Overnight RV Parking at Cabela’s: Your Guide to a Restful Night
Are you considering overnight RV parking at Cabela’s?
If so, let me reassure you that it is a great option for a quick overnight stay on your way to your final destination.
Cabela’s overnight camping is easy to access with large, flat parking lots, and—best of all—it’s free.
Here’s everything you need to know for a safe, restful overnight stay in your RV.
Can I camp overnight at Cabela’s?
Yes! The chain welcomes overnight RV campers in most of their 160 retail locations.
Cabela’s makes for a great option when you’re on longer trips and just need a quiet, safe place to sleep before you get back on the road.
Many larger chains provide similar spots for tired campers, including Cracker Barrel, Walmart and Bass Pro Shops (the latter of which owns Cabela’s).
How do I make reservations for overnight RV parking at Cabela’s?
Unlike traditional campgrounds, there is no reservation system for your stay at Cabela’s.
If you’d like to see if it’s okay to stay, you’ll want to call the specific store where you’d like to park for the night, and ask.
You don’t need to call too far ahead—simply wait until the day you’re traveling to check in.
If, when you call, you get an associate who doesn’t know the answer, simply keep asking to speak with others (particularly the assistant manager and/or manager if available) until you get a solid answer.
We are hooked on boondocking on travel days, and we’ve never been turned down.
However, I’ve heard from other travelers that there is the occasional store that doesn’t have room, has had issues with RV camping in the past, or can’t allow for camping due to local regulations.
You certainly don’t want to be woken up in the middle of the night by a security guard or police officer in any of those cases, so always call ahead!
Being able to boondock was a major factor in our decision to upgrade from our pop-up. Read our comparison of owning a pop up camper vs a travel trailer.
Is it safe to camp in a parking lot?
When we first decided to try boondocking, we were on our way to explore Shenandoah National Park with our kids.
We certainly didn’t want to put them—or ourselves—in any danger, so we picked a Cabela’s that we’d been to before in Charlotte, NC.
This particular Cabela’s is at the entrance to Carowinds on the North Carolina-South Carolina border, and we knew it was right off the interstate and quite near a busy intersection.
Plus, that area isn’t known for crime anyway, so we decided to try it out.
As predicted, we made it through that first night just fine, and we’ve never had any issues on any of our boondocking experiences since.
As with any overnight travel stay, pay attention to your surroundings—and your gut feelings.
If you did get in a situation where you felt unsafe enough to stay the night, head back out onto the road and stop elsewhere.
That being said, people aren’t going to mess with you or your camper 99.9% of the time.
Safety Tips While Camping Overnight at Cabela’s:
As with any time you’re traveling, stay aware of your surroundings.
You’ll want to ensure that your vehicle, RV, and/or trailer is locked up before you go to bed.
Don’t forget to check the storage boxes, too.
If possible, park underneath one of the security lights. These are major deterrents for anyone looking to be nosy.
Also, if possible, park in the middle of the parking lot. Doing so means that someone would have to be very visible across a large lot as they approached your rig.
Along those same lines, avoid parking next to large clumps of bushes and/or trees. The more visible you are, the better.
What do I do about hookups?
Welcome to boondocking!
You’ll need to be completely self sufficient during your stay, which means prepping before you arrive.
This means knowing how to use your fresh, grey, and black water tanks.
Since there aren’t any hookups, you’ll need to make sure you’ll be able to dump your grey and black tanks later into your journey.
Remember to be courtesy of other campers, businesses, and passersby, and don’t run your generators.
While this could provide some relief for a particularly warm evening, it is frowned upon—and might even break local noise ordinances.
The one thing that we do upon arrival is to put down our stabilizers as this cuts down on sway as everyone gets ready for bed.
Other than that, our travel trailer stays connected to our SUV, which makes for an easy start the next morning.
Checklist of what to do before staying the night at Cabela’s:
-Fill up your fresh water tank. This will allow you to flush the toilet and grab a drink of water.
-Ensure that your propane is filled. You’ll need it on chilly nights!
-Make sure that any items on the outside of your vehicle and rig are locked (i.e. bikes, tool boxes, rooftop luggage carriers).
-Put everything you need—clothes, snacks, etc.—inside the camper before you leave. This allows you to pull into the Cabela’s and easily transition into your nighttime routine.
How much does it cost to park my RV overnight at Cabela’s?
Parking at Cabela’s overnight is free, which makes this a cost-effective stop on your trip.
As a courtesy to the store, it’s an unspoken rule that you should patronize the Cabela’s in some way, even if it’s just a t-shirt or snack.
I know that’s not always possible, particularly if you arrive very late and after the store is closed, or if you leave before the store opens in the morning.
Still, whenever possible, patronize the businesses so they see the benefit in having RVers in their lots!
If you’ve bought your camper and need to upgrade, check out our list of travel trailer must haves!
Have you tried boondocking at a store on your RV adventures?
