Walmart overnight parking

[mb71overlndr]

Yep,
It varies, by and far, it is generally accepted it seems, except in some locations that have variances that prevent it (steamboat walmart doesn't allow it).. but prior to buying our airstream, we would occassionally camp out in the back of our pick up truck camper shell in other locations...

[Goin camping]

Walmart in Santa Clarita, Ca. is a nogo but the Campingworld next door is allowed

[Old_Town]

I am sitting in the parking lot of a Wal-Mart in Indianola,IA right this minute. This location has a large truck parking area. We spent a quiet night here with no problems.

Regards,
Ty

[gaylejoe]

We have not a lot of experience with RVing but just finished a 3 month trip in our Argosy. Upon leaving Texas bound for Colorado we overnighted at a Wal-Mart in Big Springs, TX. We did get permision for the store manager and yes, we did do some shopping at Wal-Mart.

On thing we did notice in Cody, WY was 15 RV's and Motorcoaches parked on the Wal-Mart parking lot. Personally I thought there were to many units at one time. Apparently the store manager didn't mind so it must have been ok.

[N2XBW]

On our recent trip from Austin, TX to our home in Northern NY, we
stopped overnight at the four WALMART SUPERCENTERS listed below. All
had other RV's, 18 wheelers, or both overnighting as well. In each
case we made purchases and asked permission. I suggest others do the
same.

Note that all GPS coordinates were recorded on site at actual
locations where we parked.

SCHERTZ, TX 78154 [Just North of San Antonio, TX]
PH:210-651-5281
6102 FM3009 [aka: Natural Bridge Caverns Rd]
I-35 Exit 175
GPS: N.29-36.0554' W.98-16.6414'
Told to park under lights near front of Garden Center.
Comment: I-35 is close and noisy all night. Several fast food
establishments, plus other stores and fuel nearby at same exit.

ALEXANDRIA, LA 71305 [North of Lafayette, LA]
PH:318-445-2300
2050 N. Mall Dr. [Exit 83 I-49, and between US-71, US-167, and US-165]
GPS: N.31-16.6981' W.92-27.2848'
Told to park in far end of lot.
Comment: Very quiet, many other stores and restaurants nearby.

HUMBOLDT, TN 38343 [Between Memphis and Clarksville, TN]
PH:731-784-0025
2716 N. Central Ave. [aka: US 45-W, just North of US 70-A]
GPS: N.35-50.373' W.88-54.919'
Told to park along south side of main lot.
Comment: This is along side a main entrance corridor and was a bit
noisy until late. It may also be possible to park on the opposite
side away from traffic. Otherwise a quiet night and WM gas pumps
nearby. Several fast food establishments and cheaper fuel just back
into town on US45-W.

CARROLLTON, KY 41008 [Halfway between Louisville, KY and Cincinatti,
OH]
PH:502-732-0645
200 Floyd Dr., just northwest of I-71 Exit 74
off KY-227 [aka: Owenton Rd.]
GPS: N.38-39.588' W.85-7.793'
Told to park "anywhere out of the way".
Comments: A quiet night plus, several fast food and fuel
establishments between W-M and I-71.

Additional info:

DOWNTOWN SAN ANTONIO, TX
We visited The Alamo and Riverwalk in San Antonio Wed. Nov 15
morning. We took I-35 to I-37 and got off at the Commerce St. Exit
#141-A, then Right onto the hotel lot next to Dennys. The lot is on
your immediate RIGHT as you turn off the exit 141-A ramp onto
Commerce St. Both attractions were only a short walk away and parking
[hotel gated lot] was $6.50 for half the day.

Happy Trails!
John & Lorna Wolfe
'84 Excella 270 MH

[N2XBW]

Here are two good resources for free overnight camping.
Both are YAHOO Groups.

walmartrving : WalMart RVing

OvernightRVParking : OvernightRVParking

Happy Trails
John [N2XBW] & Lorna Wolfe
'84 Excella 270 MH

[Alumatube]

Originally Posted by henw

I would think that staying at many Walmarts would be right up there with camping at a highway rest stop.
You see some strange individuals shopping at Walmarts these days.

Awesome! You saw us!! /waves/

Susan

[InsideOut]

Originally Posted by B4WEDI

Who has experience with church lots ? Not all churches have resident pastors on site, who do you ask for permission ?

I usually ask for forgiveness!

Shari

[kenwinning]

My local Walmart doesn't allow for sure because they found yucky dead body from overnight parking car trunk. I remembered this matter when I parked my Airstream, security guard came to check nervously. This Walmart is not in bad neighborhood anyway. The crime was happend hot summer on 2006, people complained for whole parking lot had bad smell. Sorry to tell you nasty story

[SilverRanger]

Hi! Bodies in trunks at Wal-Mart or not, welcome to the forums!

[kenwinning]

Originally Posted by SilverRanger

Hi! Bodies in trunks at Wal-Mart or not, welcome to the forums!

Thank you for your greet. I'm a baby Airstreamer. I have many questions but checking same one from old post first.

[greywolf]

I worked for a while at the Wal-Mart in our town and asked the store manager about the RV policy because there are usually several parked on a given night. He said the policy is not advertised but RV's are welcomed to stay for a night at the distant end of the parking lot. This is where courtesy parking etiquete come in so as not to abuse a good thing.

