Walmart overnight parking

[Halford1]

Thinking about staying overnight at Costco on way to Phoenix during Christmas week.

[gypsydad]

Saw this earlier this week at Walmart in Austin...was wondering what TV he was pulling with? I think he was inside purchasing some more duct tape.

[rowiebowie]

I'm loving his theft protection. No way anyone's getting through that plastic bag on his tongue to steal his trailer.

[Lily&Me]

Might have been abandoned, too, or someone has gone off to work.

I am reading more and more about restrictions coming across the country on sleeping in non-recreational vehicles, cities banning parking on streets, etc., which is soon going to affect all who do non traditional camping full or part time.

WalMart, Costco, Cracker Barrel, etc., will all be hit eventually.

What is the saying???....the most constant thing is change, or something to that effect.

Maggie

[OTRA15]

Mo’ people . . . Mo’ problems . . .

[OTRA15]

Has anyone experienced any Walmart overnighting complications, due to the Coronavirus Covid-19 situation?

Thanks,

Peter

[gaylejoe]

There was a news item a couple weeks ago concerning overnight parking at Walmart stores. It seems Walmart will start discouraging RV overnight parking National wide. I really hate this since we use Walmart for an overnight stops. We've never had a bad experience parking at their stores.

[Short563]

We stopped to overnight at a Walmart in Iowa a couple of weeks ago an found them to be playing loud salsa music all night. The Fantastic Fan drowned out the music. When I woke up and went outside to leave just before the store opening, the music had changed to Tom Petty and was much quieter.

[switz]

A few bad apples have spoiled the barrel, so to speak. We have some really garish folks setting up their camp site on Walmart parking lots.

It may come to the point you won’t even be able to park on their lot to purchase supplies because of inconsiderate folks

[smithcreek]

The Walmart in my town has never allowed overnight camping, I looked it up just for the heck of it a couple years ago. Yet, this summer I saw an old run down RV parked there for a week straight. Not hard to imagine Walmart's across the country may be seeing a lot more of that this year and want to stop it.

[GettinAway]

We were headed to a Harvest Host spot near Sioux Falls SD, but I got tired and pulled into a Cabelas in Mitchell SD. It was crazy. Awnings out, generators running, groups with lawn chairs lined up, loud music, big screen TVs, kids going everywhere on bikes. This was around 9:30. We went on through and found a quiet lot (away from where we were supposed to park) on the other side of the store. That’s the first time I’ve seen anything like that. Like a regular campground without a host. RVs all lined up side by side. No thank you..

[Halford1]

Last Christmas week, I stopped in Palm Desert, CA (on way to Phoenix) for the night and to shop at Walmart for a few supplies but noticed a lot of people going in and out of Walmart, my wife and I decided to park at nearby Costco. Saw only one RV parked there and We settled down for the night and loved the quietness. No issues at all.

Later I had to drop off Bambi for repairs at AS of Santa Barbara in Buellton early in the morning. We decided to go to Costco in Santa Maria, CA and park there for the night. Next morning, we went to AS dealer and dropped off the AS. No issues. Was the only one parked overnight.

[Gene]

Grand Junction apparently has an ordinance prohibiting it, but I've seen RVs at the Walmart for overnight. Not sure there is enforcement. There aren't many campgrounds around here and at least one or more are not very good, but the city apparently wants to protect them and that probably sends more people to the next town to stop. We've never stopped at a Walmart or anywhere else like that. That is not our idea of boondocking.

Most newer RV's, with the exception of Airstreams, have slides. If you don't open them, it can be very hard to move around the RV and may be impossible. Awnings may protect from intense sun during the summer long heat wave in the southwest. I agree that camping with with grills, lawn chairs, etc., may be pushing it too far, but slides seem ok to me.

This thread is so old Nick Danger, third eye, probably has lost his PI license by now. I looked at some of the early posts and recognized a few names, very few. I guess I'm an old timer now. At least I remember the Firesign Theater.

[dvgofaz]

This thread is so old Nick Danger, third eye, probably has lost his PI license by now. I looked at some of the early posts and recognized a few names, very few. I guess I'm an old timer now. At least I remember the Firesign Theater.

Hahahaha...I think we're all bozos on this bus...

[Gene]

Originally Posted by dvgofaz

Hahahaha...I think we're all bozos on this bus...

And follow the rubber line.

[smsasf]

On first long trip from NC to western states. Stayed at private paid campground in Cape Girardeau, MO. Was considering staying at Knob Noster State Park because that was where I served 1st year of USAF enlistment. It was fullduring time I wanted. Down the road is Warrensburg and they have Walmart S. I called and spoke with manager. He said sorry, NO. That with Covid situation they are not allowing. I said thanks and then goodbye. Then I thought what does Covid have to do with overnight parking? Is itbeing used as an excuse because you really just don’t want to allow overnight parking butdo not want to say so. Think about it. If I try another Walmart and they say no because of Covid I am going to say “Oh, ok, so you are barring anyone from out of state or out of the area from stopping by and shopping for groceries and goods in your store”. What do you think they will say? They will say no, as long as you wear mask and practice social distancing. Soif I can come into your store and spread the virus from bt body how is parking in your lot more problematic. I don’t want to argue with you, but don’t say because of Covid, just say you no longer allow, you don’t need an excuse.

[Road Geezer]

We use an app on our iPhones, Walmart ONP, when looking for Walmarts where we can spend the night. It's pretty accurate. If the app says onp is allowed, or if we see other RVs and/trucks parked, we drive in and spend the night without asking. Over 9 years, many regional and three cross country trips, we've never been told to leave using this approach.


One side benefit of the app is that is shows which Walmarts do not allow onp, saving us lots of frustration.


We do carefully observe onp etiquette, and we always go in and buy some stuff.

[rmkrum]

One Walmart manager I came to told me that while they had no issue with overnight parking, the local cops had a tendency to ticket overnighters in their parking lot, especially out of state vehicles. I thanked her, paid for my stuff, and moved on to the next Walmart which was safe to park at.

It never hurts to ask a member of management before parking. And yes, it’s also ethical, in my mind, to shop for supplies where you park. In the case of Cracker Barrel, if they have RV parking slots marked, it’s safe to park overnight. Still ethical to stop in for a meal and browse the store to return the courtesy.

[drmox]

I prefer the Cracker Barrel with their decadent high calorie surprisingly inexpensive food over a Walmart.
I just double tip the wait staff rather than shop the store.

[Mike1997]

The manager comments to SMSASF about covid makes no sense.

Like others I use an app and check signs in the parking lot. I always park near another RV or semi truck which is usually on the edge of the parking lot. In general, Walmarts in urban areas will not allow overnight parking but those along the highways do. Asheville, NC is a good example. I was living there when the stores in the city stopped allowing it after "homesteaders" in pop up campers and school buses trashed the edge of the parking lot. They were caught going into the woods and using the storm water drains for personal use so the health department was involved. Keep in mind Asheville has a huge homeless issue, especially in summer.

Now when I pass through Asheville for 1 night stays, I use the Walmart in Weaverville about 9 miles north of I-40. Always buy something inside and speak to the staff when possible. Last 2 visits, I was the only RV on arrival. When I left next morning, there were 6+ all around me