How to find van life parking | Day of van life in Florida (Travel Vlog)

Подписаться 7 тыс.

Просмотров 8 тыс.

50% 1

Ep. 99 - Gulf Coast Adventure Part 9: How to find overnight parking and daytime parking for van life. After getting the dreaded knock on the door by police and getting kicked out of Sarasota, we thought it would be fitting to share about how we find parking, one of the greatest challenges of van life. As we drive from the Sarasota area to Clearwater, we also share how we do a day of van life and some tips we have learned along the way.
IN THIS VIDEO:
📍 Sunshine Skyway Bridge (Terra Ceia, FL) - South end of bridge
📍 John's Pass (Madeira, FL) near St. Petersburg
📍 Clearwater Beach, FL
☑️ SUBSCRIBE TO FOLLOW ALONG ON OUR BUILD & ADVENTURES ► bit.ly/2XvSth7
Instagram: / steveandaudra (@steveandaudra)
Facebook: / steveandaudra
☑️ SAVE MONEY ON GAS with GetUpSide! ► upside.app.lin...
Check out this free app that gets you cash back on gas and other errands! Click the link above or use promo code 3UJK2 to get an extra 15¢/gal bonus the first time you make a purchase.
👉 ABOUT US: We're Steve and Audra, DIYers from South Florida who share a passion for cheap travel, nature, wildlife, and adventure! We've been working on converting our 2019 Ford Transit high roof cargo van into a campervan and are sharing our build and adventures along the way - all while trying to do everything on the lowest budget possible! While building out our van, we've been traveling the country as much as possible with our adventure cat in training, Lady Gray Gray Gillespie Pinkerton. We invite you to follow along on our journey! If you have any questions, we’re happy to answer! Comment below or send us a message on Facebook or Instagram and we’ll respond as soon as possible. And please don’t forget to subscribe to our channel!
❌ JOIN US IN THE FIGHT AGAINST HUMAN TRAFFICKING! ❌
We've committed to donating at least 10% off our channel proceeds to Destiny Rescue to fight trafficking. Join us in the fight:
👉 DONATE: advocatesfundingfreedom.funraise.org/fundraiser/steve-audra
SOUND EFFECTS:
"Hawk Call, Single, A.wav" by InspectorJ (www.jshaw.co.uk) of Freesound.org
#vanlife #cheaptravel #florida

Опубликовано:

28 сен 2024

Ссылка:

Скачать:

Готовим ссылку...

Добавить в:

Мой плейлист

Посмотреть позже

Комментарии : 57

@OurRetiredLife 2 года назад

Great video you two! Thanks for sharing your Florida secrets, we'll be heading down the Gulf Coast next winter 😊

@SteveAudra 2 года назад

Thanks, Yula! You guys probably don't need any tips from us. You seem to be pros! We're already starting to think about next winter. Hopefully we can spend some time exploring together!

@janetflanagan6518 2 года назад

I live about 40 min from the skyway bridge. I stay on the south side bridge before the fishing pier. I have never been asked to leave. I stay there many times per month. Love it. And you are right, the bridge was hit by a barge. Many people were killed.

@SteveAudra 2 года назад

Hi Janet! Thanks for following along on our adventures. It's really nice to hear from you and to get that feedback about the area. Have you stayed overnight recently? We've heard from a few that they were made to leave. One person here commented about that here too but it sounds like they were at the rest area, not the spot we're talking about. That's so sad about the last bridge. What a horrible tragedy.

@carolynmitchell3350 2 года назад

Your videos are always full of useful information and interesting destinations. When I finally get on the road I can't wait to see these places for myself. Thanks for all you do.

@SteveAudra 2 года назад

Thanks so much, Carolyn! We appreciate that feedback! That's our goal - and to have fun along the way. Where are you from? We hope you can get on the road soon and see these places in person!

@lannyandroxanneadvantures2546 2 года назад

Great info This video keep us in stitches almost all the way thru, except for the serious parts. Another awesome video The funniest part is when you (Audra) told Steve to move his mouth and you would talk for him.....we were Rotf. Look forward to the next one!

@findinAway 2 года назад

Thanks for sharing always, love following along. Thanks for info on parking, and apps you use very informative...love you guys 🤗🤗🤗🤗🤗🤗🤗🤗🤗🐈

@SteveAudra 2 года назад

We hope what we share is helpful to others! Too bad parking can be such a challenge in Florida, especially overnight. ❤️🚐

@dicer666 Год назад

I live in Clearwater Beach...as long as you are here before 8am, you can park where ever you want...further north you are, cheaper it it. Key is early!

