Can You Park an RV at a Hotel?

Written by Jeff Campbell in Camping FAQs Last Updated May 6, 2021

park RV hotel lg

RV life is great. But every now and then, it’s nice to stay at a hotel just to get a break from the road. Or maybe you just want to boondock a night, and that hotel parking lot looks plenty big. In either case, can you park your RV at a hotel?

Here’s what I know, seeing as my wife and I own an RV:

A hotel parking lot will be technically large enough to accommodate an RV in most cases, but the parking lot is meant for hotel guests and should not be used for boondocking. However, there are cases where it can be allowed if one asks for permission.

In this article, we’ll explore issues such as whether it is cheaper to RV or stay in a hotel, will a hotel mind if your RV takes up too much space, whether you can sleep in a hotel parking lot, and so on.

Let’s dive right in…

Will a hotel tow my RV if I use their parking lot?

A hotel is private property and has the right to tow a vehicle parked in their lot which does not belong to a guest. But towing an RV is not a task all tow companies will perform due to the size. And, if it is a large parking lot and not close to capacity, a parked RV may not be a huge concern for hotel staff.

The vital and obvious fact to note is that a hotel’s parking lot is a private property that’s meant for their guests.

So, it’s illegal to park there unless you are getting a room there.

Most of such parking lots would also have a sign that indicates that parking illegally is prohibited. But, even when there’s no such sign, it’s a no-brainer that your rig may be towed.

Whether it will be towed would depend on how strict the hotel is on enforcing the policy, whether the lot is almost full, and how conspicuous your rig is.

It may blend in if it’s a relatively small RV, such as a Class B or a small C.

But, if it’s big…Some parking lots may also have attendants manning them. Even if you’re able to park for a few hours, if paying guests are having issues getting space, your rig may be towed.

Can you sleep in hotel parking lots?

Some RVers sleep in hotel parking lots. However, it is not advisable because it is trespassing. Hotel parking lots are private property for guests who have paid to stay there. But in some cases, if one asks for permission, it may be allowed.

However, it is smart to always have alternatives such as a Walmart parking lot or other similar stores that allow RV parking overnight.

So yes, you can try it, but it really shouldn’t be in your plan to sleep in a hotel parking lot. It is safe, but it is risky if you are caught.

You know that most hotels have security personnel who patrol the grounds several times each day, checking if something is off-kilter.

And many have camera systems making your RV obvious.

They also have logs showing vehicles that have a right to be there. You’d most probably be found out, and that’s highly embarrassing, especially if you’re with loved ones.

You could be politely asked to leave.

But, a hotel manager may want the law enforcement involved, and you’d agree that’s the last thing you need when you’re just trying to save a few dollars.

But all RV’ers boondock.

This is either to save money, when no campsite is available, or when you’re tired and just need to pull over.

So in those situations, is it OK to run your generator all night?

Luckily, a recent article of mine looks at whether you could run your rig’s built-in generator all night. I get into carbon monoxide issues, running out of fuel, and a lot more.

Just click the link to read it on my site.

Is it cheaper to RV or stay in hotels?

It is cheaper to RV than to stay in hotels. Hotel and living expenses can average $1,917 per week, up to $3,360, compared to RV living which averages $1,430 per week.

And those figures are based on renting an RV.

So if you already own an RV, your savings between the two will be even greater. But if you don’t own one (yet), renting is a great way to test the waters.

Rvngo.com says you could save between 20% to 60% in travel costs when you rent an RV over staying in a hotel.

But let’s examine the figures I mentioned above in greater detail.

It showed that the cost of staying in a standard hotel for a week, for one person, if you factor in the cost of meals, gas, and the room is $1917, and $3360 for a high-end hotel. (These are based on 2019 figures).

The average cost of renting an RV, when one factor in the rental, gas, meals, and parking fees is $1430. That’s a projected savings of $1760.

That’s a lot of money if you ask me.

It’s vital to note that these figures are averages and that they’d be affected by the current rates, the type of RV, mileage, the time of the year, and the number of people traveling.

However, on the whole, RVing is a cheaper option than staying in hotels.

RVs, campers, trailers, motorhomes…Lingo you’ll soon be hip to. Luckily, in a recent article, I looked at the differences between an RV and a motorhome, including the 1 major difference between the 2 aside from the obvious. Check it out.

Just click the link to read it on my site.

Will a hotel mind if my RV takes up too much space?

When staying at a hotel as a paid guest, ask where the most appropriate spot to park an RV is. Hotels understand that RVs will take up 2 or more parking spaces. They may even have an oversized vehicle area.

Hotels that allow RVs to park are no strangers to the fact that some rigs can take up space.

Yours would most likely be the biggest vehicle in the lot. You want to park in a spot where it’d be easy to maneuver your way out when you’ve got to leave, and that makes it easier for other vehicles to park in.

If it’s during their peak period and they’ll be having a lot of guests who have to park their vehicles and you have a rig that’s very big and long, they may politely tell you the lot can’t take the rig.

Luckily, Class B RV owners don’t have these hassles.

But are Class B RVs worth it? Check out the pros and cons in a recent article of mine where I shared 13 of the top pros and cons, including 2 that almost nobody thinks about until it’s too late!

Just click the link to read it on my site.

What are the top hotels that allow RV parking?

The best hotels that can accommodate RVs include the Marriott, Trump International, The Peninsula Beverly Hills, Homewood Suites, and Comfort Inn and Suites. But that will not necessarily be true of every location.

RVs, as you know, often occupy a lot of space, and not every hotel has huge parking lots.

So, where to park your rig is a challenge, even if you’d be staying at a hotel. It’s best to make inquiries before you hit the road.

Fortunately, some parking lots are not too far from hotels, should this be an issue.

Here are some hotels that allow RV parking:

  1. West Palm Beach, Marriott
  2. Trump International Washington D.C.
  3. The Peninsula, Beverly Hills
  4. Homewood Suites, Hilton, Orlando
  5. Sam’s Town Hotel, Las Vegas
  6. Comfort Inn and Suites, Las Vegas
  7. Ayres Hotel Barstow, California
  8. The Tangerine, Burbank
  9. The Mill Casino, Oregon
  10.  Portside Suites, Oregon

Yeah, parking can be a challenge.

But, the fun and adventure of RV living are incredibly refreshing. And many of us are just weekend warriors or do a bit of RVing in the summer.

What about those who live in their RV full-time?

It’s the theme of a recent article of mine, where I looked at 25 important things to note. There are many pros and cons, but what really surprised me was how much cheaper it is to own an RV than a home.

Just click the link to read it on my site.

Van Life - Top 10 Free Overnight Parking Spots

Conclusion

You can’t be on the road all the time.

But can you park an RV at a hotel? Some hotels allow RVs and some don’t. It’s good to do some research before you hit the road.

Can you stay for free in a hotel parking lot? Most of the time, “no” would be the answer to that. It’s called trespassing. If you ask for permission and it is granted, then…

We learned that it’s cheaper to RV than to stay in hotels, that hotels that allow RVs to park would probably not mind that you’re taking up a lot of space.

And lastly, we looked at some hotels that allow RV parking.

Photo which requires attribution:

Cruise in Style by tdlucas5000 is licensed under CC2.0 and was cropped and had a text overlay added.

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