BajaNomad - Overnight Wal-Mart parking in El Centro

Overnight Wal-Mart parking in El Centro

socalrat - 12-4-2010 at 01:51 PM

Anyone every park at the El Centro Wal-mart overnight? Planning a trip to San Felipe and can't make it over the border before dark. Plan to drive to El Centro, overnight there, cross the border in Mexacali first thing.

Thoughts?

DENNIS - 12-4-2010 at 03:39 PM

WalMart camping info:

http://www.allstays.com/c/wal-mart-locations.htm

http://www.allstays.com/c/walmart-locations-noparking.htm

http://www.allstays.com/c/wal-mart-locations-map.htm

Barry A. - 12-4-2010 at 04:18 PM

There used to be some great resaturants in El Centro, but that was many years ago when I lived there. Always liked that town, but it is really "busy" now, no-------- hectic now.

Barry

BillP - 12-4-2010 at 04:48 PM

I would call ahead and ask, most Walmarts in CA no longer allow over night camping. Thank the truckers for leaving their trash and pee bottles all over the parking lots and ruining it for everyone.

Don't know which way you're coming from, but there's a rest area just before El Centro on I-8.

DianaT - 12-4-2010 at 04:51 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Barry A.
There used to be some great resaturants in El Centro, but that was many years ago when I lived there. Always liked that town, but it is really "busy" now, no-------- hectic now.

Barry

"Lucky's" still have very good Chinese Food---best egg foo young --- plan our vet and dentist visits to make sure that Lucky's will be open.

It has grown!

bajalou - 12-4-2010 at 05:16 PM

Friends regularly stay at Walmart El Centro coming to and heading out from Baja. No problems, just tell the manager.

mcfez - 12-4-2010 at 05:19 PM

Confirm...NOT ALLOWED. Many City Govt in Ca are putting a damper to that great idea.

Out in Salton Sea (if you are ever coming down 86).....there is an fairly new Indian Casino / truck stop / rest stop. They allow overnight stays, hot showers are FREE (!), and the food is okay. very safe place...they are super friendly there. Many spots to overnight there, away from the trucks (which there is not many). Make sure you arrive at the Indian place..not the other joint down the street.

[Edited on 12-5-2010 by mcfez]

Barry A. - 12-4-2010 at 05:21 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by DianaT

Quote:

"Lucky's" still have very good Chinese Food---best egg foo young --- plan our vet and dentist visits to make sure that Lucky's will be open.

It has grown!

Speaking of Chinese-------ever eat at MAH'S KITCHEN in El Centro?? Outstanding, and I believe it is still there.

Barry

mcfez - 12-4-2010 at 05:42 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Barry A.

Quote:

Originally posted by DianaT

Quote:

"Lucky's" still have very good Chinese Food---best egg foo young --- plan our vet and dentist visits to make sure that Lucky's will be open.

It has grown!

Speaking of Chinese-------ever eat at MAH'S KITCHEN in El Centro?? Outstanding, and I believe it is still there.

Barry

MAH'S KITCHEN in old town or where? How's the sweet sour pork, my favorite food? Thanks in advance.

socalrat - 12-4-2010 at 05:49 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by mcfez
Confirm...NOT ALLOWED. Many City Govt in Ca are putting a damper to that great idea.

Out in Salton Sea (if you are ever coming down 86).....there is an fairly new Indian Casino / truck stop / rest stop. They allow overnight stays, hot showers are FREE (!), and the food is okay. very safe place...they are super friendly there. Many spots to overnight there, away from the trucks (which there is not many). Make sure you arrive at the Indian place..not the other joint down the street.

[Edited on 12-5-2010 by mcfez]

actually decided to take the 86 this evening (20 years in California and I've never seen the Salton Sea). could you post the name of this establishment, if you remember, please?

gb3

BillP - 12-4-2010 at 06:04 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by socalrat

Quote:

actually decided to take the 86 this evening (20 years in California and I've never seen the Salton Sea). could you post the name of this establishment, if you remember, please?

gb3

If it's the one I'm thinking of, it was a 76 travel center and they've since added a Casino. Can't miss it on the right side. Tons of parking, clean, safe, and very few trucks.

If you want to bypass Brawley, El Centro and all the assorted traffic signals: As you come into Westmorland you'll come to a 4 way stop. Take a right, it's Forrester Rd and go approx 15-20 miles to I-8, take it east a coupla miles to the Calexico turn off. Saves 15-20 minutes.

