Say Goodbye to Free Overnight RV Parking! Here's Why...

Free overnight camping is becoming harder and harder to find - could this mean the END of free camping as we know it? You will not believe what Ben and I saw this week and this is the PERFECT EXAMPLE of WHY more and more free camping and free overnight parking for RVers has completely disappeared in recent years and what others are doing to completely RUIN the experience for other RVERs. So in this video, I will talk about WHY free camping & free overnight parking are DISAPPEARING and what you MUST know to navigate the changes coming when it comes to RV travel.

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[Hiker]

One of the reason I like traveling in a converted minivan. I never have a problem finding free overnight parking.

[peace.denise]

We just got back from a cross country trip. During many of our Cracker Barrels overnights, people ran their generators all night, had their stabilizer jacks down and all slides out. And worst of all, some people weren't cleaning up after their dogs. They're going to ruin it for everyone.

[scenicdriveways]

My wife and I were full time RVers for just over 2 1/2 years. I would say the biggest problem we encountered was people who bought RVs, but never took the time to learn any RV/Camping etiquette.
The second biggest issue we saw was the sence of entitlement that a lot of RVers (including Vans, trailers, etc) have. They seem to think they are entitled to everything just because it's there and they want it. They see a big empty parking lot and think they are entitled to it. But that parking lot is private property, and if you want to be a guest on it, you should at least have the decency to ask their permission first. They walk their pets on private property and don't pick up their pets mess. They change their oil in private parking lots, and spill oil everywhere while doing it, or leave their trash on the ground.
And it's sad to say, but a lot of people are slobs, there is no other way to put it. I watched a van drive up to the dumpters at La Posa South in Quartzsite, Arizona. The guy got out, threw his trash towards the dumpster and missed the dumpster. He saw that he missed it. Do you think he walked over and picked it up and placed it in the dumpster, no, he got in his van and drove off.
My wife and I walked around La Posa south and picked up trash with our bucket and grabbers when we stayed there. We were shocked to see how much trash was left behind by vans and RVers alike. It was terrible! Then people wonder why places get shut down and they can no longer camp there.

[SerenityNowhere]

I NEVER put out slides or leveling jacks in overnight parking. That is considered bad form by most RVers for overnight spots. You must maintain the appearance that you are ready to roll away by simply starting the engine and leaving.

[godsdeliciousunknown]

Over the past 3 years of full time RV life we've also noticed overnight parking has gotten harder to find. We used to stay in rest areas because we just needed a spot for 8 hours of sleep before we continued on our way. Last month we drove past rest areas for 100 miles (after pushing our drive day much further than we should have) without seeing a single empty spot - finally pulled into a Walmart that was 8 miles off the freeway in the "hope" of finding a spot and spoke with the manager. What a JOY to have them welcome us to stay up to 48 hours (we only needed 10) with a smile! Sometimes a surprise awaits :-) Turned out to be a very quiet spot and we could get groceries too :-)

P.S. like you, we appreciate cracker barrel, but unless you time it right, it's often hard to find space for a class A with toad. - Most of our family/friends know Cracker Barrel gift cards are much appreciated gifts at Christmas and Birthdays for us :-)

[joyrogers]

We had some decent Walmart experiences when we started traveling farther/longer post-retirement. But we've seen the absolute disrespectful & downright nasty things some travelers do at Walmarts, rest areas, etc. in recent years. We overnighted at a Cabela's 4 years ago. Huge, nearly empty parking lot, another RV parked right next to us & ran his loud generator all night. Since discovering Harvest Hosts shortly after that, we have stayed at 25+ HH properties across the country. We look at HH as part of our travel experience and have enjoyed every one. Sure, they're not "free", but we appreciate those with restaurants or cafes for an easy meal; purchase products from others to give as gifts; and enjoy ghost town tours, greeting farm animals, learning an area's history in their museums, and relaxing in the quiet of a field or orchard.

[bjhope]

Once in 16 years we stayed in a Cracker Barrel parking lot overnight, and that was because it was a rainstorm so bad we couldn’t see the road to continue. We have a 40’ class A pulling a CRV. We always stay and pay at campgrounds, even enroute, and because I am often traveling alone I think parking lot overnights are too dangerous for a 70yo female.

[susanwoosnam]

Bad behavior cannot be rewarded but punishment hits everyone.

