We first wrote about the Sullivan, Missouri, RV Self-Park back in 2020. At the time, we wondered if it were a wave of the future. If imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, then the Sullivan park has its admirers. In 2022, Weary Traveler opened its version of an automated RV park in Seymour, Indiana, birthplace of rocker John Cougar Mellencamp. Maybe it’s a “battle of the bands,” because now, RV Self-Park is doing site prep on its second automated RV park, this time in Kingsland, Georgia.
New automated RV park to open in March
Jim Turntine, the founder of RV Self-Park, bills his Missouri operation as “America’s 1st Automated RV Parking Facility.” While he can’t claim “the Second,” his own second is slated to open in March. The Kingsland, Georgia, automated RV park will be slightly different than his Missouri park. Sites will be a tad longer, 85’, compared to the original’s 75’ slots. Initially, overnighters will have to make do with gravel sites, but Turntine says down the line they’ll be paved.
What makes an automated RV park—well—automated? Instead of handing your credit card to a smiling (or not) counter attendant, you can only register online. “You have to have a reservation to access the utilities,” Christopher Pyle told Woodall’s Campground Magazine. Pyle is Jim Turntine’s son-in-law and the company’s director of operations. “Our automation knows what time people are supposed to arrive. Our automated system recognizes (when) there is a reservation, and it will turn on at the guests’ correct start time. Their start time is editable in their confirmation email if they’re going to be early or if they are running late.”
While RV Self-Park’s existing and future park are automated, that doesn’t mean guests are in the lurch if something goes haywire. Guests can grab their phone and call a live body for help. The duo would like to see their operation grow, particularly throughout the South, and are pushing franchise opportunities.
How much will you pay?
For the rest of us, just what should you expect to pay for a stay at an automated RV park? Prices at the Sullivan location start at $34.99 for a 14-hour stay, and rise to $39.99 for 18 hours. A full 24-hour shift will run $44.99. You can tack on “extras,” if you wish. A site with “a small patio and picnic table” adds on $2. Or “supersize it” with a premium site that offers “a large patio, large picnic table and gazebo,” for an extra $5.
Meanwhile, over at Weary Traveler in Missouri, their 90’ sites are $39.00 per night. How long is their night? In at 3:00 p.m., out by 2:00 p.m. A 23-hour overnight. No picnic tables or gazebos.
How much will you pay? See above. How much are you willing to pay? We asked readers in a survey this very question. Click here and scroll to the bottom of the page to see.
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From the picture it seems more like a parking lot. Sites to close together, no shade trees. Where’s the picnic table and fire rings?
Don’t want either. Just a place to out the dogs; yes we do clean up. On our way to a destination further than a 8 to 10 hour drive day.
I really think these are intended for those wanting an overnight spot. I don’t need those items when overnighting.
Just enough for an over night stay. Plus no noise or traffic like a truck stop or even Love’s.
The one’s on the Ohio Turnpike have 20-30-50 amp electric, a dump station and potable water access. $20 for a one night stay.
They are far enough from the travel center so noise is not really a problem.
It would be nice if other states would implement this on the major roads.
You won’t need shade trees if it’s an overnight stop.
My biggest concern with these places is that there appears to be no one there to enforce any rules or ensure rowdy and/or intoxicated/high “campers” causing trouble are dealt with.
Also, with six feet of grass, thank God there are no fire pits!
That’s what the local PD is for.
Since that is private property some PDs may not respond unless a crime is being committed. I’ve seen a PD not respond to a fender bender at a Walmart because it was private property, they said exchange info and call your insurance company.
Thank you, Russ and Tina! 🙂 I look forward to reading reviews on these parks. Safe travels! 🙂
The city is actually spelled Seymour. This is my hometown.
Thank you, Todd! Sorry ’bout that. I didn’t double-check the spelling, obviously.🙄 It’s been corrected. Have a good night. 😀 –Diane at RVtravel.com
I have a difficult time believing I would be willing to pay anything equal to or more for LESS service. I believe that one of the benefits of staying at an RV park is the interaction and with the local owners/employees, hearing what they have to say about the area, the local buzz, the do’s and dont’s. It seems to me that they are saving money AND making
MORE money by implementing this practice and I wouldn’t have a problem with either of those things if it didn’t seem like the guest was losing something. 12-18 hours with no interaction seems a bit…cold. I can make reservations online anytime, I don’t need the park to advertise it as a specialty when I see their specialty as a limitation.
Different strokes for different folks. I, too, would not stay at a place like this as a destination, but I would pay for the convenience of the overnight stop. Cheaper than a hotel and much better than an interstate rest area. Wish there were more in the Midwest!
As Allen said, different strokes….. I actually LIKE the idea of not having to deal with people. Sounds good for an overnight.
Places like this are good for overnight stops on your way to somewhere else like Loves RV stops. In and out with no hassles.
We’ve used the Loves RV stops and found them decent and good for a day or 2. There is a UcamP Express in Salem IL that is a somewhat automated RV park that we absolutely enjoy. You can reserve online or simply pull in and pay at the Kiosk. Full hookups plenty long for our 40′ motorhome towing our Silverado. No disconnecting needed.
These have been long overdue for travelers looking for a safe overnight.
Excellent idea for overnighter. Unless I have reached my destination, I am only interested in hook up, sleep and leaving early in the morning.
Back to Chuck’s “Just the night” idea.
It just seems to me to be a bit spendy for a less than 24-hour stay.
This idea is not unique. Several years ago, 2019 or 2020, We stayed in a fully automated overnight park in Marianna, FL and just last year we stayed in another near Valdosta, Ga. We enjoyed them both and thought it was a great concept.
I’d like to see a “coin op” type park. So much for the site if you want a sewer dump it’s extra (like at Flying J) water X amount per gallon Y amount for electricity. Each site would have a box attached to insert coins or credit card, pay only for what you use or need.
What’s a coin? Credit Card is old tech.
Thank you, Russ and Tina! Interesting idea. We don’t travel that part of I-95 much (ever?), but I’ll try to keep this campground in mind if we do take the RV on that section of interstate. I hope to try one of the places one day so I can have an informed opinion. Meanwhile, I let DW deal with the folks at check-in. 🙂
I really like this option for an overnight stop.
I like the variable rate as it feels more equitable than a single price regardless of duration. I’m curious how things are handled if someone has a mechanical issue on their RV preventing their departure and your occupancy. You can’t just pick another spot and absent a camp host to assist, you inherit the other guy’s problem.
I could see stopping for a night was in transit. During the pandemic we traveled across the country and the biggest difference was there was a person hiding out in the office to answer questions through the window. I have a friend who manages airport parking and during the pandemic we considered converting some of the parking area to short turnover RV spots. Now the parking is full again and paying far more per square foot of occupied space than any RVer would put up with.
Good luck getting useful help for an immediate problem by contacting someone (somewhere in the world) on the phone.