The world’s first automated RV park is now open, all because Jim Turntine knows that free RV Parking is never really free. There’s always a price to pay for avoiding a one-night stay at RV parks.
It’s the “Hotel” of RV Parks with everything you need.
World’s First Automated RV Park Opens
Anyone who stays in big box retail store parking lots for a night understands the hassles. Some areas are sketchy, others are loud and busy with traffic all night long. It’s a terrible way to get a night’s rest. That’s why RV Self Park in Sullivan, Missouri was created.
Jim Turntine is a serial entrepreneur and long-time RVer who understands the stress of searching for safe overnight RV parking–without success. “You don’t know who’s coming and going all night all around you. They’re not set up for you to be there,” he says.
The Turntines have patented the concept.
As a dog parent and frequent RV traveler who rarely stays overnight at RV parks between destinations, Turntine wants to eliminate the stress involved in finding free camping places to park. He always hoped that someone would build an affordable, turnkey overnight RV parking lot with full-hookups, but nobody did. In 2018, his wife convinced him to take the plunge. That’s when he decided to build an easy in / easy out RV park with fully automated hookups on property he already owned.
Located at mile marker 223.4 off I44 in West Sullivan, Missouri, the turnkey, fully-automated RV parking spot is located about 45-50 minutes southwest of St. Louis.
What to Expect at the Park
RV Self Park is not a “campground” in the traditional sense. It’s a practical, safe and legal way to park for a night, two nights or a little longer when all you want is a safe place to park. Each site is completely automated and controlled by computers connected to a secure off-site monitoring station.
- Extra long pull-through sites open 24/7, 365 days a year
- 30/20 or 50 Amp electric at each spot, with water and sewer too
- A pet walk
- All-night lighting, for safe and stress free navigating
- Security cameras recording 24/7 with guest access to view all security cameras
Even with the new high-tech hookups, guests will still have access to Turntine’s crew if they need assistance.
Call to reserve your affordable place to stay.
When Turntine decided to do develop the parcel, the local town government was happy to help him. The spot isn’t as ideal as Turntine wants it, he wishes it was closer to Saint Louis. But that’s OK. Right now it’s a test model for the other locations he wants to see developed. To make it easy for RVers on the move, future RV Self Parks will be located closer to large metropolitan areas. “It’s an unfolding, new concept, until I get more data and make sure everything works like we want it to work,” he says.
Guests can see everything going on in the park.
Now that he’s patented and trademarked the first “coin-op” RV park in the nation, investors are flocking to his business model. Turntine is no stranger to coin-op businesses. He’s ready for the attention, since he’s already owned several of these types of business solutions, from laundromats to juke boxes. His goal is to take the stress out of finding affordable RV parking spots. We think he’s succeeded. Check it out for yourself.
Rene Agredano and her husband, Jim Nelson, became full-time RVers in 2007 and have been touring the country ever since. In her blog, Rene chronicles the ins and outs of the full-timing life and brings readers along to meet the fascinating people and amazing places they visit on the road. Her road trip adventures are chronicled in her blog at LiveWorkDream.com.
It’s a niche. Not for for the ultra-cheap. Not for the extravagant. Perfect for everybody in between.
A few things weren’t mentioned in the article. Cost per night? Internet service? Cable TV? Reservations? Dump station? Pet walk? Rest rooms? Showers?
If this works, and I see no reason why it shouldn’t, others will be popping up all over the country.
Where do I go to invest?
Ridiculous headline. France, Spain, several other countries in Europe have automated motorhome parks.
I would miss the interaction with employees, and what about issues?
WE live in Peoria A.Z. pretty soon WE or thinking of
Traveling might show ☝ up one day. GOD BLESS.
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Looks promising. Wish I was going to be in that part of the country.
These are very popular in Europe. I’m sure it will catch on in the US.
Stayed @ Washington tribal casino campground 8 or 9 years ago which was already using this business plan. It worked great for our overnight stay. it had no real amenities other than asphalt pull thrus and full hookups. We checked in late at night using a kiosk and credit card.
There has been one in Mountain Home, AR for years.
What is the name of the one in Mountain Home?
Great idea, when traveling south from Nova Scotia in the late fall we have to park at truck stops at times, Walmarts are not my favorites but we have stayed there as well but Cracker Barrel is our stop of choice; however, amenities are not available and we have to contend with battery power only. This new concept RV park is a great idea and I for one would stop there all the time if they were available on our route to McAllen, TX.
What a great idea! Would definitely use this.
Lots of info on the website…. amenities, rates, attractions, etc….
Mike, where do you stay in McAllen, TX?
Great idea! Very glad to see this. Might be the next “McDonald’s” of rv parking.