Red Earth Casino

Ken Cooke - 12-4-2010 at 06:13 PM

Red Earth Casino
3089 Norm Niver Rd, Salton Sea Beach, CA
(760) 395-1200 ‎

Google Webpage

[Edited on 12-5-2010 by Ken Cooke]

socalrat - 12-4-2010 at 06:22 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Ken Cooke
Red Earth Casino
3089 Norm Niver Rd, Salton Sea Beach, CA
(760) 395-1200 ‎

Google Webpage

[Edited on 12-5-2010 by Ken Cooke]

Thank you, sir! Found that on google, but the web site didn't say anything about a truck stop or RV parking.

Might be a better option than Walmart or Costco (also 'allows' free overnight parking). Shorter ride in the evening and we can still get an early start in the morning.

thanks again.

gb3

BillP - 12-4-2010 at 07:02 PM

This is the place I was thinking of, no casino but tons of parking, clean and quiet:

http://www.findfuelstops.com/truck-stop-003223

Funny thing, if you page down to the area truck stop list, they list the El Centro Walmart, ......go figure!

Barry A. - 12-4-2010 at 07:33 PM

Not really in "old town" Fez, but just west of old town, as I remember. I have been gone from El Centro for a longgggggg time (24 years :lol

but I heard from a local just last year that MAH's was still there, and still excellent. Stop anybody in town and they can direct you, if in fact it is still there. It was mostly a "take out" place, which sounds grim, but did have a few tables, and actually the food was to die for. I always had the batter fried shrimp with a sauce that was the best I ever had, but I loved the 'sweet and sour pork' also.

Good luck. I don't think they are at the same location as when I was there, but maybe??

Lots of good 'authentic' Mexicano Restaurants also, naturally, and El Centro is the capitol of Carne Asada land----I think the best ever, but now the "food police" won't let them prepare it like they used to, so not as good. They used to store the raw beef in 55 gal. barrels of marinade for several days, but no more. Too bad---- we NEVER got sick, so dont' know what promped them to kill it---somebody must have burped badly, or something. :rolleyes:

Barry

Quote:

Originally posted by mcfez

Quote:

Originally posted by Barry A.

Quote:

Originally posted by DianaT

Quote:

"Lucky's" still have very good Chinese Food---best egg foo young --- plan our vet and dentist visits to make sure that Lucky's will be open.

It has grown!

Speaking of Chinese-------ever eat at MAH'S KITCHEN in El Centro?? Outstanding, and I believe it is still there.

Barry

MAH'S KITCHEN in old town or where? How's the sweet sour pork, my favorite food? Thanks in advance.

also...

mcfez - 12-4-2010 at 08:14 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by socalrat

Quote:

actually decided to take the 86 this evening (20 years in California and I've never seen the Salton Sea). could you post the name of this establishment, if you remember, please?

gb3

RED EARTH CASINO
HIGHWAY 86
SALTON SEA BEACH, CA
T 760.395.1200 F 760.395.0408

Or:
Driving south...you'll see a number of orange groves to the left, in the same area a few miles away. Find any one of the dirt roads there...drive in ...and sleep in the grove! I tell ya...the smell of oranges during the night is absolutely fantastic!

[Edited on 12-5-2010 by mcfez]

map.jpg - 17kB

nbacc - 12-4-2010 at 08:39 PM

Gosh, stay at the Red Earth.............people are coming and going all the time. No one will kick you out of there and you are fairly close to the border

Diver - 12-4-2010 at 08:43 PM

We have stayed at the I-8 westbound rest area near El Centro.
There is a light pole near the west end of the parking area that has an electric outlet !! :light:

BajaSedoso - 12-4-2010 at 09:31 PM

Unfortunately the rest area on I8 is currently closed due to remodeling (eastbound and westbound), I believe it will open again in March or April of 2011. If it is not too much out of your way you could consider camping in the Anza Borrego State Park.

Taco de Baja - 12-5-2010 at 08:45 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by DianaT

"Lucky's" still have very good Chinese Food---best egg foo young --- plan our vet and dentist visits to make sure that Lucky's will be open.

It has grown!

