By Cheri Sicard
We have been hearing a lot about the new overnight, full-hookup RV facilities certain Love’s truck stops are putting in. We even wrote about it last weekend. In the video below, the team from Changing Lanes is here to show you what the experience is actually like.
I actually did learn something from the video in that I had previously thought it was just a basic parking space in a parking lot with hookups. To my mind, that is not enough to justify the $35 – $50 rent, unless it was in a HIGHLY desirable area. But there are some amenities.
That said, either a lot of people agree with me or the concept is just too new. The team in the video had the place entirely to themselves.
Currently, there are only about 30 or so Love’s RV Stops in the U.S., but they are expected to expand. Staying at a Love’s RV Stop has the added convenience of being able to fuel up upon arriving or leaving, and the usual truck stop amenities like a restaurant, shop, showers, etc.
The spaces at Love’s RV Stops are reservable online. They will send you a code to open the gate. Check-in is via the app. From there you just pull on in and hook on up!
Now, I had to admit that my reticence at the price was based on paying so much just to have full hookups in a parking lot. However, the Love’s RV Stop profiled in the video did offer some amenities. These included:
- A self-activated communal gas fire pit to enjoy evening relaxation around.
- Picnic area
- Pickleball court
- Splash pad water play area
Still, at $50 a night, this RV parking spot is not cheap. Yes, it is less than the local KOA, but this frugal RVer would likely never stay at either.
What are your thoughts on the new Love’s RV Stops? Leave them in the comments below.
##RVT1096
These are something we will be checking out, when just needing a place to stop for the night with electric to run AC on those hot summer nights. Don’t need pool and etc. when traveling thru.
Like the idea of the video to really show the area! This one is really full of ‘extras’ not really needed for an overnight. One we visited along I-20 was way more basic; all back-in sites, really small dog park! Done right- strictly as an overnight- sounds like a great idea. Price is critical in our thinking.
Love the idea, no pun intended. Thank you for providing the video it really helps to give the feel of the service. The comments regarding the amenities was spot on, although the dog park and communal fire pit are of value. I know from experience after traveling 5 hours, pickle ball (I do play) and a splash pad are not in the cards. Possibility taking the funds from amenities such as the pickle ball court and splash pad and redirecting that to sound mitigation along the fence separating the truck fueling area and the camping would be of better value.
Look forward to my own experience while traveling to the US south.
Only one Love’s RV stop was found on their map along any of the routes we’ll take over the next year. And that stop is out of sync with our 3-3-3 travel plans. We’ve stopped over at several (noisy) “RV parks” along highway routes in the past but prefer campgrounds and parks outside earshot of the highway noise. It would take an emergency stop to get us into one – only if we needed electric to run the ac/heat pump or truck repairs. Otherwise a 5th wheel RV friendly parking lot would do, like Walmart.
35 to 50 is too much We belong to harvest host it only 87 a year no hookup and I may buy little wine or beer and supper.( Which I would anyway)
I could not agree more!
I’m a 58 year old truck driver of 42 yrs now. My parents got our family into camping when I was 5, and my family and I still camp to this day. My wife and have in the last couple of years have reverted back to tent camping. That all said I my question is why would you want to spend that much money to spend the night at a truck stop,even with your own parking area having the amenities when you’re totally self contained. That’s a ridiculous thing to do, when you spend thousands of dollars on your rig and most likely have a generator, go find a rest area or a parking lot.
Think it is a great idea. Wish more campgrounds would consider five or ten overnight sites as well.
We have stayed at a few times at a campground near Binghamton NY, on our way to upstate NY, that had 6 overnight pull through sites. All full hookup. These were located on the entrance road, easy in and out. I think it was $40/night. Short walk to the bath house and snack bar.
We are going to try a Loves RV Stop on our trek back to PA from SD. We needed to break up one LONG travel day and this idea fits the bill.
Like the truck drivers need another problem…after pulling into a loves and thinking you’ll be able to get a good rest then a nice shower, you’ll have to get in line after a bunch of rver’s that are not on a schedule. Then your break will be over and you’ve got to leave to make delv on time. Dirty old truckdrivers don’t shower enough. Wonder why
Interesting. Have thought about stopping a couple times. But at this price level, would stay at local city park or private local owned park. For a simple pullover with electric our price point is $35 or less. Otherwise we use Harvest Host or Boondockers Welcome.
Looking forward to using these stops once we buy (or rent) our replacement RV this summer. Agree Loves needs to lessen the amenities to lower the price. Have places with and without. Otherwise…great idea.
The one they opened recently at Bliss, Idaho, is minimal. Located next to the semi truck gas pumps. Gravel paths. No trees. You don’t even get a shower pass. But it’s right off Interstate 84.
Spending the night in an RV next to a truck stop with their noisy diesel engines running all night would not be my first choice for an overnight stop. Of course, the trucks are not in the RV section, yet the volume of those diesel engines carries quite far having stayed in motels next to truck stops were a few truckers find motel accommodations more comfortable than a cab sleeper berth.
Will the dump station be included in the fee? Ive used it. Need a code but really nice and clean. I’d usr the overnight slots. More convenient and probably easier to maneuver than a lot of campgrounds ive been in.
My wife and I don’t ” camp ” anymore. Just stay. We use the rv as transportation. Our destinations are usually moochdocks. Friends, relatives etc.
