The Comprehensive Car/Camper/RV Overnight Camping Locale Thread

[Shaggy]

Cool thread

whistler/blackcomb - I believe they have an rv/camper lot in the parking lot by whistler village base, but it is soon to be paved and(maybe???hope not) will be pay parking

Lot 4 is already paved. Unfortunately the municipality has a real hard on to crush any spirit this town has left, and people camping in vans is really high on their list of targets. Since they now get to set the rules for Lot 4, they have been ticketing anything that even remotely looks like it may be inhabited over night. I don't think camping was ever allowed in that lot actually, but it was never really enforced before.

For Whistler I would say park on a road (even numbered) side only away from the village at night (legal), and then move to the day lots during the day. Once pay parking kicks in it will be a lot tougher. Olympic period will be impossible, as no day lots will be open at all.

Note: 2010/2011 update available further down in this thread, [ame="http://www.tetongravity.com/forums/showpost.php?p=3024874&postcount=63"]here[/ame]

[powdrhound]

Update on Kirkwood:
Only in middle lot by chair 7, Timber Creek. $25 or $199 for a pass.
Stop by the SkiBumMobile to say hi. Bella thinks she is the queen dog, and is Always looking for someone to throw her ball.

[ACH]

Bumping for 2010/2011 camping

[Shogun]

I'll be sure to have plenty of nights sacked up in the outback this winter.

[Schnappi]

Anyone know the what the deal this year at the lot across from CDOT by A-Basin?

[TS Quint]

Didn't see that anyone listed it...if so, apologies.

Grand Targhee - NO...The late-night security guys hate to do it, but they will ask you to leave. However, there is a little pullout about 1 1/2 mi down the road that you can park and sleep without being bothered.

[Sparwood Dave]

Places to park - Castle in Southwest Alberta often has plug in parking @ $20/night just call for a reservation.
Awsome hill btw esp midweek
http://www.skicastle.ca/
The National Parks campsite just down the hill from Lake Louise keeps some sites open in winter and is totally deluxe - huge shower building even a little tiled heated tap room for filling the rv water tanks (outside water taps are very tough to find in winter)
Fernie eliminated their non seasonal RV sites and you can't park there overnight.

[blunder]

Any info on Chamonix? Thinking about bying a van and living there this season...

[NorEasterSkier]

Good info in this thread...

[Slaag Master]

all walmart parking lots have free rv/camper parking. great way to stay close to the mountains or the beach.

[NorEasterSkier]

all walmart parking lots have free rv/camper parking. great way to stay close to the mountains or the beach.

I thought overnight parking was illegal at Wally World?

[Schnappi]

Most, but not all, Walmarts have overnight parking. Many that do not allow camping are in places that skiers might like to stay in.

[Shaggy]

Whistler Update:

For day parking: Lots 1-3 are now pay, while 4-8 and Creekside remain free.

Overnight Parking: Lots 1-5 are now clearly posted for no overnight parking, including the area that used to be reserved for Singing Pass trail users. This is 1 part debris torrent risk, and 1 part weak sauce on the part of the Muni.

Best Option for camping: Lots 6, 7 and 8 are still owned by W/B so these are probably your safest bets. They are up the hill a bit and are right next to the Excalibur Gondola mid-station which runs until 8pm when the tube park is open. I've never parked in these lots overnight myself, but W/B staff are typically pretty friendly. Don't be stupid, be sure to park where you won't obstruct snow clearing, move your rig daily, don't scare the mountain's other paying customers, and you'll probably be alright.

[Diesel]

Any info on Crested Butte? Heading that way in a couple of weeks for an avy class, and I'm looking for a hassle-free place to park the rig for a few nights.

[SterlingSpikeDancer]

pm Goldenboy, he has great beta from that part of the world.

[sal the salmon]

mt spokane - large snowpark with a few options

49 degrees north - its all good

[thesnowjunkies.com]

A subject near and dear to my heart. We spent last winter in a twenty-four foot camper in the West. We only spent one or two days at each place so no long term advice here. I would stick to the Northwest if you're going to live out of your camper for the season. Here are some of the tips we picked up...

