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Old 02-02-2021, 10:11 AM   #1261
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Any WalMart can have a vehicle towed, if they choose.

There may have been a crisis of some sort, and store managers allowed this rig to sit rather than the owners losing it to an impound lot where it would have rapidly accumulated a cash bail requirement.

I have overnighted in many WalMarts, and stopped to shop at many more...all over the country...and this kind of vehicle sitting is the exception, rather than the rule.

Maggie
In Helena MT last summer I saw a few similar type "older, worn" TT's and a couple of Class C MH's also in the lot...they had their chairs out, and were socializing...for several days until cops came in and kicked them out. They moved across the street in front of a Big Lots store for few days then vacated the area. Looked more like a homeless camp then an overnight situation. Tough times for some folks for sure.
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Old 02-02-2021, 10:39 AM   #1262
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In Helena MT last summer I saw a few similar type "older, worn" TT's and a couple of Class C MH's also in the lot...they had their chairs out, and were socializing...for several days until cops came in and kicked them out. They moved across the street in front of a Big Lots store for few days then vacated the area. Looked more like a homeless camp then an overnight situation. Tough times for some folks for sure.
I've seen it a lot in Washington State.
Anytime idiots put their lawn chairs out / unhooking from tow vehicle/ parking in main parking lot, instead of on outside perimiter/running generators/ etc etc at Wal-Mart lot, like they are at a campground, they are ruining the goodwill for everyone else.
Everyone else are the RV people who park on outer perimeter, and are the "Gray Man" .
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Old 02-02-2021, 12:17 PM   #1263
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I would hate to see this, but WalMart "could" charge a small 'overnite parking' fee, say $10. Don't call it camping or people expect facilities.
Pay the fee, get a paper thing for your windshield and off you go.
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Old 02-02-2021, 12:46 PM   #1264
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I would hate to see this, but WalMart "could" charge a small 'overnite parking' fee, say $10. Don't call it camping or people expect facilities.
Pay the fee, get a paper thing for your windshield and off you go.


It would be nice to see RV parks offer a basic service for travellers who pull in late, e.g. after 9 pm and only want a place to park while remaining hitched up. No services except to use the dump station, and leave by 9 am. I’d pay $10 for that.
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Old 02-02-2021, 12:59 PM   #1265
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. . .
. . . WalMart "could" charge a small 'overnite parking' fee . . .
. . .
That would likely open up a bottomless can of legal worms IMO, and Walmart probably agrees IMO.

[over and out on this issue]
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Old 02-04-2021, 12:04 PM   #1266
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If Walmart were to charge, they would have to get zoning or building permits for camping. They probably figure people will shop at the store and pay for the parking that way. I don't care if people unhitch or sit outside, but staying for days starts to look bad. I'm unclear on why overnighters at Walmart are supposed to stay locked in their RV's. I guess some people just can't afford anything else most of the time, but there should be a distinction between long term people and those just staying the night.

There are some campgrounds that allow camping in overflow or similar areas without hookups. Some charge almost the same amount and are a bad selection. It may be hard to find out which private or public ones have such spaces though there's usually something somewhere to find out. Sometimes we have chosen sites without a sewer connection since they cost a few bucks less and we may not use much grey or black water that night. You can dump at the dump station in the morning or just drive on. Perhaps campgrounds have discovered too many people just want a place to park and their revenue drops a lot.
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Old 02-04-2021, 06:12 PM   #1267
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We have stayed at Walmarts a few times but I never get a good night's sleep, I'm just too nervous. Every little sound wakes me up.

The last few times we've stopped I've used the RVParky app to see what's up ahead on our route and get recent reviews. We've found some nice RV places or small town/county parks that are in the low $20 or even lower. I sleep much better there.
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Old 02-04-2021, 06:50 PM   #1268
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I'm with Rich...never get a good nights sleep. Also have been focusing on the city/county parks especially in the more rural areas.



We found on a mile from Field of Dreams near Dyersville IA?? and there was only 1 other camper. Usually W & E and maybe BW or at least a dump. Wide open, quiet, often grassy pads under the trees and always under $20. The one in Sayer, OK off I-40 was $12
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Old 02-04-2021, 07:11 PM   #1269
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We have stayed a number of times at Walmart stores, usually in rural or outlying areas. Other than the occasional noisy teenage employees leaving the late shift, we've never had a problem.

While charging for stays could create problems for Walmart by entering into the realm of 'camping', we've often thought that it would be a really good idea for Walmart to enact some type of registration system for those staying overnight at Walmart stores. Since they already have a good company app, it seems like this could easily be incorporated in that app.

Why register? I think that the simple act of Walmart knowing the names and contact information for those staying as well as vehicle information would remove the anonymity which many hide behind to engage in behavior they might not engage in if their identity was known. It would also give the security staff an idea of who was in the lot and provide them a way to weed out people abusing the privilege Walmart grants to RVers.
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Old 02-05-2021, 12:57 AM   #1270
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Good recent comments.

"No way" Walmart wants to open up any new cans of potential [expensive] legal issues IMO
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Old 02-05-2021, 09:00 AM   #1271
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We stayed at the Cabelas in Sidney, NE, before they were bought by Bass Pro. The first time we were able to get reservations. After that it was first come, first serve. It's a nice CG but next to the main store and run separately. I think if Walmart wanted to do a CG near stores they would have to create a separate entity to protect their larger investment.

