Week 403-406 - Elks Lodge RV Parking Update - 09-10-2021

Elks Lodge RV Parking Update


We get a lot of questions about traveling full time in the Mothership. One of the very first things we tell any "full time motorhome traveling" wannabe is "Join the Elks!". The Elks is a great organization that raises funds to work with children, distribute patriotic materials into schools, provide scholarships and funding for drug awareness. Our January 2010 Elks Travelogue gives a brief and unique history of the Elks. In that travelogue we listed 40 of the Elks Lodges where we had parked. As of today we have stayed at 128 lodges.

So why join the Elks? First to participate in funding their great programs. Second, many lodges provide a great place to stay overnight or stay for a week in your motorhome. Not only do they provide a low-cost place to stay, you'll meet other Elks who will treat you to great hospitality.

Here is our secret about the Elks. Most of them will let you stay at their lodge even though they don't have designated RV parking. We do the following: Once we determine we are ready to stop for the day, we search for RV parks and the Elks lodges. It has amazed us how many times we could not find an RV park in some small town, but there is an Elks Lodge. We call the Elks lodge and usually speak with bartender. We introduce ourselves as guests from our Atascadero Lodge. We inquire about RV parking. They let us know if they have a site available or if we can dry camp on their property. We always get their name and leave ours. When we arrive we head into the lounge and meet our host. They check our Elks member card and sign us up. It's surprising how many times all the members in the lodge know us when we come in the door. They spread the word we are coming and the hospitality begins! At the end of this travelogue, read our story of Louisville, Kentucky Elks. Besides the overnight spot, the Elks might offer a quality but inexpensive meal and the members will share with us the local sites, events and good restaurants.

Note that it takes a couple of months, and two sponsors, to join the Elks, but it is a totally great and worthwhile membership. We created this list of the lodges we have stayed at to share with other Elk RV members. Each lodge is listed with the date, lodge city and name, hookups, our rating 1 to 5 and the requested donation. The requested donation may have changed. Here is the key to our listings.

Legend for hookups, e.g. 5WS is 50 amp, water, sewer. 5=50amp 3=30amp 2=20amp E=Electric (unsure of amps) W=water S=sewer D=dump C=cable I=Internet (free). Lower case symbols means not great. E.g. i is Internet but maybe not fast or you must go to the lodge. Link to Our Rating System to see how we rate parks.

For photos and more information on any individual Elks Lodge, see Big Rig Bible.

$Donate - These did not not have a published donation, verbally suggest $5
Date Lodge Hookups Rating Donation
07-17-12 Rifle CO Elks Dry (2.5) $donate
07-14-12 Ely NV Elks Dry (2) $donate
08-25-11 Louisville TN Elks 2 (3) $donate
07-11-11 John Day OR Elks Dry (2) $donate
02-12-10 Escondido CA Elks Dry (2) $donate
04-27-09 West Sacramento CA Elks 2W (2) $donate
06-22-07 Warren NJ Elks 2 (2.5) $donate
12-09-06 Huntington Beach CA Elks Dry (2.5) $donate

$Free - Lodges would NOT take a donation, they were just happy to have us
Date Lodge Hookups Rating Donation
08-16-11 Jeffersonville IN Elks 3 (3) $free
09-26-10 Sonora CA Elks Dry (2) $free
08-12-09 Polson Elks MT Elks Dry (2) $free
07-20-09 Valdez AK Elks Dry (2) $free
06-27-09 Eagle River AK Elks Dry (1.5) $free
04-29-09 Bellingham WA Elks Dry (2) $free
08-30-08 Pueblo CO Elks Dry (1.5) $free
09-14-07 Casper WY Elks Dry (1.5) $free
09-01-07 Milwaukee WI Elks 2 (3) $free
06-07-07 Salisbury MD Elks Dry (2) $free
06-05-07 Dover DE Elks Dry (3) $free
05-28-07 Pawleys Island SC Elks 2 (2.5) $free
04-02-07 Carlsbad NM Elks E (1.5) $free
03-27-07 Silver City NM Elks Dry (2) $free

$1 to $9 - Some dry camping only, others with power
Date Lodge Hookups Rating Donation
12-06-10 Yuma AZ Elks I (2) $8
12-05-10 Casa Grande AZ Elks W (2) $5
09-29-08 Tucumcari NM Elks EW (3) $4
08-28-08 Colorado Springs CO Elks Dry (3) $5
08-15-08 Silverthorne CO Elks E (2) $5
08-10-08 Pocatello ID Elks E (1) $5
04-14-08 Sacramento CA Elks Dry (2) $5
04-23-07 Panama City FL Elks E (2.5) $5

