Give me some assurance drydocking at truck stop or walmart

[guardwife66]

Our local Walmart is open 24 hours. If I need a vacation, I sometimes go and sack out on one of the futons. I always feel safe there.

Make sure you get some pillows from the household aisle. Makes it quite comfy.

 

[Dirtslinger]

We usually stop at a FlyinJ late at night then leave early in the morning. We always fuel there too. Last year we took our time on the way down and just stopped at hotels because setting up the 5'er is harder than just taking in a bag when it is cold out. We now have a class A so it is back to the J on the way down. I've never done the walmart thing but have seen many there when we drive by. We have also stayed at a campground on the way to and from but that is usually a hassel to set up for one short night with the kids that are asleep anyway. So on this trip we will stop somewhere before Atlanta and on the way home we will go straight home like last year.

 

[dtum]

Have to agree with Shan-man. We prefer pulling into a campground. Usually plan on arriving between 5-6 p.m. if possible so we can relax, hook up power and watch some TV That said, we never leave after work. DH tends to fall asleep driving so it's safer to get up at 4 a.m. and leave. We get up early to go to work so it's not a big deal to get up early and drive. Leaving after work would also put us someplace in WV when we need to stop and there aren't many place (none) on the WV turnpike. That's just us thougho--to each their own.

 

[Shan-man]

I have a hard time driving at night as well... plus with our old rig it is risky to drive at hours where roadside assistance is not readily available. Which means we prefer to not be on the road on holidays and Sundays either. Early departure is much easier for us as well.

 

[Carousel_OF_Disney]

I have stayed at more Rest Areas and enough WalMarts than I care to count.

Coming South from Louisville - the first rest area past the city IS GREAT. Good lighting and since it's so close to the city oddly - light traffic. The second one is dark and usually lots of people pulling in. After that I think is the state line.

Nashville - Priceline always has deals for Airport area hotels, bidding $22-$25 (plus fees) - we usually get a hotel.

The Georgia/TN State line rest areas have always been great for sleeping either direction.

Going South on I-75 - I think you go from Rome, GA to just past Forsyth, GA without a rest area, but I love that one as it's right at the I-475 bypass around Macon. (75 miles or so South of Atlanta).

Saw someone mention Perry, GA. Heard yesterday on a radio loop (1610 Am) the great stuff they offer. Will have to start making this part of my stops.
"The Welcome Center is a modern, comfortable facility that many traveler's have made their routine place to stop through the years. You are always greeted with southern hospitality and a friendly smile at the Perry Welcome Center! Visitors enjoy the amenities of our beautiful facility including:

• Free Coffee
• Clean restrooms
• TV/Theater room for viewing the weather channel or the latest news
• Picnic pavilion
• Dump station for RVs
• Free Georgia Maps
• A fenced dog park
• and plenty of helpful travel information" --**Radio said free WIRELESS TOO
From the North:
Take Exit 135. Turn left at the end of the exit ramp. Travel to the first traffic light and turn right. Travel about a 1⁄4 mile and the welcome center will be located on your right just past the Red Carpet Inn.



The Georiga I-75 rest area's are fine. Nothing special.

Valdosta has a great Wal-Mart that we slept in recently. It also has a Sam's Club. Either of the two main exits in Valdosta will get you to it as you can see it from the Interstate.

After that it's only another 15 miles to the Florida Welcome Center.

Next rest area is just past Lake City. Next is just past Gainesville, Next is just past Ocala and lastly just after you get onto the Turnpike.

ALL the FLORIDA rest area's have NIGHT TIME SECURITY. So I usually prefer to utilize those vs WalMart for faster moving after waking up and less noise.

If you're on the turnpike and want to avoid a couple of tolls and drive around to Disney, you can exit US -27 ($1.25) - towards Kissimmee. The first WalMart I think is no over night parking. BUT THE second one (20 miles off the turnpike) is great. Very quite and right on the corner of US-27 & 192. About 7 miles to Disney. I like this one for stocking up on supplies. Plus on 192 you still pass 1 - Publix, 1 NEW Super Target - 1 Winn Dixie and lots of other food places for anything else you may need.

Going South on 192 past Disney and I-4 you'll find another WalMart about 7 miles towards Kissimmee. THIS IS NO OVER NIGHT PARKING, which is a shame since it has non-stop moving security.