[JeanDumfordPhD]

Cracker Barrel reinforced their RV/BUS parking spots and if you park elsewhere in their lot and are a big rig, you are ruining their parking lots!!! IF you are that big, go somewhere else... you don't fit. Quit ruining it for the rest of us who rely upon free and safer spots.

[marjamesquire]

Cracker Barrel is always slammed on Mothers Day, New Years Day, Easter, etc. I think it would be polite to avoid those days for regular customers to have parking spaces.

[liveworkplayvans]

It's fascinating to observe the large RVs with slides, towing their cars, searching for free parking. If one has means to cover the costs of fuel, insurance, and time off it might be more suitable to head to a campground. This way, free spaces can be left available for truckers and nomads who truly rely on them.

Cities have taken steps to safeguard businesses by implementing ordinances that empower police to issue tickets and tow vehicles if they are not relocated. There should be no exceptions to this rule, especially when it comes to permanently parked RVs in shopping centers.

Many might not be aware that the lack of expansion in Rest Area parking has created challenges for big rig truckers in finding suitable parking spots along the highways. This has led to them resorting to parking on the side of the road at exit ramps, which is far from ideal.

[mikeglasgow]

I travel by truck camper . I drive from mid morning and stop along ny route for a quick trip into the camper for a bathroom break and may grab a bite to eat. Then back on the road. I would say that 90 % of the time, i just pull into a rest area and go back to my truck camper. Put on a movie, make dinner finish the movie and go to bed. Ive never experienced any problems whatsoever. Wake up, have a coffee and danish and hit the road. Whenever I arrive at family they want me to stay in guest room. I always just ask for an extension cord. Im all set. I just love my truck camper. Shower, flat screen t.v., all the comfort of home. I have stayed at Cracker Barrel. Had dinner, spoke to staff and left after a nice breakfast. No slide, no generator, just to watch a movie and sleep

[teressarenslow]

We tend to travel at night and hit a day-use fishing lake or park and park our slide away from common view and catch some z's for a couple hours, get up and use the area for a picnic breakfast and move on toward our ultimate destination.
We would easily leave quickly if there were a dispute...but my adult severely handicapped daughter tends to bring out the humanity in most.

[margaretbowen]

One problem is that "land barges" have become wayyyy too big and take up wayyyy too much space.🤨

[heatheradair]

Our local Walmart had 4 rv’s that took up residence - slides, jacks, generators, barbecues, parties etc., and then used the facilities like their personal bathroom. Gee, I wonder why the local Walmart no longer allows overnight parking. We also have rest stops that were created for trucks but rv’s were able to use them - when they became camping spots, rv’s weren’t allowed anymore.

[igowhereimtowed]

We saw a travel trailer couple at the Foothills Wal-Mart Yuma Arizona. Jacks down, tow vehicle disconnected, BBQ and chairs out. We noticed them near the end of October. They were still there in the same spot at the end of March. If you know the Yuma area, you know there are multiple areas to boondock.

The following season at this same Walmart. Three rigs parked side by side again jacks down, satellite dishes up. For sale signs on all three. Because of people like this is why. We are losing the privilege to overnight at Walmart.

Thank you for calling it overnight parking and not camping. Walmart, Cracker Barrel and the like. Are not campgrounds and should not be treated as one.

[jsverchio]

I'm so thankful we live in Alaska. It is a short RV season, but we can "Free" camp just about everywhere minus private property. Unless I'm looking for full hookups and dumps, paying to camp is not even a consideration.

[crimson]

Seems one necessary accessory to always have is: EARPLUGS and earbuds. Both the noise-dampening foam kind as well as ANC (active noise canceling) earbuds (like AirPods). I have neighbors who use gas-powered leaf blowers and I pop in my AirPods with noise cancellation technology, and it greatly helps. I shared a hotel room with a friend and she snored loudly. I used my regular foam earplugs for comfort while sleeping. Blissful.

[CardelliFamof]

As a Boondocker Welcome Host, I have had mostly good experience. I allow up to 5 days. However I have been considering Hip Camp as an alternative as I have had a few bad apples that almost got be in trouble. Hip Camp is not always perfect, at least I get some recovery of some of the cost of the improvements I have made. I have also learned as a host that in some locations including ours, local laws define an RV Park as 2 or more sites with occupied RVs. This means going through the permitting process for a Conditional Use. Again not free for the host. Lots of navigation of local legal laws.

[EB-vzob]

One problem I see is there are a number of homeless living in ratty old RVs. Not only is it an eyesore in the store's parking lot, more importantly, it's a safety concern for the store's customers and employees.