How To RV Overnight at Trucks Stops: 6 Do’s and Don’ts

There is an etiquette to staying overnight at a Truck Stop. Yes, truck stops that welcome over-night travelers can be found on most major highways, but don’t get in a jam by assuming you and your RV are automatically welcome.

This is Part 5 of the 6-part series “Cheap and Free RV Camping You Will Love!”

When you just need to get from point A to point B, and the only place to stop for a night is a Truck Stop, they are a great option. You may have heard truck stop horror-stories, and sometimes with good reason, but I’ve stayed at truck stops many times with no problem.  If you want to have this as an overnight option in your travels, don’t despair; here’s a guide to help you.

How to RV Overnight at Truck-Stops: 6 Do’s and Don’ts

Do:

1. Do keep Truck Stops in your RV Overnight-arsenal. Many welcome RVers, but be sure to park in an RV Space. These Truck stops allow overnight parking.
   • Love’s

     

   • Flying J
   • Pilot, and
   • TA
2. Do give the Truck Stop your business. Another benefit of staying at a truck stop is that many offer propane, dump stations, potable water and even laundry and showers. Get a good night sleep, then hit the road fully loaded and gassed up with a fresh cup of java!
3. Do have several travel apps handy like Allstays, RVParky or FreeCampsites.net. Take time to check the most recent reviews; if you see others have had problems, avoid that stop. (Want to make sure your planned stop has RV-dedicated parking spaces? Then, use Allstays; they list the number of RV spots available!
4. Do tuck into a back-corner of the lot in a spot not meant for trucks, if a dedicated RV spot is not offered.
5. Do back-in, so if you need to leave you can pull right out.
6. Do ask inside the store if you’re not sure parking overnight is okay

   

Don’t:

1. 1. Don’t take a truckers spot! New laws require that truck drivers rest a certain number of hours, and unlike us, their only option is truck stops or rest stops. If you see a the parking lot is crowded, move-on. Otherwise, you might be taking a spot a trucker needs to have and that causes problems.
   2. Don’t put out your slide. Again, sometimes parking at truck stops is at a premium. Your slide takes up space and calls attention to you. Look at the image above.  There’s a good chance a truck might take your slide out if it’s extended!
   3. Don’t dump your trash or tanks, or grill, or put down jacks, or be noisy. Be a good neighbor.
   4. Don’t stay if you feel unsafe. Trust your instinct and move on.
   5. Don’t park in a long space meant for big-rigs; again, even if the lot is half empty, these are meant for big trucks only, and you may take a spot a tired trucker needs to pull into.
   6. Don’t assume it’s okay to park if your unsure; ask inside.

I’ve had great experiences staying overnight in my RV at truck stops.

Yes, the trucks come and go and rumble, but I don’t mind. I put on some noise cancelling headphones and sleep fine. Of course, a truck stop is not my first choice; but, if I’m too tired to keep driving, or the camping spot I was working on didn’t work out, I know on some local highway there is probably a truck stop I can safely call home for the night.

Did you miss the first installments of this series?  Click here to go back to the beginning!

Have you had any experience staying at a truck stop overnight, good or bad?  Please, share your experience in the comments section below, or on the CreativityRV Facebook page.

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Be Happy. Create More. Set Yourself Free .

Robin

CreativityRV

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