Great question Chuck. We are in agreement on travel strategy.

If we are on interstates or major highways, we will plan on rest areas and scope them out with satellite view on a mapping app. If they are small, we get in early, if they are large, we might get in closer to dinner.

We love Harvest Host, but you are right, many will not accommodate 45 feet, could be a dirt farm, might be miles off the highway. But if we can find one that works, we use it and have always enjoyed the stay. We have met some great people.

We have friends that use Cracker Barrel and scope them out for the right place in a parking lot so their slides work. They put out orange cones to keep from getting parked in and have to arrive 3:00ish when they are not too busy. This is just too much work and unknown for me and I am really not a fan of their menu. We have never stayed in one.

We used to stay at Walmart but they are getting sketchy for sure. Some have started putting up head ache arches at the entrance and if you cant see that in your map app then you cant get in when you get there. We have not stayed in one for several years. Might stay in a large parking lot like this for a day visit with friends but not over night.

Most truck stops are back in and I don't want to disconnect the jeep so we rarely stay in one.

So for us, we start with rest areas and welcome centers, then Harvest Host and then smaller cheap mom and pop RV Parks not the fancy resort parks. Rarely do we stay in a business / truck parking area; don't like being woke up by police in the night asking me to move.

If there are other options, I would love to know about them.