Walmart overnight parking

[OCM]

There is some discussion about Walmart stores not allowing overnight parking. Some locations are prevented by ordnance to keep from competing with local campgrounds. That's understandable, however it's been reported that Walmart is making that a local decision, left up to the manager.
My question is, have any of you been denied parking, or asked to leave? I am a "Walmartion" and would hate to lose this valuable asset. I do believe that as you see more "homeless" people just stopping wherever, and setting up camp the owners will reserve the option of asking/making them move. How many of you have had experience with this and what was the outcome?

[TGraham]

I’ve never been asked to leave. Roll in late and out early and never run the slides out or crank the generator. Mostly travel in the South East, anywhere between FL and OH and over to the coast.

Typically will do some light shopping, but I doubt that makes any difference if you aren’t a bother and out of the way.

I’ve only seen one Walmart that had an ordinance preventing overnight parking.

[whalepirot]

Years ago, I was awakened then told to leave an Anchorage Wally's, supposedly for snow plowing. (It WAS winter, but no snow or other coaches there.)

The WalMart version of Rand McNally's atlas is helpful, indicating which stores allow O'nites and has fueling info.

[daveandcarol]

Never heard of a Walmart (or a city) prohibiting overnight parking in order to benefit local campgrounds but I have heard of some Walmarts prohibiting it due to problems with too many who had abused the privilege.

[SomeDay]

Over 2 decades of Wallyworld as we affectionately call it overnighting when enroute to a destination. Always patronise the store, and provided local ordinance doesn't prohibit hasn't been a problem, except the one in Osprey Florida a few years back banned O/N's due to RVers emptying out their tanks in the carpark we were told!

Once stopped around 6pmish and the store as a pair for safety I'd assume, came knocking around 11pm to 6 of us, to advise that the local by law's would be by and fine us as a heads up usually after midnight so might want to relocate now, which we all did. They even gave us the next Walmart that came under different jurisdiction.

In Kenora Ontario there were signs up everywhere saying No Overnight, but asked in the store and they said no problem with staying as many do. Told that City put up to enable them to get rid of longer term homeless set ups. We Stayed in April and on our return in mid August 2019. Daughter and fiance did the same end June twice this year also with no problem. Even when signage up it's always worth asking!

Thinking of the last comment: When driving through Wyoming few years ago, rest areas had signs saying no Overnight parking. Asked LEO's that came through and they said please stay and rest O/N, the signs are up to enable them to get rid of undesirables.

Remember as well, that there are always tons of other option big box stores, churches, restaurants, Cabellas, Casinos, Boat Marinas, Travel Centres, Visitor Info Centres and many others!

[Rockwood27]

Five or six years ago we stopped at a WM in Ohio. There was another RV and several trucks already there. At about 3 AM, "WM security" knocked on our RV's doors and told us to immediately leave the lot. He didn't extend the same (dis)courtesy to the truckers. We left and stayed at an abandoned shopping center a few hundred yards away. BTW, I use the RVParky app and set the filter to show only "overnight parking allowed" for stores and such.

[Elwood58]

+1 on RVPARKY app.

[grindstone01]

It's just a matter of time before boon docking at Walmart will be banned (it's already happening). Parking lots at stores are not set up for overnight camping and as they become more popular, restrictions will need to be put in place. The stores small sales/profit from overnight campers does not warrant the overnight camping liability.
Case in point - If a camper spends $100 at the store that operates on a 3% margin, then the store only profited $3 from the sale.

[MRUSA14]

Originally Posted by Rockwood27

Five or six years ago we stopped at a WM in Ohio. There was another RV and several trucks already there. At about 3 AM, "WM security" knocked on our RV's doors and told us to immediately leave the lot. He didn't extend the same (dis)courtesy to the truckers. We left and stayed at an abandoned shopping center a few hundred yards away. BTW, I use the RVParky app and set the filter to show only "overnight parking allowed" for stores and such.

This is the reason that we always phone the store for permission before we get there. The last thing I want is a knock on the door at 3 AM.

[rrtribble]

We have hit a couple of WalMarts that previously had allowed O/N parking but had changed due to local ordinances that banned O/N parking anywhere in the city/town, or as in Springfield, IL where these public officials made the Super WalMart at the Corner of I-72 and I-55 erect a 14' high barrier over the entrance and then place concrete highway style barriers around the parking lot and in the outer lanes to keep 18 wheelers and rvs from having a place to park. This is with 2 major restaurants and motel connected. It seems the mayor and local alderman didn't like these vehicles being parked their.

Unfortunately with the homeless situation we are seeing more older and dilapidated rvs filling vacant lots and parking lots for extended periods of time which will only serve to restrict usage in the future.

Guess its only a matter of time but plan to use WalMart as long was possible when traveling from point A to point B.

Drive safe - Richard

[hohenwald48]

Originally Posted by daveandcarol

Never heard of a Walmart (or a city) prohibiting overnight parking in order to benefit local campgrounds but I have heard of some Walmarts prohibiting it due to problems with too many who had abused the privilege.

Most all stores where WM overnite is prohibited it's due to local ordinance and most often the local ordinance is due to CG owners (tax paying voters) complaining to local politicans who thrive on votes and taxes.

[hohenwald48]

Originally Posted by TGraham

I’ve never been asked to leave. Roll in late and out early and never run the slides out or crank the generator.

I've heard others say they don't run the generator. I'm just curious as to why? When my generator is running you can't even hear it from 10' away and not running the generator really makes for a bad night's sleep when it's close to 100* at night in the south.

[paul65k]

I live in Lake Havasu City, AZ and know for a fact that overnight parking is prohibited by ordinance........The good news is that there is free BLM camping about a mile from the store right off the highway into town, to the north if anyone is in town and needs a place to stop

[baraff]

Originally Posted by OCM

There is some discussion about Walmart stores not allowing overnight parking. Some locations are prevented by ordnance to keep from competing with local campgrounds. That's understandable, however it's been reported that Walmart is making that a local decision, left up to the manager.
My question is, have any of you been denied parking, or asked to leave? I am a "Walmartion" and would hate to lose this valuable asset. I do believe that as you see more "homeless" people just stopping wherever, and setting up camp the owners will reserve the option of asking/making them move. How many of you have had experience with this and what was the outcome?

Our local Walmart (Glen Ellyn, Illinois) has banned overnight parking for several years, due to an ordinance enacted by the village. This Walmart is located next to a residential neighborhood and at times it resembled a truck stop, there were sometimes as many as 6 or 7 trucks idling away overnight only a few hundred feet from people's backyards. Rarely saw RV's parked there.
With the influx of new RV owners I can understand why more and more places are now banning overnight parking.
There is a definite need for inexpensive overnight parking ($10-$15/night), no hookups, 1 night limit along major routes.
We have never stayed at a Walmart but have on occasion overnighted at a Cracker Barrel on the way to somewhere else. If we can find overnight parking at a reasonable price, (COE, county/municipal campgrounds, PPA campgrounds, fairgrounds) we'll do that first.