I love the concept. Keep it simple keep it safe. This should not have any pro lems working near most major cities and better yet out in the Netherlands on the way to most major attractions tions and cities. If I had the money I would get in on the ground floor. You might to place some near major Truck stops for the worrisome RV traveler.
What do you mean by worrisome rv traveler.
j espère avoir cela au canada Québec
Interesting concept…hope it catches on in other locations. Details would have been nice. The video going dark between transitions was annoying.
I think the availability during peak seasons is more the need . Im staying overnight in a very RV park 27.00 with taxes. WHAT ABOUT SECURITY? Off Interstate for 2 day stay it you go exploring not sire if I would want my rig left with no onsight staff.
She meant weary, no doubt
This sounds like a great idea I’ve been wanting to go RV parking sell my home and hit the road
I think it’s a great idea I’d like to buy stock in it. Love to see them all over the country
What’s the PRICE for a night?
Please click on the link for the prices. It is all there on the website.
I like the concept but I didn’t see a price? How much per night?
Yes, a few things missing, namely the cost. We’ve stayed at over 100 Walmarts in 3 countries with absolutely no issues (so far)
As another mentioned, too much information lacking in order to make a proper assessment. Personally, I don’t need amenities and cost would be my only criteria ?
We stayed in a WalMart parking lot for “free” ONCE. Big rigs ran engines all night. No free lunches folks.
The small note on the sign says their system is not yet fully operational. I checked the website the price for 10 hours is $20…each extra hour is $2…24 hours is $39. Stays for 2 days are $35@. and longer are $32@. There does not appear to be any lighting on this park…but the ones shown on the website include palm trees, not likely found around St. Louis. The road in front of the parking lot is old 66, but the Interstate is not very far beyond 66…looks like a few hundred yards. The website rates do not show a difference between the asphalt pads and the dirt/gravel pads. Looks to me that it would have been cheaper to lay it out, install the utilities, pave the whole thing and just paint it like a parking lot. Which is all it really is…with basic amenities. I’ve stayed at some pretty nice KOAs for $40…and had a lot more amenities.
Ran across a similar situation coming home from N.M. about 3yrs.ago. RODEO Grounds parking lot with hookups. There was a kiosk at entrance where you used your card and received a receipt,then picked your spot.
I’d love to invest. How much property is involved? Who do we call to get questions answered? Great idea you had Mrs Turntine!
What a wonderful (and totally needed!) concept in RV parks! I wish you all the luck in getting this idea duplicated all over the U.S.
How do I get help on creating one of these?
What are the nightly charges?
Great idea. New to rving and great between destinations stopping. Pricing is going to determine whether the concept takes hold, without amenities pricing it out of concept.Stock opportunities available?
If you are wandering and not looking to stay for weeks at a time, these would like a great concept. If you boondock for a week and need as place to fill water and dump, these would be perfect.
Looking forward To seeing these open in many places
We stayed in a park off the highway that had electric, wifi, dump. We drove in maybe 20 sites, paid via envelop. Just need a rest. Wish I could remember where it was? Kansas has dump and water and you can stay overnight in rest areas.
Good concept, for me went to far, just need the basic’s at about $20 a night. Don’t want to spend $39 a night just for a place to sleep.
Either these need to be everywhere, so I can count on finding a space, or they need on line reservation system, so I could look on line and find a vacant spot 100 miles ahead.
I agree!! There are campgrounds for that price or cheaper so why would I stay in a parking lot? I’ll do the free parking lots.
This appears to be significantly better than the sloped gravel parking lot that some people call an “RV Resort” and charge appropriately. Some of us are not looking for a heated swimming pool, exercise room, showers, playground or anything else other than hookups and a safe place to stay short to long term. I think it is a great idea.
Great and very welcomed idea. Can’t wait to see more locations.
How much a night will determine if this idea will work. How much IS it a night?
It does diminish actual parents and the care and education that goes into raising children for you to use “dog parent” for someone who simply bought what they knew to be a short term, inevitably disposable companion animal.
$25 for 12 hours
We usually leave for trips after my boyfriend gets home from work. We have 4 well behaved dogs and it gives us a head start to get them and their stuff packed up rather than wait till morning to leave. So we drive until he’s tired usually around midnight or 1 am. and then pull into a Wal-mart or Cracker Barrel. We walk the dogs and go to bed. Then early in the morning we get up, walk the dogs, and pop into Wal-mart for a few groceries if needed and we are very quickly on our way to our destination. I Looked this place up on their website and their overnight cheapest is for 10 hours at $20.00. We are never there for anywhere near 10 hours and I can stay at a regular Army Corp of Engineer Campground with a lakefront view for less than that with my America the Beautiful retirement pass. I can look them up in advance before we leave if traveling in the summer when we need AC but usually we just stop at the Wal-marts. It’s quick and convienient and we have never had a problem staying at the Wal-mart’s and we’re so close to the highway to head out in the morning. I would not pay $20.00 for a few hours when I have a cell phone and don’t need wi-fi and all I’m going to do is sleep. One night when we were at a Wal-mart it did get a little warm and I could not fall asleap so I went into the Wal-mart since they are open 24/7, bought a small battery operated fan and the batteries and it cooled me off and I fell asleep right away. Now I will have the fan anytime I need it. This may be good for some people who need all the comforts of home but it’s not for us.
