Date: Sun, 10 May 1998 20:56:12 -0400
Reply-To: David Raistrick <keen@FINALLY.ATLASTA.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <Vanagon@vanagon.com>
From: David Raistrick <keen@FINALLY.ATLASTA.NET>
Subject: Re: regulations concerning overnight parking
In-Reply-To: <355643D7.B5405BA4@comnet.ca>
Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII
On Sun, 10 May 1998, Yvan Cloutier & Marilyn Verge wrote:
> Hi everybody
>
> I have the project to ride in USA and Canada with my Eurovan this
> summer. I just bought my Eurovan. I know that there a lot of experienced
> Rvs users in your group. I dont want to pay for camping areas in my trip
> but I want to use rest areas, wild areas, beaches, etc. for overnight
> camping. I'm sure you know what I mean: my way is to camp with no fees
> throught the Canada and the USA. Is there anybody who can help me about
> "overnight parking" regulations in the States especially in the eastern
> part.
Your best bet is to just not be obvious. I dont know anything about
canada, but the US, I can tell ya about...:)
Rest areas are always a good option. You can generally pull in at dark,
pop the top, and sleep till light. I've never been bothered, and I've
done it hundreds of times.
Park in the Truck area, if possible. If the rest area is full, they are
all doing what your doing. Park whereever is convenient. I've taken 6-8
naps on the grass. Pulled in at 3 am, and it was FULL. I mean, FULL.
Other cars were on the grass, and I was dead, so, a little curb climb, and
out I went...:)
As for cooking, and such, do it during daylight hours, and use the
available picnic provisions..
Truck stops are good, too, when you just need to park overnight.
As for beaches and wild areas... If you look like you belong (no lights,
and movement after dark, keep the top down, particularly in the city, and
around beaches..), you generally wont get bothered. Lock your doors.
Close all the curtains, and be sure you're not wildly violating any
posted rules. If your parked at a beach, and it says "No overnight
parking, violators will be towed" then find somewhere else to park...:)
Try to park where other cars will be...You dont wanna look like the only
car there.
And, (unless you know you're violating some rule) if you get woken by
flashlights and knocks, it's prolly just the local police, checking to see
if anyone is sleeping in the car. If you dont move, and answer, most
likely they'll assume no one is home, and leave you be.
If you do make it known you are there, then they will most likely ask you
to move on along, and cite some safety thing about sleeping in cars...:)
Be polite, and find somewhere else to park. This time, find a truck stop
or such. Maybe a hotel parking lot...Park with the other RV's....:)
Wild areas......If they dont see you, they dont care. Just dont break any
posted "no driving off pavement" rules...:)
And, of the record, campgrounds that dont lock gates are another good
prospect. Pull in late, leave early.....And dont come back soon.:)
Or, spend the night outside the gates. Park off to the side, if the
rangers wake you the next morning, explain that you were going to camp
there, but got turned around, etc, and didnt make it till the gates were
closed.. And being completly self equiped, and tired, you decided to just
crash there. Tell them you're going to head into town for the day, and
will be back to register for the next nights camping...Again, dont return
soon...:)
There are also free camp areas across the country, which many listees are
familiar with...
just a few words from my experience....
...david
--
David Raistrick '69 Westy-Itchigo keen@finally.atlasta.net
'66 SO-44 Westy (coming soon!) in Augusta Ga
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