Casino Camping for Non-Gamblers

If you're new here, you may want to subscribe to our E-mail Digest or RSS Feed. We will then send you the stories that are posted each day in an e-mail digest. We use a service called Feedburner for delivery of these emails. You will receive an e-mail from Feedburner after you subscribe and you must click on that email to activate your subscription. Thanks for visiting and enjoy all the information! RV.Net Blog AdminWhen we first started fulltiming, about 5 years ago, I was surprised to learn that some people who camp or park at casinos never gamble.  Gambling had been a hobby of ours for many years so it seemed odd to us, but since then we’ve met many RVers who do this.  Why do they visit casinos?  They tell me it’s all about the free parking, and free or low cost camping.  Not all casino camping is free or low cost, but much of it is.  Here are a few examples, from some locations that I’ve recently updated or added to our list: Isle of Capri, Lake Charles, LA has both free overnight parking without hookups and $10/night with electric Sunland Park Racetrack & Casino, Sunland Park, NM offers RV sites with water and electric for $10/night and has a dump station on site. Win-River Casino, Redding, CA gives you 3 nights free dry parking. Sometimes casinos require play to receive discounts in their RV parks, and rates change too, so if you see a low price advertised it’s good to inquire before you start your trip.  We’ve also seen the... Read more

Six Words About Your RV Life

Hello intrepid travelers, Calling all wordsmiths, writers, witty individuals or families…can you condense your RV and camping experiences and expectations into six words? I double dog dare ya to share Six Words About Your RV Life!! Have you heard of the six word memoirs project from SMITH Magazine? In 2006 the fine minds behind SMITH Magazine offered aspiring writers, poets, those with something to say, and plain ole witty folk an opportunity to tell their story in six words. It’s said that Hemingway did just that when challenged to write a six word story. He came up with this: “For sale: baby shoes, never worn.”  Thousands of others from the famous to the neighbor-next-door have submitted their six word story in several SMITH Magazine projects including a series on Love & Heartbreak. And this got me thinking about my own six word memoirs…stories about my life on the road, as an RVer. My motto and the RV Cooking Show’s tag line is a mere six words – “Love to travel. Love to eat.” I quickly realized we all have a story to tell, a short ditty to share – especially when it comes to our RV and camping travels. So, with much anticipation and excitement I am delighted to introduce a special six word series – Six Words About Your RV Life. Think about your adventures and see if you can craft a six word memoir about your RV vacation, lifestyle, camping experiences. Leave your six words on my RVCookingShow blog or right here on this RV.net blog posting – Six... Read more

RV Vacation Savings Tip

Many times we see the word “Destination” when viewing listings or advertisements covering campgrounds.  So what exactly makes a park a destination?  I guess a campground is either a destination, a seasonal (also a destination, but usually has some permanent park type model trailers) or a transient park.  The later would be a site that offers a good stop over, perhaps located near a busy highway. Though these parks may well have campers that stay for extended stays, many do not.  A destination park is a property where people stay as their final destination, many times near popular attractions or high tourist areas.  There are properties that fall into both categories and, of course, park owners that believe their property is mainly a destination site whereas, it may not be. Destination parks generally are priced higher.  This price difference appears to be driven by the proximity to popular attractions, while the transient sites compete with the short overnight travelers expecting lower rates. Can you save money by staying a little further out in a lower priced transient campground?  Maybe, but not without some sacrifices.  First, you will probably have to drive a bit further from the site to the attractions.  Additionally you will find the early morning and late evening a little more disruptive as travelers arrive and depart at all hours.  So be prepared for the early diesel engine wakeup call.  Security may not be as good at some of these locations due to the type... Read more