This is not a new idea as there are spots like this in the rest areas on the way to Chicago.
So, if it isn’t new, we should ignore it?
I’ve never heard of anything like this before, so I enjoyed reading this article.
I do avoid Chicago and other hell-holes. Maybe that is why I’m poorly informed.
We stay at Walmart often and have only had one encounter at the Walmart in Winslow, Az. but certainly was not caused by Walmart.
I understand your camping style. Ours is nearly identical.
But, if you think $20 is lot of money for a night with shore-power, I have to question how you are able to keep your RV on the road.
Been camping for 40 years, lots of campgrounds out there for $30-$35 a night, for regular full hookup camping. $20 seems just about right for just a place to stop and sleep with minimum utilities and nothing else.
For $20 I’d live there
No one has mentioned Costco’s that we have boondocked at for years. None of them are open overnight, only the restock crew and an occasional 18 wheeler sharing the lot. We then get gas in the morning. Some of the new ones have diesel. Sam’s clubs are also quite overnight.
As with all business lots, if you arrive before closing ask the manager for the OK. If there is no city ordinance against overnights, we’ve never had a problem.
According to the web site, the rate is $20 for 10 hours.
If you arrive at 8pm you’ll need to leave at 6 am; not in my planning.
24 hour site is $39, now you’re in the realm of regular campgrounds.
$20 and leave before 10 am and I’d beat a path to your door.
I offer 11 full hookups 20/30/50, filtered great well water and sewer for free in NH. One commitment to my customers that purchased my invention “RV Satellite” manual roof mount system when Directv sold RCS receivers for $1000 was “proceeds will first go towards building a free facility for all my customers”. Well, my customers are likely all gone these days and my beautiful property sits quiet for my family. I am posted in FMCA as “Townsend Systems Camping Park” $0.00
The concept is right on target. However, rates are comparable (and perhaps even higher) than full service parks in the surrounding area.
OHIO offers similar accommodations along the I-80 Turnpike. mile markers 20.8, 76.9, 139.5 and 197
There’s actually a park like this in Meeker, CO we stayed at least year. It’s not as fancy, but the concept is the same. The guy’s been doing this for years.
Too expensive for what you get. We would maybe stay the minimum 10 hours for $10.00, maybe.
Definitely not at $39.00 for 24 hours
$25 for 12 hours is not my idea of “cheap” Rv Parking.
There will still be people coming and going at whatever hours and there are still lots of lights on .
You can park at a City , County or STate park for a similar price range.
I will stick with Travel stops and companies that allow free overnight stays when getting from point A to B.
Now if this was $10-15 for an overnight stay? That would be something I’d stop and do.
We own a RV park. Yes, we could do it cheap too if we didn’t have to have: Sewer systems we had to pay for, Government inspected and approved water systems, Road construction and upkeep, Electrical systems we had to install, Insurance to buy to protect ourselves against your false claims and you against other claims, Telephone and internet so you could make reservations and book the type of site you wanted, People to escort you to the proper site instead of getting into a fight with someone because you took their site, People to help you if you have problems, people to tell you about what is to do in the area, and directions to get there. And you can stay all day without having someone “breathing down your neck” to make sure you pay the $2.00 per hour overtime charge. You freeload for four days then go to a campground and pay for one day to charge batteries, dump sewer and grey water, do your laundry and fill up with fresh, clean water. Then the honest RV’er pays the cost for your four days out. That’s the big reason why prices are increasing and many campgrounds are going seasonal campers only. Use em or loose em. Then where are you going to charge batteries, dump, do laundry and get fresh clean water?
Something like this opened in North Carolina almost two years ago, so this isn’t a new thing. Interesting idea, and an alternative to rest areas, truck stops or parking lots, especially when you need to hook up (fill or dump tanks, recharge batteries or run AC).
Wondering how much traffic these places get.
Stayed here for a quick night last summer and it was perfect. Wife and I have thought about one day trying out the concept on a parcel we own between Jonesboro, AR and Memphis. Fantastic idea.
Good concept, but not that much different from our typical late arrival process at most RV parks.
We usually arrive late after dinner, and leave before the office opens.
location near a highway and a way to check availability of sites online, or on a phone app would be great compliments.