I love Lucky's! Great Chinese, huge portions [leftovers for lunch the next day

], all in the $10-15 per plate range. I always eat here when I'm in town.

meme - 12-5-2010 at 09:08 AM

We were in El Centro Tues & Weds. & there were at least 8 R.V. ;s in the Old Wal Mart parking lot. That building is still un-occupied. Seems to be no problem parking there & lots of room.

socalrat - 12-5-2010 at 05:36 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by meme
We were in El Centro Tues & Weds. & there were at least 8 R.V. ;s in the Old Wal Mart parking lot. That building is still un-occupied. Seems to be no problem parking there & lots of room.

Thank to everyone who answered! I think the Red Earth is workable for us. We can't leave Los Angeles until after 10:00 pm, so Salton Sea is a reasonable stop-over for the night. It also allows us to try the Brawley bypass that was describe, although I think we may want to hit a Costco or Walmart in El Centro before crossing the border. Either way, I'm guessing we can easily make San Felipe by 1:00 pm

Thanks again to everyone who posted ideas and locations.

gb3

mcfez - 12-5-2010 at 07:59 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by socalrat

Quote:

By 1pm...piece of cake!
Oh..in Brawley...as one enters the town...there's a Rally Burger. Get lunch there if you are a burger freak :rolleyes:

El Camote - 12-5-2010 at 08:38 PM

Don't know how familiar you are with driving through Mexicali but with any traffic at all it can be a royal P.I.T.A. When we used to have a van, the habit was to leave home about the same time you're planning, pull over and sleep for a few hours along the 86, wake around 4 and cross the border at first light. Driving through Mexicali is a breeze before the city wakes up, makes all the difference. With an RV or pulling a trailer, even more so. You'll be in San Felipe in time for Juevos Rancheros and have the whole day to relax. :yawn:

mcfez - 12-5-2010 at 09:39 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by El Camote
Don't know how familiar you are with driving through Mexicali but with any traffic at all it can be a royal P.I.T.A. When we used to have a van, the habit was to leave home about the same time you're planning, pull over and sleep for a few hours along the 86, wake around 4 and cross the border at first light. Driving through Mexicali is a breeze before the city wakes up, makes all the difference. With an RV or pulling a trailer, even more so. You'll be in San Felipe in time for Juevos Rancheros and have the whole day to relax. :yawn:

VERY TRUE!!!!!! Good advice. I always arrive in Mexicali past midnight -3ish

BajaNomad - 12-5-2010 at 09:55 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by BillP
...most Walmarts in CA no longer allow over night camping.

According to a Yahoo group that follows just this... it's more like half (96 out of 187) - according to this list last updated two days ago:

http://tinyurl.com/2d2vqmj (links to a PDF file)

fyi..

[Edited on 12-6-2010 by BajaNomad]

Bajafun777 - 12-5-2010 at 10:24 PM

Brawley has a large Walmart and I see R.V.s parking there all the time. Brawley has no city enforcement on parking on streets except downtown so pick any street next to Walmart on Hwy 86 going to El Centro. Vons also has a big parking lot and they do not make any issues about R.V.s parking there either. The Vons closes at 12pm as does Walmart in Brawley. The Jack in the Box is open 24 hours as well as the donut shop in Vons parking complex area.

Don't park in Imperial as they will ticket anything to get money, their greed is know well so watch your speed very closely going through the city on Hwy 86 (that is why they picked a Chief of Police with the last name of Colon pronounce it as you please,LOL). El Centro city also has parking issues but have seen some R.V.s parking at Walmart there also. Calexico has a Super Walmart like El Centro does and both are open 24 hours. Have not seen too many R.V.s parking in Calexico Walmart and it has city ordinances against parking on streets. So, Brawley looks like the winner for parking and only about 30 minutes to border crossing in the morning.

Bob H - 12-5-2010 at 11:10 PM

Mahs Kitchen....

http://www.insiderpages.com/b/3710062624/mahs-kitchen-el-cen...

socalrat - 12-6-2010 at 01:11 AM

Quote:

Have only driven through Mexicali twice; on the way down and then again on the way back on the last trip. I remember both legs to be a bit harried. Didn't really consider a disco nap in Salton Sea Beach and then push straight through...The problem will be driving on maybe four hours sleep. Don't want to even make believe I'll get a full night (or nap) before leaving.

Then again, I guess I can bull through, get camp set up, and be asleep in my camp chair by noon.....

gb3

[Edited on 12-6-2010 by socalrat]