Sorry for such a stupid question but I don't have any places to take my boat and use the outboard for a day trip where I live ( all electric only lakes). I would like to take it down to AL and TN to Guntersville and other lakes. I've been looking online for hotels that have trailer parking but have not come up with many, particularly while on the road. Is there some keyword or site I can use to find a place during transit. I was previously steered away from trucking hotels due to  damage and theft.  2005 17' crest liner Bass boat 50Hp merc. Puny trolling motor.

Any input with be greatly appreciated

 

Thank you.

This is my favorite way to find hotels in safe(r) areas with easy parking lots when I'm towing something:

 

https://www.google.com/earth/versions/

 

It's also very, very handy for studying new bodies of water.  

Well I've been kinda depending on the hotel sites, Expedia type ones. Mainly due to a cantankerous leg. Some times I can drive 10 hrs other times 4 hrs. I'll check the address out on google earth where it works, lots of areas only have 1X cell service around here,MD, VA,NC, and AL.

I guess I can start scheduling a bit better say 7 hrs or so. I'm starting from the DMV area. Only the Potomac and cheasapeke, no lakes to learn this boat on. Also, I NEED PRACTICE ( it's vey very different than a 13' row boat with a 7.5 hp on it ??)

 

Thanks I appreciate it greatly.

if ya think about it. most named brand hotels like holiday inn, best western, hampton, etc. have been most modernized, also right off a highway is what you want to look for where big rig trucks and trailers like to stop. have bigger parking lots. plus i dont know this for fact, but famous touristy lake hotels should be used to these accommodations? 

Two you can use:

Hampton Inn, Scottsboro, Al.(Big G) ; Sleep Inn, Dayton , Tn.(Chickamauga) 

Both are newer and have electric hook-ups on the parking lot. They are geared toward folks who fish.

Maybe look at the comowingo reservoir on the pa/md border. That’s an unrestricted HP lake with good fishing. 

@Smalliefan2 Wow thanks. I was very much considering the Scottsbourgh area. Been there twice and a friend lives nearby. Don't remember a Hampton Inn there but it's spread out. Probably head out when AL covid goes down. There are many trailers with parking and electric hook ups all along the bank around there.Good thing with Guntersville there is a ramp every 1/2 mile all over that lake. For me it's a 3 day drive to get there.

 

The coniwingo has been on my list but I traveled I95 through there for years. I NEVER EVER didn't get stuck in a long backup. Even at 2:00am. I'm starting to look at Raystown Again, Deep creek has severe trouble with trailers ( was there last month, although not ice fishing).

 

Thanks to all.

Get on the phone and call. I've travelled the southeast with the boat and have found plenty of hotels that are trailer friendly.

ARRRRRRRRGGGGGGG!!!!!!!

 

This is just a aggravation post. Ok I looked up a bunch of hotels near Deep Creek MD. My MAC laptop doesn't have google earth yet so I started calling the listed hotels..........

Guess what???? It took 50 minutes for me to find the ACTUAL LOCAL PHONE NUMBER TO THAT HOTEL!!  When I called the first one they said yes but I'd have to park on the grass, no problem. The second said yes of course they did, I looked at it on my phones "earth" ( as I've past it many times),  NO they don't. Man you can't get a 1 ton truck into that place.

Well now I know how to get the phone numbers, do a search on name, address, then local phone number. I'll see if I can load google earth onto this MAC.

On a good note the outboard fired up on second turn over. Tires still good, batteries seem ok right now.

Oh the hotel sites, does anyone now of one that has "trailer parking" as a filter. None that I looked at did. There is a truckers site I'll look at next

On 3/6/2021 at 10:27 PM, newbiedmv said:

Sorry for such a stupid question but I don't have any places to take my boat and use the outboard for a day trip where I live ( all electric only lakes). I would like to take it down to AL and TN to Guntersville and other lakes. I've been looking online for hotels that have trailer parking but have not come up with many, particularly while on the road. Is there some keyword or site I can use to find a place during transit. I was previously steered away from trucking hotels due to  damage and theft.  2005 17' crest liner Bass boat 50Hp merc. Puny trolling motor.

Any input with be greatly appreciated

 

Thank you.

NewB look at a previous posting on locking your trailer while it’s parked. You’ll get a lot of good advice. When I go to hotels while traveling I always try to back my boat up against a wall, a pole or some structure. Also the trailer is lock as is the coupler and hitch. My truck is set up so if the trailer is unplugged the truck alarm will go off. And remove all electronics and fishing gear and take inside hotel with you. Not thief proof but at least make it hard.

