If you pilot a Class A motorhome, pull a travel trailer, or even drive a larger Class C motorhome, parking lots can be a nightmare.
On our travels, we often tow a big travel trailer into Walmart for a “quick stop” to grab something, only to face the same problem: Where do you park a rig that doesn’t fit neatly into a single space? If your rig is short enough to take up two “head-to-head” spots, great. But if it’s too long, you’re left juggling across multiple spaces. That’s why knowing RV parking solutions for quick store stops can save you time, frustration, and a lot of honking horns.
In a recent “Wally expedition,” we came back from the store to find a car parked neatly behind our trailer. No backing up possible. To make matters worse, another car was parked just ahead of our truck, leaving too little space to pull out. The driver was in the car, but their battery was dead, so we were stuck. It’s situations like these that make simple RV parking solutions—like planning extra space or using a few traffic cones—worth their weight in gold.
RV parking solutions mean you can all go inside the store
Short of having a spotter stay with the rig to wave off traffic while others go into the store, what can you do to avoid wasting time waiting for drivers of “blocker cars” to return? Glad you asked.
While there’s no foolproof method, most drivers are typically kind—they just don’t always recognize the turning radius issues RVers face. And if you have a “four-wheels-down” toad behind your motorhome, you may not even be able to back up to get out.
Here’s where traffic cones come in. If you park your rig with plenty of room to the front (and possibly the rear), placing cones in the clear spaces signals that you need room for maneuvering. When you come back, chances are you’ll be good to go. It’s an inexpensive and lightweight solution—a set of a dozen 7” cones can be found for under $14 on Amazon, often more than enough for a single RV. You might even team up with a fellow RVer to share the cost.
Cones are also useful at the campground
Not only do cones help prevent other drivers from blocking you in, but they’re also useful for marking your space at a campground if you need to run an errand or go sightseeing. Just keep in mind that these cones aren’t meant for highway breakdowns—they’re too light and can be blown away by passing traffic. For that, traditional breakdown triangles are a safer choice.
With a few simple preparations and a little patience, parking a large RV—or navigating a busy lot with a trailer—can go from stressful to manageable. A few cones, some thoughtful spacing, and a bit of awareness from fellow drivers make RV parking solutions for quick store stops an easy habit that can save both time and frustration
Do you use cones or do something different to prevent being boxed in? Please leave a comment.
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RVT1228
I used to use the fixed models and the triangles. I prefer these, which are reflective and collapsible. Search this in Amazon.
“12 Inch Collapsible Traffic Multi Purpose Pop Up Reflective Safety Cone, Work Area Protection, Emergency Roadside Barrier”
I try to park with the nose toward a curb leaving a space too small for a car. Just before stopping in that space I cut the steering hard toward my exit leaving the tow vehicle at an angle. Unless something small like a motorcycle squeezes into that space in front of me I can pull forward and out.
Same here. We also park well away from the building where others are unlikely to park.
I have noticed an increased number of drivers (especially younger drivers) who are semi (wholly in some scary situations) oblivious to the world around them. They are focused on the road straight ahead when moving or their world shrinks to the vehicle’s interior when not moving.
Shouldn’t need them, but at roughly a buck a cone, probably not a bad idea.
I used to have a couple of cones that I used to keep from banging my head on the slide on my big Class A, but in spite of of the fact that they were a little smaller and had my name on them in big letters, RV parks kept picking them up thinking they were their cones. I would have to go and retrieve them from their stockpile at the office. I even strung a small rope through them and tie them together hoping that would help them from running off. Then one day I realized that I no longer had my cones and had no idea where they had gone.
We have a class B but always park far out in the lot away from other cars. Gives us a little exercise too!
This will also control the ones that do it out of spite. They won’t walk the extra distance!
I also park far away with my other vehicles. Too many careless people like to slam their doors or push a shopping cart into the side of a vehicle parked next to them.
I used cones when I first got our new motorhome to help me back into our parking space at home. With the trailer I didn’t worry as it cleared the garage overhang. Our new diesel pusher was a foot taller than the garage overhang so I used the cones to show me how far away I have to be from the garage so not to hit it. I’ve also used cones when we have gone to fiber events and the RV space were next to each other but the lines showing which space to back into was so faded I couldn’t see the lines in my mirrors or camera. I keep them in one of the storage bays.
The cool part on flat-towing a toad is you can disconnect and use the real estate it once occupied to get unboxed. The times we got boxed in, I don’t think cones or saw horses would have helped. We’ve had RV parks fill up to where the site we easily pulled into became a multipoint obstacle course to leave.
We’ve been full timing for over 5 years and have NEVER felt the need to park our rig in a retail parking area. That would be inconsiderate of others just for our personal convenience.
You don’t shop??
I assume they take the toad shopping.
It’s hardly inconsiderate if you park in the outlying areas of the parking lot.
I Always leave myself an Out when parking. Consequently, I only park at the end stall of a parking area, nose facing out. If that’s not available, I will park beside a building as long as there is plenty of room for semi’s to get by for deliveries etc. I’m mainly talking about Wal-Marts and almost always, if I park at the furthest most point of their lot, there will be very few cars around and I need the walk anyway.
In a parking lot with tandem two parking spaces, I pull all the way forward to just pull out! Sometimes I have to block out 4 spots if I am towing my Jeep! I do this way out away from the stores!
I have used cones and they seem to work. However I usually use another approach. We have a 40’ Class A and pull our Jeep four down, so backing up is not an option. I will usually try to pull into the edge of the parking lot against a curb and then angle the coach so that it’s ready to pull out. I’ll leave the front of the rig halfway into a spot. Hopefully anyone who feels they must park out where I am will park inside the lines of the next spot leaving me a half a spot to maneuever out. Easy since I’m pointed out.
In most/many big box stores there are almost always areas of the parking lot that are essentially vacant. These areas are usually the furthest from the entrance. That is where we always parked the MH or MH+toad and always perpendicular to the spaces.
We have employed a number of parking solutions over the years. We used to take our RV to travel baseball tournaments from 2017-2023. In those years we would:
a. Take two angled spaces near an exit.
b. Back in to deep spaces at the ends of parking lots so we just had to pull out.
c. When taking up 6-7 spaces, we angle the couch tail in and nose out (while staying in the lines. Then leave just enough space in the front to swing out sharply. (not forgetting our tail swing room.)
d. Lastly, if we travel with friends/team parents, we had them park in front and behind us.
We use collapsible cones that take up very little space.
Using traffic cones as a private citizen is illegal in most states unless you have a permit or are involved in an emergency
Yes, that’s a solution that I’ve been using for years while shopping.
Thank you for the suggestion, Russ and Tina! Over the years we have somehow acquired a few 18-inch traffic cones, which are usually in a storage bay of the RV. We typically use them to bound our “site” when tailgating at football games. As to getting blocked in a parking lot, thankfully, it has not happened to us. One way to avoid this if we plan to be somewhere for several minutes is to unhook the towed/toad and park it in front of the RV, leaving too little room behind the RV and a physical impediment — curb, tree, whatever — and between the RV and the towed/toad for a car or truck to park. Thus, we are “blocking” ourselves. Once ready to leave, move the RV forward, rehook, and leave. …
Have a great day, grand 2026, and safe travels!
I have learned to park politely next to the semi trucks, but not overnight. The cones help. Take a walk, stretch , buy coffee and donuts, check your rig, hit the road.