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Old 02-07-2018, 11:19 PM   #1
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1st night at the Walmart “campground”

I know for many (most?) spending a night at a Walmart when traveling is quite common. For us it’s a first, and we’ve been camping for 15 -yrs.

We pulled into a campground we always stay at only to find it, and all the other’s in the area full. I guess it should be expected with all the RVs being sold these days.

We’ve been talking about spending a night at Walmart for years, and decided to give it a try.

We arrived early (around 4pm) and were met by a nice security guard that escorted us to the place they like RVs to park. We were the only ones here so we picked the best spot and tentatively settled in.

Soon, others came and now there are 18 RVs scattered around where we parked. We had no idea that so many were taking advantage of this option. It certainly makes me think this cannot be allowed to keep expanding without a backlash from Walmart’s HQ.

By the way, this was one of the first trips we’ve taken that we did not have reservations for every night of the trip.
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Old 02-08-2018, 12:01 AM   #2
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$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ Fill up your supplies and Walmart will be happy. $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
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Old 02-08-2018, 04:32 AM   #3
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We spent one night at a walmart years ago and was so nervous with all the people walking around after 12 am that we never got much rest. We stayed dressed and caught a couple of hours of sleep after 4am.......never stayed at a walmart ever again.
We go out 4 to 5 months each year, and I make reservations at most rv parks before we start our voyage for that year.
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Old 02-08-2018, 07:28 AM   #4
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It was quiet here all night with a security guard driving around all night. With so many other RVs we were not worried or bothered during the night.
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Old 02-14-2018, 06:54 PM   #5
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Hi,

Just a reminder of those that stay overnight at Walmart, it is not a campground but a parking lot which means no barbecuing, setting up chairs and sitting outside.
If there are those that use walmart as a campground, you will spoil it for those who just stay overnight, do some shopping and then leave in the morning.
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Old 02-15-2018, 06:45 AM   #6
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Not all Walmart locations allow overnight stopping. We have had a number of them in my area and those we travel through frequently stop allowing it for liability issues (and I suspect abuse of the privilege). Some Cracker Barrel restaurants will also let RV travelers overnight in their lots.
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Old 02-15-2018, 06:41 PM   #7
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The WalMart Corporation allows rv’s to overnight in their parking lots unless local ordinances prohibit it .... so it’s not WalMart that disallows it, it’s the local government.
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Old 02-15-2018, 10:00 PM   #8
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Best practice is to go in and ask the Manager or Customer Service desk .....we always do regardless of how many RV's are already there. We ask them where they prefer we park and thank them for their hospitality.
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Old 02-16-2018, 06:20 AM   #9
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Actually the decision is left up to the individual store managers. I know ours allowed RV's for a long time but stopped a couple of years ago. It isn't prevented by town ordinance nor is there a lack of space. I think it was because of one particular RV that would use the lot for a week or two at a time while they visited what I assume to be family. Here is the FAQ response from the corporate site:

"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."
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Old 02-21-2018, 12:27 PM   #10
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We've parked overnight at Walmart many times, and even had a podcast about overnight RV parking for awhile (all things overnight RV parking). Walmart Corporation allows the practice, even encourages it, but many municipalities don't allow it. For example, here in Florida, there aren't many cities that allow overnight parking anywhere. Some Walmarts post signs, but don't enforce the ordinance.

We've stayed at over 20 different Walmarts during our travels, and never had a problem at any of them. If fact, we would have been much safer at one Walmart in West Virginia, compared to the campground we stayed at where we learned what Meth smells like when it's being smoked.

The only drawback: we wind up spending MORE money in Walmart that we would of spent at a campground.
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Old 03-18-2018, 04:04 PM   #11
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App called Allstays, list all sorts of things, including Walmart locations all over the country. Tells yes or not allowed. Opinions and info about each one. Found some locations, very few, actually lease land for parking lot and usually no overnights on these. Keep in mind, casinos, Moose,Elks,Vfws. Lots of church's for donation.
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Old 05-07-2018, 07:30 PM   #12
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We live in an area where a lot of people vacation, a lot of resorts and RV parks. Plenty of space including at two RV parks right across the street from our house that are never full. People started parking in the Walmart parking lot. Then boats. Then buses. Then they blocked the trucks from coming in one night. Now there is a big white sign with big black bold letters as soon as you turn "NO RV PARKING" and right next to it the same kind of sign that says "NO OVERNIGHT PARKING".

