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Old 08-17-2019, 08:17 PM   #21
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Originally Posted by Metalman View Post
There is no overnight camping allowed in Gilford, NH.

Lawn chairs, BBQ grills, alcohol consumption, loud music, outside TVs, and gray water discharging might be the cause of some of the restrictions.
In the largest city to where I live a problem has emerged because of the cost of housing where many people have purchased motor homes and live in them full time. This has caused many cities to crack down on overnight parking.

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Old 08-17-2019, 08:19 PM   #22
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How about just spending some money and stay at RV camp. Really?
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Old 08-17-2019, 08:46 PM   #23
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Kirtland has a nice famcamp and good size overflow lot if you’re eligible to stay.
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Old 08-17-2019, 08:55 PM   #24
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k

well, this is a common concern, and ready misconception... as I don't know of a single one in the country, in all of our 100,000 miles of travel and many, many overnights at many big box stores, and various 'commercial' parking lots, even in major cities, where this 'restriction' is either posted, or enforced.

You might be led to believe something different, because of local ordinances that might require signs to be posted by the owners... but that doesn't mean the store itself, or their security patrol, or the local police, sheriff, or even state troopers, will do anything to discourage it if you are polite, park in an unobtrusive space away from the heavy flow of traffic, and otherwise don't give them any 'reason' to.

The only place I've ever been asked to 'move' from was a MALL parking lot, which was absolutely huge, and very, very few cars, and yet their 'patrol' was in force to make sure that no one felt they could 'park' there - we were approached by them, and we were just parked, in the middle of the day, to actually SHOP there. They were very, very proactive.

I doubt you'll ever find anything like that, though, at any of the stores you mentioned.

I always say:
'make use of the available parking, until someone tells you otherwise'...
and it's always served us well, even as the police and sheriff cars drive by in the middle of the night.


Walmart corporate will even tell you that they, themselves, are certainly not against RVrs using their lots. They will also admit that many stores fall under local ordinances to the contrary, but unless THEY call to ask the authorities to ask you to move, it doesn't happen. Their managers have better things to do than worry about weary travelers, especially those that just shopped there.

I have seen some of these stores with what some call 'height' restriction poles at the entrance, but when you realize that using the truck entrance has no such restrictions, it doesn't keep you from doing business there, if not staying there.

If you park in places that don't readily show your 'overnighting', and stay stealthy, no one really cares whether you are there or not - you can always say that you're leaving for a vacation in the early morning, but want to wait to shop for some cold items until then - though I doubt you'll ever need to use that 'excuse'.

You have 6 wheels, or maybe even more - you can always easily move somewhere else, if the need arises.

One time at the Walmart on the eastern side of Asheville, NC, we pulled in to find a beautiful area and the parking lot right next to a fantastic park, with river running thru it, and walking trails around it. We pulled in, along with the five or so other motorhomes, some with there awnings out, some with slides out, some with all of it out, and parked out-of-the-way for the night.
A security patrol came by several times, but never stopped, or even slowed.
Later, as I was exiting the coach, that same patrol car came pulling by, slowed, stopped near me... the first thing out of the driver's mouth was "...well, Ya'll staying with us Long?" : ) He welcomed us, asked us if we needed anything, and went on his merry way, letting me know that if I wanted to move down a few spots, I might not be so close to the 'truck lane' for the delivery semi's that come during the night... nice.!

The next morning I woke up, we had coffee, and got ready to leave on the balance of our journey - I looked out the passenger window to find that 'sign' clearly posted high up on the light pole right next to us. We had parked right under it all night! : )


No worries, travel, enjoy.... it's part of the fun!
I have heard of this in some locations. My brother hauls Wallmart loads and sometimes he can't overnite there. He found it is because some asses have dumped the black tanks into parking lot sewers. Some people don't know that a storm sewer goes to nearest creek ,not sewage plant. He works Ala. Fla Ga., Miss.
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Old 08-17-2019, 09:16 PM   #25
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walmart

Hi Everyone
Another place where overnighting is banned is Nashville. I was parked with about 6 other rigs and was sent packing in the middle of the night into a raging rain storm. It was not fun. I tried several others in the city and asked but was not allowed to stay. I ended up driving several hours south until I found one that allowed parking.
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Old 08-17-2019, 09:31 PM   #26
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Originally Posted by Zeddy View Post
In the largest city to where I live a problem has emerged because of the cost of housing where many people have purchased motor homes and live in them full time. This has caused many cities to crack down on overnight parking.
It's also change the demographic of those who RV.
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Old 08-17-2019, 09:33 PM   #27
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How about just spending some money and stay at RV camp. Really?
I didn't do my research and was beating a path back east to help my daughter close on her first house. I was just staying in Walmarts and Flying J's so I would get there on time. My bad?
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Old 08-17-2019, 09:55 PM   #28
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I didn't do my research and was beating a path back east to help my daughter close on her first house. I was just staying in Walmarts and Flying J's so I would get there on time. My bad?
Nothing wrong with it... at least where allowed.
We have done it many times on long trips. I have always called ahead when we decide ready to stop... and go in and thank them once we arrive.
It’s not a matter of saving money (I always spend money in the store.. often more than a site would cost...)
It’s part convenience... and part courtesy.
The way we travel, we often stop before dark... and leave again before sunrise. I would be much more disruptive to other campers in campground than I am to the semi parked nearby in parking lot.
I never extend slides (but understand some have to in order to access bed, etc) or awning... nor do I cook or even sit outside... and certainly never dump tanks!!
It’s a stop to eat, get some sleep, and go.
Not being retired, we are limited in time we have to get where we are going...
Cabella’s and Cracker Barrell are among other ‘RV friendly’ businesses for overnight stays.
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Old 08-17-2019, 10:18 PM   #29
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How about just spending some money and stay at RV camp. Really?
That does seem like the simple and obvious choice...
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Old 08-18-2019, 01:46 AM   #30
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It's also change the demographic of those who RV.
Yeah I would't really call them Rv'ers. They dump tanks and trash everywhere. Just looking for cheap rent. Many of the units hardly run.
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Old 08-18-2019, 02:13 AM   #31
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Originally Posted by carlgorski View Post
How about just spending some money and stay at RV camp. Really?
I usually spend more money at walmart then I would at the campground.