A timely video since I’d already booked 4 nights in mid-May a couple of weeks back at that particular Love’s. We just happened to be attending a genealogical gathering a couple of miles away before visiting other parts of Georgia.
Total was $165.24 (which included taxes and fees) for our 25ft. Class C.
I really like the idea. After a long day on the road, to have a no-frills place to park for the night, then hit the road again in the morning. And since most are full hookups, I wouldn’t be taking away from the truck drivers. But the price for the accommodation seems a bit high.
Too high for me to ever use it. Agreed.
Costwise, $10 for no-hookups, $25 for electric, and $35 for water & electric, with separate paid pull-through dump stations, makes more sense to me; the utilities could be available at each site but controlled by the online booking app so customers can access only what they pay for. Restaurants, paid showers, laundromats and other amenities (like paid propane fire and barbeque pits) would of course remain other money-making services for Love’s. Maybe prices will come down once others begin to copy the concept and bring in competition…?
I agree, it’s too pricey for me to ever use.
The concept is good for an overnight/ passing through/ short stay basic needs site. But, if they are touting amenities like a pickleball court or splash pool, then it’s more like a campground which seems to miss the point. I should think the only “extra” added to an expected level pad with full hookups or at least a dump station, might be a designated dog area.
I agree. And to my mind, they are just too expensive. Maybe not at $30 but certainly at $50 (and everyone I have seen was $50).
Wow that’s little pricey for me can stay overnight in a camp ground for twenty five dollars nice and quiet no thanks
I feel, as a Canadian, this is a ridiculous rate. Exchange rates are not fault of USA, however, I’m sure a huge consideration for Canadians. Pulling into Loves, or Pilots, or even Walmarts, for that matter, we always stock up. I will deliberately avoid Loves and their gas.
travelling to destinations, great to have power. At $20. They’d still be making $, everyone’s happy. Pickle ball, splash pads? Unless Loves is your destination, can’t see this as a plus.
We support the businesses that seem NOT to gouge the rv’ers. Even (most) casinos do better than this!
The truckers will love the Splash Pad. Free shower!
Too pricey for us for an overnight stay. $15-20 we’d consider. I’d doubt they’d want seniors laying in the splash pad, so that’s out. Even though, staying at Cracker Barrel costs you the price of breakfast for two. $50 either way.
Loves has very limited truck parking but they can put in RV parks? I’ll just fuel at Pilot or the J. Thanks. I wonder what would happen if KOA started building truck parking areas?
I spent my whole career driving a truck, last several years it has been very difficult finding a parking space. I have not been able to park at a truck stop countless times due to RV’s parking there. Sorry, I strongly disagree with this
Why is Love’s investing in RV parking when there is an URGENT need for additional TRUCK parking across the country?? Love’s and Flying J and other truck stops all need to expand for trucking – not RV’s.
I like the idea of these RV parks, however they are missing the point of what most of us want. They are way to pricey for us to use for a 1 night stop. $25 would be our max. We have a Class A and are towing a vehicle that we don’t want to unhook when we are just stopping overnight so we need a long pull though. What we don’t need is pickel ball or a splash pad. As for truckers, these parks are not taking parking from them, they are giving RVers a place to park that doesn’t interfere with overnight truck parking. Most of us use our own showers too. So I can’t see what they are complaining about. Our neighbor is a retired over the road truck driver and he would schedule his shower ahead for a stop during the day so he didn’t have a long wait in the evening. Maybe more truckers should try that.
$50/night (= to $1500/month) is the price for a Very NICE RV Park with plenty of space, vegetation, shade & LOTS OF AMENITIES, not for a rest-stop parking lot “accommodation”❗
We just used the Love’s RV Stop in Georgia; I75 at exit 102 in Cordele. Super convenient but pricey. I agree that there were too many extras. Noise was not an issue.
I think that most here are missing the point of these rv stops at the Love’s, it’s merely a place to pull over and rest, utilize your own supplies in your fridge, walk the dog and let the kids run around the splash pad.
Paying $50/night is not so much a big deal to me, much cheaper than having an accident due to being tired. Also more common in the northern parts of the country is the possibility of getting off the highway due to a snowstorm or freezing rain, again, still cheaper than the alternative.
The southerners could utilize the inland ones to escape tropical storms or hurricanes, even if for multiple days.
Mostly the idea was the brainchild getting rvs out of truck parking areas, as a truck driver and rver myself, I strongly disagree with rvs parking in truck areas.
I greatly enjoyed the stay here. We were able to grill out with the kids, and we had a covered picnic table to sit and watch the kids play in the splash pad. This park is fairly new, how ever for everything they had to offer, from the community propane grills the the spotless showers and restrooms, it was a wonderfull experience. And we were pleasantly surprised that its all full hook-ups including Wi-Fi!!! We didn’t expect much, especially since it was an RV-park. Loves did a great job with this idea!!!
We stay at local campgrounds as much as possible on our travels. However, in South Georgia, the only ones that are in a convenient spot for us are filled with very poor quality “RV’s”, very unlevel gravel sites, or both. And, they cost the same as one of these sites. We’re not going to do the rest area thing and run the genny all night, and we’re not going to “take our chances” with Walmart or a restaurant. A level concrete spot, clean, safe, with maybe a cool amenity is absolutely worth it to us. We will be trying the Cordele location this spring.