AJ had a great Idea to. He removes his trailer crank handle and wheel.

Thanks. I'm going to do some of that but due to a disability the batteries stay with possibly steel cables ( don't know yet if I can do it). HAHAHA I called another hotel and then checked them out. you have to park on the side of the highway and walk 1/4 mile up a hill. But oh yeah they had parking. Also I'm taking the cover and the engine cover. figure if they can't see what's there it might help, along with an motion alarm I have to order. Maybe Bass Pro shops has it nearby? I like AJ's idea. Oh well I'm going to check Raystown Lake in PA out next week for a day or so, still waiting on my boat stickers. The water is still around 40-45 deg here and probably lower in PA. Still a bit chilly. Oh I'll tak weld the nuts this week. Thanks a bunch.

Well been awhile but still batting zero on a hotel near deep creek MD that can take boat trailers in fact many say NO TRAILERS on there google preview. Most of the numbers are to call centers and didn't see anything conclusive on google earth so far. The only good lead was a hotel in Southern MD Junger gave me, there were six competition MLF boats in the parking lot

I'll probably go to Raystown  PA for about a week. They have at least two about 15 min away. I checked it out in late March, i really liked it, virtually no development , seven ramps, two gas pumps, and a small town nearby.

I know there has to be at least one around Deep Creek as it has two day tournaments very often.

 

Things got delayed, ended up fixing about 2 dozen things , my own screw ups, and an upgrade ( a 2005 MG 46lb thrust don't cut it in wind). It's finally just about ready for a 3 hour tour up there ( maybe I'll run into Mary Ann and Ginger).

Just a quick Google search and I found 21 places to stay near that lake. A lot of them are near the water and I am sure those have trailer parking and hook-ups? Are you looking for something cheap?

I've called most of the ones i could get to and were 2 star semi cheap. Yes something under $100 a night. Maybe that's it, the expensive ones have parking. My neighbor goes up there and rents a cabin, he takes his pontoon boat, he said he has to store it in a marina of sorts 12 miles away. no room at the cabin. So both him and his wife drive up there, It's kind of a strange place, parking seems to be at a premium.

If the expensive places have parking I'll let it be, that lake doesn't have the rep to justify paying more. I think there are two resorts there but i never even looked at them.

Oh, this is in the Appalachian mountains. All parking is at a premium

 

On 3/7/2021 at 8:22 PM, slonezp said:

Get on the phone and call.

This usually works better than an online search.  Even if there are not "designated" spots the clerk will have a good idea on the number of vacancies and how many vehicles to expect on a given night.  Often times they will suggest an area that a truck and boat can fit without causing others and issue.  If they have the flexibility, they may even be able to get you in a room where your rig is visible from the window.  

 

Word of caution: Seems like more hotels are using call centers for customer service.  Be sure you are speaking with someone that is physically at the property.  Good luck!

Yep that's a big problem. Even local numbers you look up are forwarded to them. It a major pain, so much so I scouted another lake and physically went in to check out each hotel.  Oh well I think I'll cross it off. There is another one in PA that's the same drive time. I'm waiting on side guides to come now anyway.

I'll still make to AL by Oct though.

Thanks I'll need it.

Oh some have the parking but won't allow trailers, mainly big ones next  to the highway. Don't know why but it seems common along the I81 corridor. RV's are fine even with towing a car but everything else is not allowed. Insurance maybe????

I finally found a site that lists some. With Deep Creek there is a hotel an hour away.

I looked up my sort of plan to AL and found many hotels that at least say they can take RV's and trailers. I would post it but I don't think that is allowed, to specific.

In any case we are in a cloud of cicadas now ,so nobody is doing much fishing, fish food is falling into there lap 24/7.

Well, if you ever come to GA my hotel has boat trailer parking with water and electric hookups. We also have eight boat slips with electric hookups.

Cool, I've been through the western part. Tallahassee FL to Macon, Atlanta then Cherokee NC. The only thing I saw were Pecan Trees.

