I’ve been thinking a little more about the stretch from Whitefish Point to the Badlands. As I mentioned last week, I was a bit concerned about pushing the Weeble RV Traveling Rules on this leg of the journey. But the more I look at it, the more I’m inclined to bend them—just a little.
The distance from Whitefish Point to Minneapolis is about 690 miles, which raises the question: where are we going to spend our nights along the way?
I’d really like to stay away from the big-name campgrounds—KOA and the like. They’re fine, but I’ve found that national parks, state parks, and local county or city campgrounds are not only friendlier but often easier on the wallet.
Sure, there are plenty of spots that allow overnight stays—Walmarts, Cracker Barrels, even a few Cabela’s parking lots. But one of the unwritten Weeble Rules is:
“Whenever possible, never set up camp in the dark.”
Let’s go ahead and make that Weeble Rule #4.
And yes, before anyone asks, I realize I’m starting to sound like the Ferengi Rules of Acquisition from Star Trek. (There are 285 of those, by the way—yes, I’m a Trekkie nerd.) I doubt I’ll ever get that far with the Weeble Rules… but you never know.
Anyway, my train of thought just went off the rails—so let’s get back on track.
The idea of sitting outside a Walmart with a cold beverage in the evening doesn’t exactly spark excitement. So, I’ve been looking at alternatives. The Harvest Hosts program looks promising. Who wouldn’t enjoy an overnight stop at a brewery or vineyard, where you can sample something local and support a small business at the same time?
There’s also dispersed camping, which becomes easier to find once you get west of the Mississippi. Another interesting option? Indian casinos. Many of them welcome RVers—some even let you stay for free or for a small fee. You get access to restaurants, entertainment, and maybe a bit of people-watching in the lobby.
As it happens, I found one such casino right about halfway between Whitefish Point and Minneapolis. So it looks like the Weebles will be stopping there for a night on our way to catch a Twins baseball game before continuing west.
To be continued…
If you have any comments or suggestions, feel free to share them below—I’d love to hear your thoughts!