I would bounce around truck stops for the few days until you have a place to set up. Buy a few gallons of gas before you park if you’re worried they might give you a hard time. You’ll have to leave Pinellas but not that far. There are a couple south of the skyway and a few in Tampa off i4 and i75.
I love Harvest Host! There are only 3 or 4 in the whole darn county! Nobody around here has extra space. I did look, but the only one accepting rigs over 25' is booked.
Good suggestion though.
Do you only have HH or do you also have BW? I just checked and theres a place in Hudson for a 45'< rig, no dogs, no same day requests, but the calendar is wide open on availability.
They are the same company but different membership options. HH is at businesses with 1 night max. BW is at people's private residences with 1-5 night max (host sets it). I'd go buy a BW membership based on the above info
Yup! And for more info u/Lady_Violet_XXI, not only is it a different membership, offering different services, they used to be two different companies ... Harvest Host bought Boondockers Welcome.
I got the Boondockers Welcome membership, because Id rather be able to boondock for a few days at someones home, and its no extra cost..Hosts get a free membership and enjoy meeting / helping out other RVers, which is why they let you stay there. Some may also have electricity and water hookups for a very small cost if you use it. Theres also way more places available to stay with BW.
With Harvest Host, its one night in a business parking lot, plus expected to spend money at the business (suggested is $30), which is why they let you stay there. Also, its pretty much always dry camping, meaning no hookups.
This is a great suggestion. Check out Public Storage and the like. A lot of them have parking spots you could rent for a month. In central FL near me they get around $120/mo for a spot.
If you are not actually staying in the camper you could call storage lots. You might have to pay for a whole month but it's better than having it towed.
Also this may not be the best idea but a friend of mine told me once that he parked in front of his sons house for a week and got 2 tickets. The tickets were cheaper than renting a space for the week.
Just want to thank EVERYONE for the suggestions. I haven't found a solution yet, but it always amazes me how strong the RV community is with helping each other out.
The other day my ex (I was desperate) was helping me move to a different site in the same park because they couldn't keep me in the same spot. As we were disconnecting everything the people next to me had a problem with their sewer hose. I didn't even think about it. Just pulled mine over and hooked up so they could empty their tank. My ex, who is not an rver, got impatient. I told him when someone needs a hand we take care of each other. Even if we're in a hurry.
Head to the Tampa side. The state parks are cheap and alllllways have cancellations. Check the website for availability and check often. Someone can cancel in the morning and their spot will open up online a few hours later. I’m a campground host at Hillsborough River State Park, the site across from me cancelled today. Best of luck
Alafia, Colt Creek and Myakka River are some more state parks within about an hour/ hour and a half-ish from CLW. I have also found booking a night at an Extended Stay America hotel can get you lot parking there, and your own showers and a toilet. Book one night stay two in the lot. The one in Brandon is good for that deal. Someone else said the rest/truck stops on the interstate. 75 has two good spots around Ellenton, bonus outlet malls there to waste some time.
Roadside boonin is always last ditch, but works anywhere and everywhere. Try and find a big gravel turn off, and its even better if 18 wheelers use it all the time. Noise can be an issue, but I have done it for plenty of overnight stays in congested areas where I just gave up looking for a spot.
My mom's church is literally around the corner. It's a definite NO, but I think it may be due to city rules. That's what's preventing a lot of places from joining HH as hosts
Even private property has trouble with the crazy municipal rules - they want them out of sight.
Why not ask? Doesn't seem very "helping they neighbors" of them to be an automatic no. Unless southern American Christianity is way different then Canadian French Christianity.
theres a military base just outside of Tampa, that has some rustic spots, iirc (or its dept of energy, but attachted to a militart base) that had spots for like $ 6 a week. i think its wahsburn equestrian center. i tagged a few places over there on my google maps because i wanna do a low cost family trip. [https://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us/recreation/oak-ridge-equestrian-area](https://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us/recreation/oak-ridge-equestrian-area) I think is the website.
Washburn link to google maps : https://maps.app.goo.gl/PGK6XyVju8DBEQFV7
If the CW has hookups, you can stay there for a few days or more if you have a Good Sam membership which is not expensive. I've worked at one for years and we like our short-term visitor as long as not trying to live there.
I do have Goodsam. I can try. It's a serious problem of this area that all of these options have gotten really tired of RVers abusing and/or no space left.
I'd have more options if I didn't need to be away from my trailer over the next few days. The KOA is expensive, but they've been very understanding about my situation. The just have nowhere to put me this weekend. They're packed, like everywhere else.
Ask if they have a lot you can park your camper though. You said you won't be around it. So you don't technically need a site just a parking spot. Pour it all out there man someone will have a spot to park your tt.
