Is Hospital Overnight RV Camping Allowed?

Above, the RV camping area at St. Luke's Magic Valley Medical Center. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Can you camp overnight in a hospital parking lot?

That is the topic of an article in RV Life and one we had to face five years ago in Twin Falls, Idaho.

While in Wells, Nevada for the Wells Fun Run car show and rally, I had my little heart attack and had to be flown by helicopter to the St. Luke's Magic Valley Medical Center to have two stents put into a coronary artery.

My friend Mitch drove my motorhome up to Twin Falls. Fortunately, the medical center has an RV camping area with electrical hook-ups. He stayed there for two nights until I was released from the hospital. Other hospitals may not have RV camping areas. So what can one do in a similar scenario?

RV Life begins with:

Can you camp overnight in a hospital parking lot? Typically, hospitals are fine with you parking your RV in their parking lot, particularly if you have a loved one in the hospital or are visiting someone.

These lots are usually pretty big, and there probably won’t be many other vehicles overnight. However, if you are just passing through, it might be best to find somewhere else to drop your jacks.

In either scenario, it’s always a good idea to get permission before you unhitch your trailer or set up camp. Find out where the administration area of the hospital is located and ask someone there for the OK. There may be someone at an information desk or kiosk that can help. Of course, that may have to be done during office hours, which could pose a problem for a later evening stop.

To read more, go here.