Paiking Lot zzz's

[ae6black]

How often have you spent the night or caught a few hours of sleep in a parking lot like WalMart when you were between home and your destination? What were the problems? What would you do differently? Sometimes while getting to a destination can take too long if you only have a few days off and a long distance to travel. In such a situation, I've considered a Parking Lot layover. Curious how many have actually done it.

Art

[S. Heisley]

If I get tired, regardless of what time of day or night, I stop; even if it is on the side of the road in the middle of the afternoon.
At night, If I can, I find where truckers are stopped to sleep and pull into that same area. I have found that most truckers are kind people.

I never felt safer than the time that I parked next to 6 motorcycles on a trailer, pulled by a motorhome with a pit bull and another dog inside.
I slept a full six hours! This picture was taken the next morning:

[Mary C]

i have slept twice at wallmart in cars in the front seat, just after i pulled in a police officer drove up and checked on me he was telling me to lock my door and to keep my purse out of site, He said he would drive around and check regularly. I slept in a Truck stop on my way back from Texas a couple of weeks ago/ I felt very safe. I did find out that truckers don't appreciate us parking where they park behind the truck stop because we tend to take up space for them. I can park at varous places they cannot. Like up front. So I am mindful of where I park.

Mary C.

[capnTelescope]

I spent my first night in my tear at the truck stop/casino near Lake Bistineau, since I got there pretty late and the park was closed. I was parked in the far front corner. I was by myself when I went down. Woke up early and there were cars/trucks/campers parked all around me. Going to the casino at that hour? Whoa!

[Java Jack]

We have only done one long haul 1500 miles each way with our trailer. We stopped 1 time each direction at rest stops. We did choose one that was very populated as I have heard stories of rest stop crime. We wanted one with a lot of people around as a deterrent to would be thieves.

[Socal Tom]

I've done Walmart parking lots a couple of times. It was hard for me to sleep. They are usually well lit, and near busy roads. So between the light, house and my worry it's not restful for me. Though I've never had a problem.
Tom

[rowerwet]

I slept in mine many times at work, the only down side is I'm an airplane mechanic, you wake up when a jet takes off no matter how tired.

[KCStudly]

Haven't camped that way yet, but one time attempting to drive thru from Daytona Beach to southeastern CT I had to stop and sleep for a few hours at the good old Vince Lombardi service area on the Jersey Turnpike... last stop before entering NYC. Cracked a window, locked the doors, stowed anything of value, and zonked out. I was refreshed enough to make it the rest of the way home.

[Ned B]

I work in the trucking industry, was a Driver back in the day & currently am a dispatcher for the nations largest carrier. A couple of things to remember about rest areas: they are just about the Only places besides a truck stop where a semi can legally park. Also , DOT regulations require a 30 minute break after 8 hours of driving, And ten hours off duty after their 14 hour clock is up. So a rest area is vitally important to them and they fill up quickly.

Back when I was full timing in my 5th wheel, I did my best to not sleep at rest areas any longer than I had to. I usually moved from campground to campground, or I stayed at truck stops in the car/RV section.

I remember one trip though. I was going home after several months on the road , and on the third night I stopped for a couple of hours in a rest area. Somewhere after midnight I got up & moved my rig so a big rig could have a place to sleep. I wound up in the car section, took up about 5 spots or so for a few more hours then got back to driving. I did Barstow CA to Utica NY in 4 days on that trip.

I'm considering building either a sleeper TD (no kitchen), or a platform in my car for a mattress for resting en route to my folks' place after I leave work. Less camping, more just resting for a few hours. I think this thread just made up my mind... Platform & some privacy curtains is how I'm leaning now.

[GerryS]

Contrary to what CNN and Fox narrative, most people in this country are pretty good people, assuming you use a little common sense....a bunch of gang tags, and sirens might be your fist indication you're in the wrong place.

Flyover country is generally populated by people like you who are simply trying to make it through life, not looking for the fastest way to steal or worse.

I've not made a habit of Walmart lots for two reason:

1) I don't like Walmart in general (try buying something made in America there) -and I'd be a hypocrite if I stayed there
2) there's generally two of us and that means open windows, or needing 110 for Air Conditioning or heating.

Common sense is king here. Look for the slightest warning....if you see it, move along. Stick to more rural areas and hide the expensive stuff....leave the 3 finger ring at home.

Just as a side note, I think it's funny a previous commenter talked about bikers....unless your next to 1%ers, more often than not, most of these guys are professionals who are role playing, most I know are family guys/gals anyway ---the only place in general bikers are trouble is in entertainment and snews. Treat them with a little respect, and you'll be fine.

Don't use SOA as your education....although even there, the only people who got roughed up were bad guys playing in the same pool of filth....corrupt cops and rivals.

[pmowers]

Awhile back, I had worked all day and then driven until about 1 am on my way to a school for the military. I tried to find a motel in Lexington, VA to get some sleep, but they were either full or not about the rent a room to someone in uniform. I asked the clerk at the 7-11 if he knew where I could park and get some zz's. He told me to pull around back and he would wake me when he got off at 7. At a little after 7, there were as a knock on my window, and he handed me a cup of fresh coffee and a donut, and wished me a safe trip. He had told the police that not to bother me, I was okay, and just needed to get some sleep. Most people are decent and friendly. The world as portrayed by the media seems to be dark and dangerous place, fortunately, it is not real.

[razorback]

we have stayed at walmarts, and crackerbarrel restaurants. I always ask as some resort or tourist areas have laws against using walmarts etc.
always worked for us
larry

[KennethW]

Bad thing about Walmart's is the lights. Good thing about Walmart's is the lights and camera's. One is on video 24-7 in a walmart parking lot. So if (god forbid) some thing happens it is on record. I have over nighted at a lot of Walmart's no problems. Bathroom are right there(old guy's can use a bathroom at night) and fruit for breakfast. Just hop it your TV and back on the road(no checkout)

[762X39]

Katherine and I camp overnight in the Walmart parking lot in North Bay on every trip to Temagami or points north. It allows us to leave after work and not try and set up camp on a logging road in the dark. We meet interesting people while there and can grab a coffee in the MacDonalds first thing in the morning. I have gotten over my dislike of Walmart as a result. They are filling a need. We once stayed 3 days in the parking lot because there were no rooms to rent at any of the hotels and it allowed us to visit with family as well as explore during the day without issues of any kind.

[jonw]

Not that I wouldn't, but I've never spent a night in a parking lot. I have on long trips pulled into rest areas or parking lots, crawled into the teardrop, and taken a nap for an hour to refresh.