I-4 - On the East coast side of Disney/Orlando (30 miles I'd say) is a decent rest area. I really like the rest area on the West coast side of Disney/Orlando. Plus you have a Love's truck stop nearby. We use this one when leaving Disney area late at night, but too tired to drive to Tampa.

I-95 S / I-295 junction- just past Jacksonville is a very busy rest area, but sometimes it has to do. Big truck stop 1/2 at the next exit too.

If you can go past St. Augustine we really like that rest area. Nothing between that and the one before Orlando if going to Disney.

---

While I'm at it - The cheapest Regular Gas (stations and truck stops) between downtown Atlanta and Florida are as follows. I-475 Exit 3 - several regular gas stations ($2.08 as of 10/1).
I-75 South Exit - 5 - Speedway Truck Stop ($2.14 as of 10/1) - which I use for cheap gas and showers, but recent prices the past year have been cheaper at Exit 2 - Flying J ($2.19 on 10/1).

Make sure to fill up before crossing into Florida, no matter how you enter. Prices for miles into FL / exiting FL are much higher.

Exit 350 in Ocala - Racetrac has been the best after crossing into Florida on I-75 South. But several Truck Stops past that have been good too ($2.27) lately.

The HESS in the Magic Kingdom parking lot next to the R.Petty Speedway has been a decent enough price my last few trips as well. Plus they are open 24 hour, full pizza, fries, burgers, subs, dogs etc fresh food too.

The Racetrac just South of I-4 and 192 towards Old Towne/Kissimmee is the best in the area though ($2.26 on 10/1).

 

[YorkieMom]

Can you park overnight at the Florida Rest Areas ?

 

[BradyBz12]

None of the rest areas we've ever stopped at along I95 allow overnight parking. Not sure about other areas of FL.

 

[ftwildernessguy]

The Florida welcome center at the Georgia border is always packed all night with RV's and trucks.

 

[laura-k]

we drive about 26-30 hours so we usually leave around 11.00 on Wednesday (got to get that half day of school ) pick up Grandma and are on the way about noonish -I usually eat something around 5 or 6 and try to go sleep -my husband drives to around Effingham, IL or a little further then I drive us overnight to somewhere before Atlanta by that time it is morning and the traffic is bad so I stop go get my truck stop coffee and donut, sit shotgun awhile and off to sleep and sometime weather being ok the night before we arrive around 4 to FW !
When we stop and fuel we usually take our time or eat but usually we like to keep moving -hey more time at the world ! -When I stop at night it is usually at a flying J or really big bright truck stop to gas up and stretch -

 

[becky1960]

Not all Florida Rest stops have Security, we stop at some that dont, and we have stopped at these for more years than I can count..

 

[Carousel_OF_Disney]

You can stay at many of the Florida rest areas.

They will have a sign at the front as you exit that says - 24 hr security or Night Time Security. I don't know of any that don't have security between GA and Disney on 75 or 95 South.

The heavily traveled ones have FL State Troopers for security.

The states website says they all have security.

--The ones with welcome centers and the turnpike turkey lake center all have 15 min. of free wifi (per laptop) now too.

 

[I'mDownWithDisney]

I emailed the Perry Ga Welcome Center to verify that they allow overnight parking and got this response.

I’m sorry for the delayed response but you are welcome to make a one night overnight parking stop here at the welcome center. Please let us know if you have any questions.

Looks like we will be stopping here on the way down. I normally stop in this general area anyway.

 

[wmah]

When I bought my van, I bought it intending to use it for overnight stops while traveling from place to place. When I get to the place I am going to I use a hotel as the van is simply a cargo van with a bed in the back and an air conditioner in the back window and I do use it as an rv.

I haven't taken it to Florida yet but I intend to use either truck stops or rest areas. I have gone to California with it and I did use truck stops and rest areas. I have nothing against walmart lots but it can be a bit of a pain to use a restroom that I don't have in the van and when the store is closed. And yes I would buy something there as a thank you for letting me stay. I do that at truck stops.

On my last trip to Florida using the truck I did stay in a hotel parking lot for a few hours of sleep. I picked one that seemed to have a lot of people staying at. I'm not sure if an actual rv would get away with it or not. hardest part there was trying to sleep sitting up which is why I bought the van.

I say limited space cause friend has her power chair with her and it takes up a good amount of space, and the chair is another reason I like using rest areas and truck stops as I know the rest rooms will be better set up for her. I still see a lot of campgrounds that are not friendly for wheelchair users.