After hurricane Katrina, loads of RV's took up the parking lot and they had generators going, eletrical cords going all around, awnings and lawn chairs set up, clothes lines stretched out. It looked like trailer park from hell! That of course is at the extreme end of teh spectrum. After 2 days, Wal-mart had everyone out of there. Now you see 6 or so RV's parked a night and there's no problems.

[silver&gold]

Parking is allowed, but as good things go there are some who take advantage of good things. For this we all pay the price Parking is just that. This does not mean pull out the lawn chairs and BBQ grill. Dump your gray water in the storm drain. Throw your empty whatever's on the parking lot surface. I speak from experience having parked at a lot of Wal-Mart lots. I have witnessed people taking advantage of this free kindness. They give us security and we give them grief come on. When I see campers doing this I let them know it is all of our duty to do this or loose it..... Sorry this irritates me.

[SilverCabin]

Our local Wal*Mart (Exit #191 off I-95 in FL) has a sign posted in the truck parking area--No Overnight Parking. We frequently see RV parked in the opposite corner (SW corner) of the parking lot for overnight stays. Most seem to be just parked for the night and not doing anything stupid. There is no sign there . And FYI, this Wal*Mart has gas pumps.

We're with you silver&gold. On our way to the Can Opener, we overnighted in a Flying J. We parked in the RV area, and an SOB MOHO pulled in next to us, deployed his slide-outs and started the generator. We could barely get our door open due to the slide-out in our way. I went inside the truck stop and asked the security guard if we could move to the back where the big rigs park. He thanked me for asking and said okay. We took a spot in the back and had a fairly quiet night.

[greywolf]

Originally Posted by SilverCabin

... we overnighted in a Flying J. We parked in the RV area, and an SOB MOHO pulled in next to us, deployed his slide-outs and started the generator. We could barely get our door open due to the slide-out in our way.

That's the type of S.O.B. (literally) that makes it hard for all other RVers. I't just flat out discourtesous to be running a generator at night and to put out the slide outs. I don't even like staying next to people like that at campgrounds.

[Lothlorian]

I guess I am planning ahead because my trailer is in parts, but when I start to pull my trailer I plan on staying at a Walmart overnight. I have one picked out because we will be going to the same place each time. I can see abuse of the parking lot being a problem, but I know all I will do is go to sleep and then leave in the morning. I know in past years when I did some traveling I used to sleep in my truck at a truck stop and pay for a shower in the morning. Hotels are just way to expensive these days and that is one of the reasons I got my Airstream to fix up.

SIU Bound

Brian

[ESCAPE POD]

I've found that the reason many Walmarts don't allow overnight parking is because more cities are passing ordinances that forbid it. The best approach is to locate the Walmarts on your route, then call each one ahead of time to find out their specific policy. Some will say that their city doesn't allow it (in that case, you are assuming the risk of being asked to leave); others just say that they don't encourage it, etc. Those are the ones that will tolerate it if no one abuses the privilege. Walmart, like most other retail chains, has a "locator" website that covers the nation.
On our recent trip back from Big Basin Redwoods State Park, we thought we would sleep the night in Oxnard, CA, which has a Sam's Club lot that we have used several times. This time, we were told we couldn't stay by a security guard. We spent the next hour driving down Hwy 1 to Malibu, and finally "dropped anchor" along a stretch of hwy that was not posted to prohibit overnight parking. We spent the night undisturbed, and it was in a more scenic spot than a parking lot!

[tsunami]

Has anyone experienced over nighting in a Wal Mart lot in Canada? I plan on going North of the boarder this year and started to wonder if the Canadiens are as friendly as we are down here south of the boarder about this?

Thanks in advanced...

[4slice]

Tsunami,

Every city and every WalMart will have different ordinances and experiences with overnighters in parking lots. In my town, city hall passed a bylaw a few years ago preventing overnighting in lots, but I see just as many RVs at the big boxes as before. I think if the store were to prevent you from overnighting, they would probably send out the security guy at closing time and not at 2 am, which would give you time to drive the 1/4 mile to the next box lot. In Prince George, the Chamber of Commerce and City Hall are very aware of the dollars spent by visitors (even if they are just passing through to Alaska) and don't want to ruffle feathers over parking issues.

Happy camping,
Gary
Prince George, BC

[tsunami]

there are a couple of threads on here from 2004 about over nighting at Wal Mart-Canada, just wanted to see if things had changed.

Originally Posted by 4slice

Tsunami,

Every city and every WalMart will have different ordinances and experiences with overnighters in parking lots. In my town, city hall passed a bylaw a few years ago preventing overnighting in lots, but I see just as many RVs at the big boxes as before. I think if the store were to prevent you from overnighting, they would probably send out the security guy at closing time and not at 2 am, which would give you time to drive the 1/4 mile to the next box lot. In Prince George, the Chamber of Commerce and City Hall are very aware of the dollars spent by visitors (even if they are just passing through to Alaska) and don't want to ruffle feathers over parking issues.

Happy camping,
Gary
Prince George, BC