Wal Mart CAMPING?

[Onthehunt49]

We are brand new to site and RVING.
I see people post they stay in Wal Mart parking lot while travelling.
I never thought of that. is that popular in Rv world?

Love to hear all opinions and alternatives to regular Rv parks while in route to destination.

Thanks

[pghbob]

Originally Posted by Onthehunt49

We are brand new to site and RVING.
I see people post they stay in Wal Mart parking lot while travelling.
I never thought of that. is that popular in Rv world?

Love to hear all opinions and alternatives to regular Rv parks while in route to destination.

Thanks

We have stayed at quite a few Walmarts - they're great if you are just passing through. Protocol says you should stop in and meet the manager (the DW likes to call ahead too) and ask them if it's OK - and where you should park. (they usually want you as far away from the doors as possible). Of course, it's always a good idea to do a little shopping while you're there as well. Stayed O/N at one last year and we were the only coach on the lot. hit the sack around 10 and woke up to 5 or 6 more campers around us. As I mentioned, great for quick stops.

Good luck happy "glamping"

[FirstTracks]

From https://corporate.walmart.com/freque...stions#Park_RV :

While we do not offer electrical service or accommodations typically necessary for RV customers, Walmart values RV travelers and considers them among our best customers. Consequently, we do permit RV parking on our store parking lots as we are able. Permission to park is extended by individual store managers, based on availability of parking space and local laws. Please contact management in each store to ensure accommodations before parking your RV.

I've never resorted to it yet myself. I'd also argue that asphalt boondocking is Walmart "parking," not Walmart "camping".

[BFlinn181]

I don't call it camping, it's overnight parking. Why pay for a campsite if you're on the road from point A to B and just want to stop for the night? Don't need game room, pool, even restrooms or showers. You can stretch your legs in a walk around inside, introduce yourself to the manager and buy an item or two. I've done it from coast to coast, only time it was in issue was a WM in PA that was giving free fire engine rides (with siren) around the lot from 7 - 9 pm. That was a little noisy.

Likewise, Cracker Barrel allows overnighting, so do Cabellas and other businesses except in towns influenced by nearby campgrounds or neighbors that don't like strangers.

Folks will chime in with 'rules' of using WalMart, I limit myself to a one night stay and don't put out awnings, lawn chairs, or a grill.

[dexters]

Originally Posted by Onthehunt49

We are brand new to site and RVING.
I see people post they stay in Wal Mart parking lot while travelling.
I never thought of that. is that popular in Rv world?

Love to hear all opinions and alternatives to regular Rv parks while in route to destination.

Thanks

You should put your RV info in your signature line.
What do you have?

Where permitted you can overnight in the following, but you should confirm beforehand - you should check if generators are permitted.

Walmart
Bass Pro
Rest Stops
Gas Stations
Bureau of Land Management
City Streets

Get the free app - https://play.google.com/store/apps/d...droidapp&hl=en

[SoonToBeFT]

There's tons of opportunities for O/Ns as long as the local city ordinance doesn't prohibit it.

Home Depots, Cabellas, Bass Pro, Costco, Samsclubs, Staples, most big store parking lots and even some smaller strip malls with adequate parking space to not interfere.

Some others: Churches (midweek), small airports, local town/city parks, fairgrounds, Casinos, shore pull ins low density fishing areas/marinas, RV Dealership entries when closed.

Small town restaurants, businesses that have large gravel carparks have often given permission to O/N after spending $'s with them.

Some rest areas that are large, not overly busy and ideally security patrolled can provide a good nights rest enroute.

Local LEO's can tell you places you can spend the night without causing inconvenience or being disturbed overnight often as well.

[BFlinn181]

There's even an App for it. They help you find places that allow overnighting.

I'd be careful about street parking, it's frowned upon in most places. My daughter lived in a beach resort town in Australia and had van campers try to park in front of their house because of big overhanging trees. No problem as long as they didn't make noise, cook in the yard, urinate on the trees, or litter. We found a laser pointer shined at the van's windows often made them pick a new spot. Interesting because AU doesn't have the gun culture the U.S. has, but it did make the more annoying vans move on.

[bfisher003]

We have overnighted in Walmarts, including in Canada. Heck at the ones in Grand Prairie, AB and Whitehorse, Yukon there were anywhere from 20-50 RVs. As others said above it is not “camping” it is parking. In the lower 48 that means don’t damage their parking lot with your jacks, no awnings, no lawn chairs, no grills, no making and leaving any mess. Ask permission. Park where the manager tells you. Buy something in the store. Limit your stay to one night and move on. Please, please do not do anything that reflects badly on RV’ers or this very nice, free perk will disappear for all of us.

[Onthehunt49]

Originally Posted by dexters

You should put your RV info in your signature line.
What do you have?

Where permitted you can overnight in the following, but you should confirm beforehand - you should check if generators are permitted.

Walmart
Bass Pro
Rest Stops
Gas Stations
Bureau of Land Management
City Streets

Get the free app - https://play.google.com/store/apps/d...droidapp&hl=en

ty for the info....trying to add signature...TESTING

[Onthehunt49]

i guess i did it how do i put info and pic on side where my name is on post ?

[Craig1960]

When I was drag racing we used to stay at Walmart a lot when we were on the long hauls. Never had any issues and meet a few good people along the way.

[Jim.B1]

Originally Posted by pghbob

We have stayed at quite a few Walmarts - they're great if you are just passing through. Protocol says you should stop in and meet the manager (the DW likes to call ahead too) and ask them if it's OK - and where you should park. (they usually want you as far away from the doors as possible). Of course, it's always a good idea to do a little shopping while you're there as well. Stayed O/N at one last year and we were the only coach on the lot. hit the sack around 10 and woke up to 5 or 6 more campers around us. As I mentioned, great for quick stops.

Good luck happy "glamping"

Totally agree this this poster.
In addition, no levelling jacks, park under a light, pick and choose when and where it is safe/practical to open a slide and for us, only 24 hour Superstore locations.

[MSHappyCampers]

Originally Posted by Onthehunt49

We are brand new to site and RVING.
I see people post they stay in Wal Mart parking lot while travelling.
I never thought of that. is that popular in Rv world?

Love to hear all opinions and alternatives to regular Rv parks while in route to destination.

Thanks

Hi ! Welcome to IRV2! We're sure glad you joined the gang!

We frequently stop overnight at Wal-Mart when going cross country. Be careful and look for signs that prohibit overnight parking! Many cities have ordinances preventing overnight parking in ANY lot in the city!

Good luck, happy trails, and God bless!

[TripleEEE]

Lately, in Canada, I have noticed some city ordinances won't allow overnight parking in a Walmart. The store manager was OK with it, however the city wasn't. Lot's of signs around the lot prohibiting it.

^^^^ Looks like MS beat me to it.....