Free overnight parking

[campmaster-k]

If anybody get serious about that idea let me know I would like to be involved.

[High Desert]

I have been pondinering the possibility of anetwork of homeowners who can offer free driveway camping. Establish a network across the country for free camping, the possibilites are endless of hosting guidelines and user guidelines.

Kinda like the idea of home swapping for vacation or services in a community. Is there such an established organization for camping?

Jean

I think it would be a neat idea Jean with a bit of proper basic organizing. And a great way to meet fellow members.

If anybody get serious about that idea let me know I would like to be involved.

+1 on Kirk's statement, I'd add our place to the list. It is a ways off of any through highway, a bit in the sticks in fact. But we have tons of room, it's very quiet and very safe.

All the WalMarts and other large retail lots are posted for no overnight parking in our area. It's a county ordinance and not up to the property owners. An ordinance supported by the local "resorts". An effect of living in a tourist area. They want your money.

[nevadatear]

There is such a thing already. I can't remember the name but grant whipp posted he had joined it a couple of months ago. Maybe he will see this and post while I try to remember the name.

[nevadatear]

There is such a thing already. I can't remember the name but grant whipp posted he had joined it a couple of months ago. Maybe he will see this and post while I try to remember the name.

I remembered. It is called boondockers welcome.

[jeffmutch]

Burlesot,

The term 'camping' has evolved by many people's standards. I've read my local ordinance regarding camping and their definition is quite silly in my opinion... It states that 'camping' is sleeping between the hours of 9pm and 9am anywhere other than a house, or apartment meant and designed for habitation. Only way to get around it is if you are on private property and there is some kind of wall, bush, or gate between you and the road.

This essentially makes homelessness illegal in many many cities throughout the U.S. Here in Folsom they can actually put you in jail for 6 months on your third offense. (Great! A warm place to SLEEP!) That being said, I've never heard or read of anyone being ticketed, arrested, or otherwise prosecuted for sleeping. Typically they come talk to you for sleeping and find you drunk, unregistered, wanted or breaking some other law that they will cite you for. I make sure I park safely and legally and keep my TTT and TV in good repair so they have nothing else to hold against me. If they ask me to leave, I simply drive a few miles to get out of that officer's patrol area. I find the closer you are to a major highway, the less likely they are to even approach you.

[DragonFire]

Thanks for the tip on Allstays. That's a great idea. Sometimes you don't make your destination when you should, so it's a good idea to know where you can pull over and sleep until it's light enough to continue on to your destination..

My local WM does not allow overnight camping. We do have an Elks lodge with hookups...I do wonder if non-Elks can stay there. There are always big RVs there (fulltimers?) but also plenty of open spots.

When van camping I have been harassed by the cops for parking on the street for a few hours to sleep. I'm guessing it would be worse in a tear. So it's good to know that I can always check the app for a legal spot to pull over and rest.

[Woodbutcher]

A friend of mine pulled off the highway and parked on Main street of a small town for a few hours sleep. When they woke up the next morning they were in the middle of a parade route. They had to get out and move barricades to continue on. You never know what can happen!!!

[DragonFire]

THAT is funny. How random.

When I buy a house, one of the things I'm looking for is RV access. I want to be able to store my Grasshopper and another trailer behind a gate (I'm thinking of a Lil Loafer or, God forbid, a second Grasshopper.) If that is the case, I would be able to have a teardrop stay at my place while on the road. I'll have to check into this free camping thing..I would love to have teardroppers stop at my place, but bigger rigs or random people? Not sure. If they are real RVers, then fine. If they are tweakers with trailers or motorhomes, which I see quite often here in Sacramento, then no. I want it to be a safe thing for me, too.

As it stands right now, any of you guys can park out front of my place and spend the night. It's a quiet street off I-80. Cops won't bother you here..it's an older area and quiet. I've left my trailer hitched out on the street for several days before and plan to again..in front of the neighbor's house no less. (Ok..so he's my buddy and has a 13' Scamp.)

Teardroppers are always welcome. I'll check into the Elks club nearby and see what their rules are..people traveling through on I-80 approaching Sacramento-Davis-Vacaville might want a place to dock for the night before tackling the Bay Area roads.

I'm hoping there might be some like-minded folks between here and AZ..there may be a trip in the works where I will need a place besides a rest stop to spend a few hours sleeping..

[Hillmann]

I haven't been able to log in since I asked the original question.

The trip didn't go quite as planned. I got to the flee market at about 3 am pulled into my spot and tried to get a bit of rest. It was pouring out and it was to noisy to sleep. Once it stopped raining I set up my booth. At the end of the day once I was all wrapped up I had a a couple of the other vendors offered me a beer. (I only had one beer) They left and I decided the beer had affected me enough that I shouldn't drive yet so I went back to the camper to read a bit. Next think I knew I was waking up and it was almost dark (fell asleep well reading).

I went to the next town over to stop at walmart to pick up some food and see if I can sleep there. When I got there I saw a large sign, "no over night parking" so that answered my question. I still went in to pick up some food and use the bathroom. When I came out my camper had a flat tire so I ended up sleeping there looking at the no over night parking sign all night. The next morning I got up, took the tire off and found a tire shop that had a 14inch tire in stock and made it to the next flea market a little late.

[indycamper]

I haven't been able to log in since I asked the original question.

The trip didn't go quite as planned. I got to the flee market at about 3 am pulled into my spot and tried to get a bit of rest. It was pouring out and it was to noisy to sleep. Once it stopped raining I set up my booth. At the end of the day once I was all wrapped up I had a a couple of the other vendors offered me a beer. (I only had one beer) They left and I decided the beer had affected me enough that I shouldn't drive yet so I went back to the camper to read a bit. Next think I knew I was waking up and it was almost dark (fell asleep well reading).

I went to the next town over to stop at walmart to pick up some food and see if I can sleep there. When I got there I saw a large sign, "no over night parking" so that answered my question. I still went in to pick up some food and use the bathroom. When I came out my camper had a flat tire so I ended up sleeping there looking at the no over night parking sign all night. The next morning I got up, took the tire off and found a tire shop that had a 14inch tire in stock and made it to the next flea market a little late.

It seems that no matter how much planning one does, there is always something that goes wrong! Glad you got where you were going, even with the problems. Expect that the WM will soon have a new sign - "No campers with flat tires" - just to be certain all their bases are covered!

[kirkman]

It seems that no matter how much planning one does, there is always something that goes wrong! Glad you got where you were going, even with the problems. Expect that the WM will soon have a new sign - "No campers with flat tires" - just to be certain all their bases are covered!

Now that's funny!