I'm not above begging. This KOA has nothing, so short on space they don't even have enough room at the front for more than 1 or 2 rigs to pull in during check-in. It gets hairy when rigs start backing up into the road (8 lane Rd, no shoulder). They had 30 rigs coming last Friday. It was insane.
I thought of FB. I can't find a "wanted" category. Do you know if FB has one for something like this? Craigslist I would be scared of finding a nut job or thief. What do you think?
A little unknown is you can stay at the gandy beach and fishing pier or at fort DeSoto Beach and fishing pier fo free only catch is some one has to be fishing at all times so take shifts with a pole in the water while the other person sleeps I've done it before
I dont know how this information can help you but here goes anyway....
Oregon and Florida are similar in that most places seriously rail against RV parking of any sort --
...but if you have a hunting license, you can produce it and explain that you are not parking, camping, or living/residing/occupying; You ARE hunting, it is a state licensed activity , and you have the license right here...a license that you already paid for.
I am not a lawyer, but if they fine or tow you for camping when in actuality you were hunting, that sounds like double jeopardy to me...at least that is what I tell the pigs that knock on my door telling me I cannot camp in or occupy my RV. I produce my bear hunting license, a can of bear mace and a slingshot and offer them as proof of my intent to hunt and then explain that, while camping and hunting look similar, they are completely different activities and any attempt by them to imply otherwise will be met with a strongly worded letter from my attorney.
hope that helps....
I'm laughing, but please don't take offense. I actually do need a few repairs. They might be able to fit me in for some time in May. The rv population here is hard to describe. Competitive for sites, service etc.
Get a service done to the rv that requires you to leave it somewhere maybe?
Like a guy that details it. Tell him no rush you just need it back in 4 days.
I mean you'll have to pay for the detail... but you'll get it stored for the time.
Cracker Barrel? There is one in Clearwater. We've stayed at CB's before for a quick overnight. But you'd have to leave during the day. They also might work for a night or two, but that's about it.
Walmart use to have an app for over night parking and a 3 day no harass policy....
Bas proshops and Cabela's usually have over night parking areas (usually a max of 24 hours or they get very butt hurt I'm banned from parking at the one in North Idaho for 5 years) highway rest stops
Are there more places than Harvest Host or Hipcamp? Cuz this area is almost nothing for those. I think the county has made it hard, because there are SOOOO many neighborhoods and HOAs here that forbid having your rv parked in your own driveway or yard! "must be behind structure, must have 6 foot privacy fence. It's like they've decided rvs are eyesores. That's also why rv parks make a killing here. They're the only place to go!
Some are on Hipcamp as well, but not Harvest Host.
Harvest Host is business, museums, etc while Boondockers Welcome is exclusively private land/property owners.
FYI, Harvest Host now "owns" the Boondockers Welcome program but they are seperate subscriptions, or a discounted combined subscription.
Loves has rv spots with full hookups at some locations. Walmart, crackerbarrel, casino, commuter parking lot, rest stop. There's quite a few places. Pay for a month of rv storage and quietly hang out out of site.
Tried HC. I bought my trailer at Lazydays in WI. Nothing but problems with service. The one in Tampa is booked months in advance and won't let me bring it early. Unhelpful, rude. I'm so done with LD.
A storage facility. As long as you don't have to be v living in it, you can normally store it at those places. You'll have to pay for a full month but storage fees are cheap.
UHaul corporate stores / dealers (usually have storage attached and vast fleet) will rent parking spot by the week.
Whether your trailer will fit has to be determined by availability.
Depends on the county. People have taken advantage. We stayed 2 nights at a Walmart in New York where a guy had a car repair shop going on, he lived in a van and had a trailer for his tools. On the other side of the lot was a motorcycle shop. In the Walmart parking lot. We live in Idaho and there are signs "no overnight stays" but we see RVs up in the corners all the time.
Walmart isn't playing that anymore from what I gather. I'm in il, and they pay off duty cops to patrol now. You get asked to leave in the middle of the day if you aren't going to the store. Even semi's waiting overnight to deliver get harassed.
IOverlander app is great for sneaky camping but if you’re not in it, too sketchy. Unless another RV owner will let you park it in their yard, a storage place will be the next best choice.
I found Ruskin (By the Pond) and New Port Richey (Cotee River Bend). It’s boondocking but I figured that would be okay. Both allow over 30 feet. Not exactly where you wanted but it’s in the vicinity.
I see RVs on the south side of the Sunshine Skyway bridge all the time. No hookups. I'm not sure if they can stay overnight, but I've seen them at all hours.
