Back in January 2020, just before COVID-19 turned RVing, and everything else, upside down, something new to the RV park world came along. Sleepy RVers traveling Missouri’s Interstate 44 outside of St. Louis could pull into a self-serve RV park. Roll in, park it, swipe your credit card, and hook up to water, electric and sewer. At the time it seemed like a unique concept, and we wondered just how well it would go. But then came COVID, and all bets were off.
COVID is “behind us,” say the pundits. With freeways loaded “wall to wall and ten feet tall,” the need for places to overnight have only increased. Enter two entrepreneurial spirits in the heart of RV manufacturing country. For weary travelers on I-65, making that run between Indianapolis and Louisville, what could be better than the Weary Traveler self-serve RV park? Evidently, the good politicians of Seymour, Indiana, agree, having just granted zoning approval for the new automated RV sleeping spot.
Weary travelers unite
Roger Stephens and Drent Sarault are the engines behind Weary Traveler. Both of the men have been avid RVers for ages. Drent told RVtravel.com that his RV trips typically put 30,000 miles a year on his odometer. He knows well just how hard it is to find a place to turn off the road at the end of the day.
“How many RVers feel safe at Walmart or Cracker Barrel?” Sarault asked. And indeed, what Wally or Crackers can offer an RVer full hookups? Both the men are from Indiana, so they started looking around for a hot spot for tired travelers. Seymour, an hour from both Louisville and Indianapolis, seemed a likely spot. For you old rockers, John Mellencamp, of “I Was Born in a Small Town” fame, was born right there in Seymour.
Sure enough, Serault and Stephens bought a 7+ acre site on Seymour’s east side, and with the zoning approval, they plan on “moving dirt” by the end of summer.
Amenities—and prices
When the new park is complete, it’ll be ready with 30 full-hookup, pull-through sites, with WiFi access. The outfit will provide reservations through their website. RVers will pay in advance of arrival, and will get a gate code number to access the park. With check-in/check-out times set for 1:00 in the afternoon, those who want to get off the road before dark will be able to get in. Those who travel a little later in the day will still have a full night’s rest. If the Seymour park is successful, you may see more Weary Traveler RV parks popping up elsewhere.
And the cost? Drent Sarault tells us the final figure isn’t cast in stone. “We’ve been tossing around $50 to $60 a night.” Compare that with the reality of what the prices really did over in Missouri at that other automated park. In the end, the park set charges of $39 for 14 hours. Bumping to a full day costs $59. And heaven forbid if it starts getting full. The rates, like some hotels, increase with occupancy.
How about you? How much would you be willing to pay to do a simple “overnight” next to the freeway? Take our poll and see how others vote.
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First-of-its-kind self-service RV park. The wave of the future?
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Where do I find the poll about the self service RV park? Personally we wouldn’t use it but we very rarely use an RV park of any sort. We have a 6 wheel drive classic 1978 GMC motorhome with modern GMC 8100 engine, 28,000 watt/hr lithium battery system, composting toilet and Grey water recycling system. So we’ve not had tanks to dump for 11 years now, and haven’t hooked up to shore power for 6 years.
For you, Garold, just drive on by.
😄🤣😁
I have never seen a 6 wheel drive GMC motor home. These were all FWD and had no provisions for a driveshaft or rear differential axles, this must sit really high off the ground to accommodate the necessary clearance for these components. It would be interesting to see pics of the drivetrain of this monster, could you slip under it with your phone and snap some pics for us?
“Slipping under a GMC Motorhome” is a real trick. Very low ground clearance.
I would take the idea one step further x dollars to stay at the park if you wanted a sewer hook up you would pay x more if you wanted electrical you would pay more if you wanted water you would pay more. The electrical and the water would be by volume service. Everything could be automated with a charge card machine at each spot
I beieve this is how the one in Missouri works.
Seann-
This is exactly what I proposed to a new rest area in NC and was told it would be too expensive and would not work.
