Community Forums

V8Square · 01-13-2010, 07:25 AM

I don't know if this is the correct place to put this, but, here goes. I live in Ballwin (St. Louis County) Missouri and there is a Wal-Mart,near me, that has signs posted, "No overnight parking". This store is right off Interstate 44 on the north side of the highway. There is a Yogi Bear campground and KOA campground 2-3 miles away. Also, Six Flags Over Mid-America is on the same side of the road, maybe a mile away.

hamguy · 01-13-2010, 10:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by steelheadbluesman

I have used WMs a couple times in 16 years, and I agree with everyone: Use it all you want, or choose not at all. My experience has been negative because of proximity to freeway traffic and hysters running around my rig in the middle of the night. LOL However, I'm not looking the gift horse in the mouth (as they say in the old country) -- it is free and they are everywhere there are freeways, and as PNW girl said, they don't have to offer it, so I'm glad it is available!

I agree to use their kind offer IF it is allowed by local laws/statutes. Make sure you are worthy guests.

WilleyB · 01-13-2010, 11:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by V8Square

I don't know if this is the correct place to put this, but, here goes. I live in Ballwin (St. Louis County) Missouri and there is a Wal-Mart,near me, that has signs posted, "No overnight parking". This store is right off Interstate 44 on the north side of the highway. There is a Yogi Bear campground and KOA campground 2-3 miles away. Also, Six Flags Over Mid-America is on the same side of the road, maybe a mile away.

Yep you'll come across lots of WM's displaying similar signs. Corporate Wal Mart leaves it up to the discretion of each store manager as to allow overnight parking or not. Generally there is a valid reason for erecting the signs, usually it's because of a local ordinance, or maybe or not it's an agreement between the manager and local business close by, in any case it's best to ask before settling in for the night, sometimes the answer is surprising.

Cheers
Willey

steelheadbluesman · 01-13-2010, 11:49 AM

I totally agree hamguy, and I did not mean to imply a "use it - abuse it" attitude. WM has decided that it is good business to offer this to RVers. Still, we should always be worthy - no matter where we are camped!

Chuck 1935 · 01-13-2010, 06:18 PM

As I have traveled the USA I have found the vast majority to be rather stupid. Spreading out at a Wal-Mart is just another example of rude behavior by stupid people. Nothing wrong with being stupid, It just makes it more difficult for the other folks who give a damn. Enjoy!!!

steelheadbluesman · 01-13-2010, 09:35 PM

OUCH!

Chuck 1935 · 01-13-2010, 10:27 PM

steelheadbluesman you and I are on the same page, you should be worthy. Not sitting there at Wallyworld with jacks down, slides out, digital dish in place, awning out, barbeque fired up, sitting in your camp chair puffing on a stogie. You have to show respect for your host not take advantage of them. I have used Wal-Mart on one occasion in an emergancy and tried to keep a low profile while there. I was thankful I had the opportuity to take advantage of their generosity. I try to not be a pain in the butt, but always have a fun time. No OUCH intended

Barbara S. · 01-13-2010, 10:44 PM

I have not used a Wal-Mart parking lot YET, but I am glad they are there if the necessity arises. I have no slides, jacks, or digital dish but I do know the "rules" on parking for the night. I did have to use a parking lot one night when I got to a point that I felt I could no longer drive safely. I saw a few 18-wheelers parked in the back so I hoped it would be safe. I parked on the side out of the way but right next to a patch of grass for my dogs. The next day in the daylight I saw that I had picked a good location. I probably would have felt safer in a Wal-Mart parking lot but there was none available. There were NO campgrounds around (that I know of) so that was not an option. Besides, how would I get into a campground and find a site at midnight???

