Walmart camping

[Pedecanada]

Camping in Wallmart before soccer game.

[Melody Ranch]

From the looks of the BBQ grill outside and the slide out in the other RV the Wal Mart must have made a prior agreement with you all on the stay over. Around here, and most everywhere else, it is verboten to make your self at home in the lots. The invitation is just for a stop over.

[loudruff]

It is not cool to open up awnings and get out the grill around here in the Walmart lots either. We stop only when we have few options and just need a few hours of rest. We always check with the manager on duty. We always buy groceries or supplies there, and/or have breakfast there in the a.m.

[DaveFL]

Camping vs. Parking U.S. Walmarts allow overnight parking but local ordinances and rules can stop it, by camping you will force Walmart and the other companies that have the parking welcome mat out, could be forced to shut it down for overnight. Most of South Florida is closed to RV parking.

[DanielB]

Too many rules. Break a few sometimes. Go for it.

[Protagonist]

Since the photo was taken in broad daylight, and the original post doesn't say, we can't know whether they stayed overnight.

We also don't know if that grill we see outside was actually used in the parking lot, or just set outside to get it out of the way. The area around the trailer looks neat and clean, with no chairs, patio mats, deployed awnings, or any other signs of long-term occupancy. At least not compared to the Class A in the background that has its slides out.

My kid brother works for Walmart, and believe me, Walmart managers are not shy about asking truckers and RVers to move along if they're creating a nuissance. With help from the local constabulary if necessary. If Walmart didn't give the original poster the bum's rush, then I very much doubt he caused any problems.

[Pedecanada]

It was only for couple hours. We had lunch then went to last soccer game so trailer was parked there 6-8 hours then we left. Was not worth renting spot for another day. Up in Canada it seems ok to overnight one night which I would do if just passing through a place. But setting up for longer is not ok and not seen.

[Shoes]

In most smaller towns in Canada you can stay for weeks at the Walmart......they keep an eye on you and make sure you are not trashing the lot for them

[terryV]

I've stayed overnite in many a Walmart parking lot. Usually we arrive late and leave early.

Before we leave, tho, I go into the store, if it's open, and buy something. I can always use a can of WD 40 or rolls for breakfast, or something.

I try to get as out of the way as I can in their lot. I have had the manager tell me I could pull over alongside the building if I needed water and power. Nice folks.

I've been doing this since the news reported that K Mart was running campers off their lots. Wlamart announced that campers would be welcome on their liots even if they needed to stay overnite. Sam was a pretty smart old guy.

[n2916s]

The Walmart in Homestead, Florida (last mainland town before the Keys) used to be pretty RV friendly until too many folks just descended on the place every winter. A lot of them rolled out carpets, set up the chairs and tables..

Needless to say, new town ordinance forbids the practice.

Mike

[moosetags]

Over the years, we have spent the night in many Wal-Mart parking lots. At some locations we would see RVers who were camping, not spending the night. We have seen folks with awnings and bar-b-que grills out. We find these people an embarrassment. They have ruined a good thing for responsible RVers.

Now, in many locations, there are local ordinances that prohibit overnighting in commercial parking lots.

Brian

[J. Morgan]

Some people have no social graces.


1/2 Ton 4WD Truck, 72 Sovereign Hensley Arrow

[Ahab]

Get real. That's not camping.

[Bk Yd Safari]

Originally Posted by n2916s

The Walmart in Homestead, Florida (last mainland town before the Keys) used to be pretty RV friendly until too many folks just descended on the place every winter. A lot of them rolled out carpets, set up the chairs and tables..

Needless to say, new town ordinance forbids the practice.

Mike

The parking lot in Homestead is pretty small for a Walmart and really difficult to access.
About a year ago the Walmart in Dalton, GA (alongside I-75 near Tunnel Hill) transferred in a manager from a nearby town and one his first changes was to post "no overnight parking" signs. Seems he blamed the trash in the parking lot on RV'ers and truckers.

[DavidsonOverlander]

Here is Walmart's word on overnight camping. Including a link to a list of Walmarts that do not allow camping.

We've stayed the night at Walmarts a number of times when we couldn't find a site or didn't want to pay for a campground for a quick overnight stop.

Last spring we even stayed in a Walmart in Michigan when we had paid for a site in a state park an hour or so down the road. We were delayed and decided we didn't want to pull into our site at 1:00am and wake up the neighbours.

We've never been told "no" when we've asked, but we don't always ask.

At one Walmart in Florida we just pulled in to shop one evening and a security guard ran up to us to let us know that we couldn't stay the night.

[Sbb]

I have used Cracker Barrel a few times, no issue. Loved breakfast.

[dmarcussen]

WalMarts are now being held to their agreements with Counties that stipulate there is no camping or overnight parking. Before the store is even built, the company agrees to enforce this code after the store is built.

[OTRA15]

Originally Posted by dmarcussen

WalMarts are now being held to their agreements with Counties that stipulate there is no camping or overnight parking. Before the store is even built, the company agrees to enforce this code after the store is built.

Welcome to the forum! There is a newer Walmart thread which everyone has been encouraged to use:

http://www.airforums.com/forums/f42/...ing-13082.html

The issue you raise has been discussed there quite a bit.

Cheers,

Peter