New Policy at Thunder Valley Casino, CA

Good news for once… Casinos change their RV parking policy from time to time and for various reasons.  Construction projects sometimes take up too much space and RV’s are out.  Local ordinances occasionally get in the way, and we all remember the battles over Laughlin.  Once in a while the “bad apple” spoils it for everyone by abusing the casino’s hospitality and trying to make a residence - along with unsightly litter and other problem behavior.  Thankfully this last situation is very rare, although it gets a lot of publicity. But today it’s good news that I bring to you!  After several years of inconsistant policy, mostly disallowing any RV parking day or night, the Thunder Valley Casino in Lincoln, CA has a new policy called “Park and Play”.  The short version is; you can park there for up to 3 days while enjoying the casino.  The casino’s website explains it, and also gives more details about the policy. Thunder Valley is conveniently located near Rocklin about 8 miles from I-80.  By the way, one of our favorite Camping World stores is located in Rocklin! Happy travels, and good luck in the casinos! Mac www.CasinoCamper.com  Read More →

Update: Reno Overnight RV Parking Ban, Enforcement Eases Up

As of February 11, 2009, the city council has decided not to actively enforce an ordinance that prohibits sleeping overnight in an RV unless you’re in an approved campground.  Instead, they will only respond to specific complaints.  This clears the way for business owners (Casinos, big-box stores, etc.) to decide whether to allow RVers to park overnight on their property, but allows the city to step in when necessary to respond to legitimate problems.   Read more  Read More →

Our Grand Adventure and Parking the Rig

RV Parking “on the Road” Our Grand Adventure is moving along swimmingly. We have traveled from the Pacific Northwest down the magnificent coastline to Southern California. But a common problem with a big RV is parking. In a lot of the National Forest campgrounds, we are too big. In California, a number of the State Park campgrounds have signs, “No Trailers or Motorhomes”. That is, in the ones that are open during the winter. In California, posted rest areas allow overnight “rest”, not camping. Scenic overlooks are posted, “no overnight parking or camping”. However, in the National Forest along CA Pacific Coast Rte 1, a National Forest site host, with only short RV options available and night upon us, suggested to park in an overlook. So the rules appear to be different on federal land. We had an experience the other day while visiting the town of Solvang, CA, that took the fine edge off a visit to their unique town. Solvang is a Danish-themed village founded in the early 1900’s as a base for a Danish school. The town is unique in its architecture, typical of what would be found in Denmark. Delightful shops and restaurants line the streets and invite tourists. Solvang spends a good deal of money on advertising and for the most part the town lives up to its advertising. However, we encountered an attitude among a few of its inhabitants that left a bad taste. I am not sure how you do your snooping and sightseeing when on the... Read more

Free and Low Cost RV Parking and Camping

We’re not just talking about Wally-docking and casino camping.  There are many free and low cost camping opportunities in places far away from a paved parking lot.  As part of our “Ways to Save” week I’ve collected a list of links that will help you find parking and camping opportunities all across the country.  I’m sure I’ve left out many good resources, so if you know of one that I haven’t listed please share it with us all in the comments area at the bottom. Read more  Read More →

Casino Camping Location Report – Quad Cities

I mentioned in my last post that I’m traveling through the Midwest and writing about several locations for Midwest Gaming and Travel magazine.  After leaving Dubuque, Iowa we traveled about 70 miles south to the Quad Cities of Davenport, Bettendorf, Moline, and Rock Island.  If you make this trip, and have time, we recommend taking the “Great River Road” — longer, but more scenic.  We were in a hurry, so we took US-61.  Read more  Read More →

Map your Driveway Invitations

You sure meet a lot of nice people on the road. At RV parks, and especially at the rallies, we meet people all the time who say, “If you’re ever traveling thru my neck o’ the woods, stop by. We have a big driveway and a 30amp hookup!” Our answer is, “Be careful when you say that, because we’ll actually do it!”  We love visiting people by staying in their driveway.  Here we are at a good friend’s in Florida: How do we remember where these places are? We put them on a custom Google Map. Watch the video below to see how to make one yourself. Chris Guld www.GeeksOnTour.com Computer Education for Travelers  Read More →

Casino Camping Update — Reno Nevada RV Parking Ban

A quick post today to bring this to everyone’s attention.  Reno Nevada has started enforcing the overnight parking restriction that has been a local ordinance since 1996.  Over the years there has been sporadic enforcement; although, several casinos made accomodations for RV travelers, especially those of us who are serious players.  It seems even this has come to an end. Read more  Read More →

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