I slept in a Cracker Barrel parking lot on a solo road trip and it revealed a much less glamorous side of van life

11.01.2024 - 19:11 / insider.com

It was golden hour in Williams, Arizona, and I had no place to sleep for the night.

I was just a few days into my two-week road trip traveling around America's West in a 75-square-foot campervan.

So far, the trip was a success. I spent a night camping for free in a scenic national forest in Taos, New Mexico, discovered delicious road-trip eats, and met welcoming people along the way.

But as I stared down at Google Maps, I was unsure how this night was going to go.

I didn't want to shell out a lot of money to stay in an RV resort, which typically costs around $60 per night, since I just needed a place to rest for a few hours. But I also didn't spot any affordable or free campgrounds nearby.

Then, I remembered some businesses like Cracker Barrel welcome overnight campers to park for free in their lots.

From interviews with other nomads, I knew some businesses like Cracker Barrel and Walmart allow RVs, campervans, and cars to park overnight in their lots.

I also knew this rule varied from location to location and van lifers advised me to research each location and always get permission from a manager first.

So before I spent 50 minutes driving to a nearby Cracker Barrel in Flagstaff, Arizona, I wanted to make sure I'd be able to sleep in the parking lot. I pulled up iOverlander, an app that other nomads use to share reviews on everything from gas stations to water pumps to free parking.

Here, I spotted reviews outlining that a handful of businesses had started banning RVs and vans from staying overnight in Flagstaff. I read dozens of reviews that a nearby Walmart had "no parking" signs posted all over its lot. If I hadn't hopped on the app, I might have mistakenly assumed I could've slept there, too.

Thankfully, reviewers said that the Cracker Barrel still welcomed overnight visitors. I planned to confirm with the restaurant when I arrived.

When I pulled up to the Cracker Barrel at 6:45 p.m., there was no doubt in my mind that the business allowed overnight visitors. The majority of parking spots were filled with vans, cars, RVs, and travel trailers of all sizes.

I popped into the Cracker Barrel to use their restroom and confirm that it was fine to spend the night in their lot. I was greeted kindly, and no one even asked that I dine at the restaurant in order to park.

After getting a green light, I settled in. I put covers on each window to block any nosey eyes and bright lights. Then, I turned on my van's heater, hopped in bed, and enjoyed a takeout dinner I picked up on the drive over.

Outside, I could hear cars zooming down a nearby road, and every half hour, a train passed by. I could also hear other cars and RVs pulling into the last few spots of the lot.

I gained comfort knowing that I wasn't