Hugging highways (freeways for lefties)

[sheridany]

@AbdRahim have you ever been confronted by a trucker taking a space at a truck stop. I haven’t but I have heard of it happening. I have heard of coaches getting hit by trucks or trailers in the parking lot. It would be nice if they had spaces in the back for us. I guess that’s the whole idea behind the loves expansion with overnight rv stops.

 

[Rollin Ollen]

Male - goal oriented. Destination is the goal. I have dvery srop planned, with approximate time of arrival. I almost never stay in a campground unless I have benn driving for three days or more. You will find me at a truck stop or rest area on the interstate.

Perhaps strange, but I love the sound of a jae break at 2 am, and the sound of big rig tires humming down the road.

I'll pass on the Jake but I don't mind the rumble of an idling diesel. Been there number of times when I think I'm gonna over do the drive.

Darrell

 

[Kevin D Pem]

I'll pass on the Jake but I don't mind the rumble of an idling diesel. Been there number of times when I think I'm gonna over do the drive.

Darrell

Ahhh got rid of the Jake. Now let's band together! Someone reply to this, and we will get rid of the noise!

Honestly, I will choose a Cracker Barrel for the smell any day. Did I ever tell you the reason my sailboat went electric?

 

[AbdRahim]

@AbdRahim have you ever been confronted by a trucker taking a space at a truck stop. I haven’t but I have heard of it happening. I have heard of coaches getting hit by trucks or trailers in the parking lot. It would be nice if they had spaces in the back for us. I guess that’s the whole idea behind the loves expansion with overnight rv stops.

Never had anyone express anger at me. Most ignore me. I also have had some very pleasant and friendly conversations with the driver next door. I try to stay out of truck spaces. Most Flying J’s have RV spaces. We are often competing with bobtails. The problem is during peak RV travel season and in certain locations all of the RV spaces get taken8parked mirror to mirror), so I can]not run the generator for A/C or to keep my batteries charged. I did recently stay in a Love’s, which was great. I was surrounded by bobtails and ran the generator all night.

Oh, it is often best to avoid the end spaces, unless no one can turn towards you. The end of the parking lot is ok.

if parked in a truck space, where there is no option, I try to park between two trucks, and don’t sleep until there is someone on both sides for the night. I almost did get hit once by a trucker backing in. Fortunately, I was sitting in the driver’s seat and blew the horn. Of course, I did get scraped by another MotorHome last year.

I think I may be using more rest areas as I need to run the generator to have strong batteries in the morning. The generator does not bother the truckers, as the exhaust is far away from their air intake.

 

[vermontcc]

Did long trip out through southwest and back through Colorado and midwest to nc. researched and stayed at several wal.arts but cracker barrels were the Best.

 

[team bradfield]

I like interstates for the rest areas and travel centers for fuel, we tend to stay at good ol' KOA's, never disappointed, no worries about other trucks, etc. Our daughter loves the road noise, it puts her to sleep. I take my hearing aids out, DW can sleep through a tornado...

 

[rvkev]

I do not know if this is common knowledge. The Ohio turnpike going west where the actual route changes from Interstate 76 to Interstate 80 has RV parking at every other service plaza for Recreational Vehicles. Most toads need to be unhooked and parked along side. The charge for electric is $20. You get a receipt at the vending machine and you tape it to your windshield.

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It is very handy for destination-oriented travelers. You never have to get off route. Your stays can me somewhat noisy.

 

[Rich W.]

I do not know if this is common knowledge. The Ohio turnpike going west where the actual route changes from Interstate 76 to Interstate 80 has RV parking at every other service plaza for Recreational Vehicles. Most toads need to be unhooked and parked along side. The charge for electric is $20. You get a receipt at the vending machine and you tape it to your windshield.

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It is very handy for destination-oriented travelers. You never have to get off route. Your stays can me somewhat noisy.

This is the one thing I like about the turnpike system - the service plazas. Even the ones that don’t have designated RV parking ususally have room to overnight, they have good law enforcement presence, and of course, fuel and food (and morning coffee). I always look at them on google maps first to get an idea of where I want to park, and if possible go all the way to the far end of the parking area, on the outter edge where I can walk the dogs and its relatively quiet.

 

[sheridany]

turnpikes are great because there is usually less traffic versus the interstate but I thought overnight at a service plaza is only allowed in very few states? For instance, I read that staying overnight on the Florida turnpike is not allowed? Is there a resource that can be used for verification?

 

[Kevin D Pem]

turnpikes are great because there is usually less traffic versus the interstate but I thought overnight at a service plaza is only allowed in very few states? For instance, I read that staying overnight on the Florida turnpike is not allowed? Is there a resource that can be used for verification?

You know, in 2008 after I built my second teardrop, I used the Florida system. Same rules applied that you stated. There was a guard on duty, and I questioned him about the sign. Seems the law came in effect due to a rash of RVer murders, and robberies.
However, as stated earlier in another post, I sleep with the door open, I asked if we could sleep the night.
The guard looked around and asked what we would be sleeping in. I pointed out our teardrop, and he laughed!
He responded by saying h#*l!!! No one would even know you were in that thing, can you really sleep in that? And then said we'll keep our eyes on you!!!

So can you! Yes, maybe!!!
If you do what happens, you must accept the consequences.

 

[Rich W.]

turnpikes are great because there is usually less traffic versus the interstate but I thought overnight at a service plaza is only allowed in very few states? For instance, I read that staying overnight on the Florida turnpike is not allowed? Is there a resource that can be used for verification?

Never tried it in Florida, but have from Ohio to NH and never had an issue.