There is a big difference between staying the night while on the road and spending multiple days as your destination hotel.   I pull my rig on a 2 day up and 2 day back trip to Wisconsin from here in Virginia which requires me to overnight somewhere in between on the way up and the way back.   I’ve been doing it with my 21 foot boat for about 15 of the 24 years we have been going.  I also tow all over the us so I can give you all sorts of tip and tricks for overnight stays but really nothing for extended hotel stays.  I will vary anywhere from 8 to 10 hours driving before I am ready to find a place.  On the Wisconsin trip, I have done it so many times I have multiple spots I have used and I know will accommodate my truck and trailer.  Personally, I like Hampton Inns because they are clean and pretty standardized when it comes to layout.  I will not stay in any place that advertises trucker parking.  I can go into a lot more detail if anyone thinks it would be helpful.  I have a long list of things I do and consider.

Thanks, I've seen many Hampton inns along I 81 , I 70, I 10 and stayed in one once when i was working. I really liked them but got the impression they are incredibly expensive ( they gave me a suite). The local one here is $300.00/night.

So I haven't even checked on them at all. I guess I should start to. Mostly I'm looking for under $100.00/night for my budget. But that might have to go out the window. Either that or find a campground.

 

19 hours ago, newbiedmv said:

Thanks, I've seen many Hampton inns along I 81 , I 70, I 10 and stayed in one once when i was working. I really liked them but got the impression they are incredibly expensive ( they gave me a suite). The local one here is $300.00/night.

So I haven't even checked on them at all. I guess I should start to. Mostly I'm looking for under $100.00/night for my budget. But that might have to go out the window. Either that or find a campground.

 

Depending on your status….AAA, rewards programs, etc., most Hamptons are 90-135 dollars depending on location.  It’s worth it to me for clean and safe.  You still need to check them out though because there can even be problems with them.  I’ve had to park across the street in a shopping center parking lot because the Hampton had single row parking and I have had to traverse a cull de sac and 90 degree turns to get in to one that was off the beaten path.  Did a lot of curb jumping there.  I also have a loc r bar with the alarmed padlock for a little more peace of mind.  

Thanks for reminding me. Have to take it to the welder before I go. I can sort of weld, but not galvanized. I'll look into Hampton inns. My rig ain't worth bothering but I do plan on getting a motion alarm and chaining the batteries down somehow. They are heavy lead acid and my back doesn't like messing with them. Maybe someday I'll get two 200AH 30lb batteries if they keep advancing like they are.

22 hours ago, TOXIC said:

There is a big difference between staying the night while on the road and spending multiple days as your destination hotel.   I pull my rig on a 2 day up and 2 day back trip to Wisconsin from here in Virginia which requires me to overnight somewhere in between on the way up and the way back.   I’ve been doing it with my 21 foot boat for about 15 of the 24 years we have been going.  I also tow all over the us so I can give you all sorts of tip and tricks for overnight stays but really nothing for extended hotel stays.  I will vary anywhere from 8 to 10 hours driving before I am ready to find a place.  On the Wisconsin trip, I have done it so many times I have multiple spots I have used and I know will accommodate my truck and trailer.  Personally, I like Hampton Inns because they are clean and pretty standardized when it comes to layout.  I will not stay in any place that advertises trucker parking.  I can go into a lot more detail if anyone thinks it would be helpful.  I have a long list of things I do and consider.

Two days from  warrenton VA to Wisconsin??  Man I'm not sure I could do that. it takes me 2 1/2 to get to guntersville, AL. One day to Bristol then Pigeon forge, then the back way through Chattanooga. There is a very long part of I 81 that is empty of everything, it's a rough drive after 6 previous hours.

1 hour ago, newbiedmv said:

Two days from  warrenton VA to Wisconsin??  Man I'm not sure I could do that. it takes me 2 1/2 to get to guntersville, AL. One day to Bristol then Pigeon forge, then the back way through Chattanooga. There is a very long part of I 81 that is empty of everything, it's a rough drive after 6 previous hours.

I take a route that is a little abnormal and it routes me around Chicago but it is a little longer.  I learned my lesson pulling through Chicago with a 21 foot boat.  Total 1 way time is around 15 hours and although I have driven straight through, I prefer to cut it in half or if I’m feeling good 9-10 hours.  That’s long enough in the saddle for me.  Stop have a good meal, good nights sleep and finish up the second day getting there early enough to drop the boat in the lake at the marina, park the trailer and head to the cottage.  I dock the boat at the cottage.  I also pull to Florida either lake Kissimmee or Okeechobee in February and use the same time frames for stopping.  Last year was our first year for Okeechobee so I just mapped out aboutn8 hours from home and used google earth and satellite view in maps to scope the parking at various hotels.