Where can you park a 5th wheel trailer?
In this blog post, we will answer the following question: Where can you park a 5th wheel trailer? We will discuss the pros and cons of parking a 5th wheel trailer in a certain place. We will also give you advice on how to find easy parking space when travelling in a 5th wheel trailer.
Where can you park a 5th wheel trailer?
You can park a 5th wheel trailer anywhere you would park an RV. Here are some options:
- RV Campsites – Great for overnight short or long-term parking. There are hundreds of campsites in the US, Canada and Mexico, where a fee is paid per night, week or month to access services and even the internet. If you travel constantly, you can join groups such as Passport America, Good Sam, KOA, among others that offer discounts on select campsites.
- National and state parks – They are an excellent option if you like hiking and discovering the natural and historical beauty of the parks. Rates are generally inexpensive ($ 15 or more per vehicle), but don’t expect to find all the facilities for an RV. Check out the lists of parks that accept RVs by state.
National parks have an annual pass that allows you free or discounted access. Passes are $ 80, but only $ 10 for people 62 and older and free for members of the military
- Rest stops – The easiest places to stop if you are driving on the interstate are rest stops. These are generally areas away from the road, providing parking, restrooms, and other items you may need while travelling.
Many travellers avoid rest stops because they are generally not well served. That’s because they are typically maintained by the state highway department and are rarely at the top of their “must do.”
Since you are lucky enough to have your toilets on board, you don’t have to worry about the condition of the facilities. You also don’t have to waste your money on the snack and beverage machines, as your fridge and cabinets need to be well-stocked.
However, the only thing you need to worry about at rest stops is safety. Because they are unguarded and used primarily by out-of-state travellers, night breaks are an easy mark for criminals. So if you need to stop, stop early while the sun is still shining and get back on your way at dusk or earlier.
- Walmart – Although some RVers report seeing signs to the contrary, Walmart’s across the country typically receive RVs in their parking lots for overnight visits.
Most stores allow RVs to park in designated areas of their parking lot for extended periods of time, requiring only that the owner notify store management. In fact, many of the stores also monitor the RV through their security systems so you can have extra peace of mind.
- Truck stops – Another possibility on those long, lonely roads is a truck stop. Many of these handy tents are RV-friendly and will gladly allow you to park overnight, especially if you’re willing to fill up your tank and go inside to stock up.
Many trucks also serve fresh food, and they can also be a good place to search for interesting souvenirs. Truck stops are also relatively safe. There must be as many truckers also staying overnight and leaving their trucks in the parking area.
- Free parking or boondocking – If you are only passing through a city and need to rest a few hours at night without paying, you can use the parking lots of some Walmart, Cracker Barrel, or the parking lots for trucks.
You can also park freely in some of the national forests or public lands that are part of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). Check first if they allow overnight parking. Take into account the gas supply, the capacity of the water and propane tanks in your RV and take certain precautions when parking in desolate places.
In the forests you could encounter wild animals, so be careful, pay attention to any notice on the site and do not leave food or garbage outside because it could attract them. Although some animals won’t hurt you if you don’t disturb them, others will.
Advice for camping in a 5th wheel trailer
Below are some key points you must look out for before choosing a place to park your 5th wheel trailer, but especially if you plan on camping in the place for a few days. On a scale from low to high, these are the amenities you can expect at a paid motorhome campsite:
- Water: generally in the area near your parking space with which you can approach to load your tanks. In full-hookup campsites, you have an exclusive water connection in your space, so your motorhome can be permanently connected to the water through a hose.
- Electricity: like water, there is usually an outlet in the parking area for you to plug in your vehicle. It is important if you are going to do this, do it only if your vehicle has the same voltage (110 or 220) that it takes.
In many cases, the socket is only for plugging in just a few items (computers or cameras) so you have to stay nearby to take care of them. In full-hookup campsites, the electrical outlet is individual for each vehicle.
- Bathrooms: in primitive campsites, these are simply a latrine, while in more developed campsites they include not only toilets but also hot showers.
- Wi-fi: Increasingly, paid campsites throughout America are including wi-fi in their basic services. However, it is quite bad in many cases and disconnects a lot or has a very slow speed, especially in remote places and in the middle of nature.
- Drains: as we have already mentioned, in the US and Canada (countries where there is a lot of motorhome travel culture), campsites also usually have drains to empty the grey and black water tanks, either unique to all vehicles or individually for each in the case of full-hookups.
- Other services: telephone, satellite television, swimming pools, private access to lakes or streams, games for children … Anyway, the campsites in some places may have things that you would never imagine finding in such a place!
Final advice
As advised, the below places are the best for parking a 5th wheel trailer for either short or long-term. Just be careful if you decide on parking your 5th wheel in your backyard or in front of your house.
HOA can restrict the parking of RVs on the street if they wish so. Of course, it will depend on the HOA and your relationship with them.
The same rules apply to camping trailers, boats and even pop-up campers. The HOA RV parking rules prohibit even parking in your backyard for more than 24-48 hours or ban entirely parking in your driveway if the vehicle doesn’t fit entirely in and restrict access to the pathway.
Make sure you know your obligations as well as your rights! And if you have any questions about the content, do not hesitate to contact us.
FAQ on Where can you park a 5th wheel trailer?
Where can I park an RV?
An RV is perfectly entitled to park in the parking spaces along the roadway. However, its size must allow it, it must not interfere with road traffic or pedestrians. However, due to its size, the motorhome cannot park everywhere.
Where to stop with a motorhome?
A motorhome can stop in town in a parking space and spend the night there. It does not matter whether the motorhome operators are on board or not, as long as they comply with the regulations.
Where to park your RV in the United States?
In general, the best way to visit a city in the US is to park your RV in the parking lot of a shopping centre served by the city’s public transportation system. However, you will have to get back to the vehicle before closing and get back on the road (unless it is in the parking lot of a Walmart that allows you to spend the night there).
What are the HOA RV parking rules?
The HOA RV parking rules will differ by state, but in most cases, you will not be able to park your RV:
- In front of a hydrant, or in any way that makes access to the hydrant difficult in the event of a fire.
- In alleys, unless it is to unload passengers or cargo.
- In your driveway or backyard for more than 48 hours.
- On a corner or crosswalk.
- Next to a parked car (double parking).
- In front of a bus stopped in a tunnel.
- On a bridge.
- In one place for more than 72 hours (36 hours in some states).
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