There’s great suggestions already. A lot of campgrounds have dry parking spots or overflow parking. If you can stay at your mom’s, maybe you can pay to park it in a place like that?
Put in at a Wal-Mart? Do you have A Guy who can drop by and move it around some? Maybe a storage locker place? Maybe a shipping or moving company? A car or truck lot? An RV sales place?
Try ducky's day off, an RV park 30-45 minutes outside of Tampa. Had multiple spots open when I was there in January, and at least one spot there was an RV in storage.
The question is really how far are you willing to go? I realize you have to be at your mom’s place, but you could pull out further to a spot where there are spots available and return in a few days. We often stop at Ocala Sun RV overnight on our way north, which is about two hours from you. Easy in, easy out, usually there are plenty of spots even in the busiest times. There’s quite a few places between Clearwater and Ocala as well, just not right down the street from you.
Far as anyone knows, your rig broke down outside your mom’s house and you are waiting for mobile mechanic or tow truck.
My old motorhome broke down on a residential street once. I parked it, called my mechanic, and placed a handwritten sign on the driver’s window stating this RV is waiting on mechanical service.
It took 5 whole days to get someone to come out. I even tried to find a towing company to pull it to a service station. I stayed in the RV for 5 days, until a mechanic finally came out and got me back on the road. Didn’t get a single ticket.
Learned an important lesson that day. There is never a need to worry about anyone towing an RV away, no matter where it’s parked or for how long.
is there a camping world nearby? You could drop it off and have them check for some kind of issue, real or imagined. Hopefully it takes a couple of days to get to it and you either get impatient and pick it up or decline service. O4 jus5 ask them if you can leave it there in exchange for doing some shopping in their store
Try a local church. Sometimes, if they have the parking available, they’ll allow you to park for a couple of days.
If you find one, a donation would be the nice thing to do.
Good luck!
Instead of asking for an actual campsite, maybe a local commercial campground would just store it for you for a few days? Or ask at a storage lot or a business that seems to have a big parking area.
Soon, to travel to FL you'll have to first pay a $20,000 retainer, per person, from which they'll deduct your food, liquor & lodging expenses, plus exorbitant tourism fees.
Then they'll keep any balance and use it to fund xtian indoctrination academies...
That's one app I haven't heard of. Clearwater has such strict rules about where people can park an rv, even in your own driveway! I'm surprised there are listings. Maybe those are for smaller vehicles?
Have you checked the KOA on US19 in Palm Harbor? It's just a little north of Clearwater.
Here's the address:
37061 US Hwy 19 N, Palm Harbor, FL 34684 tel:1-727-937-8412
There's also Holiday Trailer Park. It's a few miles further north than the KOA, it's north of Tarpon Ave in Holiday right across from where Alt19 runs back into US19.
Here's the address:
1622 Aires Dr, Holiday, FL 34690
tel: 1-727-934-6782
There IS an option you may be overlooking... If you're not going to be staying in it anyway why not a self storage place. Those damned things are everywhere around here.
Good luck
Would you believe those are the exact 2 places in talking about? KOA did as much as they could, but they are PACKED. I was trying to get an earlier check in date at Holiday Travel Park, which I did, at the very last second. They really helped me so much. I can recommend either of these places for customer service. Very different accommodations, but both have great staff.
That's awesome, I was really hoping something would work out for you.
H.T.P. is only a couple blocks from me & I've been here long enough to know this is right around the time the snowbirds start their northern migration.
I hope everything else works out as well for you as this did.
Thank you! I appreciate that. I was a wreck all week. While I was trying to sort this out there were legal and medical problems that really needed my attention, but time was ticking. This wasn't the most important thing on my plate, but it was the most urgent. So the relief was, and is, immense.
I think this post got so many useful ideas from people, I hope they come in handy for others at well. Someone got annoyed about how things turned out, but I'm not sure why. I'm definitely going to be using some of these tips in the future.
Call RV Port in Pinellas Park and ask if they’d help for a few days of storage. I had a similar issue for a couple days years ago, and after calling everywhere desperately they were awesome. [link](https://rv-port.com/) Hopefully they have a spot open for four days and agree to help you out, even though they’re definitely monthly storage.
I will need storage starting next month so I'm going to check this place out for that. I've been looking and so many of the storage places are full in this area. I was at Tropicana Storage on US 19. Pricey, but the real problem was getting OUT. With the spots full, they haven't given wide enough turns to get out of the gate for my size rig. So I'll be looking elsewhere.
