Love’s Travel Stops Adding “RV Stops” Across U.S.
OKLAHOMA CITY – Founded in 1964 when Tom and Judy Love leased an abandoned filling station in Watonga, Okla., Love’s Travel Stops & Country Stores has grown to nearly 700 locations in 42 states.
Still privately held by the Love Family, today’s Love’s Travel Stops has more than 38,000 team members nationwide.
Following the pandemic surge of interest in RVing, Love’s in 2021 saw that there was a shortage of overnight campsites and began adding RV parking and hookups – “RV Stops” – at some of its locations.
“Love’s has always welcomed RV customers and provided amenities that the RV community is looking for, including parking spaces, fuel, propane, communal dumps, travel stops with fresh food and snacks, restaurants, laundry and showers,” said Jim Wheeler director of hospitality and RV operations at Love’s. “Adding RV Stops and hookups was a next step to better provide additional amenities to the RV community.”
Along with adding stops and hookups, Love’s also added an RV retail section to its stores.
“As Love’s approaches 700 locations with visibility in most states, we want to continue to welcome the RV community,” Wheeler said.
The first RV Stop was installed in July of 2021 in Guthrie, Okla., followed by five more sites that year. In 2022, 20 more locations were added, and Wheeler said he expects 30 or more locations to be put in service in 2023.
More specifically, Love’s will add RV hookups to eight new Love’s Travel Stops and will open 14 Love’s RV Stops located adjacent to Love’s Travel Stops by the end of the third quarter of 2023.
“In the near future we’re adding RV Hookups to Oklahoma City and Vian, Okla., and an RV Stop in Sweetwater, Texas. Additional locations are planned to open before the end of 2023.”
Jim Wheeler
Of the 30 sites currently up and running, about 360 RV hookups are available, including 27 locations with hookups in the parking lot at a Love’s Travel Stop and three with larger RV parking spots adjacent to a Love’s store.
“Amenities vary by location, but most locations will be full-hookup, including 30/50-amp power, water and dumps,” he said. “Almost every location will have a Love’s Travel Stop nearby to meet any consumer needs as well as a dog park. Our bigger RV Stops will have their own amenities like an RV-specific retail building, communal firepit, sports courts – basketball or pickleball, for example – and communal picnic areas.”
Size of the locations vary, with locations having as few as four spots, Wheeler said, adding, “Our current largest RV Stop has 60 hookup spots.”
The sites are spread throughout Love’s network of locations with 19 states now having at least one store with RV hookups.
The average cost of a regular back-in site is $36.70 per night, which includes a booking fee. “Customers can expect prices in that range, varying higher or lower depending on location and type of site,” Wheeler said.
To learn more about Love’s Travel Stops RV hookups visit lovesrvstops.com.
Source: https://rvbusiness.com/loves-travel-stops-adding-rv-stops-across-u-s/