A mile from Walmart is an gigantic RV Park-Campground the owners just put 10 million into with new everything. Enough parking there for around 180 RV's. For one night some people would rather just pull in to a parking lot. We used to do it and spent the night in Walmarts and Truck Stops that have specific RV parking, not in the Truckers area. Some places have RV parking spots out front. We have family members who are truckers and know how some truckers feel about pulling in and cant find a place to park and sleep while there are RV's in truck parking spots.

In all three Walmarts here you cannot park an RV. Because of the reasons stated above.
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Old 05-08-2018, 12:26 PM   #13
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Hi, can't blame Wal Mart for this as people abused the rules and that is what happens. Wal Mart is a PARKING LOT and should be treated as such, it is not a campground plus it is a place of business.

The biggest problem is that campgrounds charge too much for an overnight stay. I know we won;'t pay $35-40 a night just to sleep. Now if campgrounds would get smart and charge say $10.00 a night with electric I bet rvers would stay overnight.

While I travel from place to place I stay at walmarts and I just park there and don't put out awning or chairs or barbecue grille or park over a storm sewer. I like truck stops but we can't sleep with all the engines running.

There are a lot of other places to stay like Cracker Barrel, Lions Clubb and even Costco but you have to ask manager.

Good Luck!
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Old 05-08-2018, 02:09 PM   #14
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Originally Posted by creativepart View Post
...We had no idea that so many were taking advantage of this option. It certainly makes me think this cannot be allowed to keep expanding without a backlash from Walmart’s HQ.
I agree. That, plus the fact that so many people have no respect and will eventually spoil this for everyone.
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Old 05-08-2018, 02:58 PM   #15
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We have a Cracker Barrell here that has a lot of RV parking and I never see any RV's in them. They are in a nice area and trees all around and completely quiet. My wife and I were talking about that last week when we were there. My conclusion is there are never any RV's there because it is three sharp turns up a hill to get in that part of the parking lot. Ill see buses and Class A's pull in from time to time. We used to own a Class A and could maneuver that thing through the trees with an inch on each side at night. Took me a while but I did it. My current rig, with truck, is 50' long. Have done it with that too. So I don't know why anyone would not want to pull into that parking lot completely paved. But I agree that a Cracker Barrel would be a good place to park. You can still do that here. Walmart, nope.
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Old 05-18-2018, 08:23 AM   #16
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Lots of church's for donation.
What a GREAT idea!
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Old 05-25-2018, 10:26 PM   #17
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There is a list of Walmarts that supposedly allow overnight dry camping. One thing I can guarantee is that all three of ours are on that list and you pull in and you will see a big white sign staring at you that says NO OVERNIGHT PARKING.

What do you all think about these RV rental places that promote camping in parking lots? Just saw that and do not think it is a good idea, especially when your list includes places that I know of you definitely cannot park overnight.
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Old 05-25-2018, 11:11 PM   #18
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Walmarts Official Policy

"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"

Cracker Barrel - Can stay in parking lot overnight but no setting up and no stabilizer jacks can be put down.

Must ask at Lowes - Here, no parking allowed overnight in the parking lot. Law enforcement will make you move. The reason I have never seen anyone parking overnight in our local Lowes parking lot.

I noticed Krogers on a lot of free overnight camping lists, including our Kroger. Here it isnt, this is a high traffic resort-vacation area and you can barely find place to park a car 24/7.

We did have free camping in two areas here. They are listed on numerous RV sites but they are no longer allowed for camping effective last month. Camping was limited to 14 days but homeless Homesteaders moved in permanently. County Sheriff busted a meth lab in one of them about 2 months ago and the other one they had to repair the showers, toilets and other areas after having just done it last year. It is now a day use park only.


Turns out there are quite a few city and county ordinances being enacted because allowing overnight free camping has resulted in private property, parking lots, being taken over permanently by homesteaders.
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Old 06-21-2018, 02:58 PM   #19
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We have never stayed at truck stops for main reason that those drivers are on a route that requires mandatory stops, fuel, showers,food and sleep. Being the son of a truck driver, they didn't appreciate campers pulled in awkwardly taking a couple of slots where the trucks belong. We see how they pack together to give all of the truckers room.
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Old 06-21-2018, 03:13 PM   #20
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We have stayed at Walmart every time we are traveling from once place to another.

We park, shop at Walmart, we do NOT put the slide out or anything else. It appears we are parking and parking only.

We always go in and ask if it is ok but look it up on RVParky.com prior to going there.

I am willing to pay a CG $20. a night for overnight stay but you can't find them so we stay at Walmart.
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