How’d you know which utilities are being used when there is no one on site? Do you have a credit card or optical reader with a gas pump- or car wash-style menu to unlock each specific utility connection, but not others? That technology would seem to be very expensive to install and maintain since each utility hookup at every site would be electronic. It could be somewhat simplified by having a single dump, but a long line at the dump every morning conflicts with the “quick overnight stop” objective of these parks. The much simpler technologically is just to charge everyone for a FHU site regardless of which utilities are actually used. And more profitable too!
If the idea is to just stop for the night to get some rest, why bother with any hook ups? a secure place to park for 10 bucks would be good enough. After all, most RV’s are self contained and can manage for one night without hook ups and are not there to “camp” just to rest.
Not everyone travels with water. May want to crank up the AC or watch TV. Plus if there are no hook ups folks might just go the wal mart for free rather than pay $10.
That’s what I’d like to see… just a spot of land, not near a freeway or RR tracks. I carry everything with me.
If you stay in cool climates and never see a heat wave, that works fine. If you travel in the summer in a tin can absorbing heat and sun, you need A/C at night.
Absolutely!
Similar idea at Cabela’s in Sidney, NE where I stayed every year on the trip north from NM.
they have had similar self serve spots like these in ohio for years…on 80 or 90 at rest stops…worked great…other places too
About eight months ago we stopped at a brand new (still being painted) rest stop off 95 in North Carolina. The building is huge and there had to be 300++ parking spots and several dozen truck spots. I inquired about a dump station at the new facility and was told that there were none.
I asked why not? Somebody should have planned ahead but was told it would have cost too much. I said, no, just add a charge machine much like a parking meter for water, sewer, and electric and I guarantee you people will stop.
Here is a fast question for the audience: How much will a facility like this cost to build? I have plenty of land that has been totally cleared and it abuts I 95.
Where is this rest area?
We’ve seen lots of rest area in WI, TN, MO, and other locations around the country where the dump stations have been closed due to people dumping trash, stones, sections of sewer hose, or just dumping without bothering to use a hose. All it takes is repetitive careless RVers, vandals, or other idiots to screw things up for everyone.
Many in WA were closed due to motor oil and diapers. People are pigs.
The ones at the Ohio rest stops are great. Very much like this idea. $20/night though when I was there last year for electric and water. Dump station available. I could see this being successful at about $30/night max since some folks will value a false sense of security because of the gate.
The Lamberts Cafe in Sikeston, Missouri (just off I55) is just opening a self serve RV park similar to the one in this article next to their parking lot. I ask if they are still going to pick people up at other parks like they do now and was told yes, but they will be dropping you off at the entrance. If you stay at their park you will be escorted inside and seated right away. They are going to charge $40.00 at the kiosk.
We are RVer’s with a specific destination with no hook-ups. Just a place on the way there to park and dump on the way back also would get our dollars. Forty dollars would be ok. We are now limited to 500 miles or 10 hours each way and would like to expand our range. At my age-73- the drive should not be stressful. Supposed to be fun.
Not sure I understand your description, but at age 73 you should be able to slow down and travel in 200-mile-a-day jumps, and see the countryside while you are at it. You could use a senior pass at federal parks, or some state parks, and see 2-3 different nice places with that $40 you are willing to spend on a parking lot. Maybe use Campground Reviews or RV Parky or whatever, to look around for better options along your route.
Yes!…we are are in our 70’s and 250 a day is as much as we care to drive. We love RV Parky, use it all the time!
Is there a maintenance person on-site? If it’s self-serve and youve pre-paid for a specific spot, what happens if there’s something wrong with the hook-ups when you get there? What happens if the RV from the night before is still there after checkout time? What happens if people dump their trash they’ve been saving up for a week? I have lots of unanswered questions before I could say “yay” or “nay” to this idea…
Knowing how inconsiderate, dishonest and cheap some RVers are, yeah, I’d have to agree.