100daysofwinter.com


California:
North Lake Tahoe: We stayed mostly in the Safeway parking lot in Truckee and the the Cal-Neva Casino in Crystal Bay.
South Lake Tahoe: The Horizon Casino in Stateline has tons of room. Check with the front desk.
Mt. Shasta: There's a section in the way back corner of the parking lot.

Oregon:
Willamette: Has hookups and is open four days a week. Get there on a Wednesday night.
Mt. Bachelor: We stayed down in Bend and didn't get hassled at all even with parking on the streets.
Mt. Hood: You need to buy a permit (about $5) to spend the night anywhere around here. There's overnight spots at Timberline, Mt. Hood Meadows, and spots around G'ment Camp.

Washington:
Crystal: Has hookups. I believe there's a two week limit.
Summit at Snoqualmie: You can grab a night without hassle in the Snoqualmie casino parking lot.

Idaho/Montana:
Didn't have the camper during this stretch but all these ski areas tend to be absolutely awesome when it comes to parking lot camping.

Colorado:
Summit County: Breckenridge is terrible for campers and the beach at A-Basin is a shell of what it used to be back in the day. We did find one extremely tiny parking lot in Frisco that allows 24-hour parking -- including overnight for free.
Wolf Creek: Spent three nights in their lot during an epic storm. No problems.
Durango: Stayed downtown in residential neighborhoods.

[thesnowjunkies.com]

That's true about the Wal-Marts. Most do allow camping, but we did get chased out of a few. The lesson we learned is before you park, go inside and ask for the manager. They'll usually let you stay for a couple days if you ask permission.

This worked for us at most of the big box store parking lots. Target, Borders, supermarkets, etc...

[Hfurll]

A-Basin

C-Dot lot is perfect with the exception of loud Semi trucks if the pass closes.

I was told there was not enough room for a 30' RV in the main parking lot; however, if I moved from the C-Dot lot as soon as the gate opened and parked sideways by the entrance gate, It was a non issue with a perfect spot.

You can't leave until the lot is almost empty, but WHO Cares!
There is a spring for water just past the truck run off on the right heading towards Keystone . about a mile or so

Breck

You can park in the Satellite lot for a 5.00 fee. It says no overnight Camping BUT I was told by an officer that the posted sign is for enforcement if needed. I had no problem for a period of 6 weeks between the basin and Breck. The cops were great.

You can pay for the parking at the PO-PO station with a 24 hr drop box. ( I missed 1/3rd of the time)

Breck Rec Ctr offers a punch pass for showers, hot tub, wifi ( 50 a month)

Wherever you camp --- Don’t dump your Piss, and pack your trash and we will have these spots for a much longer period!


OH-- YA wallmart in frisco is a NO- NO

[scottcha]

Whistler:
I once got advice to head out of town towards pemberton and find the nearest forest roads. Only problem was there is a train running a few times a night and we were pretty close to the tracks so if you do this make sure you find a spot away from them if you value your sleep.

[Diesel]

Suggestions for places to park in/near Silverton?

[Schnappi]

Any camping at Steamboat?

[maddog]

When you sleep in parking lots, where do you wash your stank ass balls after a day of skiing? Sneak in to a shower/hot tub somewhere?

Haven't you ever heard of "moist toweletts"?

[udp88]

Yeah Squaw has all those intimidating no-parking signs. But I keep seeing some nice rigs in the lot at the end of the day. WHERE are you guys parking those things at night???? WHERE????

(any showers in the area too?)

[boltonoutlaw]

Google "boondocking" if you want to get good info from the hard-core, live-free-or-die crowd. Some may apply to ski area vicinities.

PS: Splitting hairs, but in most places it is not Wal-Mart that has banned overnight parking, but the township or community it is in that has passed an ordinance against it.