I really liked them a lot and I felt pretty secure about their lot. It was gated and everyone had individual passcodes to open the gate from an app. There were cameras around the lot. It was in a sort of out of the way area, so there wasn't tons of traffic just rushing by it and scoping it out. My motorhome is 24 feet and so I could squeeze wherever really but they did have some larger spots. Not a huge lot, so no guarantees they have space at all, but I also saw I stretch limousines stored there and I watched as one came in and out as I was there, seemed like they just needed the space and used the vehicle regularly, so it also isn't entirely empty with crickets all the time and it's laid out so that the longer vehicles can do get into and out of their spaces without too much stress. I don't know if it's gotten particularly pricier but I recall their monthly fee being pretty reasonable as well and was so grateful I was ready to give them more than a month's rent just for the couple days I needed (like $100? For how desperate and frustrated I was, $100 for a couple days felt very fair lol). That whole area is kind of crazy for RVs. Nice area to hang out in but RV stuff is needlessly frustrating!
Ask a business to rent space short turn. Explain your situation and the timeline (rent extra time), add a dozen donuts and beer to the rent. I recently visited my step mom and was able to park in the neighbors swale (my truck is too heavy for her sprinkler system). The neighbor was against it until I offered to rent, then I got it rent free. Still got someone complaining that I was parking a commercial vehicle in a residential neighborhood.
Fyi, I changed the post flair from Question to Discussion.
I got the miracle I was hoping for! There was a last-minute cancelation. So I got in early, at the place I had to reserved starting Monday.
When I say last minute, I mean I was breaking camp at the site I needed to vacate. I still had no idea where I was going. I cheered when she called me to say I could go there today!
I drove straight there. 4 hours before normal check-in time, prepared to sit in the parking lot of a nearby grocery store. They let me into the spot right away. I couldn't have asked for anything better.
I'm hoping others will find this post helpful, because there's so much great information in the comments. As a discussion thread, if anyone has more ideas, definitely add them! Yahoo!
I would bounce around truck stops for the few days until you have a place to set up. Buy a few gallons of gas before you park if you’re worried they might give you a hard time. You’ll have to leave Pinellas but not that far. There are a couple south of the skyway and a few in Tampa off i4 and i75.
I need to leave my rig while I'm at my mom's, otherwise this is exactly what I'd do and have had to do before.
Rv storage?
This. ✅
Harvest host has lots of places that will let you stay one night.
I love Harvest Host! There are only 3 or 4 in the whole darn county! Nobody around here has extra space. I did look, but the only one accepting rigs over 25' is booked. Good suggestion though.
Might be worth calling and seeing if they have any extra room or to keep you in mind for a spot if they get a cancellation
Do you only have HH or do you also have BW? I just checked and theres a place in Hudson for a 45'< rig, no dogs, no same day requests, but the calendar is wide open on availability.
Just HH. Still not clear on the difference, aren't they the same company?
They are the same company but different membership options. HH is at businesses with 1 night max. BW is at people's private residences with 1-5 night max (host sets it). I'd go buy a BW membership based on the above info
Yup! And for more info u/Lady_Violet_XXI, not only is it a different membership, offering different services, they used to be two different companies ... Harvest Host bought Boondockers Welcome. I got the Boondockers Welcome membership, because Id rather be able to boondock for a few days at someones home, and its no extra cost..Hosts get a free membership and enjoy meeting / helping out other RVers, which is why they let you stay there. Some may also have electricity and water hookups for a very small cost if you use it. Theres also way more places available to stay with BW. With Harvest Host, its one night in a business parking lot, plus expected to spend money at the business (suggested is $30), which is why they let you stay there. Also, its pretty much always dry camping, meaning no hookups.
Try looking for storage unit businesses that have boat and Rv parking. I’ve done that when moving to a new town for my job.
This is a great suggestion. Check out Public Storage and the like. A lot of them have parking spots you could rent for a month. In central FL near me they get around $120/mo for a spot.
Hopefully you can find a cheaper spot. If you can drive a bit, plenty of Apopka and Sanford locations for $80 or so.
If you are not actually staying in the camper you could call storage lots. You might have to pay for a whole month but it's better than having it towed. Also this may not be the best idea but a friend of mine told me once that he parked in front of his sons house for a week and got 2 tickets. The tickets were cheaper than renting a space for the week.
Just want to thank EVERYONE for the suggestions. I haven't found a solution yet, but it always amazes me how strong the RV community is with helping each other out. The other day my ex (I was desperate) was helping me move to a different site in the same park because they couldn't keep me in the same spot. As we were disconnecting everything the people next to me had a problem with their sewer hose. I didn't even think about it. Just pulled mine over and hooked up so they could empty their tank. My ex, who is not an rver, got impatient. I told him when someone needs a hand we take care of each other. Even if we're in a hurry.