I wouldn’t stay. We are an all electric 50 amp class A. Yes we can “get by” on 30 amp but with the developers talking $50+ a night we’ll take it on down the road
Me too, the concept idea is great, but at 50 to 60, I’ll just find an rv park. I’ve been surprised loves and pilot haven’t turned part of their land Into this.
Loves is, I believe, doing just that at some locations. But again, not cheap to stay.
I’m glad there are people willing to pay premium prices to be parked tightly together at an unattended parking lot, with all the freeway noise you can eat. Hopefully it will leave more space at actual parks.
Sounds like a few RV parks I have pulled into. They are right by the highway, or RR tracks, or airport.
We are FT rver’s, pulling a 5th wheel and use state rest areas for overnight stops whenever possible, I’m frugal. We start our travel between destinations with some water, empty waste tanks and gas in the generator. We have only fired up the generator 2x in 3 yrs for AC on really hot nights, so that would be the only thing we would need overnight, electricity. I would not pay $50 for a night for this, not even $20, again, I’m frugal.
That’s not frugal, that’s stubborn. $20/night is a bargain.
We feel the same!👍
Pa state parks are self serve since the pandemic. You make your reservation on Recreation.gov, than on the day of your reservation. You pull into your campsite and set up.
We use Recreation.gov many times! Easy Peasy…
I have read that Love’s truck stops are already adding this type of RV park to a number of their locations along Interstates.
That makes perfect sense! Hopefully, first come first serve. Will we be seeing the neon “no vacancy” signs again?
If one has to think ahead to make reservations and pay as much as they are contemplating, why not just reserve a NICE site at a good campground vs what is literally just a parking lot with hookups?
I would stay if I was tired and driving thru and at the moment decided to pull off the road, but $20 to $25 would be my max for a facility like this.
From the setback footage shown and transposing to the sites, it appears the length is good, but it will be wall-to-wall for width.
Build it and they will come…… there’s lots of people who’d happily pay $50 or $60 dollars a night for this type of parking. Me? Not a chance, there’s so many places to park for a night if you’re resourceful.
We have overnighted at the park in Sullivan, Mo in our 44ft Motorhome, towing. We were very pleased with the accommodations and like the concept.
There’s a place in Illinois that i stay all the time for $20 .water, electric and a dump. If the 4places are full, go around and park out back. $5 and you can still get water and dump.
Until the crazy era hit we always traveled by the seat of our pants. We just used an app to find a site when we got tired or if we saw something we wanted to explore. But now sites are getting harder to find and much of that freedom has evaporated. We wound up Wallydocking (as we call it) twice last year on a 6 weeks run and an option like this would have been nice to have. Unfortunately, my companion is now on supplemental oxygen full time so powering her machine without having to run the gen will soon become a necessity.
When camping, We only travel 400 miles a day. I calculate 400 miles on a map, then find a rv park to make a reservation at. We always leave for our next destination before 7am, and that puts us to our destination around 2-3pm.
I’m afraid we’d drive on by. Way too pricey for what it offers. We always use RV parks and campgrounds at our destinations. But why pay $50-$60 a night for something like this? To us the max price for this kind of offering would be $25-30. Otherwise, there’s too many better options. Do we feel safe at WalMart and Cracker Barrel? Yes. Never a problem. Even more so at Cabelas. We generate our own electricity, we carry water. We might need to dump sometimes on the road but can do that at truck stops for $5-10. As a general rule we’re not even interested in hooking up just for an overnight stop. It’s just more to do before pulling out.
Seems like a good idea. Like a full hookup Walmart, Probably near the freeway so noisy and just a paved parking lot. I’d stay in a last-resort situation if super-convenient, secure and priced right…like $30-$40.