Monaco38 · 01-14-2010, 03:59 AM

When convenient in our travels we use campgrounds either as destination points, or in transit stop overs, but when necessary I appreciate the available hospitality of WM. When I picked up our new (to us) MH from Tempe AZ the end of March last year and brought it home to Washington it was a quick trip, and at 4 am in the morning in northern California a WM parking lot was very much appreciated! I parked near a couple other MH's also occupying the parking lot, put the bedroom slide out...only part way in order to get around the bed... and went to sleep. Later that morning after some restful sleep I purchased some supplies and continued the trip. IMHO it is a win win for WM and the weary traveler worth protecting by considerate behavior.

steelheadbluesman · 01-14-2010, 12:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chuck 1935

steelheadbluesman you and I are on the same page, you should be worthy. Not sitting there at Wallyworld with jacks down, slides out, digital dish in place, awning out, barbeque fired up, sitting in your camp chair puffing on a stogie. You have to show respect for your host not take advantage of them. I have used Wal-Mart on one occasion in an emergancy and tried to keep a low profile while there. I was thankful I had the opportuity to take advantage of their generosity. I try to not be a pain in the butt, but always have a fun time. No OUCH intended

I didn't take it personally, Chuck, since your remarks didn't relate to my posts. As my previous posts stated, I've only used WM a couple times in 16 yrs, 3 motorhomes and over 100,000 miles, and I never set up camp or even put the awning out. I've only used it to pull off late at night when dog-tired after 10 hours of freeway, with no CGs in sight, and then leave in the morning. That's just how I do it; others do it differently, and I figure that's between them and WM. Nice to have it there, I hope folks don't abuse it, and most of us do it just fine.

TandW · 01-14-2010, 12:36 PM

Steely, you show great character!! I'm on the same page with you!! PAT_PAT_PAT

FATMANAR · 01-14-2010, 02:20 PM

I've traveled alot, not as much as some on here, but quite a bit. I have yet to see a grill out by a rv on a lot with the exception of two rvs at a Target store. I was told by my uncle that they were employees of Target and had been doing inventory or some kind of product control. Anyway when it comes down to it, no one cares except other rvers... I lived on the Outer Banks for 9 years and we have a WM at the 1 MP which is used by many rvers. Some stay a couple of days and most just over night. Never once in 9 years did I hear anyone complain or write anything in the paper about folks staying over. And this is a small WM store with a small lot. Get the rest you need and move on. JMHO

PsySciGuy · 01-14-2010, 03:38 PM

We've use WM parking twice. Once when our tranny died in our first Class A we spent New Years at WM. The second time was bring home our replacement to our first one. We picked up the "new" '96 Mountain Aire at sundown only to find the headlights didn't work. Dealer called mechanic back to work and owner opened up so the dimmer switch could be repaired. Heading back to SD through rural MN around 9:30 my wife hit a deer in our new Traverse. I found out that the brakes worked quite well on the motorhome. We decided to stop at the next opportunity. WM was it.

Our motorhome and Traverse snuggled up with a fifth wheeler and a van conversion for an uneventful night.

We are VERY appreciative of MW's parking policy!

Superslif · 01-14-2010, 04:44 PM

Every few years we take a trip to Vermont from our home in Ohio. We'll usually leave late afternoon from Ohio and I'll drive till I get tired. The last few trips we have made it as far as Syracuse or Utica before the night driving got to me. We stop at a rest area and sleep for 5-6 hours till first light. My question is: would you feel safer at a freeway rest area or a WM parking lot?

This coming summer we plan to start our Vermont vacation in Northern VT., so I plan to exit the NY tollroad near Utica NY. and take route 8 across the state towards VT. Are there any good stopping spots there? In the past I would pick a quiet area to park at a rest area away from other parked vehicles for a few hours of shut eye. I'm not sure if NY has any laws against parking like this, but I view it as a safety issue. If I start dozing off while driving and towing a RV, it is time to get off the road, period. I always worried about someone wondering around the parking lots looking for trouble.....you never know these days...

Some might say why don't you find a campground. Well, It's usually well past midnight, so finding a CG open and setting up would be too time consuming. Stopping at a rest area and laying down is just a time saving issue.