Walmart's Parking

[Mr_D]

Originally Posted by macantic

I've heard rumors that wal-mart was going to stop letting people camp in their parking lot because of some idiot that dumped his black tank in the parking lot.

Not many people "camp" in a Wal*Mart parking lot although a few do seem to do just more than rest for a few hours.

[Mr_D]

Originally Posted by JimM68

Or just pay the twenty or thirty for a freaking campground!

Why? Our rig is self contained so we don't need a campground to rest for a few hours. We don't need/want the ammenities that a campground offers, just a place to park, buy a few (or maybe more) supplies and be on the road again.
When we reach our destination we'll stay in a campground but not till then.

[Lindsay Richards]

I don't have one and didn't say I did.
We have a 2000 watt inverter and 4 6 volt deep cycle batteries. I also run it on the inverter when we Wallydock. I will run the generator when my batteries need charging.

I was talking about the gentleman with the truck camper. Surely that isn't you with that big inverter and those batteries. I am jealous of both.

[jobriant]

Originally Posted by LSepulveda

I travel 4 to 6 months in the summer and always stop at Walmart when on the road toward my destination. I asked permission the first three times and was told each time I didn't need to ask as long as I parked on the perimeter.

Some Walmarts don't require that RVers obtain permission before parking overnight; but the vast majority of then do require it. The decision on this policy is up to the store manager "within the scope of local laws." (Quote from Walmart's corporate policy on RV parking.) Just because those three stores said you don't need permission, that isn't the policy at most other Walmarts.

Originally Posted by LSepulveda

Opening awnings makes no sense to me as well as cooking outside. That, I believe, is crossing the line.

The FMCA and many other RVing organizations agree with you -- it's inappropriate to use awnings, outdoor grills or lawn furniture when "blacktop boondocking." Some have pointed out in this thread that the store doesn't mind, but again, that is a tiny minority of stores. A more important reason is to avoid conspicuous behavior that can lead locals to try to pass local "No Overnight RV Parking" laws.

[jobriant]

Originally Posted by bluepill

I like what OHIO has done at some of the rest stops on the Turnpike. Overnight RV parking with electric for $20. They provide potable water and a dump station also. With the traffic, it's noisier than some campgrounds, but not as bad as a truck stop. It's clean, well lighted and secure.

It would be nice to see more states follow suit.

Originally Posted by Midniteoyl

Could you stay there, say, a week?

According to the Ohio Turnpike Authority Website and their brochure on Turnpike Service Plazas, the maximum length of stay is one night.

[jobriant]

Originally Posted by Dubya

We often see RV's and even Semi's boondocking in our 3 local Walmarts. During our last road trip to Anaheim, CA driving through the Mojave Desert in the middle of the night, I was wishing for a Walmart or even a wide enough spot to pull out for awhile...No more taking hiway 395 instead of I-5 !

There are numerous Overnight RV Parking locations all up and down US 395 in California.

[jobriant]

Originally Posted by Tileman

Every year I buy a road map from Walmart. It lists every Walmart that's within 2 miles of every major hwy in the US. It gives you the exit number from the Hwy you're traveling. Walmart does this so that RV travelers will know where to spend the night.

The Walmart Edition of the Rand McNally Atlas does list most Walmarts and Sam's Clubs, but it includes locations that DO and locations that DO NOT allow Overnight RV Parking.

[cekkk]

Originally Posted by jobriant

In most Walmarts, the greeter isn't authorized to state store policy on Overnight RV Parking. The best bet is to go to Customer Service -- usually, they're authorized to grant or deny permission; if not, they'll know who you need to talk to.

WM did away with greeters a few months ago. I've been to several since and usually find someone that looks like a greeter hanging out in the usual place. But they aren't greeting. Just pushing carts around and probably checking out folks who set of the buzzer.

I swear, in a few years the WM suits will have found a way to operate without any employees at all.

[RV Wizard]

Originally Posted by cekkk

WM did away with greeters a few months ago. I've been to several since and usually find someone that looks like a greeter hanging out in the usual place. But they aren't greeting. Just pushing carts around and probably checking out folks who set of the buzzer.

I swear, in a few years the WM suits will have found a way to operate without any employees at all.