Several years ago we found an RV park like this along an interstate I believe in Nebraska. About eight FHU for $20. Very tight spaces but good for an overnight rest and only one other rv there. The next year we planned an overnight stop in that location but upon arrival found the park full of people staying long term. I was informed by a local that the people staying there were windmill workers and would be there for the summer. Although we were disappointed, can’t blame them for seeking out an affordable place to stay.
A few years ago I stayed at one of these near Elm Creek Nebraska. It had full hookups and I think a regular bath with showers as well. It was $20 a night no reservations needed. 30 and 50 amps and level gravel sites. Roads were good. Someone did drive through late in the evening to see if everyone had paid. More of these would be a great convenience along more interstates. The fee should not have to be more than $30 tops.
over the last 35-seasons we’ve encountered a few automated parks. we would use them if they were available but not for the $60 price tag. due to my wife’s surgery and the virus we haven’t been out in the RV since May of ’20 so we’re not current on pricing.
If the sites are well designed: level, pull throughs, with obstacle free access roads, no fire rings, and easy 24 hour checkins. I’d pay a little more than a typical RV park just to avoid all the hassles of a typical park.
I’d like to see rates based on 4 hour increments so that when I’m trying to travel long distances that I could stop and rest and then move on. That would make it easier to travel through big cities in the middle of the night.
We stopped at the Sullivan, Missouri self-serve lot back in January just to see how it all works. There’s a certain whiz-bang aspect to the website’s hype that gives you the sense of “Now through the miracle of modern automation! Untouched by human hands!” – kind of like the Westinghouse pavilion hype from an old world’s fair pamphlet.
You reserve or check in online, and given a space #. When you get past the automated security gate, an illuminated red-stop/green-go sign by each space alerts you as to which side you need to pull through from. The place is lit up like the face of the sun, which is fine for an overnight. All hookups are on a series of timers that shut you off at checkout time, and if you need to extend your time or stay a second night, all of that is done online. And, yes, there is a human there in a house at the front of the lot. Price is high for an overnight, but I’m not sure all the elaborate automation stuff can pay for itself any cheaper, or will remain reliable
(MORE) They’re hunting franchise owners, and this article sounds like the Seymour, Indiana folks took them up on it. Once you buy the 3.3 acres it takes, they’re estimating between $639,645-$890,770 to put in all their elaborate timers, signage, gates, etc. Sounds like a hefty bunch of coin up front, so I’m guessing their rates are high for that reason.
For the perennially nervous, you also get access to the place’s surveillance camera. They also have a graduated rate structure: $39 for 14 hours; $49 for 18 hours; $59 for 24 hours. Apparently, as the place fills up and gets closer to full capacity, it raises the rates too. They do have some sites with picnic tables and even a gazebo, all for small up-charges.
Here’s their website:
https://rvselfpark.com
Sounds like they’re using technology to capitalize on supply and demand – nothing new there! Uber, toll roads, airlines, lots of places doing similar plans to maximize revenue. Planning ahead would allow some savings – and many times there’s lots of free alternatives for those with last minute adjustments.
WAY to expensive for us full timers. We are self contained and stay in road side rest stops, city and county campgrounds. We typically pay $0 – 20/night. Once we get to our final destination we pay weekly/monthly rates. I’m sure less savvy campers will pay $50+/night, not us.
We aren’t less savvy. Just choose to not travel that way and blessed we can afford it. In our younger days, more adventurous & even though we could afford it, it was a badge of honor to camp for free. If we were in something smaller than 40 ft & towing might be more “adventurous”. We aren’t and this is our last motorhome (20 yrs old this past Feb). So will be paying but would appreciate overnight parks at a good rate.
Seems the original concept was to help those looking for a safe night’s sleep. For many of those folks, hookups are not needed.
My confusion lies in being able to see the difference in searching the internet for a “real” campground site vs. one of these sites. An open site is an open site…particularly at similar pricing.
If the concept is widespread enough to keep full-service campground sites open for multi-night stays (i.e. fewer one-nighters interrupting longer-term stays at destination parks), then I think there is a definite use…almost like the over-fill lot.
