semiretiredDIY
WA state
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Joined: 12/15/2008
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Richam wrote:All of the points that everyone have made have to do with common courtesy. And I agree with most of them. But I don't believe Walmart cares what we do as long as we don't abuse their hospitality. That said the real culprit behind Walmarts that are posted NO OVERNIGHT PARKING are due to local laws that have been passed at the urging of local campgrounds led by KOA to ban all stopping by RV's anywhere but in a commercial park. Senior citizens in an RV are surely not a threat to anyone and don't pose a crime problem but we do not spend our money in their parks so they seek to force us into them. Even in areas where they are closed for the season. This post is right on the money. I don't have slide outs, but I have noticed that most folks with slide outs, park with their slide outs out over the grass. I don't have a problem with that. Walmart security people apparently don't either. We shop at a local Walmart, and have witnessed abuse, I looked at what appeared to be someone masking and painting their rig!! I will not hesitate to jot down license # if they are in my opinion, vandalizing Walmart property.
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stevelv
Living on the island
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Joined: 05/24/2006
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wny_pat wrote:Richam wrote:That said the real culprit behind Walmarts that are posted NO OVERNIGHT PARKING are due to local laws that have been passed at the urging of local campgrounds led by KOA to ban all stopping by RV's anywhere but in a commercial park. I sit on a Zoning Board of Appeals, and I will tell you that your statement is not true. It is something that Zoning Boards of Appeals and Planning Boards deal with every day concerning new commercial parking lots. And all commercial parking lots are addressed in zoning laws at town, village, and city levels. And public opinion is allowed during public hearings before any laws or decisions are acted on! When was the last time you attended a city, village, or town board meeting or a public hearing of the local Zoning Board of Appeals. If you haven't, shame on you! That is how these laws get passed!
The issue here is that it's the locals that complain because why would they stay at a Walmart because they live there - and it's the visitors that have no voice because they can't attend your zoning committee because they are not residents and because they probably aren't in town when you have them.
The laws and restrictions get passed because RVers generally have no voice on these sorts of things. Most Walmarts don't mind overnighters but the local zoning restrictions force their hand and will continue to do so.
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AZPops
Southwest
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Joined: 07/13/2006
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Photos, I/we want Photos....
Pops
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fla-gypsy
North Florida
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Do we have to debate this EVERY day?
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McZippie
USA
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Joined: 10/21/2009
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Here's site that has State maps for all busineses below that allow Free Camping
Walmart, Camping World, Flying J, K-Mart, Sams Club, Costco, Target, Meijer, TA Travel Centers, Pacific Pride Fuel Stops, Pilot Travel Centers, Petro Stopping Centers, Loves Travel Stops, Lowes, Menards, and Cracker Barrel
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Honorman
Arkansas
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Joined: 10/21/2007
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The one saying it is not the campgrounds pushing the local city fathers to outlaw wal-mart over night parking must believe we are very dumb ,
I have been to many city council meetings and planning and zoning meetings ,they even run the meeting on tv here , I know from first hand experience fighting them!
how the good old boys club works 
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grldst
Dallas, GA
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Joined: 12/10/2003
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AZPops wrote:Photos, I/we want Photos....
Pops
Why do you want photos? Are you implying this doesn't happen? It happens, but as long as Walmart doesn't have a problem with it, it isn't a problem.
I have seen some serious RV parking at Walmarts, 12 plus units on a given night, and it begins to look like a RV park. I got to believe this type of situation will get on the nerves of the local RV park owners and possibly others in time.
Some Walmarts have basically an unlimited parking area, and RV's are barely noticeable.
Some Walmarts have limited parking areas and when there are a bunch of RV's parked, they are very noticeable and could likely become a concern.
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emzee
california
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Joined: 10/22/2006
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I think for those that don't enjoy a repeat of this don't read it fercryinoutloud. I agree with the OP walmart is a courtesy stay over and shouldn't be taken for granted or abused by campers. It will only spoil it for everyone. Hopefully if you're guilty you read these posts and think twice about what you are doing.
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McZippie
USA
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Joined: 10/21/2009
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Once upon a time. I was anti-Walmart, got sucked into the debate; that Walmart were ruining small-town's Main Street shopping.
Then found out that Walmart allowed free camping. So on our next vacation, while in-route, camped at Walmarts and started buying supplies there. Became familiar with their stores and now hardly a week goes by that we don't shop at Walmart.
For us, it's not exaggerating to state; that without Walmart's free camping policy, we'd probably never shop there.
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Deen
Vancouver, WA
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Joined: 12/07/2000
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ljr869 wrote:I'm new to RVing and staying in a parking lot has never occurred to me. I suppose if I didn't plan my travels as well as I do it might happen. Or if I were poor. We plan our stops to be at Wal*Marts and we're not poor. Why pay for campground pools, spas and other amenities when we're fully self contained? We stay in parking lots while in transit, then about every third day go to a campground to replenish water and dump the tanks if needed. We paid $$,000's to have a self contained rig to be able to do that. And Wal*Mart loves us in their lots as we do spend money there as well as provide some extra security.
Deen - Vancouver, WA
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