Walmart Stay :S

If you are traveling and intend to stop at a Walmart for a quick overnight stay, you may want to reference this article. Apparently, not all Walmart's are created equal:

http://www.walmartlocator.com/no-park-walmarts/

"Did you know there are more than 800 Walmart stores nationwide that do not allow RVers to park overnight? That’s about 20 percent of all Walmart and Walmart Supercenter stores in the United States!"

Chances are if the Walmart is in a Plaza it's a no no, as we found out.

Periodically we stay for one night in a Wal-Mart parking lot. We have had a couple of different times we could not find a campground that we fit, but a Wal-Mart was available. We always call ahead and get permission to stay in the parking lot. We have only been told no one time; that was because there was a city ordinance that prohibited overnight RV parking except in campgrounds.

We don't stay at Wal-Mart to save money--because we usually spend more in the store than we would at a campground. But they have been convenient and an easy in and out. We have stayed in several that had specific parking areas for RVs, even providing trash cans, grass areas and a couple have had picnic tables.

My advice: call ahead to make sure it is ok to stay in the parking lot and ask if there is an area that they prefer you park. We are grateful for these store parking lots when they are available--and I make sure they know how grateful we are.

NOTE: We use the AllStays Campground APP that lists not just campgrounds, but also free parking opportunities.

We've never stayed at Wal-Mart & the reason is DWs BIL, he's too damn cheap (has plenty $$$) to pay for a campground, but "camps" at Wal-Mart. They go to Cheyenne every year to the rodeo & "camp" at Wal-Mart's going & coming. Saw utube video several years ago of a family filming their weekend campground at Wal-Mart with bbq grill going, awning out, chairs setup. So I can't help but feeling that's what's going on whenever I see rvs in the parking lot, SORRY FOLKS!

Now that is crazy! I've never seen lawn chairs, awning or grills. I am sure that happens, we just haven't seen it. It isn't a place to "camp"... it is a place to park.

Because of those types (and we'veseen a few) Walmart will eventually prohibit RV overnight parking. Only takes a few to spoil it for all.

We also have never stopped at a Walmart overnight. With the FL, we can't even get into the bedroom without opening the slides.

Wouldn't be comfortable sitting in a parking lot, disconnect, with legs down and slides out.

Mind you some Walmarts are probably more comfortable than some of the campgrounds we have visited. 😆

We leave for the winter at the beginning of November, and the only campground still open along our route is 50 miles, each way, off of our route. Same thing going home in mid April. There is a WalMart along, but set back from, the Interstate that we stay at each time we pass through. It's a 24hr store, and they allow overnight parking. We can park alongside the back of the parking lot and open our bedroom side over grass and don't interfere with anyone.

They always welcome us when we ask permission to park overnight. Randomly, we've had to park at WalMarts when the weather turns bad, and have had no problems.

Don't abuse it like some do.