RV camping at casinos
Safety Tips for Parking at Casinos
by Jane Kenny
Casino parking lots are hospitable. Casinos throughout the country welcome adult campers because they know they might get additional business. And the travelers get a quiet, safe spot to rest for the night without being hassled. Since most casinos are open 24/7, security personnel are on duty all night.
Here are a few safety and security tips for free overnight parking at casinos:
- After you pull into the parking lot, check with security to verify that you can stay overnight and ask where they want you to park.
- Limit your free overnight stay to a single 24-hour period.
- If there is no designated area for large vehicles, park on the perimeter of the lot. Don’t take up spaces intended for cars.
- Don’t abuse the property owner’s hospitality. During our travels we’ve observed RVers who act like they own the place and put out the awning, barbeque and chairs. Remember, a parking lot is not a campground. If there’s enough space, it’s OK to open a slideout, but restrict your activity to the inside of your vehicle. Be considerate of the casino owners who have given permission for you to park free on their property.
- Do not leave your motor home unattended overnight or for any extended period of time. This may seem like simple, common sense advice, but you’d be surprised at how many folks park their expensive units in a parking lot and then go off to visit friends for a few days. If you are foolish enough to do this, don’t be surprised upon your return to find your unattended vehicle has been towed away.
- If you want to blacktop boondock at a casino that also has a fee-pay campground as part of the facility, it is essential to check with security to ask about your options for staying overnight. Some casinos will allow you to stay in the parking lot anyway. But there are a number of casinos that require you to pull into their camping area if you want to stay for the night.
"Blacktop boondocking” at a casino is convenient. These days casinos are located all over the country; many are within a mile or two of an interstate exit. You can find these casinos identified in the guide to RV-Friendly casinos, Casino Camping.
"Blacktop boondocking” at a casino is comfortable. You have your home with you, so you can either walk or take the shuttle bus back and forth to the casino. If you participate in the gaming, you can play shorter, more relaxing gaming sessions with breaks in between. If you are averse to crowds, you can play at odd hours and avoid peak play times. For couples, when one wants to play cards or slots and the other doesn’t, there’s no problem.
And, of course, there’s the obvious benefit, “blacktop boondocking” at RV-Friendly casinos is free!
Jane Kenny is the author of Casino Camping, A Guide to RV-Friendly Casinos that features detailed information, locator maps and accurate directions to hundreds of casinos in 32 states.
The book is available from RV Lifestyle Experts Web site.