Community Forums

rideandslide · 05-06-2015, 03:52 AM

Is there any procedure envolved in over nighting at thses locations ? Other than just pulling in and parking ? I have always seen many at Walmarts, but, did not know Crackle Barrel allowed it also !
Jim

mikensallyt · 05-06-2015, 04:21 AM

Wow Crackle Barrel allows parking over night??? Didn't know that. Our area Wal-Marts have even installed dump stations here free for use.

DAN L · 05-06-2015, 04:37 AM

ride...
check w.m. website for procedures.
check escapees for etiquette.
check all stays.com for places that welcome overnight RV parking.

wa8yxm · 05-06-2015, 04:40 AM

Well if I overnight at a CB I try to eat at least my evening meal there (I do not like "Freeloading" prefer to park as a customer) and likely breakfast as well.

And you may wish to mention to the host(ess) your plan to spend the night.

Wal*Mart you are SUPPOSED to ask the manager but .. Well.. For the manager it can get a bit tedious so just park where the other RVs are.

luckyd · 05-06-2015, 08:48 AM

More and more W/M are posting "No Overnight Parking".

The key word has always been PARKING.
We have abused this and turned it into CAMPING.
Parking does not allow slides out, jacks down, unhooking your
vehicle, etc.
Many cities have an ordinance that states this and actually requires you to be ready to move your rig within three minutes. CAMPING does not allow you to do this.

There are some malls that W/M does not own the land. You cannot park
overnight on these malls.
Some W/M issue a "parking pass" that you put in your window. This shows you
asked permission. Without the pass you can be towed sometime through the night.
Rude awakening.......yes.

We all need to follow proper etiquette for "parking lot boondocking"

Skillet · 05-06-2015, 05:52 PM

I would check with the CB manager at each location. My local one does not permit it.

wildtoad · 05-06-2015, 06:45 PM

Check with the manager or other staff. It would be proper to enjoy a meal at a CB, or some shopping at a WM. and as other inferred do not camp there, just overnight. I have seen people set down their jacks, put out slides, and even a couple of lawn chairs. Not good.

Mr_D · 05-06-2015, 06:58 PM

I haven't found a CB that had a large enough lot. Wal*Mart corporate policy is to allow (in fact welcome it) as they know we will buy stuff from them. In fact at one the manager came out with a pot of coffee for those of us that stayed overnight. The problem comes when the campground owners THINK they are losing money and get the cities/counties to pass no overnight ordinances. In fact at least one campground owners group published a packet of info on how to go about getting the ordinances passed.

Pigman1 · 05-06-2015, 07:08 PM

Common courtesy says you go inside, check with the desk or a manager and thank them. We've found more than a few WM's that allowed even though the outside signs would lead you to believe otherwise. One manager in Red Deer, Alberta explained the signs were to keep the squatters out and gave the local Leo's the ability to order squatters to move on.

OB-One · 05-06-2015, 09:59 PM

We prefer Cracker Barrel over Wal-Mart for over night stays. I always go in and ask the cashier or manager. Never been denied, but of course we haven't been everywhere. We have been allowed to stay even when signs say no overnight parking. Guess it pays to ask.

We always try for an out-of-the-way parking spot and we put out the slides. Hasn't bothered anyone.

Tony Lee · 05-06-2015, 10:45 PM

WalMart overnighting is so passe. No free WiFi.

But yes, always ask at the service desk as they may have specific areas in the parking lot for you to park.

Arch Hoagland · 05-06-2015, 10:54 PM

Almost every time we go to a Cracker Barrel the RV section is not usable as cars are parked in it.

Murf2u · 05-07-2015, 05:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Arch Hoagland

Almost every time we go to a Cracker Barrel the RV section is not usable as cars are parked in it.

I suspect you're there at dinner time. At 10:00pm or 11:00pm there's rarely anything more than a handful of employee vehicles.

But for those who aren't familiar, be sure to park well away from the dumpster, restaurants have them picked in the wee hours of the morning and the process is not quiet! Nor as a guest would you want to interfere with your hosts business operations.

"007" · 05-07-2015, 05:28 AM

We stayed in 8 CB's down and back to FL Jan-Feb one year and picked the larger ones, would pull in at supper time and leave after breakfast in morning.
Would pick spots under lights and maybe not the designated RV parking spot during dinner hours.
All the ones we picked were ones manager invited us to stay.
Most smaller locations would not allow.
By morning we had a few more that had joined us during the night and police did patrol restaurants locations at night but never us.