@dicer666 Год назад

Treasure Island is one of my favorite smaller towns... I may buy a house/townhouse some day. Go to St. Pete Peir. 😊

@dicer666 Год назад

I live close to that speedway you stopped.

@SteveAudra Год назад

But are there any places you can park for free near the beach?

@RealProVanR 2 года назад

Hi folks. Just past you in the Bethany Beach area of DE. I saw your RU-vid sign and decided to look you up. I am on my first time of day camping to feel out the van and areas in DE. 7/23/22. Appreciate your advise on parking and traveling. (White Ram Van you past on Coastal Highway).

@SteveAudra 2 года назад

Hey Vickie! We were hoping you might see the sign and reach out to us. Please let us know how it goes for you. We love exploring with our van. We hope you will too. We think it's a lot of fun.

@frankwolf389 2 года назад

I'm still watching too! or is it 2? Also? I'm so confused. Liked the Long Beach Island comment.

@SteveAudra 2 года назад

Lol! We appreciate the 2 of you who are still watching. 😆 LBI is a nice little place. We have some good memories there, crabbing being one of the best!

@peggykoutas6875 2 года назад

Pass-a-grill has free overnight parking on street along the beach.

@SteveAudra 2 года назад

Thanks for that recommendation. We'll keep that in mind. We don't mind staying in unscenic parking lots overnight but sometimes It's a treat to find something in a nice spot.

@FollowThomas 2 года назад

Looks like they're cracking down overnight spaces. I guess people abusing it or maybe some byrocrat got into office Good throw Audra, nice that you didn't cut the first throw out, haha. A Gulf Coast is beautiful reminds me when I biked there.

@jshenderson 2 года назад

Have you ever considered parking over night in hotel parking lots? perhaps i should wait and comment once at the end of the video. i am got curious what part of the Bible you were reading while Steve was napping. Question asked and answered.

@SteveAudra 2 года назад

We have considered parking in hotel parking lots! We actually considered that after getting the knock in Sarasota but the ones there didn't quite seem like they would work. I think they have to fit a certain criteria where you won't be noticed. We've met some vanlifers who have done that. It's actually good for us to get comments so comment as much and as often as you'd like! 🙂

@frankwolf389 2 года назад

I wonder if someone sells fake boots? Put one on the van and the cops think it was already ticketed.

@SteveAudra 2 года назад

You're always thinking! We do really wonder if we hadn't answered the knock if she would have just left the paper on the windshield and left us alone for the rest of the night.

@adassociates8235 2 года назад

We parked on Skyway one night and a jerk security guy bang to out Van at 3am and told us to leave because FL only allows 3 hour. He banged all the car park there, we never seen anything like that in any rest areas. He spoke really bad English that we were barely understand, no idea how that yeti get a job like that to intimidate people. 3am in the morning?🙃🙃🙃

@SteveAudra 2 года назад

So you were at the rest area where we first stopped? Where the bathrooms are? We've been told that overnight parking is never allowed at Florida rest areas. Thanks for watching!

@adassociates8235 2 года назад

@@SteveAudra we rested at other FL rest area all the time, never get any problems, security people understand that people need rest except the dumb jerk 😀 in Skyway .

@jerryjenkins5739 Год назад

Another app I use is Campendium...

@SteveAudra Год назад

Thanks! We should add that to our list. We haven't used it but it's always good to have a few different resources especially in areas where parking can be more challenging.

@theresaherron1140 2 года назад

Good Morning! We see your van in front of us at the Cracker Barrel in Rehoboth!!! We are watching this video right now!! We are in the silver van behind you.

@SteveAudra 2 года назад

Hi Theresa, if you see us around, please come say hello next time. Thank you for watching.

@rongreen7308 Год назад

Its too bad that cops, etc., turn away your parking. You would think areas would welcome tourism. Your channel is doing a lot to make people, like my wife and I, to want to visit places like this, especially in the winter time when it is cold here in Chicago but these people are turning away our money and their income.. We like Cracker Barrel too.

@SteveAudra Год назад

In this instance I think other people had overstayed their welcome and ruined it for the rest of us. I understand if a town doesn't want people staying for too long or not being respectful but I think it's a shame that they make travelers leave who are only there a night or two and who are being respectful. Thankfully in our three years of travel, we've only had a knock once. We love that our videos make you want to visit Florida! It's a beautiful state with a lot to offer. Thanks for watching and for taking time to leave a comment.

@SteveAudra Год назад

I just realized the knock I was referring to was a different video! We do wish there were more places we could freely park. We really appreciate Cracker Barrel and hope they don't change their overnight parking policy.

