Every Cabela’s store has a different policy about overnight parking, but many of them allow or even encourage it. Have you stayed overnight with your RV in a Cabela’s parking lot within the last year? If so, what was your experience like?
While Cabela’s doesn’t offer any hookups or potable water, some of the stores do have dump stations or water stations, so you might not be completely without amenities.
Many RVers say they feel welcome at Cabela’s, especially because of the wide parking areas and well-lit lots. Some locations even have designated RV parking sections, giving you a bit of peace of mind when pulling in for the night. Others note that staff were friendly and didn’t mind a quick overnight stop, especially if you made a purchase or asked permission.
That said, not every experience is perfect. A few travelers have reported noise from nearby highways or early-morning deliveries. Some locations may also have stricter local ordinances or security patrols that limit or prohibit overnight stays. That’s why it’s always smart to call ahead or check online reviews before banking on a night there.
Still, staying at Cabela’s can be a great fallback when you’re between campgrounds or just need a quick overnight rest. The combination of large lots, potential amenities, and the ability to restock on gear or snacks makes it a convenient option for road-weary RVers.
There are more than 180 Cabela’s stores across the U.S. and Canada, which means there’s a good chance you’re near one right now. Take a look at their store locator map if you want somewhere free to stay overnight.
RELATED
- Are Love’s RV Stops worth it? My honest experience on the road
- RVtravel.com readers discuss staying at Love’s RV Stops. Stay or pass? Worth it or not?
- 9 things to know about overnight parking at Cracker Barrel
- Tips for finding free (or nearly free) overnight RV spots
- How to stay free overnight in your RV in a small town
RVDT2895
My most favorite Cabela’s to park at for one night is the one in East Hartford CT. It is our last stop for the night before arriving at our summer Workamping jobs in New Hampshire. The parking lot is HUGE! I have only seen one or two other RVer’s while we are there but normally there is no one.
We have never been near a Cabela’s so the issue never came up. I did stay in a Walmart lot overnight when we threw the serpentine belt and I didn’t have a spare or the tools to change it. Never again will I be without the tools or spares.
Parking lots are just not my idea for an overnight stay. I have been a Harvest Hosts member for years and the experiences have been good, to mostly superb!🇨🇦
Funny, since lots of Harvest Host locations have their guests stay in parking lots. 🇺🇸
Yes,
Parking at lots of great wineries, breweries, farms, and museums. Apples and oranges.🇨🇦
I’m with you Leonard. We don’t sleep in parking lots either. It feels like it totally dissolves the whole “get an RV and enjoy the wild” vibe. 🇺🇸
Fills the need when you just need a night’s rest on the way to the camping destination. Like Cracker Barrel, always show appreciation by buying something. These places are typically quiet, crime-free, and bathrooms are clean. (Not always the case with some Walmart locations.) Cabela’s has many camping items in inventory. And the employees are always nice, always helpful. Allowing campers a good night’s sleep is admirable.
I once considered it but the particular location was in a very crime ridden area of town so I took a pass.
Used to always spend our first travel night west on I-90 at the Cabelas in Mitchell, SD. We always spent time in the store early the next morning getting some things. That one attracted a LOT of RVers, many times having 20 or more in the lot.
In 2020, on our way to the still-open-for-business state of Idaho, we pulled into the lot early evening and it was empty…then we saw the signs prohibiting overnight parking. 😔 Stayed at the Wal-Mart down the street instead.
That was the last trip where we stayed in parking lots on travel days. Now we always stay in campgrounds.
We haven’t yet stayed in a Cabela’s, but once stayed in a Costco lot (after getting permission while filling up). We tend to dry camp when just passing through an area (BLM, FS, casinos, store lots, etc.) to reduce costs. It’s much easier to do that out west. On the east coast it’s campgrounds every night. The AllStays app is a great tool for finding such places. On a trip to Yellowstone, one Walmart in Montana practically felt like a campground, there were so many happy RVers. (That store also had a Yellowstone gift department!)
The only Cabela’s we have stayed overnight in is the headquarters in Sidney, Nebraska. It is a very nice campground, not a parking lot.
Yep, we have stayed at that campground as well. Was very nice. I’m surpised that more Cabelas haven’t put in camps considering many are surrounded by land.
The one in Anchorage has a little pond and shrubbery in the parking lot.
The Sydney NE location has a small campground with hook ups. Very reasonable and all self contained. And right off I-80.