Cracker Barrels can be an RVer’s best friend for the free overnight parking and the cheesy hashbrowns. What’s not to love? There are currently 660 Cracker Barrel stores across the United States. Most of them, though not all, allow RVers to park overnight in their parking lots for free (but if you do, try and purchase at least one meal or something from their store).
Have you ever spent the night in a Cracker Barrel parking lot in your RV? Have you stayed multiple times, or just once or twice?
Please tell us in the poll below and, of course, feel free to leave a comment too.
My RV won’t fit in a Cracker Barrel parking lot; no so far at least.
Wow, how long is your unit? We have a 36’ 5th wheel we tow with a F-350 crew cab long bed and have stayed in Cracker Barrel’s parking lots countless times. Depending upon the time of day, you know it’s not required you park in the marked slots. We routinely park along an empty string of parking spaces at the rear off the facility against the curb, putting out our slides over the grass. We love the “Cracker Barrel Resort”. Our first choice when traveling.
I agree Gary. We’ve stopped at CB in St George many times and parked along the curb with our 40 ft 5er and F350 dually long box crew cab. We parked in the corner of the parking lot and ran our generator on occasion. Never had a problem and always ate a meal there. One time I had the stew and only got what amounted to a tablespoon of meat. I politely asked the manager about this rather miniscule portion as I’m 6’2″ and 240. He brought me a nice large bowl to add to my plate.
We don’t fit. From our experience their parking lots are way too small. We would if we could.
Yup, why is it that an off-topic comment has to be made? Says more about them than about Cracker barrel, Rving, or parking lots.
We have stopped using cracker barrel all together, the majority of the time there are cars parked in all the RV parking spaces. Leaving no space to park with our 5th wheel.
Never stayed in a Crackle Backle parking lot, but have some friends that stay in them frequently and love it. Whenever they visit we have to eat in our local CB.I tolerate eating there but dont enjoy it.We always have to wait too long to be seated even if the parking lot is mostly empty. Then it’s way too noisy, the food is mediocre, and kinda pricey. I’ll risk getting hate mail, but I would stay there but eat somewhere else.
I have used cracker barrel several times, especially when making long distance treks and needing a place to stay for a night. Experience has always been good in general. Sometimes the location is a bit noisy but that’s what you get when in a populated area. Since the pandemic, I’ve just been getting takeout from them for dinner. It’s not my favorite food but I feel I should patronize my host!
Yes, but not often. Surprisingly they are everywhere, until your need one to sleep! Walmarts are much more common but they are often further from the exits.
We stop in rest areas far more often, but prefer, CB & WM.
Also, something needs to be done to provide more sleeping places for truckers.
They have to stop so much and it shouldn’t be so difficult for them.
BTW RV’s are not taking up truck spots all that often. I see about 1% RV’s in rest stops and truck stops so we are not the problem, but we are affected by it.
We parked in one of the RV spots the first time that we stayed overnight in a Cracker Barrel parking lot. It was on the backside of the store and we were awakened at 5 AM-ish by a tractor-trailer rig making a delivery. The next time we stayed at one we parked on the edge of the parking lot behind the building and slept through the night undisturbed. We asked for permission both times and were cheerfully given it. We are very willing to stay overnight in other Cracker Barrels, but have not done so yet. We have never overnighted at a Walmart.
Often! Our Class B Winnebago van fits like a glove even in their regular parking spaces. We usually find a place around back by the grass away from the dumpsters. Always enjoy the Mama’s French Toast breakfast on sourdough bread!
We ate at one once. Disgusting. Never again. There seem to be a 6 in CA and adding more.
Ha! that’s funny Bill…I don’t care for them either but it took me about 3 visits before I finally snapped and realized…I don’t like this food!!
I guess tastes vary. My bride and I REALLY like the fare there. Good healthy “comfort” food. Kind of like what I grew up eating on the midwestern farm.
We stopped at a Cracker Barrel once just ot eat. I pull a 30 foot bumper pull toy hauler with my Silverado. The spot designated was not really long enough, but we parked anyway. Stuck out front and rear. Now the real problem. In order to leave, we had to circle the building and then go through the regular parking area to the exit. To say it was a tight squeeze is an under statement.
There is nothing better than starting your traveling day with a good breakfast you didn’t have to cook. CB overnight is far better than any truck stop.
The only reason we haven’t , the rule of not parking in RV sites is not enforced. Cars are parked in the RV sites. In an attempt, to park, we were in a precarious situation. Never made the attempt again. We love the food, eat at Cracker Barrel as much as possible. I always find something in the store, I “need”,
We haven’t yet. But if it comes up we will..
