Does anyone know if this is allowed? Have any of you done it?

Was asked once parked to go shopping by security, how long we would be staying? I answered Not long and we drove off without staying to shop. Have never stopped again. My only experience with that brand.

Safe Travels!

I tried to park at one in AZ a number of years back and there was a note when I returned that I needed to move the RV. I assumed that meant no overnight parking but I never did actually inquire.

I would stop by the mall office and ask. We drove through one last spring and saw 2 or 3 RVs parked there but have never spent a night in one.

My husband and I are newbys, we are retired and would like to know more about parking over night at some malls or shopping centers.

We have a 2000 HR with a generator, self contained.

Any help on where we can stay for free to save some as we do travel, we would like to do a U.S. excursion while we are healty enough and then we will do mostly closer to come.

Thanks so much.

I mainly use Overnight RV Parking I can open the site in a browser on my phone while we're going down the road and see all the places nearby where it's ok to park overnight, and also places where you will be ticket or towed if you try to park overnight.

I also use the Allstays app on my phone but find it's not as useful. Not as many overnight sites listed and uncertain of report dates.

If you don't travel with a smart phone, you can always buy the WalMart atlas, then call the local store to see if they allow parking.

Places that generally offer free overnight parking include Walmart, Cracker Barrel, and Cabela's. But not all locations of even those allow it so it is best to call ahead and ask. Our local Cabela's has a dump and fresh water but is posted no overnight parking. And if your rig is one of the very long ones you probably won't stay at Cracker Barrel.

Linda Sand

If you have a smartphone, download the Walmart app and utilize the 'Find a Store' option. It will automatically pinpoint your location and show the nearest Walmart and all Walmarts on your route. Touch the one you're interested in, and it will quickly bring up the address and phone number. Give them a quick call (on some phones, as easy as touching the phone number listed) and ask. Easy peasy.

In my experience, the only Walmarts reluctant to allow overnight parking are the ones located where it is prohibited by law. Pay attention to signs posted on lightposts in the parking lot as you enter - if they state that overnight parking isn't allowed and you'll be towed, take that announcement seriously and move on. I speak from experience.

While you've got the app, be sure to use the Savings Catcher option. It takes 3 seconds to open the app and scan your receipt when you shop at a Walmart - they then run the prices against local competitors, and if they find a lower price, you get the difference back. I've only been using it a month or so now, and I've already accumulated nearly $13 in credit.

Another source of free/low-cost overnight and camping is Days End. I have found free overnight using it and I have contributed my findings as well. I use locations such as Walmart, Cabelas etc just when I am traveling, not camping. I also stay in rest stops and truck stops as well.

Do most of you use the free walmart, cabela's, cracker barrel as primary parking, moving every day and avoiding campgrounds all together or just a stop between campgrounds. and how long do you stay at any one place? thanks in advance, hitting the road next week.

It has been our experience that many of the places suggested here is for a quick eight hours of travel sleep. Please, do not consider a stop at these locations as an invitation to MOVE IN and set up camp.

Some have tried that and it gives a BLACK EYE to all of us in the RV community. I have always made it a practice to ask if we could stay and where to park.

There are many places to stay in the USA. National parks, forest lands and state lands and parks. But, life is changing in the USA, be careful and keep a watchful eye out and be safe.

Safe Travels!

  On 7/18/2015 at 3:10 AM, delawaretraveler said:

Do most of you use the free walmart, cabela's, cracker barrel as primary parking, moving every day and avoiding campgrounds all together or just a stop between campgrounds. and how long do you stay at any one place? thanks in advance, hitting the road next week.

I know there are some who do this. However none of these are meant for a stay of more than an overnight and be on your way. We only use these spots if we are on a route to a destination and have no plans to stop in an area for anything other than fuel,sleep and shopping. On a couple spots there was something we needed to check out. In that case we asked if our arriving easrtly aft and unhooking our car was allowed. Both time we were permitted on the condition we were in fact leaving in the morning

As for staying as those overnight places continually.....why would you want to? Besides giving RVers a bad name, they are typically in noisy, populated areas. The surroundings are not good. Your RV is for traveling to see this beautiful country of ours.

If you don't want to pay to stay somewhere then at least finding a boondocking spot that has better surroundings such as national forest land or BLM lands. There are plenty of options.

Here on the east coast Boondocking is a challenge at best, not many BLM lands or "free" stopping places. And all the campgrounds want an arm and a leg to stay, Not affordable for starting campers. Any solutions that your familiar with?

  On 7/18/2015 at 3:10 AM, delawaretraveler said:

Do most of you use the free walmart, cabela's, cracker barrel as primary parking, moving every day and avoiding campgrounds all together or just a stop between campgrounds. and how long do you stay at any one place? thanks in advance, hitting the road next week.

We stopped at those places for one night each only en route to a destination. Even then, we stopped at a park, usually Passport America, every third night or so for two nights because we don't really like traveling every day.

Be aware that Cracker Barrel's designated spots aren't long enough for most RVs. When we were in a 35' class a towing a car we parked along the back edge or angled through a couple of the RV spots. They also close up and go home so there is no all night security on the premises if that matters to you. And if they are in the corner of a mall lot there may be no space for you at all. But, I sure did like stopping in time for dinner then going in again for breakfast there.

Linda Sand