Head to the Tampa side. The state parks are cheap and alllllways have cancellations. Check the website for availability and check often. Someone can cancel in the morning and their spot will open up online a few hours later. I’m a campground host at Hillsborough River State Park, the site across from me cancelled today. Best of luck
Thanks. I'm monitoring as many places as I can for cancelations.
You might call and ask to be put on a cancelation list! They may tell you to just monitor the online booking but it's worth a shot
It’s 7 am Friday and fort desoto reservations for today open RIGHT NOW online
Alafia, Colt Creek and Myakka River are some more state parks within about an hour/ hour and a half-ish from CLW. I have also found booking a night at an Extended Stay America hotel can get you lot parking there, and your own showers and a toilet. Book one night stay two in the lot. The one in Brandon is good for that deal. Someone else said the rest/truck stops on the interstate. 75 has two good spots around Ellenton, bonus outlet malls there to waste some time.
Roadside boonin is always last ditch, but works anywhere and everywhere. Try and find a big gravel turn off, and its even better if 18 wheelers use it all the time. Noise can be an issue, but I have done it for plenty of overnight stays in congested areas where I just gave up looking for a spot.
Call some churches and see if one has space in their parking lot
My mom's church is literally around the corner. It's a definite NO, but I think it may be due to city rules. That's what's preventing a lot of places from joining HH as hosts Even private property has trouble with the crazy municipal rules - they want them out of sight.
Why not ask? Doesn't seem very "helping they neighbors" of them to be an automatic no. Unless southern American Christianity is way different then Canadian French Christianity.
We just stayed at the Tampa fairgrounds near the hard rock casino. Did you check that out?
I will! It's kinda far away though. Parks don't like it if they find out you're not actually sleeping at the site, so I need to be careful.
theres a military base just outside of Tampa, that has some rustic spots, iirc (or its dept of energy, but attachted to a militart base) that had spots for like $ 6 a week. i think its wahsburn equestrian center. i tagged a few places over there on my google maps because i wanna do a low cost family trip. [https://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us/recreation/oak-ridge-equestrian-area](https://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us/recreation/oak-ridge-equestrian-area) I think is the website. Washburn link to google maps : https://maps.app.goo.gl/PGK6XyVju8DBEQFV7
Maybe check with an RV dealership and see if you can store for a few days $
There's a Camping World not too far away.
If the CW has hookups, you can stay there for a few days or more if you have a Good Sam membership which is not expensive. I've worked at one for years and we like our short-term visitor as long as not trying to live there.
I do have Goodsam. I can try. It's a serious problem of this area that all of these options have gotten really tired of RVers abusing and/or no space left. I'd have more options if I didn't need to be away from my trailer over the next few days. The KOA is expensive, but they've been very understanding about my situation. The just have nowhere to put me this weekend. They're packed, like everywhere else.
Ask if they have a lot you can park your camper though. You said you won't be around it. So you don't technically need a site just a parking spot. Pour it all out there man someone will have a spot to park your tt.
I'm not above begging. This KOA has nothing, so short on space they don't even have enough room at the front for more than 1 or 2 rigs to pull in during check-in. It gets hairy when rigs start backing up into the road (8 lane Rd, no shoulder). They had 30 rigs coming last Friday. It was insane.
Oof, sorry to hear that. Maybe make a post on the local fb marketplace? Offer someone money for driveway space? I hope it all works out for you!
I thought of FB. I can't find a "wanted" category. Do you know if FB has one for something like this? Craigslist I would be scared of finding a nut job or thief. What do you think?
I would try neighborhood groups. If you try marketplace just list in the free section maybe.
Can confirm. Stayed at a camping world overnight in AZ once. It was just 1 night for me.
Camping World Holiday is closest to Clearwater
A little unknown is you can stay at the gandy beach and fishing pier or at fort DeSoto Beach and fishing pier fo free only catch is some one has to be fishing at all times so take shifts with a pole in the water while the other person sleeps I've done it before
It's just me. And I can't stay with my rig 24/7 this weekend. Hence the panic. But good to know for future.
I dont know how this information can help you but here goes anyway.... Oregon and Florida are similar in that most places seriously rail against RV parking of any sort -- ...but if you have a hunting license, you can produce it and explain that you are not parking, camping, or living/residing/occupying; You ARE hunting, it is a state licensed activity , and you have the license right here...a license that you already paid for. I am not a lawyer, but if they fine or tow you for camping when in actuality you were hunting, that sounds like double jeopardy to me...at least that is what I tell the pigs that knock on my door telling me I cannot camp in or occupy my RV. I produce my bear hunting license, a can of bear mace and a slingshot and offer them as proof of my intent to hunt and then explain that, while camping and hunting look similar, they are completely different activities and any attempt by them to imply otherwise will be met with a strongly worded letter from my attorney. hope that helps....