We like to stay at Cracker Barrels. Sometimes the parking lots are not friendly to larger rigs so we look for a Google Street View or Google Earth shot to scope it out ahead of time. Their “Bus/RV” parking is really only for Buses or small RVs w/o slides as are very narrow and don’t typically accomodate a toad or tow vehicle. But we’ve been fortunate to always find a curb length or rear parking area that has worked for us. We always get dinner or breakfast – sometimes both!
Not saying it was an ideal place to state it, since there are walks of all kinds here…
But God bless the fact that he has the right to say it!
RV parking areas are WAY too small for our 40 FT Monaco towing a Saturn Vue. They are great for Class B & small C’s plus any small pop-ups or A-Liners.
Have found most Cracker Barrel’s RV parking spaces to short to park in when towing.
Has worked well for us in the past when we needed a meal and a spot for overnight to get some sleep. Even ran our generator.
No
Cracker Barrel RV spaces are to small for most RV’s. Tried to stop at one for lunch once while towing and was told ALL the RV spaces were closed so they could hold an employee party.
I guess I’ve been lucky. We are right at 67 feet (pickup, 5er, UTV trailer) and have always fit at the ones at which we’ve stopped.
We haven’t overnighted in one yet, usually stay in campgrounds. We enjoy the food, and may try staying there in the future.
We have stayed at CB twice, the most recent stay about 10 days ago. There were 4 other campers. Sites were wide & long enough to accommodate our 38’ Bounder. We parked in the end spot, so were able to put out our bedroom slide. Lot was well-lit. Ate dinner & breakfast.
Great place to have dinner or take it back to your RV. The RV parking is great. Good breakfast too. Thank you Cracker Barrel.
Can’t remember what state we were in, but it was a nice stop – quiet, safe and tasty breakfast in the morning. Thank you Cracker Barrel!
Overpriced unhealthy food.
Once, about six years ago
I had to laugh, as I did just last night! I always go talk to the manager. We tend to arrive just before closing,and the parking lot is mostly empty. after all, we are just looking for a place to sleep overnight, to move on down the road after We have breakfast.
We have a class C towing and CB seems to work ok for us. We’ve had good experiences. Having dinner and not cleaning up is a bonus! We only do this when driving all day and hitting the road early the next morning, We appreciate the opportunity since they are usually close to the expressway!
The Cracker Barrel in Florence is our first night stop on our annual Florida trip.
We stayed there this summer, awoken around 3:00 am by sound of gunshot, woke up again around 630 and sure enough someone was shot next door in a parking lot. Sad.
Great place for the evening meal and a better place for breakfast, they always welcome RVers to stay the night because they know we’ll be in for breakfast before leaving.
Spent 2 different nights and 1 late morning.
Tried a couple of times. Once to many cars in the RV space. Second time we were so happy we got a space! But after a quick walk around we found our rig (55′ truck and fifth wheel) extended over the front and rear of the spot. We moved out and found parking on the street. The local cop who was there (unrelated to our parking) did mention the was no parking there from midnight to 6am. He explained it was to keep the big trucks from parking their before delivering to a local distribution center. He did find a nearby RV park for us!
I try to arrive between 8~9 PM. Their dinner rush is over so, I can always park my rig and go in for a nice late dinner. They open at 6 AM so, I can get a good breakfast and get back on the road early before their breakfast rush hits.
Several times and enjoyed dinner and breakfast before I left
Tried to once, but the employees were parked in the “RV only” spots. We reported it, but I doubt it did any good.
Yes, had a good supper first, and a great breakfast in the morning before rolling on down the highway.
We went to the one in Clive, IA. I went inside to ask permission, and it was granted. Not only that, the manager went outside with me and my wife to show where the most level spaces were. But we were allowed to practically park anywhere we wanted. Had supper that night and breakfast the following morning.
I love the security at CB. They have a well lit parking lot with cameras. Dinner is great with enough leftovers for lunch the next day. I always ask the manager and leave a $20 tip for the waitress.
Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri. Twice. Big spaces, open parking lot. Felt very safe.
Ditto at Fort Leonard Wood and several times along I-95 in the southeast. We always eat there, ask the manager for permission even though we have never been turned down, Go in for breakfast and coffee and super friendly people. Just be sure to park out of the way, be aware of others around you, do not open slides unless they are out of the traffic pattern. Keep the area clean, And it is an over-night stop only. We will continue to stay at CB’s going forward.
Missoula, MT:) We always ask first to stay and look forward to our breakfast at CB.