$10 to $14 - Facilities varied
Date Lodge Hookups Rating Donation
05-09-22 Gallup NM Elks Dry (2) $10
01-14-21 Gila Bend AZ Elks Dry (2) $10
08-17-20 Ukiah CA Elks Dry (3) $10
12-07-18 Palm Springs CA Elks Dry (3) $10
01-11-15 Glendale CA Elks 2 (3) $10
09-09-11 Kansas City MO Elks 5W (2.5) $10
05-19-11 Willows CA Elks 3W (2.5) $10
02-18-11 Sun City AZ Elks Dry Dry (2) $10
09-17-09 Eugene OR Elks 3D (2) $10
04-07-09 Roseville CA Elks 2W (2) $10
12-19-08 Bakersfield CA Elks E (1.5) $10
10-19-07 Redbluff CA Elks EW (2) $12
08-01-07 Cape Girardeau MO Elks 5 (4) $10
05-21-07 Charleston SC Elks Dry (3) $10
04-09-07 Del Rio TX Elks E (2) $12
04-01-07 Roswell NM Elks EW (2) $10
03-31-07 Alamogordo NM Elks EWS (2) $10

$15 to $19 - The most popular donation range
Date Lodge Hookups Rating Donation
11-08-20 Riverside CA Elks 3 (3.5) $15
09-18-20 Newport Elks OR 3W (2.5) $15
06-20-19 Springfield OR Elks 5W (2.5) $15
06-01-19 Snake River Elks Jerome ID 3 (3) $15
04-19-16 Burbank CA Elks 3W (3) $15
12-29-15 Parker AZ Elks E (2.5) $15
08-03-15 Brookings Elks 3W (3) $18
05-03-13 San Jose CA Elks 3W (3) $19
10-30-12 Canoga Park CA Elks 3WD (3) $18
01-01-12 Hesperia CA Elks 3WCD (2.5) $18
07-21-11 Spokane WA Elks 5WI (2.5) $15
05-30-11 Paradise CA Elks 3WS (3.5) $16
01-05-11 Santa Clarita CA Elks 3WCI (2.5) $15
10-17-10 Needles CA Elks 5WS (3) $17
09-24-10 Oakhurst CA Elks 3W (3) $15
09-13-09 Oceanlake Camp OR Elks 3W (2.5) $18
07-08-09 Soldotna AK Elks 2 (2) $15
06-23-09 Palmer/Wasilla AK Elks E3w (3) $15
04-25-09 Burien Elks WA 5W (2.5) $15
03-23-09 Tempe Elks AZ 3WS (3) $17
01-23-09 Oceanside CA Elks EWD (3) $18
01-21-09 Oxnard CA Elks EW (2.5) $15
05-15-22 Westminster CO Elks EWS (2.5) $21
07-01-08 Ocean Shores WA Elks EWS (2) $15
06-15-08 Lodi CA Elks EW (3) $16
06-13-08 Tracy CA Elks EWS (2) $15

$20 to $24
Date Lodge Hookups Rating Donation
05-07-22 Show Low AZ Elks 3 (3.5) $25
08-10-21 Bend OR Elks 3 (3) $20
09-29-20 Florence OR Elks Lodge 5W (3) $20
09-08-20 Kelso-Longview WA Elks 3WC (2.5) $20
08-28-20 Coquille OR Elks 3W (3) $20
07-20-19 Hollister CA Elks 3WD (3) $20
06-17-19 Milwaukee-Portland Elks OR 3W (1.5) $20
11-09-18 Fresno CA Elks 3W (3) $20
11-05-18 Jackson CA Elks 3W (2.5) $20
10-15-18 Rancho Cordova CA Elks 3WD (3) $22
10-14-18 Gilroy CA Elks 5W (3) $20
03-22-18 Santa Ana CA Elks 3W (3) $20 Closed
11-18-17 Lancaster CA Elks 3wDC (3) $20
03-30-17 South San Francisco Elks 3W (2.5) $20
08-19-16 Coeur d'Alene ID Elks 5Wd (3.5) $20
07-30-16 Vancouver WA Elks 3W (3) $20
08-13-15 Walnut Creek CA Elks 3W (2.5) $20
06-24-15 Santa Maria Elks 3WD 3.5 (3) $20
10-14-14 Grants Pass Elks 5WS (2.5) $20
10-02-13 El Cajon CA Elks 5WDci (3) $20
08-18-13 Modesto CA Elks 3Wd (2.5) $20
04-09-12 Palmdale CA Elks 3WD (2.5) $20
01-11-09 San Luis Obispo CA Elks 3WD (2.5) $20
02-16-07 Prescott Valley AZ Elks EWS (2) $20