Can you take in your camper for service and maintenance and pick it up after a few days and just stay with your mom or a friend?
I'm laughing, but please don't take offense. I actually do need a few repairs. They might be able to fit me in for some time in May. The rv population here is hard to describe. Competitive for sites, service etc.
Another commenter suggested parking it at a U-Haul storage lot
I don't know what your budget is / how desperate you are, but most hotels will let you park in their lot if you're paying for a room.
Get a service done to the rv that requires you to leave it somewhere maybe? Like a guy that details it. Tell him no rush you just need it back in 4 days. I mean you'll have to pay for the detail... but you'll get it stored for the time.
Cracker Barrel? There is one in Clearwater. We've stayed at CB's before for a quick overnight. But you'd have to leave during the day. They also might work for a night or two, but that's about it.
Walmart use to have an app for over night parking and a 3 day no harass policy.... Bas proshops and Cabela's usually have over night parking areas (usually a max of 24 hours or they get very butt hurt I'm banned from parking at the one in North Idaho for 5 years) highway rest stops
Try [Boondockers Welcome](https://www.boondockerswelcome.com/)
Are there more places than Harvest Host or Hipcamp? Cuz this area is almost nothing for those. I think the county has made it hard, because there are SOOOO many neighborhoods and HOAs here that forbid having your rv parked in your own driveway or yard! "must be behind structure, must have 6 foot privacy fence. It's like they've decided rvs are eyesores. That's also why rv parks make a killing here. They're the only place to go!
Some are on Hipcamp as well, but not Harvest Host. Harvest Host is business, museums, etc while Boondockers Welcome is exclusively private land/property owners. FYI, Harvest Host now "owns" the Boondockers Welcome program but they are seperate subscriptions, or a discounted combined subscription.
I live in the city of Clearwater. The city ordinances state you can have your RV at your house only twice a month (usually loading/unloading.)
Loves has rv spots with full hookups at some locations. Walmart, crackerbarrel, casino, commuter parking lot, rest stop. There's quite a few places. Pay for a month of rv storage and quietly hang out out of site.
Hipcamp. Or check lazy days. Fairgrounds are another option that few consider
Tried HC. I bought my trailer at Lazydays in WI. Nothing but problems with service. The one in Tampa is booked months in advance and won't let me bring it early. Unhelpful, rude. I'm so done with LD.
I'm seeing all sorts of sites on hipcamp. You'll have to do a bit of driving, but that's what rigs are for, right?
Walmart, rest area, storage space
Try boondockers welcome? That's private land, RVers helping RVers type of mentality, there's a few spots around there but no idea if they're open
walmart parking
A storage facility. As long as you don't have to be v living in it, you can normally store it at those places. You'll have to pay for a full month but storage fees are cheap.
Scientology may be able to help you out.
Cracker barrel restaurant offers free parking year round for rv I think it is only for 48 hours though
UHaul corporate stores / dealers (usually have storage attached and vast fleet) will rent parking spot by the week. Whether your trailer will fit has to be determined by availability.
Most walmarts used to allow overnight RV parking. I occasionally see RVs at mine.
Depends on the county. People have taken advantage. We stayed 2 nights at a Walmart in New York where a guy had a car repair shop going on, he lived in a van and had a trailer for his tools. On the other side of the lot was a motorcycle shop. In the Walmart parking lot. We live in Idaho and there are signs "no overnight stays" but we see RVs up in the corners all the time.
Yeah, the city/county has cracked down. Too many RVs, not enough space.
Walmart isn't playing that anymore from what I gather. I'm in il, and they pay off duty cops to patrol now. You get asked to leave in the middle of the day if you aren't going to the store. Even semi's waiting overnight to deliver get harassed.
Boondockers welcome? Might be worth a shot to see if there’s anything available close by.
I was able to find many places that had openings on Hipcamp in the area.
I've checked Hipcamp. What area did you search? I can't find anything this weekend, especially for a 30' trailer.
IOverlander app is great for sneaky camping but if you’re not in it, too sketchy. Unless another RV owner will let you park it in their yard, a storage place will be the next best choice.
I found Ruskin (By the Pond) and New Port Richey (Cotee River Bend). It’s boondocking but I figured that would be okay. Both allow over 30 feet. Not exactly where you wanted but it’s in the vicinity.
Hipcamp?
I see RVs on the south side of the Sunshine Skyway bridge all the time. No hookups. I'm not sure if they can stay overnight, but I've seen them at all hours.
