Best non-campground stops...

[4077]

Looking for good I-95 (east route) and I-81/77 (west route) stops (ie: Flying J, etc) where you have stayed overnight and felt comfortable doing it as possible alternate to campgrounds. Looking for about 5-6 hours first day drive from CT and then ending up 4-5 hours from Fort on second night. However, any input for any stops you have done at these sort of places along those routes is welcome....thanks!

 

[KristinU]

Looking for good I-95 (east route) and I-81/77 (west route) stops (ie: Flying J, etc) where you have stayed overnight and felt comfortable doing it as possible alternate to campgrounds. Looking for about 5-6 hours first day drive from CT and then ending up 4-5 hours from Fort on second night. However, any input for any stops you have done at these sort of places along those routes is welcome....thanks!

Following. We've stayed at Falling Waters Campground in WV the first night - about 6 hours from the Hartford area. Then Jacksonville North KOA the second night, I think about 3.5 hours from WDW. So the distances and locations are just about what you're asking - just not free

 

[4077]

Following. We've stayed at Falling Waters Campground in WV the first night - about 6 hours from the Hartford area. Then Jacksonville North KOA the second night, I think about 3.5 hours from WDW. So the distances and locations are just about what you're asking - just not free

Yah....I don't need to do free necessarily...just weighing all options....had looked at KOA's along the way with idea that stopping after dark would be nice to have a pull-thru reserved so as not to have to back in, etc....just pull in, stay hooked up and plug in for the night..

 

[North of Mouse]

Looking for good I-95 (east route) and I-81/77 (west route) stops (ie: Flying J, etc) where you have stayed overnight and felt comfortable doing it as possible alternate to campgrounds. Looking for about 5-6 hours first day drive from CT and then ending up 4-5 hours from Fort on second night. However, any input for any stops you have done at these sort of places along those routes is welcome....thanks!

The Flying J's are about the only place that we really feel comfortable/secure staying at. Out of sheer necessity we stayed at a Walmart in Gainesville, FL when needing to pick up our son from UF for an emergency. We had a 'bad' experience with several motorcycles circling us for a time until a large thunder storm drove them away - sort of frightened us - was glad we were at least secure in our mh. We 'won't' do that again!!

We feel like they were just being 'irritating' with no malicious intent, but you never know!!

Have stayed at Flying J's on interstates for several years when just needing a quick rest and nothing else - no hookups, etc. - don't even get out of our mh, except dh does get our fuel there. Have never had 'one' issue!

 

[Sur]

Allstays Camp and RV app has been a great help.

 

[KristinU]

Yah....I don't need to do free necessarily...just weighing all options....had looked at KOA's along the way with idea that stopping after dark would be nice to have a pull-thru reserved so as not to have to back in, etc....just pull in, stay hooked up and plug in for the night..

Yep, that's what we go for, pull throughs that make it easy to just pull in and plug in. The Falling Waters in WV is pretty much set up for overnighters. No reservations, as a matter of fact, here's their reservation Policy:

RESERVATIONS
In order to best accommodate our traveling customers, we offer a “Call Ahead Camping” system in lieu of traditional advance reservations. Simply call us (304-274-2791) within 24 hours of your expected arrival and we will put your name on an available site. We are able to accommodate campers 99% of the time in this manner.

We've stayed there 2-3 times and have never had a problem getting a site. Then when you get there you pull up to a little phone and they either meet you there or tell you where to go then collect your fee (cash only I think)

Allstays Camp and RV app has been a great help.

The Allstays app is how we found this little Falling Waters place!

Another good one for overnights is the RV resort at Carolina Crossroads - they have an overnight express rate if you pull in after 6pm. You pay in a little envelope and park in one of the designated overnight pull-through sites near the office. Easy peasy. That one we will stay at if we don't leave CT until morning and just do a single night on the way (or if we stop and visit family in Raleigh - it is a good spot to stay the night and freshen up then hit the road and meet for breakfast in Raleigh.)

But I'm taking us off topic from the non-campground overnight options!

 

[mightyexplorers]

We don't travel that route but on our long drives we are pretty religious walmart campers. WE prefer them over the truck stops. I never feel quite as safe at the truckstops. We usually look for one in a town that is within a mile of our route. They are not hard to find. Usually the ones close the the route will have a couple of other RVs and a truck or two. They are well lit, they usually have cameras on you, and if you need any supplies they are handy and cheap.

 

[LadyBeBop]

One thing about Walmart camping though. Local laws forbid Walmart camping in a lot of towns. There's no camping at nearly 20% of Walmarts.

I think these parking lots are easily marked. You can't park at my local Walmart, and there are signs indicating that.

From what I hear, there is a problem with pay campgrounds complaining about the free competition. However, I can't think of a campground within 20 miles of my local Walmart.

