Pilot/Flying J Prime Parking

Is it still cheaper to put everything in storage and live on the road?

Or does that paid parking cost as much as apartment rent now?

 

Havent been to that place since they made it pay parking. Back when it was free , to get the full experience u have to get up about 2am , parked all the way inthe back. Takes 30 minutes just to get out of the lot because ######## parked everywhich way. Some nights it looked like a tornado sweeped thru there

 

I don't use it as much as I did, but the T/A in Albuquerque I've used the paid parking 5 or 6 times as that lot seems to be always full, IIRC, there's maybe 10 paid spots, the rest are free. Seems though with all that's going on, some truck stops that I used to see always full are now only 3/4 full. Last time I was in ABQ, 8 pm on a weekday night, the T/A was 3/4 full at 10 pm.

 

These new Love's are nice, I just wish they would figure better food choices, the one in Las Vegas, NM is Chesters/Subway (I hate Chesters, I'm tired of Subway), the one in Brush, Co is Carl's Jr (yech), the one in Johnstown, Co. is Subway and Arby's, but the Arby's is kinda sketchy on their service, the only upside is the Subway makes up about 2 dozen sandwiches at closing and puts them out in a cold display case for the late night crowd. The Love's in Bennett, Co. has an McD's and a Chesters, for a long time the McD was 24 hrs full menu, since Covid I stopped the 24 hr, for a brief period they even stopped inside service, you had to do walk-up at the drive-thru. At least McD's is slightly more tolerable than Subway.

 

I'm sitting in a PFJ reserved spot right now. I booked it this morning from my laptop. I only reserve spots if I know I'll be arriving after 4m, otherwise I'll just grab a free spot. It's worth every penny for the piece of mind knowing you'll have a spot for the night.

 

Completely agree. I burned out on the same old fast food franchises at the mega truck stops a long time ago. Started packing my own food and I'm much happier and healthier. A few places have a decent restaurant close by, but it's rare.

 

Hate it. Hate Hate Hate !

 

My husband and I sold our home put everything in storage. It is way cheaper than what our mortgage was.

During the winter is when we use reserve parking the most, even then it averages less than once a week. Under a $100 a month. (Our company reimburses us, even if they didn't we feel it is money well spent)

On home time we stay with one of our adult children and visit the grandchildren.

 

I guess that's a good strategy if you've got family you regularly keep in touch with. Those of us with horrific social anxiety issues and good work ethic probably don't have that and need to keep some sort of house to roll to in case we need a breather or time to find a new job. I know some will take some extended stays in nice hotels to give an impression of a home. But that just isn't the same for some. I'm in the process right now of house shopping. A place for my newfound kitten, my trainsets, and my gym and bicycle equipment.
I guess my family consists of pets and hobbies.

As far as the parking situation goes, a spot is all I really ever care about. Live like a van-dweller as opposed to a trucker on my days out. Carry the bicycle on the back to get some quality takeout/curbside when I feel too lazy to cook, but energized to ride.

Since all I ever do now is NM-TX-CO and back a few times a week, I usually find myself either parked at the Firestone CO 7-11 or the Pilot in Lamar. Crash out there, get some rest, and pretty safe and awesome area to get some cycling in.