise have had three or four campers in it for the weekend instead of the 25 or so fiberglass that came in. Crowds diminish after school starts in late August and even Labor Day weekend isn’t the big draw it once was.
Iowa Dave