I have never had a problem staying in a Walmart (or other store) parking lot but it's not my first choice. We've traveled and by 3 PM we couldn't find a CG for an overnight, so we'd go to a Walmart or Cracker Barrel. Bad in the summer because no AC for A/C. Noisy neighbors or idling diesel fumes can make for a rough night.

Another choice is a regular, large sized RV park. Many of them will have a few spots available for an overnight, water, elec. and sewer. We've stayed in a few of them in Florida, between state park moves.
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Old 02-05-2021, 06:25 PM   #1272
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Casinos are another good place that is usually cheaper and very basic. We sometimes walk through the casinos for the fun of it, but are not gamblers.

I think some states allow overnight at rest stops, but rest stops can be strange at night. Along a major highway there is a sense of anonymity and everything goes.

I am sure Walmart's legal staff has input into the decision to allow camping at their parking lots. The less the store has to do with it, the less liability. They probably figure allowing people to park is worth the good will and sales vs. any liability exposure.
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Old 02-05-2021, 06:58 PM   #1273
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Well said Gene [and earlier too].

In the company's eyes, anyone sleeping in a vehicle is just parking for a little extra longer . . . no further "permissions" have been granted, nor any "license" to camp indefnitely etc..

Store managers have the absolute right, as I understand it, to deny permission, and, I assume, to ask anyone to leave without any advance notice.

KISS from a legal perspective IMO.
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Old 02-06-2021, 07:11 AM   #1274
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We switched to Harvest Hosts when I retired. It’s nice to get off the road at 4:30 or 5:00 vs 9:30 or 10:00. When I was working and just had a few days to escape, we drove hard to get to the good stuff. Walmarts helped. We could usually get 6 or 7 hrs sleep.
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Old 02-06-2021, 09:27 AM   #1275
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We switched to Harvest Hosts when I retired. It’s nice to get off the road at 4:30 or 5:00 vs 9:30 or 10:00. When I was working and just had a few days to escape, we drove hard to get to the good stuff. Walmarts helped. We could usually get 6 or 7 hrs sleep.
Never used my Harvest Hosts membership last year so did not renew...what's your opinion of this one? I don't like Walmart nor other parking lot type places...it is getting crowded now...wife still manages to find something each time we are looking on RV Parky...so far.
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Old 02-06-2021, 10:45 AM   #1276
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For everyone’s information, there are HH threads/posts all over AF:

https://www.google.com/search?q=Harv...=airforums.com

A great resource which we hope to use someday.
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Old 02-06-2021, 12:34 PM   #1277
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HH does sound like a good idea for frequent travelers. If you want an extra experience you probably never would have had and are traveling without firm plans, could be a good idea plus saving money. Of course, if greed takes over, maybe not.
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Old 02-07-2021, 01:16 AM   #1278
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I signed up for Harvest Hosts BUT, never used them. The idea of me driving 30+ miles off a major road only to be limited to ONE night of "free" camping (where I'd be expected to buy some of whatever product they grow) just doesn't appeal to me. It SOUNDS like a good idea and, for RVers who regularly travel "lesser roads", perhaps it is a good deal. If however, I take an hour to "set up" and then ~ two hours to" button up" ~ 12 hours later, makes Walmart, Cabelas, Cracker Barrel etc MUCH more appealing to me. Just my $0.02; YMMV
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Old 02-07-2021, 05:30 AM   #1279
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I signed up for Harvest Hosts BUT, never used them. The idea of me driving 30+ miles off a major road only to be limited to ONE night of "free" camping (where I'd be expected to buy some of whatever product they grow) just doesn't appeal to me. It SOUNDS like a good idea and, for RVers who regularly travel "lesser roads", perhaps it is a good deal. If however, I take an hour to "set up" and then ~ two hours to" button up" ~ 12 hours later, makes Walmart, Cabelas, Cracker Barrel etc MUCH more appealing to me. Just my $0.02; YMMV
We use Harvest Hosts when we can, but for us it is not at all for the same reasons we stop over at a Walmart, Cabella's, or Cracker Barrel. When we're stopping at one of those places, it's really just because we need a place to get a few hours of rest and maybe some groceries or a meal.

When we stop at a Harvest Host location it is because we are interested in seeing that particular location or visiting the attraction. Our favorite so far is the tiny aviation museum in Poplar Grove IL next to a tiny air field. Certainly not a quick stop, and we don't even try to make it one.

BTW, it is possible to stay for more than one night at some Harvest Host locations, but like always you need to call and ask before showing up. The HH locations are not like a Walmart in that they expect you to confirm before arriving, and many will accommodate more than one night if they have space. Especially those where you plan to spend money, like at a golf course or farm market.
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Old 02-07-2021, 07:17 AM   #1280
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We have looked at Harvest Host in the past and decided that it just does not fit our traveling style. I also think that it is not in the same stratosphere as WalMart, etc. When we hit a WalMart or truck stop parking lot it is because we have traveled late and there is no viable campground alternative. We will always stay in a campground when feasible.

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