I assume the biggest advantage here is lower cost to build and maintain? But what prevents these “stop overs” from becoming just another campground for those sightseers who will spend their days outside of the campground and are not looking for pools, trails or even bathhouses?
And come to think of it, maybe that is okay. An open site still is an open site.
These conversations remind me of motor trips long ago with my mom and dad. Dad always liked to drive as long as he could. We would all be tired. I recall watching those blinking No Vacancy signs as we rolled down the highway. Luckily, cars then were large enough for kids to sleep in the back seat.
As an RVer, I am really glad for the internet, Walmarts and Cracker Barrels!
It’s too expensive for a glorified parking spot. I will skip.
I agree!
Maybe it would discourage people from staying multiple nights if they charged a very low amount for 1 night, then charge more for for additional nights. Sure there is always a way to buck the system and move to another spot or use a different credit card, but that would get old over time, and I think it would be more the minority than the majority doing it.
The casino in Corning, California once had self checkin with credit card for $25 a night. Now they require office checkin for a lot more per night.
Yes, I remember that from years ago. Very nice. Like all good things we lose, it must have been abused.
Ohio Turnpike has RV spots for $20 per night, self serve kiosk, electric only but a dump station and water available in season. Well worth that to save the time to not have to get off the highway and go looking for an RV park, or a Walmart, when travelling through with a schedule to keep. In 38 years of RVing, we have developed some knowledge of where good stops are, but that is always evolving. In addition to the time, having to travel 4 miles off the highway and back is a gallon of fuel cost. Definitely prefer to be close to the highway for a brief overnight stop, and willing to pay a modest premium for convenience.
On our road trip last month, I plotted a 3 night return trip, each night was spent in a spectacular scenic BLM location, completely free, and we stayed off the interstates for almost the entire trip, sticking with scenic back roads. Our trailer is setup for dry camping, we can go about a week before we need to dump and refill our water tank.
We stayed at “A Stones Throw” RV park just off I-10 just East of Tallahassee for a night. It is basically the same as above but not paved sites. $42 per night or less with Good Sam and other discounts. Worked well for us for overnight.
They should have done half the sites with electric only. That would be us. When traveling from CA to FL or CA to IN every year, we only use electric except for one stop where we stay a day or 2 to take a real shower & take time off from driving. Also allows us to see a new place to see if we would want to spend more time. They could reduce the site cost. When we are in Texas going & coming we pay $36 to $40 at 3 different campgrounds. Full hook ups & one has a great little cafe on site. Also on the panhandle in Florida. Book online, pick a site, pay. When you get there, drive to your spot. No check-in. If more than one night, you can pay balance (they charge a deposit of one night) online. $40! $60ish….way too high. Only spent more than that in Daytona Beach, the Keys & a spot in AZ which was $67. Even 2 places in CA, one with a restaurant were $50 & $37.
Everybody has their own opinion on where they want to make an overnight stop. There are safe places , quiet ,clean, full and partial hook-ups. I stopped at some nice places and payed for the night. Also quick stop at Interstate “Rest Areas” parking away from semi’s , easy off easy on & FREE. Walmart, Cracker Barrel, I shop and have a meal and never had a problem. I know not every RVer has a good story but I read so many stories that are good & aren’t good and not always at Walmart & Cracker Barrel. So some are traveling to have good memories, have fun etc. I hope I came across ok to everyone. Happy camping to all and be safe.
I will say that how much we’d pay is dependent upon several factors. The first is location. I would expect to pay more in California than Louisiana simply because they utilities cost are so much higher. I’d expect to pay more along I-75 or 95 in Florida during the winter because of supply and demand. The second condition we’d pay more for is the amenities, such as water, 50 Amp electric, and sewer along with long paved sites. The cost for us isn’t as big a factor as feeling safe and not having to unhook.
