Help! I need a place to crash (figuratively) in IA and then OH (Have tent, am travel)

[como]

Okay, here's the story. I bought my first MR2 a few weeks back, and I'm picking it up the 19th, this upcoming tuesday.

I've been planning my trip fairly carefully, but it seems that memorial day weekend is really going to screw me up- no campsites in Iowa or Ohio are allowing me to reserve camp sites for a single night.
As my trip is going from Nevada to Maine, it's going to take about a week, with full, long days of driving each day, so I just need a place to safely and legally park the mr2 and pitch a tent for a nights rest before another early start and long day.

I was planning to be in the east side of Iowa on Friday night (the 22nd), somewhere near Iowa city.

The next night (saturday), I was hoping to be over in Ohio, somewhere around the Cleveland area.

Sunday I'm hoping to be up in new york, but this is the wrong regional section for that.

So here's where I stand: I'm really hoping that a few good MR2 owners have a wee bit of back yard and a parking space they're willing to lend me for a night. Someone in the east side of Iowa, and someone in the north/east area of Ohio.

Plan B is I could always find a cheap motel in those areas, but I'd rather just pitch a tent.

Any takers? I'll even buy you a drink!

[anonymousracer]

on my previous two long distance trips with my two different 2s, I always just find a cheap motel for the night. I mean, do you really want to go out of your way driving to/around a city/town you don't know about, just to find a house to spend the night? It would be easier/more convenient to find cheap motel off the interstate.

[lsgheero]

why not just sleep in the 2?

cheaper and less hassle.

[Resurrected]

I second lsgheero , i would deff sleep in the two.

[como]

motel is boring. I'm going with a girl that I like, and theres no way I'd convince her to sleep in this car- especially not with me

I was really hoping to camp out in the wilderness, myself, but she's afraid. (read "no fun"), so I'm looking for "safe" places to park a tent.

[mmaxrossixx]

dude find a cheap motel here in mass there is $40 a night motels everywere im sure youll find one in other cities n states 2

[como]

$40 a night is expensive, and again it's *boring*

next person to suggest it gets -5 cool points, seriously. has everyone really got something against pitching a tent, or helping out a stranger?

[mmaxrossixx]

Originally Posted by como

$40 a night is expensive, and again it's *boring*

next person to suggest it gets -5 cool points, seriously. has everyone really got something against pitching a tent, or helping out a stranger?

$40 a night is not expensive at all thats actually nothing i spend double that taking girls out on dates nvm motel rooms...,if ur trying to impress a girl dnt come off as cheap and wen she tells u she thinks camping in the woods is creepy it means she doesnt want to go camping period. no1 is going to let u pitch a tent in there backyard because u could be a serial killer or a rapist or the nicest dude in the world. but y risk helping sum1 sleep wen ur possibly risking ur families and ur own life. common sense bro. plus if u get a motel room itll give u alone time wit the girl n she wont be afraid to get a lil wild wit u were as if u were in a tent itll make her nervous and uncomfortable from the start n good luck gettin in her pants if thats the case common sense mann

[como]

I'm just trying to have a good time, getting laid isnt the only goal in life. We've known eachother for a while, and I enjoy her company.

The camping is her idea, I had originally planned to go to cheap motels with her, assuming she wouldn't be down for camping. Quit making assumptions.

Furthermore, I've already got a place to stay tuesday, wednessday, and thursday night... so what's this nonsense about "nobody" letting me spend the night in their yard?





Moving right along, anyone cool in the Iowa or Ohio area want to lend a hand, or do I need to start a new thread now that this one is getting all bogged down with nay-sayers?

[efx]

There are many MR2 owners that I'm sure will let you hang there for the night. Plus if it's her idea I say just take off and pitch your tent in the nearest field you can find when you feel tired. That should make things more interesting. And don't forget to pack some food that you can chow down at the rest stops. I learned this while traveling with one of my brothers some years back. Tip a cow for us too, what the hell. Believe it or not I have actually seen a tipped cow. It was in the midwest and it was a dead cow, but tipped nonetheless. Funniest thing I have ever seen though. We were just passing some farm and this was next to the road, the cow was next to the barn on its side.

I'm sure that won't be a problem heading out that way. The other thing I do recommend is not to forget your GPS, it's fine getting lost, but that can get old pretty quick at times too. Specially when you need gas or food. Bring this with you and you should be fine, just check your oil and things before you take off though. Then whatever happens, happens! Enjoy the trip. Your a lucky guy having a girl friend that's willing to bum out with you...not many girls like to just hang out in the middle of nowhere without their friends. I also agree with you, it's not just about getting laid but the fun that may happen in between, you'll either get to know each other more than you know, or end up hating each other by the end of the trip. I guess it depends on the person. Some hours I didn't mind my brother sleeping while I drove. Other times is nice to just have someone there to talk to you just keeping you company on those long boring roads.

Now I'm a bit older so I don't mind the cheap motels for the shower and a bug-free night, but that's just me.

[como]

"There are many MR2 owners that I'm sure will let you hang there for the night. Plus if it's her idea I say just take off and pitch your tent in the nearest field you can find when you feel tired. That should make things more interesting"

Oh, how I wish. She's seen too many horror stories, though, and is afraid she's going to wind up a victim of something terrible. If she'd rather be in a motel, we'd be in a motel... I left it up to her, because I enjoy spending time with her, and I'm greatfull that I'm going to get to share this once in a lifetime opportunity with her.

Unfortunately, you're in California, not Iowa, ohio, or new york.... it's people like you I was hoping to find when I posted this

[como]

*bump* any takers? I'm leaving for my trip tomorrow night, and don't know if I'll have time/availability to get on here once I hit the road...

[Ben]

Where are you staying in NV? I take it you found someone to get you at the airport, or are you getting a rental?

[como]

Ah, Ben! I was just getting on to PM you.
I'm getting a rental car at the RNO airport to get my prep stuff done right away with.
As for that night, seems Brian has a camper he was kind enough to offer up to myself and my friend for the night.

Did you happen to note if the mr2 has a spare tire and the factory roadside jack/iron? if not I'll have to get a 4-way and some sort of jack before I take off from there

first night I've got reservations in a little campground over just past salt lake (9 hour drive on weds), in the middle of a sweet looking canyon run between where i-80 loops around some mountains- that's going to be *fun*.

[JERX88]

Id love to help you out, but I live in milwuakee, right in between the two places you are looking at staying. Not sure if you will check this once on the road, but if you get this, maybe think about going a little extra one day, and a shorter trip the next, as my home is open to any mr2 owners, and for that matter, any supra owners as well. Best of luck on your trip.

[hoodain]

check this out