Overnighting on Cross Country

[GDeen]

Just curious what most of you do when making tracks across country - stay in a campground with hookups, or pull in a rest area or retail area for free?

Seems like the campground could give you more piece of mind, security and quiet, whereas just pulling over would be more convenient.

Bringing my bus home from LA to Austin this week and will need to rest somewhere.

[phorner]

When we're in "travel mode", any large parking lot will do.

We've used Wal Marts, rest areas, Flying J's, Cracker Barrels, old strip mall parking lots, visitor centers, etc.

Convenience to our travel route, and wide-open spaces are our priorities while trying to make time and put some miles behind us. Unfortunately, many of the smaller campgrounds nearest the interstate highways are an invitation to damage due to their design for older, much smaller RV's. If I even suspect that the campground boasts about "shaded sites" I keep on moving down the road....

We'll seek out a larger campground every 2 or 3 days while travelling if need be.

Have fun picking up your new bus

[Gary & Peggy Stevens]

Gordon, congratulations on your beautiful new bus.

I know, you may be on the actual road coming home but I'll bet you will be flying high!

As to your question about staying overnight roadside or campgrounds: Peg and I rarely stay in a campground till we get to our destination. We prefer the short overnight stops at the rest areas. Just pull in, lock her down, and call it a night till the morning, where you give the bus a once over on the outside, check the tires, towbar and head out.

Lots of the roadside parks these days have 24 hour security, and we feel pretty safe inside the bus anyway. So we don't go into a campground till we get to where we are going to stay for a couple of days.

Enjoy the journey and anxious to see your new bus soon. Come to La Hacienda for July 4th, I think there will be several of us up there for that weekend?

Gary S.

[GDeen]

Thanks Gary and Paul - that makes sense. And yes, I am fired up. Almost embarrasing how excited I am about this deal.

Gary, La Hacienda is literally 10-15 minutes from my house. I will definitely come out there the 4th to visit, and look forward to meeting you guys.

[Ray Davis]

I am probably different than most. Almost all of my overnights have been in an RV park. Why? Well, I generally do not like to travel in the dark, if possible. Not that I'm afraid of it, I just don't see quite as well at night.

So, most of my planning involves arriving at a place to stay by late afternoon. As such, I don't feel right pulling into a Wallmart or similar in the early afternoon.

I have on occasion stopped in a Cabela's parking lot (1AM, I was bushed), in Flying J parking lots when driving at night. I have also spent one night in an Indian casino parking lot, but I did have dinner there.


I wouldn't mind staying less at RV parks, it's just the early hours makes it not feel right to stop for the night.

Ray

[Pete]

Gordon,
Not knowing when you will leave to head home, it is difficult to suggest where to stay. There are not many places along I-10, but I have found that if you elect to stay in roadside parks, you must secure yourself a spot early in the evening, because of all the truck traffic. When the 18 wheelers start stopping, the roadside parks fill up real fast and there are not that many along 10. I suggest stopping rather early, and getting up early to travel.
There is one park on the north side of I-10 in Anthony Tx. just west of El Paso, and also a Flying J about 1 mile west of the park. The name of the park is American RV. The park is nothing more than a large gravel lot with full hook ups (don't think you will be looking for a 10-10-10 park)
, but the power is good, with water and sewer.
There are a couple of roadside parks to the west of Ozona and Sonora, can't remember the mile markers but they are off and elevated from I-10, and are quiet (except for trucks in and out thru the night)
I have made this trip several times, and there is not much out there so be careful, keep plenty of fuel on board, and have a great trip. Look forward to seeing your new coach.

[Jon Wehrenberg]

If we are trying to make time on a long cross country trip we typically will pull into a rest area early enough to get the spot on the end. That cuts the risk of someone accidently dinging us in half. We usually eat and head to bed early and we are out of there at O'dark thirty.

If we are not sure about the rest areas such as when crossing the country on unfamiliar roads we use the big rig book and find campgrounds near the highway that list pull throughs and we do the same thing as far as timing. Get there before dark and generally get back on the road very early.

We do not stay in Walmart or mall parking lots. We used to until we realized how exposed we are to all the local crazies that think Garth Brooks is in the big bus. We will stay in a truck stop as long as we can get an end spot. Ain't no way I am staying in a truck stop if I have to have both sides exposed. Watch them trying to back in a truck stop spot during the day. Then imagine what it is like at midnight with your bus in the next spot.

[jelmore]

Gordon, congrats on the Marathon. Really like how you brought the interior around.

We travel a lot and on long trips use WalMart almost exclusively. They have 24-hour security and it's good to check in with them. Sometimes, it's good to check with the manager. We've found rest stops to be iffy and many don't allow overnights. Wouldn't stay in a truck stop. Too noisy. Campgrounds are fun, sometimes challenging and calling it a day around 4pm opens things up for scouting around a bit, taking a bike ride and seeing new areas. If you call ahead, they will tell you if you can fit.

One thing we almost always do is check a satellite view of where we will end up. After a while, you can tell if there are medians and tight turns you should avoid. A view of a destination WalMart will readily show which entrance you should take and where the RVs park. Also good to have a plan B in case the parking lot has height restriction bars.

And, if in doubt about the break over on an entrance ramp to a parking lot, always just stop and air up the suspension before proceeding.

Have a blast. Take your time. There's lots to see.

[garyde]

Hi Gordon. When crossing the country after purchasing my Coach in Florida, I used the Big Rigs book and co-ordinated with my wife who was at home to arrange nightly reservations. Drove from 8 to 5 daily most of the time. It worked out for the most part.
I have also driven with Kevin Erion 24 hours a day, non stop. Thats fun for a night or two.
If I am driving alone during the day, I will pull over and nap for a half hour or so and move on.
I do stop at Truck stops on occasion but only if I'm stopping late at night.
Only stopped at rest stops once or twice and have been advised not to.
I do prefer the RV Parks because it gives me time to rest and relax.

[Loc]

Gordon,

We typically do the drive from LA to Houston over two 12-hour days. We sometime stay in parks and other times stay in parking lots depending on how fast we are trying to get there. For campgrounds there are a couple in Van Horn, Anthony, TX (Pete mentioned), Tucson (Beaudry's RV park), Blythe, CA (nothing special), and the Palm Springs area (but this will warp your view of what campgrounds are). If we are in a hurry, we typically make one stop at the Flying J in Anthony, Texas (Exit 1, I-10 at the New Mexico border) which is a 12 hour drive from Houston and a 12 hour drive from LA. There is also a nice Texas Welcome Center at Exit 2 or so (JDUB has stayed there). We have also spent the night at the Wal-Mart in Las Cruces. I tend to avoid the roadside rest areas unless they have security. We only stay in parking lots if we plan on driving late (midnight or later) and leaving early (before 6 am). I strongly prefer to stay in campgrounds.

Loc