Sometimes you can't make it to the campground before they close (traffic or other issues) , and a lot of campgrounds are not open during the colder months.
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Old 08-18-2019, 08:58 PM   #32
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Unhappy Not everywhere!

Needed to catch some shuteye, so I called ahead to the manager at a Cabela's up the road a piece. No problem, I'm told.


I'm driving a 26-ft Class A, brandy-new. Found a flat spot waaay out of the way. So we actually did a little shopping, left the store at closing time over $100 poorer.


Sacked out, no slideouts out, no awning, sleeping peacefuly by 10:30.


2:45, the local police are pounding on the door. Seems that Cabela's security had issue with us being there, and hadn't the balls to knock on our door, even though they make hourly passes through the lot after closing. They called it in to the local city cops. Apparently, confronting me at a more decent hour wasn't a good idea, they had to wait until I was deeply asleep.


Cops were polite, but found it necessary to ask me what I was doing there at that hour.


I was sleeping. And I explain to them that it's Cabela's corporate policy to allow overnight parking, and that I had specific permission to do so that evening from the manager, who I named.



Hmmm. This precipitated a visit from their supervisor, who apologized to me, and said that he would call the manager the next morning and arrange for the security company to have an opportunity to be counseled as to corporate policy re: parking. And have a nice nite, sir.



Only cost me about 45 minutes sleep.
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Old 08-18-2019, 09:33 PM   #33
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The big box stores would still be fine...IF...the roaming, Nomadic, everything for free had not read so much about where to stay for free...then brag about it on all the blogs. I've read tales of them staying in the same Walmart for days...trailers unhooked, slides out, generators running and dogs tied to trees.
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Old 08-18-2019, 10:16 PM   #34
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Needed to catch some shuteye, so I called ahead to the manager at a Cabela's up the road a piece. No problem, I'm told...
...2:45, the local police are pounding on the door. Seems that Cabela's security had issue with us being there, and hadn't the balls to knock on our door, even though they make hourly passes through the lot after closing. They called it in to the local city cops. Apparently, confronting me at a more decent hour wasn't a good idea, they had to wait until I was deeply asleep...

...Hmmm. This precipitated a visit from their supervisor, who apologized to me, and said that he would call the manager the next morning and arrange for the security company to have an opportunity to be counseled as to corporate policy re: parking. And have a nice nite, sir.
It sure sounds as if you did everything exactly the way it should be done!
And once they got around their mistake: they also made sure that it wouldn't happen again.
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Old 08-18-2019, 10:51 PM   #35
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About the
'I didn't do research' comment.

Research is as little as
'hey Google. Where are nearby rv parks?'

Except for a locked up at 6pm riverside state park, we just pull our ass in to an rv site and settle up in the morning.

This is common. This is ordinary. This is why some of us aren't exactly understanding.
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Old 08-19-2019, 03:07 AM   #36
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Peeps need to get the idea through their head that its not Walmart "camping". It ain't "camping" peeps its overnighting, getting a little sleep before moving on EARLY in the morning. We prefer our overnights in a truck stop where all the drivers are looking to do is catch some ZZZ's. Our Walmart experiences have been blaring music, kids riding bikes through the parked rigs, burn outs at midnight by local beer guzzlin' motorheads and 4:00 a.m. wake ups by the street sweeper cleaning the lot. Nope Wally World is the last resort for us!
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Old 08-19-2019, 12:50 PM   #37
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The ability to spend $100K+ on a MH for travel & pleasure...Priceless!! What an accomplishment!! If you don't have the budget (or are just too cheap) to enjoy it in a safe and comfortable environment...Big Mistake!! CG's are everywhere...even if you're just looking for a quick 6 hours to rest and move on...where can you do this better and safer than a CG or "Rest Area"...or any other place specifically designated for it? Some big box stores and casinos welcome RV's and have designated parking for them. If you have to guess at the least vulnerable "zone" and park across 9 car parking spots...you're in the wrong place!!
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Old 08-19-2019, 01:58 PM   #38
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Along those lines of budget camping; I have often thought a win for RVers and owners also would be a campground located near interstates mainly for just overnight, with limited stay. Flat budget rate, no amenities, no tenting, all pavement or crushed stone, low maint., full hookups, all pull thru large enough for big rigs, all the same.

The idea came from back in our early years of camping, driving along some interstate somewhere, we came upon a sign that said Camping $10 night, full hookups next exit. It was early afternoon, but though why not. Turned out to be a parking lot with full hookups behind a motel. Was a nice clean setup, all pavement, all pull thru, full hookups etc.
As World according to Briggs would say; Stop typing, I know some of you thought of this before.
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Old 08-19-2019, 02:32 PM   #39
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Along the line of inexpensive places to stop we’ve found are fairgrounds and city parks that have camping areas. Many have full hookup excluding cable tv and WiFi. Good for an overnight or two.
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Old 08-19-2019, 02:40 PM   #40
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Along the line of inexpensive places to stop we’ve found are fairgrounds and city parks that have camping areas. Many have full hookup excluding cable tv and WiFi. Good for an overnight or two.
Caution on the fairgrounds; maybe sure the carnival is not arriving soon, not there or is leaving. You may not have a pleasant stay.
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