Community Forums

Stainsy · 12-03-2015, 12:34 PM

My wife and I have gone to Florida the last seven years, taking the kids and spending a month down there. You know, enjoying the better weather than we have here in Canada. Last spring we sold our trailer that I had pulled down twice, and we just stayed in motels. This year, we have a MH, complete with generator, etc. I have a question for you:

Does Walmart or any other place allow you to park overnight anymore? I heard that they used to let you, but now its not allowed. Not sure if this is true? Is there any other places besides rest areas? We had a bad experience in Georgia with a trucker letting a little air out of all my trailer tires, and then peeing beside the passenger door to my truck. Not sure I want to stay in rest areas anymore. Would like to know if anyone has any advice for this. Thanks

Dave

ABrask · 12-03-2015, 12:56 PM

Certainly not justifying the crass actions of the maturity-challenged trucker who did those things to you and your property in the rest area, but did you have your slides out or was your trailer blocking access to an otherwise empty parking slot? The only trucker-related incidents I've heard talk of here in the States generally involve situations where there are insufficient parking slots available for truckers who are legally obligated to park and rest (sleep) when they've driven for a certain amount of time. I even heard about a situation on one of these forums where a truck driver inadvertently clipped someone's slide off pulling into a parking slot in the darkness of night!

It's generally accepted that one should avoid deploying slides or awnings, or in any other way "camping" in either a rest stop or a chain store parking lot. I think most folks agree that rest stops on the major US highways are generally safe, and unless there are signs specifically limiting parking duration, there shouldn't be any problems with running your generator and getting some sleep (in the truck-parking area at least).

As for Walmarts and other chain stores.... Some local jurisdictions (counties, cities, etc.) have passed laws that prohibit overnight parking, no matter what a private business might feel about the situation. Always a good idea to ask permission, and as with the rest stops...don't put your slides out or set up your grill and lounge chairs. :-)

Clay L · 12-03-2015, 12:57 PM

Some do some don't. Walmart used to sell a Rand McNally atlas that showed the locations and I think indicated which ones allowed overnight RV parking but I am not sure about that. If you Google Walmart overnight parking you will find a couple of sites that list the ones that allow it.
Many Walmarts in FL are not allowed to let you park overnight because of local ordinances.

cwsqbm · 12-03-2015, 01:03 PM

I use freecampsites.net when looking for places to boondock. I avoid Walmarts because those that allow overnight parking seem to have a lot of big trucks idling all night. One thing I noticed is a lot of rural casinos (which seem to be everywhere now) have parking RVs, sometimes with a dump station or hookups for free or really cheap.

wnytaxman · 12-03-2015, 01:10 PM

If you have an iPhone, there are apps available such as Allstays, rv overnight, or Next Exit are good sources for boondocking on your way south.

jacwjames · 12-03-2015, 04:41 PM

Here is a site provides info on the No Park Walmarts

No Overnight Parking at Walmart | Walmart Atlas

I've used this and other sites to find free places to park. I've parked at Sam's Club, Cracker Barrel, Walmart, Casino's, Truck stops. Most of the time there will be other RV's parked there.

Good Luck

38Chevy454 · 12-03-2015, 04:53 PM

Lot of other options besides Wal Mart. As suggested, look at some of the websites. Also look into options like jacwjames listed. I've done WM before without any issues, but have to be sure local ordinance allows it as several stated.

I tend to stay in truck stops when just overnighting along the way, but my MH is also a truck conversion so it fits in. No slides out ofcourse. Not always the quietest option with a lot of them idling the engines for heat in winter or A/C in summer; but also no issues running my generator. I look for a spot along the edge and away from the std truck parking slots if I can find it. The truck stop showers are nice to get cleaned up without having to deal with the water and tanks issues. Plus they are free when you buy enough fuel, if you get the "professional driver" rewards card.

Libero · 12-03-2015, 04:58 PM

As noted in another post. Get the Allstays App - yes there are a few Walmart locations that do not allow overnight parking, mostly this is because of local ordinances. I have found Allstars & RV Parky to be reasonably accurate. Have spent many nights as guests of Walmart, do shopping also but I always ask unless I arrive late and see many RV'S there. I have also called ahead to confirm all is OK . Have also stayed at Flying J, Cracker Barrel and many other places. The referenced site above is also a good place to look. Good luck.

Stainsy · 12-03-2015, 06:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ABrask

Certainly not justifying the crass actions of the maturity-challenged trucker who did those things to you and your property in the rest area, but did you have your slides out or was your trailer blocking access to an otherwise empty parking slot? The only trucker-related incidents I've heard talk of here in the States generally involve situations where there are insufficient parking slots available for truckers who are legally obligated to park and rest (sleep) when they've driven for a certain amount of time. I even heard about a situation on one of these forums where a truck driver inadvertently clipped someone's slide off pulling into a parking slot in the darkness of night!

It's generally accepted that one should avoid deploying slides or awnings, or in any other way "camping" in either a rest stop or a chain store parking lot. I think most folks agree that rest stops on the major US highways are generally safe, and unless there are signs specifically limiting parking duration, there shouldn't be any problems with running your generator and getting some sleep (in the truck-parking area at least).

As for Walmarts and other chain stores.... Some local jurisdictions (counties, cities, etc.) have passed laws that prohibit overnight parking, no matter what a private business might feel about the situation. Always a good idea to ask permission, and as with the rest stops...don't put your slides out or set up your grill and lounge chairs. :-)

There were lines for parking, and I stayed in them. I even gave this trucker a couple of spaces. It was early morning, not many there. I didn't put any slides out. Nah, he had no reason other than being rude. He saw the Ontario plates, and figured he would welcome me to Georgia. Probably thought I was too stupid to look at my tires, and check things over.

Stainsy · 12-03-2015, 06:19 PM

Thank you all for replying. Many great ideas here, we will look into them all. Since I have my three kids with me, we do need to deploy the slides to pull the coach out. In a pinch, I suppose we won't, but it would be more comfortable if we did. It is our first time with the MH, and lots of learning to do. Hopefully, we don't run into any trouble, especially mechanically.