$25 to $29
Date Lodge Hookups Rating Donation
05-21-22 Ft. Collins UT Elks 5 (3) $25
09-15-21 St. George UT Elks 5wD (3.5) $25
07-30-21 Caldwell ID Elks 3W (3) $25
07-15-21 Chico CA Elks 5WD (3) $25
03-21-19 Indio CA Elks 5WD (3.5) $25
03-20-18 Chula Vista CA Elks 5WS (3.5) $27
10-11-17 Boulder City Elks 5WS (3.5) $25
11-04-18 Placerville CA Elks 3W (3) $25
10-31-18 Nevada City CA Elks 3W (3.5) $25
03-29-18 Redlands CA Elks 3WD (3) $25
10-05-17 West Covina Elks 5WD (3) $25
03-08-17 Lake Havasu Elks, 5WS (3.5) $25
09-22-15 Santa Barbara Elks 5W (3) $25
09-21-15 Oceano CA Elks 3W (2.5) $25
07-28-15 Petaluma CA Elks 5WS (3.5) $25

$30 plus - The highest donations
Date Lodge Hookups Rating Donation
07-13-21 Redding CA Elks 5WSC (4) $30
07-08-21 Atascadero CA Elks 5WSI (3.5) $35
09-04-20 Tillamook OR Elks 5WDi (3.5) $30
08-18-20 Eureka CA Elks 5WS (3) $30
08-14-20 Monterey CA Elks 5WD (3) $35
07-19-19 Carmichael CA Elks 5WD (3 $30
11-06-17 Santa Clara CA Elks 5WD (3) $30
10-24-17 Napa CA Elks 3WS (3.5) $30

As you can see, even at the highest requested donations it's a good deal for you and the lodges.

We hope that this research is valuable to you. Now hear this! We have a dozen great stories to tell you about the hospitality of the Elks, but none more amazing than that of Elks Lodge No. 8 in Louisville, Kentucky.

Visit #1: In 2007 we toured the Eastern States. We were in Louisville and could not find a decent RV park, only mobile home parks that welcomed over-nighters. We called the Louisville Elks. They told us we could park there but they had no hookups. We arrived and they parked us next to the outdoor pool. Then they pulled out a 20 amp power cord for our convenience. Ellen had contracted Poison Ivy and stayed in the Mothership for two days. Pete visited in the lodge. A hospitable member met Pete and introduced him to every member in the lodge. They continued when anyone new arrived. The next day the Elks had a social gathering of about 40 members. Again they made a point of introducing Pete and Ellen, "from California", to every member present. That was nothing, read on!

Visit #2: In 2011 we once again stayed at the Louisville Elks. Members asked about our visit and learned that we needed to have our Cummins ISL400 diesel engine rebuilt. We visited the Cummins distributor in Louisville and they quoted an extremely reasonable price. We accepted but would have to wait a couple of weeks for them to start. We toured the area and returned to Louisville Elks in two weeks.

Visit #3: Upon our return we found that every member knew and was concerned about our engine rebuild plight. We came into the lounge and sat down for a drink. Within just a few minutes a member Don, known as "Duck" asked Ellen where we would stay during the 10 days the engine was being rebuilt. Ellen replied that we would scooter around and find a hotel. "No, no, no" Duck said, "I have a full master bedroom with an outside entrance; you can stay there for free!". Wow! "Or", Duck continued, "you can stay on my 40 foot yacht in a harbor on the Ohio River!!!". Cha-ching, sold!. Duck drove us the 11 miles with our belongings and opened up the yacht for us. During the next week Duck came down a couple of times to check on us and see if we needed anything. All this was during the week before his daughter was getting married!. Elks motto is "Elks Care, Elks Share"; how true this is. Join the Elks!

Pete and Duck at the harbor. Until next week, Love, Pete and Ellen Photos from Aug 2006 to Present

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