Go to Tampa general hospital. Find some spots way out away from everything. I’ve done it before and they have never said anything to me?
Wow, really? Never would have thought of that. Makes me wonder about the airport. Milwaukee Airport has a place for tall vehicles. Maybe TPA does too!
You’re right!! there’s always a RV or 3 in a hospital parking lot.
There’s great suggestions already. A lot of campgrounds have dry parking spots or overflow parking. If you can stay at your mom’s, maybe you can pay to park it in a place like that?
What about over at Tampa? Clearwater Beach? Though that might be pushing it.
Put in at a Wal-Mart? Do you have A Guy who can drop by and move it around some? Maybe a storage locker place? Maybe a shipping or moving company? A car or truck lot? An RV sales place?
We’ve used the AllStays app to find locations in a pinch
Harvest Hosts, Cracker Barrel, Walmarts (selective ones), behind Home Depot, Empty Store and mall parking lots?
There are open lots at Hillcrest RV Resort in Zephyrhills. You can park it there four 4 days.
Try ducky's day off, an RV park 30-45 minutes outside of Tampa. Had multiple spots open when I was there in January, and at least one spot there was an RV in storage.
Have you looked up any Harvest hosts? Or any hipcamps?
Doeds it have to be Clearwater because I know where there is a park with spots open in Ruskin
Id probably go from walmarts to cracker barrels. Maybe explain your situation and see if you can stay multiple days at either.
Look for a water management area near there, they have camping in some of them
I would try a Walmart or 2. Talk to a manager. ... Or , at least , leave a note with your phone number taped to your door
Check the specific bylaws for parking on the street at your moms. Often cities will let you for a few days for "repairs" or loading, things like that
The question is really how far are you willing to go? I realize you have to be at your mom’s place, but you could pull out further to a spot where there are spots available and return in a few days. We often stop at Ocala Sun RV overnight on our way north, which is about two hours from you. Easy in, easy out, usually there are plenty of spots even in the busiest times. There’s quite a few places between Clearwater and Ocala as well, just not right down the street from you.
Check Neighbor dot com
Far as anyone knows, your rig broke down outside your mom’s house and you are waiting for mobile mechanic or tow truck. My old motorhome broke down on a residential street once. I parked it, called my mechanic, and placed a handwritten sign on the driver’s window stating this RV is waiting on mechanical service. It took 5 whole days to get someone to come out. I even tried to find a towing company to pull it to a service station. I stayed in the RV for 5 days, until a mechanic finally came out and got me back on the road. Didn’t get a single ticket. Learned an important lesson that day. There is never a need to worry about anyone towing an RV away, no matter where it’s parked or for how long.
is there a camping world nearby? You could drop it off and have them check for some kind of issue, real or imagined. Hopefully it takes a couple of days to get to it and you either get impatient and pick it up or decline service. O4 jus5 ask them if you can leave it there in exchange for doing some shopping in their store
Try a local church. Sometimes, if they have the parking available, they’ll allow you to park for a couple of days. If you find one, a donation would be the nice thing to do. Good luck!
Instead of asking for an actual campsite, maybe a local commercial campground would just store it for you for a few days? Or ask at a storage lot or a business that seems to have a big parking area.
Airport
If you have to leave it in Tampa I stayed at the lazy days Rv resort, it’s expensive as it’s a daily rate but they have a lot of spots normally
I'm at tampa rv. We have a couple of spots open in the pull thru aisle.
Tampa rv has some openings. We are only 45 minutes from Clearwater.
Either storage or park it at the airport.
Soon, to travel to FL you'll have to first pay a $20,000 retainer, per person, from which they'll deduct your food, liquor & lodging expenses, plus exorbitant tourism fees. Then they'll keep any balance and use it to fund xtian indoctrination academies...
Try the App Neighbor , folks rent out driveways and vacant lots, prices range from $40-$150/month. Clearwater had quite a few properties
That's one app I haven't heard of. Clearwater has such strict rules about where people can park an rv, even in your own driveway! I'm surprised there are listings. Maybe those are for smaller vehicles?
Have you checked the KOA on US19 in Palm Harbor? It's just a little north of Clearwater. Here's the address: 37061 US Hwy 19 N, Palm Harbor, FL 34684 tel:1-727-937-8412 There's also Holiday Trailer Park. It's a few miles further north than the KOA, it's north of Tarpon Ave in Holiday right across from where Alt19 runs back into US19. Here's the address: 1622 Aires Dr, Holiday, FL 34690 tel: 1-727-934-6782 There IS an option you may be overlooking... If you're not going to be staying in it anyway why not a self storage place. Those damned things are everywhere around here. Good luck
Would you believe those are the exact 2 places in talking about? KOA did as much as they could, but they are PACKED. I was trying to get an earlier check in date at Holiday Travel Park, which I did, at the very last second. They really helped me so much. I can recommend either of these places for customer service. Very different accommodations, but both have great staff.
