I have yet to stay in a Walmart parking lot, but I do own a road atlas and directory of their stores. When I eventually find it convenient to stay at a Walmart, I will take advantage of their hospitality toward RVers......and, I will try and reciprocate by purchasing some goods. Their parking lots have to be quieter than the Flying J's I have stayed at.....but, never-the-less, appreciated. I think it's great that some businesses, for whatever their reasons, provide a few "free" perks for the RV community.
I hate to say it's an awful place, because then I think maybe there is something wrong with me. They just replaced 2 DC Marine batteries I bought last year without a receipt. Yea, I had to wait, absolutely no staff available for the amount of customers, same as the last time a did a garden/food driveby. I ended up leaving the cart in disgust, 12 people per line, 2 registers open. moooo on us.
It's very reasonable to stay in one, but yuck. I'd just rather take the road less traveled. Last year I went to the NOLA Jazz Fest, I camped on a lonely country road rest stop, another night I pulled off the highway and took a side road east until I found a hidden place to back in among trees.
Now, if you want to talk about camping at a Bass Pro Shop or a Cabela's, dang come to think of it, what a great place for a Rally...
__________________
I'm a true bum, working less and living longer.
Many Wal-Marts, Sam's Clubs, Home Depots, Lowes, Cracker Barrel, Flying J and others do offer free parking overnight without hookups. Just check with the store manager first. A few, especially in New England, do not. OvernightRVparking.com (I think that's the link) is a subscription service that will list those that will and those that won't by area, i.e. enter ZIP code and radius and you'll get a map and a list. Parking lots work in a pinch and they cost nothing. Also, think about Visitors' Centers, some of them do as well. I've been told that all roadside rest areas in Texas are available for overnight stops.
__________________ Dick and Claire Wiklund
North Falmouth, Massachusetts "Judgement is based on experience and experience is based on poor judgement"
I noticed that at some TX visitors centers/rest areas have night attendants that patrol the lots as part of their duties. Too bad it's only at some of them.
On the way to Dega last week we got lazy and pulled into a Cracker Barrel for a soup and sandwich lunch. I've always thought that their RV parking slots were so nice and quiet and wondered if they allowed overnight camping. A visit with their people confirmed that they allowed it and we were so pleased to learn that. I don't know why we didn't ask sooner as we find for the most part their parking slots are just perfect. If we need the AC we can plug into the generators stored in the bed of the truck. All of the RV parking we've seen is on level ground so staying hooked up with or without the slide extended seems to be a perfect situation for us. CBs seem to be as common as Mickey Ds these days. Has anyone here ever utilized Cracker Barrel's hospitality?
If we need the AC we can plug into the generators stored in the bed of the truck. All of the RV parking we've seen is on level ground so staying hooked up with or without the slide extended seems to be a perfect situation for us.
Just a recommendation here, you are overnight parking, not camping. Use of generators and extending slide-outs would be considered going beyond being a polite guest.
__________________
2006 30' Safari - "Changes in Latitudes"
2008 F-250 Lariat Power Stroke Diesel Crew Cab SWB
Family of Disney Fanatics
WBCCI# 4821 streamin across america
Recently stayed in the Trinidad, Colorado Walmart lot for a nite, around towards the very back of the store. Views of the Culebra range, and very quiet. A full-timer in the lot said his preference for free over-nights near the freeways were Walmarts, truckstops, and rest areas, in that order. Options are good when it's late, you're bleary-eyed, and just want to get some sleep.
We used to stay overnight at Wal Marts but gave it up as more and more cash-strapped municipalities, at least in the Midwest, figured out that there were big profits to be made in parking fines and towing fees by passing a law forbidding overnight parking in retail parking lots.
In investigating one Wal Mart (Grand Rapids, MI) for overnight parking we came across a fleet of tow trucks at the edge of the lot getting ready to pounce on a few fifth wheels that appeared to be in for the night.
A few hundred dollars in exhorbitant towing fees, impound fees, and parking fines (duplicated for the TV and trailer, of course) to say nothing of the hassle and time lost getting your rig back make for an expensive night's stay.
I would be damned if somebody would tow my truck and trailer anyplace if I was there. They could tell me to leave but not just hook up and move my stuff without giving me a chance to leave. The area would also have to be posted with signs that said no over night parking.
Maybe these people parked them and just left them in the lot unattended?
I noticed that at some TX visitors centers/rest areas have night attendants that patrol the lots as part of their duties. Too bad it's only at some of them.
I feel like I need to explain, when I said the above quote I meant it in a good way. The attendants are there to make sure there are no problems. At least with someone awake and watching I sleep a little better at the rest areas when I need to use them.
Just a recommendation here, you are overnight parking, not camping. Use of generators and extending slide-outs would be considered going beyond being a polite guest.
Good point, makes good sense and was hoping for a confirming comment like this. Thanks "Mate"
We stayed at a Walmart only once. We were in a terrible thunderstorm and just climbed in the trailer late at night, not wanting to get wet going in the store. We never asked anyone, but did park between two 5th wheelers, hoping if they could do it we would be okay too. Next morning just a sunrise were on our way out.
In contacting management, do you just go to the service center at the front of the store?
We made use of Walmart parking lots back in December, after picking up our new AS in Los Angeles. Two days from Louisiana to LA to pick up the new trailer and then two days to get to Sante Fe, NM. Encountered high winds, dust storms and icy roads during the trip. Walmart parking lots were a welcome sight after a long day of pulling. We just pulled in among the other RV's, did our shopping inside and had a good night sleep. I thank Sam Walton for his MANY stores.....steve
Quick Links
Be careful out there! 
Linear Mode
