RIP, RV City.

After 23 years, the makeshift recreational vehicle campground underneath Interstate 10 is closed to the campers. And Mobile police are warning RV owners to find the right place to park their vehicles if they come downtown this year for Carnival.

In an advisory issued Friday — the first day of the Carnival celebration in downtown Mobile — Mobile police are alerting RV owners that parking regulations will be enforced, and vehicles parked in the wrong spots will be towed.

The advisory states the following:

In accordance with city regulations, no person shall park a motor vehicle, including RVs, on a street or road in such a manner that less than ten (10) feet of the width of the roadway is available for the free movement of vehicular traffic. This regulation is important to ensure that emergency routes remain clear, sidewalks are accessible for pedestrians, and driveways are not blocked. Following these parking guidelines is essential for maintaining a safe and enjoyable environment for everyone attending.

If an RV is found parked in violation of the restrictions, it will be towed to the Mobile Police Department Impound at 1251 Virginia St., Lot B. To retrieve the vehicle, the owner has to call the Impound Lot at 251-208-2585.

The towing fee is $150.

RV City, known as the Alabama Department of Transportation’s Overflow parking lot, will be open exclusively for regular passenger vehicles, police say. RVs and campers will not be permitted.

The announcement officially ends a tradition in which RV owners would tailgate underneath the interstate during the Carnival season in downtown Mobile. It resulted in more than two weeks of food, family gatherings, fellowship, and fun. The tradition began in 2000, and ended last year with more than 100 campers.

The changes in the lot come as the nearby Mobile Civic Center site is with fewer parking spots due to construction of a new office building for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and plans for a new 1,000-space parking garage.

In future years, the parking lot will be closed off during the construction of the Interstate 10 Mobile River Bridge and Bayway project.

Mobile police are encouraging RV owners to use designated off-street, commercial parking lots that are compliant with city regulations.

The city has additional information about parking posted online, but it stresses RV owners visiting Mardi Gras with their campers to contact private parking operators Premium Parking or Republic Parking for details.

According to police, parking an RV on unapproved or non-compliant properties will result in enforcement action.

Those interested in establishing compliant RV parking areas are being asked to call the City of Mobile Planning and Zoning Department at 251-208-5895, anytime from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday to Friday, for information on necessary permits and procedures.