 

[Jeepin Dad]

Along I-95 Northeast Maryland has both a Flying J and Walmart. I have not actually stayed at either but live just over the border in PA and have friends who live in Northeast, it is a quiet little town.

On our trip down to the Fort this spring we stayed at the North Jacksonville/St Marys KOA right on the GA/FLA line. All sites are pull thrus and if you get there early enough they will deliver dinner (pizza or bbq) right to your site if you don't feel like cooking after driving for a few hundred miles. On our way home we spent the night at a Walmart in Petersburg VA. The night we were there, there were a few other RVs also spending the night.

 

[Merrymilklady]

Many of the camping worlds offer overnight parking at no charge. We stayed at one when we just needed several hours rest late at night to recharge n keep on moving..

 

[IngmarP]

We used to stay at the rest stop on I95 near Brunswick, GA. But the panhandlers have gotten very aggressive in recent years. I now prefer either a Flying J or a moderately priced but decent RV park. I especially recommend:
Carolina Crossroads (express sites) in Roanoke Rapids, NC
South of the Border, Dillon, SC
New Green Acres, Walterboro, SC

 

[KristinU]

Has anyone ever tried overnighting at a Cracker Barrel? I believe they allow it, right?

 

[North of Mouse]

Has anyone ever tried overnighting at a Cracker Barrel? I believe they allow it, right?

We did see someone overnight at a Cracker Barrel in FL as we were stopping for breakfast.

Personally, I would not feel safe where the lot is empty/secluded and the business did not stay open all night. That's one reason we like Flying J if we need a night break - there's 'action' all the time. We use our 'sound' machine and it doesn't bother us, otherwise it 'can' get very noisy with the constant 'in & outs' of vehicles.

 

[KristinU]

We did see someone overnight at a Cracker Barrel in FL as we were stopping for breakfast.

Personally, I would not feel safe where the lot is empty/secluded and the business did not stay open all night. That's one reason we like Flying J if we need a night break - there's 'action' all the time. We use our 'sound' machine and it doesn't bother us, otherwise it 'can' get very noisy with the constant 'in & outs' of vehicles.

Yeah, the overnighting always seems like a good idea on paper but I'm never able to pull the trigger on it since I'm nervous about it. Oodles of people do it without incident, so I'm sure it would be fine if we gave it a try!

 

[4077]

Yeah, the overnighting always seems like a good idea on paper but I'm never able to pull the trigger on it since I'm nervous about it. Oodles of people do it without incident, so I'm sure it would be fine if we gave it a try!

I think (to make my wife feel better) we are going to go the campground route after all. My parents used to do Flying J all the time in their Tioga Class C and never had a problem, however. Been great to see all the input...thanks all!

 

[rgrimm]

I recently made a trip from North East FL to Gaffney, SC and my over night stopping campground was:
Jolly Acres RV Park
289 Horne Taylor Rd
St. George, SC 29477
(843) 563-8303

It was about 5/6 miles off I-95 (exit 77 - South Carolina) just south of where I-26 hits I-95. It was a nice over night stopping point for us. We were in Site " I " (yes the letter I) .... a nice long pull-thru, 50amp, water, and sewer. It was level stone with a big concrete slab/patio area. The Campground is small, many permanent residents, but clean and quiet and everyone we meant were friendly.

On our way to Gaffney (mid-week) they took Passport and charged me $18, on our return trip, a Friday night, no Passport so it was $36.

That may work for you.

Russ

 

[rgrimm]

Here is a photo of the Site (I) we were in.

 

[4077]

Well, my job has determined where I am going to stay....was hoping for an early departure on Friday before Sunday check in, but due to schedule change for work, I will depart later (slightly post rush hour). Hence, i am planning eastern route....hoping KOA Fredricksburg, VA night 1 and KOA Jacksonville North in Kingsland for night 2. I believe people had spoken of those here....figuring I'll reserve pull thru sites at these for ease of in and out with only plugging in.

 

[KristinU]

Well, my job has determined where I am going to stay....was hoping for an early departure on Friday before Sunday check in, but due to schedule change for work, I will depart later (slightly post rush hour). Hence, i am planning eastern route....hoping KOA Fredricksburg, VA night 1 and KOA Jacksonville North in Kingsland for night 2. I believe people had spoken of those here....figuring I'll reserve pull thru sites at these for ease of in and out with only plugging in.

Nothing like having a decision made for you! But honestly, sometimes it takes the stress away.

We haven't stayed at the Fredericksburg KOA, but we've stayed twice at Jacksonville North and we really like it for the final night before WDW. The only thing I don't like about it is that since it is so close to the border my DH never wants to stop at the FL welcome center for the free juice since we've just gotten on the road!

Safe travels!

 

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