Can Cabela’s and Bass Pro Shops park your RV overnight? – Jalopnik

RV life is not spent entirely on highways and campsites. Sometimes you just need a quick and safe place to stay overnight on the way to your next camping destination. Of course, there are always truck stops and rest areas. But those in the know often park their rigs at Walmarts and Cracker Barrels.

What about Cabela’s and Bass Pro Shops? It seems like these companies are eager to build a good relationship with the RV crowd. After all, these are the people who buy their oversized zero-gravity camping chairs, and they are the only market for some of their goods, like RV tri-levelers. What, you don’t know what an RV tri-leveler is? Well, the people who do know often need a place to park their rigs overnight.

If you see the synergy there, Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s (which Bass bought years ago) are way ahead of you. These stores often welcome campers to spend the night in their parking lots. Cabela’s headquarters in Sidney, Nebraska even has hookups and showers, for a fee. Of course, every location is different, so you’ll want to check this first before parking your rig there for the night. Just be a good guest and don’t ruin it for everyone. What do we mean? We’re talking about the basics: don’t leave trash, don’t take up more space than necessary, don’t set up camp, and keep noise levels down. We want Bass Pro Shops to continue to allow RVers to park for years to come.

A number of Cabela’s have been rebranded or are in the process of being rebranded as Bass Pro Shops. That doesn’t mean all locations are exactly the same, especially when it comes to being able to park your RV overnight. Some managers may not allow this, while other locations may have restrictions. Some stores have no choice due to local ordinances, while some states make it nearly impossible to sleep in your car anywhere. So never assume that any of these stores will allow overnight parking for RVs.

Always ask first. Call ahead and talk to the manager or customer service. You can also just walk in and ask, but calling ahead can save you a trip. If they say it’s okay to park your RV overnight, they may give some instructions, such as checking in with customer service, parking in a specific area of ​​the lot, or putting a pass on your windshield.

What if you come after the store is closed and you can’t reach a manager? Again, don’t assume you can stay overnight. Look around the parking lot for signs about overnight parking. It’s a good idea to look up local ordinances online as well. See if you see any other RVs parked for the night. Then it is probably wise to park nearby. Be prepared to leave early in the morning, just in case.

You know that friend or family member who shows up at your house unannounced, eats your food, invites themselves to stay the night and doesn’t know when to leave? Don’t be that person when you park your RV at Bass Pro Shops or Cabela’s. Basically just use common sense and consideration when staying there.

Please note that this is a business center and not a camping area (unless you are in a location with actual camping areas). In other words, you park and not camp. This is not the place to roll out your slides, set up your awning, get out your camp chairs and patio furniture and start cooking on your barbecue. Running your generator at night can also be a no-no if you have neighbors.

Some places have rules about how long you can stay, but a good rule of thumb is to simply spend the night. It would also be nice to make a small purchase while you are there. Where else can you find those tri-levelers? And you know how state and national parks want you to pack everything you take with you and leave the place just as you found it? That’s also a good rule to apply here. The last thing you want is to leave trash on the ground. And really, these are good practices when staying overnight anywhere, even truck stops.

So yes, many Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s will allow you to park your RV in their parking lot overnight. It’s nice to have them as an option while we’re on the road. Being good guests can go a long way toward keeping those options open.