Yes we agree totally.
Since we’re a self-contained Class A, all we’d do is grab electric for the night. If we have been pushing it, maybe spend two nights to take a “down day.”
I’m amazed that 30% ~ 39% would pay up to $39 (OK, maybe that would be acceptable in CA). I’d just as soon park & patronize a Walmart / Cracker Barrel etc and park overnight without any hook ups. Getting some sleep in a highway Rest Area would also be preferable to spending $39. In Ohio along I-80, there are several Rest Areas that have paid parking for RVs. An RV spot has ONLY electric but, there is a dump station and potable water available just outside of the RV spots. The last time I looked, it cost only $20 (it was several years ago).
Before Covid?
Still costs $20 and there are 4 of them along I80/Ohio Turnpike. They also have full rest area with gas and food and clean restrooms. And more police patrols than WalMart. And since Ohio is one day out for me it is the perfect first night/last night RV stop.
Can’t think of a stretch of highway that can use the concept, more. It’s definitely devoid of many easily accessible stop over places. One of the times we stopped at Cracker Barrel was along this route.
It is just personal preference what one is willing to pay. It sounds like a great idea for those who are full-time living in RV’S and between destinations
If I’m only,parking for a night, full hook-up is not needed. Basically a truck stop or wayside rest with electric hook-up, shouldn’t be that much. If camping, walking the trails, swimming, playground, etc, more expensive would be expected.
Love this idea, to be honest. I even sort of like the structure the Missouri park did with charging less if you are there for a minimum number of hours. If you just need a safe place to pull over for the night and sleep rather than pay for an entire 24 hour period, it’s nice to have the option to spend less.
I’ll stay at a full service campground first before I pay that much. I think Love’s has the right idea and a good price.
Wow, this is NOT what I expected! I expected the concept to be essentially a rest area for RVs. Maybe a combination of dry camp (no hookups) area for a few dollars, electric only for a few more, and FHU for maybe $20-30 depending on region. I also expected it to be available as a last minute decision (“We’re getting tired, oh look, a nice safe place to pull over and sleep for the night with no idling semis!”) instead of reservation. Basically a safe and quiet overnight spot, not an expensive campground. And reservations? I don’t do that. I drive until I get tired (usually late at night) and then I find a spot. I have no problem using rest areas but I feel guilty taking a spot that a trucker might need. And if this self-serve RV park has an employee on site, then why pay for all the automated technology? The rare times that I stay in RV parks, they usually have a pool and a hot tub and endless showers for about half the price. That said, I’m happy to see more RV parks built.
John here. I am finding out that recently Walmart is stopping the over night RV parking. I have had this happen to me twice. Then I was in a frenzy trying to find a place to stop for the night. Just a heads up to you all. This is going to be happening more and more. So paying for an over night is going to be what comes next. The best thing to do is research the best possible pricing available. This is what I am doing now before I start up the RV for a road trip. Good luck.
The ability to spend the night next to a highway for such a high price is not a place i have an interest in staying to get some rest.
I like this idea. I am a bit concerned about the lack of on-site personnel, though. I do understand that help is available by phone, but how is that helpful in the event of gate or power malfunction?
On our way from Pittsburgh to Lake George NY, we overnight at campground near Binghamton, NY. $55 a night with full hookups and easy in and out and just off the interstate. Camp store and snack bar. The owner is great!
I might be too cheap (prefer the word frugal), but I wouldn’t pay much at all for an overnight spot this narrow, and with no amenities except hookups and maybe wifi. $30 would be my absolute desperate top price,
We are full time rv’ers since August 2022.
We use RV parky, TT, encore, state parks, fed parks, etc..
There are far too many options out there if you search for someone to pay these high prices for an overnight stay at a automated RV site.
Time for rv’ers to start our own revolution and say no to the high prices people are trying to charge just to capitalize on this lifestyle.
Search for the lower price and secluded spots and you have a better time.