Spotted ‘the store that has it all’? Located just off ‘hotel row’ here on the southwest corner of Gainesville, you’ll find this spartan new Lowe’s parking lot to be medium-sized and, because it’s Walmart it is quite the busy and packed parking lot, although you’ll be surrounded by just about anything you might need during your overnight pitstop. For starters, this location is conveniently located just minutes from Highway 75, which you are very likely on as you are shooting north or south through Florida. And while you’ll want to stay away from the front of this store, if you park as far away as possible from the storefront, you’ll find that there’s really good space to pull your big rig, camper, 5th wheel or RV at. There is adequate space to park to the north of the store as well as the east, with just some parking on the south, but that area will be busily trafficked as that’s where the auto shop is located.
If you have a membership, located just down the street is Sam’s Club, which has just about everything you might need from groceries, wine & spirits as well as even a gardening section – in case you didn’t find what you were looking for at Walmart. Not a fan of Sam’s or Walmart? Hey, you’re not alone, but it is quite convenient and mindful to shop here given that you’ve just spent the night in their parking lot. But if you are looking for someplace else to do some shopping, no big deal as there is a nearby Publix, Target, Michaels, Trader Joe’s, Best Buy, etc. Let’s just say that this spot puts you in close proximity to stock up on anything you might be missing or didn’t even know you needed! There’s even a mega mall complex called Celebration Point in case you wanted to fit in some shopping or movie-watching while in town.
Providing you have grown weary of diving into your roto-molded Cordova cooler on onboard mini-fridge trying to figure out that next meal, no worries as there’s a plethora of dining options within a single mile radius including: Keke’s Breakfast Cafe, Chick-fil-A, Culver’s, Chipotle, Newk’s, Outback Steakhouse, Bahama Breeze’s, Jimmy Johns, TGI Fridays, Starbucks, Tijuana Flats and my favorite, Maple Street Biscuit Company. That said, if you love Instagram-worthy restaurants that are not only visually stunning but pack a wicked punch with their food offering as well, then check out the pies at Satchell’s. Trust me, you won’t regret this restaurant.
If you are looking to grab a slice of nature beyond the flat pavement you’ve parked on for the night, check out the nearby Butterfly Rainforest exhibit, the Florida Museum of Natural History or go for a nice walk in the Botanical Gardens of Kanapaha. Should you want to get lost in nature though, I highly recommend Paynes Prairie just about a 20 minute drive of where you are currently at right off I75.
While scoring criteria may vary from one person to the next, here are the 5 most important criteria that informed my rating of this overnight location: convenience (EZ on- and off-access), safety & security, quality (of facilities), peace & quiet and amenities (either on-site or nearby). Here’s how I ranked this particular overnight spot:
Convenience: 4
Safety & Security: 4
Quality: 5
Peace & Quiet: 4
Amenities: 4
Overall, I scored this location a 4.
Happy Overnighting!
Overnight Parking