They will trade out RV parking places for a few hours of labor in and around the store!

[tim fm ct]

Originally Posted by jobriant

According to the Ohio Turnpike Authority Website and their brochure on Turnpike Service Plazas, the maximum length of stay is one night.

I'm so sure turnpike rest areas should provide electricity. Dump station and water is very different though. It can be a heck of a lot easier to find a place to rest than a place to dump.
Someone would have to monitor payments. How many hookups? Would there be lines of RVs backed up onto the roadway? Truckers get along just fine without electricity hookups. Why not us?

[Wayne MD]

U.S. News - Shopper bitten by rattlesnake in Wal-Mart

How would you deal with stepping out of your bus in Abilene Tx to a sunning rattler at sunset in parking lot of WM. If it can happen in Id. I suppose it could happen elsewhere.

[RanCarr]

Originally Posted by RickCanada

However, this other trailer had it's generator running all night long, and it was an external generator place outside their camper! This was on Saturday. You know who you are

It makes me wonder how they can sleep through the noise their own generators make. Are all these people deaf?

Apparently they're just selfish inconsiderate people like the owners of endlessly barking dogs in campgrounds. If they're going to run generators, why not chose a place in the lots away from other RVs like most truckers do?

Originally Posted by tim fm ct

I'm so sure turnpike rest areas should provide electricity. Dump station and water is very different though. It can be a heck of a lot easier to find a place to rest than a place to dump.
Someone would have to monitor payments. How many hookups? Would there be lines of RVs backed up onto the roadway? Truckers get along just fine without electricity hookups. Why not us?

We take 3 days to get to our winter spot in FL. We spend two nights at either WalMarts or Flying-Js. Who needs hookups? Like most TTs we're self contained. Truckers usually choose rest areas or truck stops where they have access to toilets, showers and cooked meals. But then, being self contained, we also have access to a toilet, can cook meals...... and be happily on our way bright and early in the morning.

Originally Posted by JimM68

Or just pay the twenty or thirty for a freaking campground!

There aren't always campgrounds in the areas people choose to stop for the night. Try to find a campground near I-75 in the Atlanta GA area for example. And who wants to search out a campground at night in a strange place that's miles from the Interstates. Who needs hookups for the night? And lastly, why pay as much as $35 just to sleep?

Originally Posted by jobriant

(Hope this isn't a duplicate reply....)

A campground owners trade group did a survey about a year ago to determine the average cost of a single night in an full hookup RV site in the USA. The survey result was that the average price was $40.93/night. It's probably gone up since then.

It's crazy for people to spend that just to sleep. To spend no more than perhaps 10 hrs at the site and not even bother to use the hookups or dump station. And in some areas we couldn't even find CGs near the Interstates to spend the night. One time in upstate NY, the nearest CG was something like 40 miles away. It was already 11 PM. Exhausted from being on the road, we pulled into the parking lot of a diner closed for the night and slept there. It was a small town and no one bothered us. We got a good breakfast and fresh coffee in the diner in the morning and were quickly on our way.

Originally Posted by jzick

When we are on the road during the summer, our AC/generator is never shut off, and part of the reason is to keep out exterior noise, in addition to comfort for us and pets. I would have never thought to expect a parking lot to be quiet. Guess you live and learn.

The WalMart parking lots we've stayed at (along I-75) are quiet at night where the RVs park. Truckers don't park next to the RVs and leave their engines running. They park off by themselves. Why would someone in an RV with a generator park near other RVs knowing the noise will either keep them awake or wake them up? Park away from others. If someone chooses to park near you, they do so knowing the noise they will have to endure for the night.

[Fred1609]

I think the proper thing is too be as least disruptive as possible, remembering that how we act sets the tone for future visits by other overnighters.

[RanCarr]

Originally Posted by Mr_D

Ever try to run a CPAP or oxygen concentrator off a currant bush? Those two are VERY legitimate medical reasons.

If you need to run a generator for medical reasons you can always choose a spot away from the other RVs parked there with people trying to sleep. WM doesn't demand that all RVs be packed together. There is always enough parking space to avoid keeping others awake or waking them up if later in the night by pulling up and running a generator among them. After all, you don't know what health problems they may have and sleep may be very important to them.