Time to be petty I guess.

I never see those disgusting places anymore. I fuel at small chains, bring food with me, park at random places or the Shipper/Receiver and stop at the few mom/pop stops left in the areas I run. Of course, the shower would be a necessity if I lived in the truck but I do pretty much all out and back. It's very rare if I'm out two consecutive nights in a row. Truck stops now are pretty much third world countries. No thanks...I'll pass.

 

Supply and demand, baby! Learn it, know it, love it!

 

Typically i refuse to use paid parking. Granted i have in the past when it was that or an HoS violation due to something like a breakdown or shipper with a thumb up the ### forceing me to do what i got to do. Not a lot of choice with showers, though i do have a sponge, some disposable rags and a bowl i use to get the worst of the stank off if i cant get a shower for whatever reason.

As for food i typically take about a months worth of freeze dried, spices, an achohol stove, my trusty insulator rock for said stove and camp pot all kept tidy in my trusty old tool box. While freeze dried is pretty expenive up front if you buy #10 cans meals are about $5-8 a pop depending on how much i make and if i supliment with fresh and are hundreds of times better then truckstop fare.

My downfall is drinks.

 

That probably explains 95% of paid parking usage.

 

I've parked oversized in paid spots and refused to move because campers were taking so many spots. They've threatened to tow but so far that hasn't happened

 

Ditto. I’ve paid to park once in the last 10 years (Petro in N Little Rock) same place that I’ve showered away from home 1 of 6 times since. You can count on one hand the amount of times per year that I purchase food on the road. I’m usually home for supper 5 nights a week.

 

I take my own food with me because the food at truck stops, especially after the lock downs, got too horrible. I went a few weeks ago to the restaurant at Petro in Waterloo, NY and that was the last straw...
Parking east of Mississippi river is much different and paying for it is more frequent, if it is past 8 pm. When I am empty, I don't mind to find Best Western or Days Inn and get out of the truck.
It may be a little off topic but I am already over $10G for tollways in this year for only 1 truck. I can't help the feeling that it is a rip off. Now, when I remember, going to West Coast had a lot of pluses....

 

Parked for Free.
Ham sandwich from fridge, hm, 59cent package plus tax, say .80, bread $1.79 and tax, say 1.95, soda 3 12 packs for 9.99.

So I ate 2 sandwiches and had a coke so cost me less then $4

 

It is fashionable to eat once a day...just coffee for breakfast. That should save money too. I try but I can't. I'll try again. Some days it works...most it does not.