overnight in parks?

[joecool]

Has anyone slept overnight using city or state parks instead of hotels when going across country? Just wondering how police look at those who stay over night in parks if that's even allowed.

[Dangeruss]

Lander Wyoming has an area in the city park just for camping. That's the only one that I have ever heard of. We camped there in 09 so I know it's true

Because of homeless problems most municipalities do not allow camping in the park and the police will boot you out when they see you.

[Placerville]

You can't sleep overnight in City Parks. They are traditionally for day use only. If they allowed it, they'd be filled with bums, or worse yet, motorcycle riders .

State parks are a different issue. Go on-line and pull state park information for the ones which you'll be traveling. They will advise you which parks allow overnight camping, fees and what accommodations they provide.

[Whiskerfish]

Most places in the east arrest campers in the city parks for vagrancy.

[shovelhead]

I drive thru Nebraska, Kansas, and North and South Dakota every week. I often see signs indicating the city parks in small towns have camping facilities. If you want to be brave I guess you could take off and see what you find.

[Brant]

I think along the secondary highways you will have better luck with being able to camp in city parks. In the smaller towns along the way, there are little wayside areas and roadside parks. I think these little bergs want to encourage folks to stop and spend a few dollars, so they put out the welcome mat more so than the bigger towns where the scoff-laws and neer-do-wells would take advantage.


Hey shovelhead, where in Nebr are you? Adams? Wheres that?

[chrisgl1800]

Most Wallyworld's allow overnight camping/rving in their parking lots.....

[rogue1000]

A lot of the city parks have sprinkler systems that turn on about 2am to discourage camping..Sometimes hostels are a good, cheap alternative to motels/hotels or even camping, and there is a huge string of them across the US.

[rcmatt007]

and you can always ask at the local PD office

[heraldhamster]

Most Wallyworld's allow overnight camping/rving in their parking lots.....

and they're everywhere!

[shovelhead]

Brant: Adams is south east of Lincoln. I have seen people tent camping in the grass on the edge of the parking lot at Wal-Mart in Pierre S.D. I don't think anyone would chase you out of Wal-Mart in most places. It sticks in my mind the city park at Hastings allows camping; but I ain't sure. I drive a truck for a living and all the stuff and places just run together. If anyone is interested I will make some notes when I see a quiet place.

[Brant]

I would worry about the sprinklers at Walmart. You are right about the camping at Hastings Lake, shovelhead. It's not advertised, but it's allowed. I think city most fairgrounds will allow camping also.

[giant81]

I'd never thought about a Hostel but WOW. Doing some googling and I love that idea. Wish I'd known about them years ago. I'll certainly be using hostels for my travel when I can. Much cheaper and seem like a descent place when you just need a bed for the night.

[skydog]

Here in Rapid City they will chase you out of Wallyworld!Campground owners made a big stink,they even have signs posted.There is something redicilous about seeing a $100,000 motorhome set up in a parking lot tho.Used to be a time when you could pitch a tent in the Black Hills anywere,not so anymore!Now ya have to have a permit just to pull over to take a leak in the picinic grounds

[Brant]

My wife and I have used hostels before. I don't care for the bunkhouse arrangements but sometines you can find a place where you can get a small room or rent one of those little cabins.