Walmart's Parking

[azloafer]

If you want to see something strange just go to "youtube.com" and put "people of walmart" in their search box. You will be shocked!

Happy Trails, Joe

[DutchStar38]

Overnighted in a WalMart parking lot in Guilford,CT. It was a creepy feeling being the only thing in the parking lot late at night. Wasn't really a relaxing sleep. Just for the heck of it. The weather is 95 degrees or more plus 70 percent humidity. Take the estimate of what your genny uses under load per hour and multiply that times the 12 to 16 or more hours you are staying at WalMart and then ask yourself if you are really saving compared to a local CG. Just food for thought.

[mudpuppy]

Originally Posted by DutchStar38

Overnighted in a WalMart parking lot in Guilford,CT. It was a creepy feeling being the only thing in the parking lot late at night. Wasn't really a relaxing sleep. Just for the heck of it. The weather is 95 degrees or more plus 70 percent humidity. Take the estimate of what your genny uses under load per hour and multiply that times the 12 to 16 or more hours you are staying at WalMart and then ask yourself if you are really saving compared to a local CG. Just food for thought.

I know I am not saving any money. What I am saving is time and frustration.

[jobriant]

Originally Posted by DutchStar38

Just for the heck of it. The weather is 95 degrees or more plus 70 percent humidity. Take the estimate of what your genny uses under load per hour and multiply that times the 12 to 16 or more hours you are staying at WalMart and then ask yourself if you are really saving compared to a local CG. Just food for thought.

Your point is well taken, for those nights when the temperature & humidity are that high. But it usually isn't, at least in the places we travel. (In fact, temps and humidities in that range are, for us, a good reason to be someplace else....)

Originally Posted by mudpuppy

I know I am not saving any money. What I am saving is time and frustration.

And on the nights when the temperature & humidity are more reasonable, you're also saving money. But I agree with you -- the convenience and time savings are a major reason we use free Overnight RV Parking locations, including Walmarts, other big box stores, and other places that allow it.

[bullheaded]

Look...another free night Terre Haute welcome center.

[jobriant]

Originally Posted by bullheaded

Look...another free night Terre Haute welcome center.

The Indiana DOT website says that Overnight Parking isn't allowed in rest areas or welcome centers in Indiana. Were you able to get permission from the welcome center staff, or from someone else in authority there?

[bullheaded]

Nope

[bullheaded]

Originally Posted by jobriant

The Indiana DOT website says that Overnight Parking isn't allowed in rest areas or welcome centers in Indiana. Were you able to get permission from the welcome center staff, or from someone else in authority there?

Sign at entrance says" 11 hrs of driving requires 10 hrs of rest"...wonder what they mean?

Living on the EDGE.

[jobriant]

Originally Posted by bullheaded

Nope

Please let us know whether the State Police kick you out or let you stay...

[SteveLevin]

In California there are similar signs that say you can't camp in rest areas, and you can't be there more than 8 hours. So I take "camp" to mean .... well... don't set up a campsite. But obviously, people sleep in their vehicles there (heck, I used to do that all the time when I was younger). My vehicle just happens to have a queen bed and a shower

I also generally don't push too far beyond the 8 hours; sometimes I have stayed 10 or 11 (i.e., pull in at 9pm and leave at 7am) but usually I'm out and back on the road in less than 8 anyway.

Steve

[jobriant]

Originally Posted by SteveLevin

In California there are similar signs that say you can't camp in rest areas, and you can't be there more than 8 hours. So I take "camp" to mean .... well... don't set up a campsite. But obviously, people sleep in their vehicles there ...

You're correct that signage in SOME California rest areas says "No Camping" and limits parking to 8 hours. However, some California rest areas have signage that reads "No Overnight Camping - No Overnight Parking." You have to know which ones are which, and if you're planning on parking overnight in a California rest area, you'll want to know in advance whether Overnight RV Parking is illegal there.

In Indiana, the regulations are different: Indiana DOT regulations say No Camping and No Overnight Parking in any state-run rest area or welcome center.

Your interpretation of camping matches mine, but unfortunately, some states define "sleeping in an RV" as "camping" and make it illegal in rest areas. There are nearly as many sets of regulations as there are states.

I hope that "bullheaded" is able to spend an uneventful night at the Clear Creek Welcome Center, without being hassled, or evicted or ticketed by the authorities.

[Mr_D]

Originally Posted by padre44

If I can't afford a campground, I'll stay home. Parking lots are not the scenic view I wanted when I bought a coach.

Thanks, some of the parking lots are getting too crowded, one less will help.

[Mr_D]

Originally Posted by jobriant

Unfortunately, many weekenders an infrequent RVers believe (wrongly) that they can spend a night in any Walmart, that they can set up a campsite (instead of just parking for the night), and that they don't have to get permission from the store to park overnight (which is specified in Walmart's Corporate Policy on Overnight RV Parking.

But, how do YOU KNOW that they haven't gotten permission to stay more than one night and put their slides out? Our bedroom can't be easily used unless the slide is out, that's why I park next to the grass islands. That way two of my slides don't take any room in the lot and the third I don't put out.

[azloafer]

We have never parked in a Walmart overnight, but we had a problem getting into a state park once so we spent the night in a casino lot with a good dozen other coaches and many trucks. There were enough of us to make it feel safe and everyone was far from the casino entrance. Joe