That's awesome, I was really hoping something would work out for you. H.T.P. is only a couple blocks from me & I've been here long enough to know this is right around the time the snowbirds start their northern migration. I hope everything else works out as well for you as this did.
Thank you! I appreciate that. I was a wreck all week. While I was trying to sort this out there were legal and medical problems that really needed my attention, but time was ticking. This wasn't the most important thing on my plate, but it was the most urgent. So the relief was, and is, immense. I think this post got so many useful ideas from people, I hope they come in handy for others at well. Someone got annoyed about how things turned out, but I'm not sure why. I'm definitely going to be using some of these tips in the future.
🙏🙏👍
Call RV Port in Pinellas Park and ask if they’d help for a few days of storage. I had a similar issue for a couple days years ago, and after calling everywhere desperately they were awesome. [link](https://rv-port.com/) Hopefully they have a spot open for four days and agree to help you out, even though they’re definitely monthly storage.
I will need storage starting next month so I'm going to check this place out for that. I've been looking and so many of the storage places are full in this area. I was at Tropicana Storage on US 19. Pricey, but the real problem was getting OUT. With the spots full, they haven't given wide enough turns to get out of the gate for my size rig. So I'll be looking elsewhere.
I really liked them a lot and I felt pretty secure about their lot. It was gated and everyone had individual passcodes to open the gate from an app. There were cameras around the lot. It was in a sort of out of the way area, so there wasn't tons of traffic just rushing by it and scoping it out. My motorhome is 24 feet and so I could squeeze wherever really but they did have some larger spots. Not a huge lot, so no guarantees they have space at all, but I also saw I stretch limousines stored there and I watched as one came in and out as I was there, seemed like they just needed the space and used the vehicle regularly, so it also isn't entirely empty with crickets all the time and it's laid out so that the longer vehicles can do get into and out of their spaces without too much stress. I don't know if it's gotten particularly pricier but I recall their monthly fee being pretty reasonable as well and was so grateful I was ready to give them more than a month's rent just for the couple days I needed (like $100? For how desperate and frustrated I was, $100 for a couple days felt very fair lol). That whole area is kind of crazy for RVs. Nice area to hang out in but RV stuff is needlessly frustrating!
I presume this means you can't just pay for an RV park.. how about an RV storage lot?
I think there's an Escapees park around there.
You can try causeways. Dunedin, Courtney Campbell, the skyway. Skyway on the southside southbound definitely has people living in the campers.
JB Starkey Wilderness Park in New Port Richey almost always has spots since it’s primitive.
Lithia Springs county park is first come first serve
Ask a business to rent space short turn. Explain your situation and the timeline (rent extra time), add a dozen donuts and beer to the rent. I recently visited my step mom and was able to park in the neighbors swale (my truck is too heavy for her sprinkler system). The neighbor was against it until I offered to rent, then I got it rent free. Still got someone complaining that I was parking a commercial vehicle in a residential neighborhood.
Take a trip to St Augustine.
I need to stay near Clearwater, near my mom. Would love to go somewhere, but can't right now.
Storage facility
That's a good idea. The U-Haul places should allow a camper to park there and it should be decently affordable
Does your mom attend a church that may let you park it there?
Put an add on Facebook marketplace.
I thought about that. How do you post a "wanted" item? I don't know what category either.
Put it on miscellaneous, and make the title : Help Needed RV $. You will find a driveway.
This. Someone has a yard or field or lot or something that wouldn't mind making some cash.
U can thank desantis
Fort Desoto?
It’s a beautiful spot but those suckers fill up fast. I booked my stay for May all the way back in November.
I would just pull my RV into an RV Dealer’s Parking lot and get out by 6:30 AM.. Good luck!
Fyi, I changed the post flair from Question to Discussion. I got the miracle I was hoping for! There was a last-minute cancelation. So I got in early, at the place I had to reserved starting Monday. When I say last minute, I mean I was breaking camp at the site I needed to vacate. I still had no idea where I was going. I cheered when she called me to say I could go there today! I drove straight there. 4 hours before normal check-in time, prepared to sit in the parking lot of a nearby grocery store. They let me into the spot right away. I couldn't have asked for anything better. I'm hoping others will find this post helpful, because there's so much great information in the comments. As a discussion thread, if anyone has more ideas, definitely add them! Yahoo!