Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
We travel on BLM or USFS roads plus the blue highways that take us to remote areas. Once in awhile we have to travel freeways and pass through larger towns. To get through Seattle we used to camp at a state park south of Olympia then depart early to get through the traffic usually on a Sunday and not game day. Once, when the park was full, we stayed at the Walmart in Tumwater. Never again. Trucker traffic all night long, bright lights, ugh. But, better than driving through the mess up north.
Now, we take either 20 east if the pass is open or 20 west involving a ferry ride. Occasionally, we will go highway 2 but anything to avoid I5 through Seattle.
Once, when the park was full, we stayed at the Walmart in Tumwater. Never again.
Trucker traffic all night long, bright lights, ugh. But, better than driving through the mess up north.
Geez... that makes the I-5 rest stop near SeaTac sound like Disneyland. In fairness though, once you
gave up to the reality of the place and joined the party, it wasn't a bad place to spend a night.
I've been trying out the Wal-Mart parking lots this past week. I find I prefer the rest stop to wal-mart simply because it's easier to use the toilet in the middle of the night at rest stops than wal marts. However, it's more convenient to be able to immediately go into the wal-mart in the morning to pick up food for the day. I may invest in a portable toilet to eliminate the the multiple night time bathroom visits (yes, yes, I know to stop drinking water at a certain time and limit caffeine, I've just always had to pee a lot at night).
When younger, we thought nothing of a stopover at Wal-Mart, now, in our golden years, we use campgrounds,
Think of your Security folks.
How many times was your security attacked at Wal-Marts?
Personally I've never had any issues at rest areas. I've had stuff stolen at a campground and out of hotel rooms. I've found dudes tend to be less likely to catcall or whistle in parking lots at night than they are at other places, including campgrounds. I can't stand the harassment.
I stayed overnight in the Walmart at Happy Valley Road and I-17 in North Phoenix. The store is open 24 hours. My van doesn't look like an RV so I parked close to the front door. There are drapes I can hang in the front of the vehicle so no one can see in.
In the morning I noted there were other vehicles that had spent the night there, too.
No problems whatsoever. I would do it again and probably will. I'll use my own bathroom rather than going into Walmart, though.
dont know how you folks do it. All the lights, sounds of cars speeding by, and doors opening and closing. I could never really get comfortable in a Walmart parking lot, with so many others doing the same thing. I always have the feeling someone is going to knock on my glass, and startle the heck out of me. I get so jumpy that I cant sleep in confidence. the Walmarts I have been to seem to place all the campers/overnights in one section of their parking lot.
I have had better luck in those gas/food/bath room type of rest stops. Many of these places have a time limit, and always a quiet end of the parking lot to stay away from the crowds. I appreciate the frequent movement of people, from a few hundred feet of distance. these places are more friendly for van rvers, over trailer and big RV folks.
There are any number of RV publications that list all kinds of overnight locations that offer free or very reasonable fees.
Elk's lodges, Casinos are my favourites. A casino we once stayed at had 70' pull thru's, full hook-ups 50amp service and a security patrol on a golf cart passing through the RV sites every 20 minutes or so all night long. That one charged $5 but gave you a coupon for $5 slot use. I remember their daily special evening meal that night was Duck a-l'orange.
VFW halls are another possibility.
Check the various publications and there's no end of them.
There are any number of RV publications that list all kinds of overnight locations that offer free or very reasonable fees.
Elk's lodges, Casinos are my favourites. A casino we once stayed at had 70' pull thru's, full hook-ups 50amp service and a security patrol on a golf cart passing through the RV sites every 20 minutes or so all night long. That one charged $5 but gave you a coupon for $5 slot use. I remember their daily special evening meal that night was Duck a-l'orange.
VFW halls are another possibility.
Check the various publications and there's no end of them.
I like the sound of that casino set up. I'm with the others, I don't think I could ever get comfortable in a Walmart parking lot. I too would find myself expecting the knock on the window. Or worse. I've also heard rest stop restrooms are not always safe in the middle of the night.
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