@youme5547 6 месяцев назад

Just caught your video, We agree very much like Surf City, Long Beach Township, and Harvey Cedars, The Barnegat Light House 😎🌅🌴👣 The best is no more snow and we dont mind sweeping up sand , GOD BLESS 🙏✝️🇺🇸

@SteveAudra 6 месяцев назад

No more snow is right! It's hard to beat winters in Florida! Thanks for watching!

@johnpossible6292 6 месяцев назад

I think you guys have an advantage when it comes to parking with a van. Im gonna be pulling my 30ft travel trailer down to Florida from CT and try to free park as much as i can. I hope its easier said than done.

@SteveAudra 6 месяцев назад

Unfortunately, I think you're right. That could be more of a challenge. Thankfully there are still a lot of Walmarts and Cracker Barrels that allow overnight parking but that seems to be changing.

@jshenderson 2 года назад

Having opened Google maps while you were discussing the apps you use, i zoomed in on the Manatee County rest area just before i saw the clip of yall exiting into the rest area. :) I have a dear friends who lives in Bradenton. I performed their wedding ceremony in Cortez at one of the fishing docks. Having visited that area multiple times it was fun to see familiar areas.

@SteveAudra 2 года назад

We love knowing that you were checking out the map while watching and that it was so familiar to you! It's a neat area and we look forward to getting back there again in the future - and checking out Cortez!

@donthonkpush9105 2 года назад

Another video packed with great info. Thanks for sharing the less than glamourous side of vanlife when it comes to parking. I love the real and practical aspects of your videos. (For instance, you could have edited the garbage hoop shot into a first try success, but I laughed as you got out, brought the garbage back inside and tried again.) Great entertainment. Oh, and Michael is similarly 'cooperative' as I try to script for him parts of our videos. I have about the same success rate 🤣. Your voice over was an excellent solution.

@jeffstewart1 2 года назад

I’m still watching!

@SteveAudra 2 года назад

Thanks for letting us know! 🙂

@Learningtotravel 2 года назад

On our most recent trip, we tried out the Ecoflow River, which is a smaller version of your Delta, and ended up returning it because we could not count on it. It seemed if it was below 30% charge and we put a load on it, it would just shut off. Seems it should give you juice until it is at 0%. Between that and the issues you two have, I am not sure Ecoflow lives up to its reputation.

@SteveAudra 2 года назад

We're sorry to hear that. We're still not quite sure what to think of the Delta. Others we know haven't seemed to have the issues we have. We probably should have contacted the company but you know... you get busy with things and keep meaning to do something and don't!

@roxannek1551 2 года назад

Another great, informative video. We’ve been looking for sites on California’s central coast to boondock with no luck. Sites that previously allowed campers are now closed due to people abusing that privilege by overstaying or trashing the place. It’s really sad. I’ve heard that Cabela’s/Bass Pro Shops allow overnight campers. PS Good luck with the Delta.

@SteveAudra 2 года назад

Thank you, Roxanne! It always means so much to us that you guys follow along on our adventures! It's such a shame that this is the state of things with finding parking and that so many people not being respectful. I think it's possible to still find parking but it's a lot more work!

@sarahmolina4089 11 месяцев назад

We had problems staying in our van in Sarasota as well. The annoying knock in the middle of the night. Don't stay in the Van Wezel parking lot either cope will run off people in their vans as well: There were other vans and cars there as well. Cops ran everyone off. Stating people can't sleep in their vans in Sarasota. Your best bet is Planet Fitness or Cracker Barrel.

@SteveAudra 11 месяцев назад

It's too bad it's so difficult in that area and that we could sleep on the sidewalk there but not in a van! We do see people taking advantage of areas and being disrespectful though to so we understand to an extent why towns make these rules. It's a frustrating thing to navigate and we hope it won't become more difficult in the future to find spots to park overnight.

@haddock54 2 года назад

Like that creation of the crocodile 29:05

@SteveAudra 2 года назад

We enjoy finding neat things like that. Thanks for watching!

@AngelaWells-v1s Год назад

Oh you are in my neighborhood treasure island 🏝️ welcome!!

@SteveAudra Год назад

Thanks so much! We love the area. If you have any recommendations for us on things to do or places to park when we're back in the area, let us know!

@RJGilman1967 Год назад

Great stuff, thank you.

@SteveAudra Год назад

We're glad you think so! Thanks!

@debberkebile4396 2 года назад

Great views! I didn't know about the one app so that will help when you try and find a spot. I never thought about using google to see what's on the street! great little tips and always love the scenery

@SteveAudra 2 года назад

We're glad we could provide some tips that are helpful!!! 🙂