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Walmart and other free camping

swimmer_spe
Explorer
Explorer
I am planning to cross the USA and Canada next summer. Instead of finding a campground each night, I am thinking of camping in parking lots.

So, Here are my questions:

1) When parking at Walmart or other commercial sites, can you unhook and drop the stabilizing jacks?

2) Can you camp at rest areas along highways?

3) Any other thoughts?
66 REPLIES 66

RandACampin
Explorer
Explorer
bfast54 wrote:
RandACampin wrote:
gbopp wrote:
As said before, it's Overnighting not camping.
I think the important thing is, keep a low profile and be courteous.
Always ask for permission if possible.
And don't just look for a Walmart, there are other places in addition to Casino Camper.

Enjoy your trip.


Overnight VS camping is purely semantics.


You are very incorrect --Overnight means you pull in you maybe run the Generator a little bit for TV or air condition and you go to bed .

camping you put out your chairs put out your awnings put out grill that is camping


Wrong, anything I do in my camper is camping. Weather its an quick stay or not it's still camping.
HEY CHECK IT OUT!! http://www.rvingoutpost.com

bfast54
Explorer
Explorer
RandACampin wrote:
gbopp wrote:
As said before, it's Overnighting not camping.
I think the important thing is, keep a low profile and be courteous.
Always ask for permission if possible.
And don't just look for a Walmart, there are other places in addition to Casino Camper.

Enjoy your trip.


Overnight VS camping is purely semantics.


You are very incorrect --Overnight means you pull in you maybe run the Generator a little bit for TV or air condition and you go to bed .

camping you put out your chairs put out your awnings put out grill that is camping
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Ralph_Cramden
Explorer II
Explorer II
swimmer_spe wrote:
rockylarson wrote:
OK, here are the rules: RV industry Good Neighbor Policy


Looks like common courtesy rules.



The first sentence is interesting. Parking overnight on private property is apparently a right lol.
Too many geezers, self appointed moderators, experts, and disappearing posts for me. Enjoy. How many times can the same thing be rehashed over and over?

swimmer_spe
Explorer
Explorer
rockylarson wrote:
OK, here are the rules: RV industry Good Neighbor Policy


Looks like common courtesy rules.

rockylarson
Explorer
Explorer
OK, here are the rules: RV industry Good Neighbor Policy
Jan and Rocky
Volunteers for USFWS. 29 refuges with 9300 hrs ea since 2006. 2004 Allegro 30DA, Workhorse 8.1, Banks, 2012 Jeep Liberty Jet, Blue Ox Aladdin, Brake Buddy Advantage Select, 300 watts solar, 5 Optima group 31 AGM's, 2000watt Ames PSW inverter.

Chuck_thehammer
Explorer
Explorer
my somewhat limited experience with overnight stays at business ..

over 2 years..
I stayed 10 nights, not together or same places..... chain restaurants next to major highways.( YES, I asked ).. I have always been alone in the parking lots after 11 pm..

I arrive between 6-8pm.. out by 6am.
I do not run my generator . but do put out the slide,
otherwise our kitchen is useless. I need my Hot Coffee in the morning.

Veebyes
Explorer II
Explorer II
AHHHHH! At a Walmart tonight & using Walmart WIFI no less. It works! something more than can be said for many CGs where the excuse for WIFI not working is always "We had a lightning strike a couple of days ago." or "The tech is coming TOMORROW." Not dark yet & there are already at least 4 other Wally campers in the lot.

The nights stay has already cost over $100 & the DW is planning another trip inside.
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DrewE
Explorer
Explorer
Floridastorm wrote:

Something that has not been mentioned is running your generator while overnighting at Walmart, or any other commercial place for that matter. Since many areas of the country are too warm for comfortable sleeping in an RV, the generator has to be run overnight for AC and subsequently to muffle the outside noise. Does the generator sound disturb other people who are not there in RV's?


If it's a somewhat busy parking lot, there are almost guaranteed to be engines running due to people driving in and out. If it's not a busy parking lot, there's nobody around to disturb. I wouldn't have the slightest scruple with using the generator while overnighting at a Wal-mart or similar if the weather called for that.

free_radical
Explorer
Explorer
Floridastorm wrote:
Considering that Walmart is one of the most successful businesses on the planet, I'm positive their accounting department has already ascertained on average how much RV overnighter's spend in their stores. Want to bet that the average is probably more per night than the cost of an RV park.

Something that has not been mentioned is running your generator while overnighting at Walmart, or any other commercial place for that matter. Since many areas of the country are too warm for comfortable sleeping in an RV, the generator has to be run overnight for AC and subsequently to muffle the outside noise. Does the generator sound disturb other people who are not there in RV's?

I doubt it,,its not as loud as the big rigs hauling freight in,,besides if its very hot people idle their engines to run AC also..
Ive had one camper owner next to me appologize for runing genset,,
I said its no bother at all,,I just turn my radio volume bit higher

Floridastorm
Explorer
Explorer
Considering that Walmart is one of the most successful businesses on the planet, I'm positive their accounting department has already ascertained on average how much RV overnighter's spend in their stores. Want to bet that the average is probably more per night than the cost of an RV park.

Something that has not been mentioned is running your generator while overnighting at Walmart, or any other commercial place for that matter. Since many areas of the country are too warm for comfortable sleeping in an RV, the generator has to be run overnight for AC and subsequently to muffle the outside noise. Does the generator sound disturb other people who are not there in RV's?

ThePowells
Explorer
Explorer
Inflated hotel prices? This family decided to camp at Wal-Mart, and theyโ€™re loving it

http://www.myrtlebeachonline.com/news/local/article153178544.html

swimmer_spe
Explorer
Explorer
JaxDad wrote:
Veebyes wrote:
Jaxdad, there is always somebody with a good reason to use Walmart, or similar, for the occasional overnight. That is not the intention of the OP who seems to be planning a trip based on being able to Wallycamp to save money.

Nothing wrong with Wallycamping IMO for reasons such as you listed or simply an overnight in transit. A Wally stop, including some grocery shopping, is in my plans in a couple of days. Trips are not planned around the availability of a Walmart.


Actually, the OP said "Instead of finding a campground each night, I am thinking of camping in parking lots.".

The OP clearly stated that Wally Docking overnight was all they wanted to do. I think somebody else mentioned staying a few days, but it was not the OP.


OP here,

I do intend to stay just a night, not a few days.

swimmer_spe
Explorer
Explorer
JaxDad wrote:
Veebyes wrote:
Jaxdad, there is always somebody with a good reason to use Walmart, or similar, for the occasional overnight. That is not the intention of the OP who seems to be planning a trip based on being able to Wallycamp to save money.

Nothing wrong with Wallycamping IMO for reasons such as you listed or simply an overnight in transit. A Wally stop, including some grocery shopping, is in my plans in a couple of days. Trips are not planned around the availability of a Walmart.


Actually, the OP said "Instead of finding a campground each night, I am thinking of camping in parking lots.".

The OP clearly stated that Wally Docking overnight was all they wanted to do. I think somebody else mentioned staying a few days, but it was not the OP.


OP here.

I am planning on using it so that I do not need to pay for a site for a few hours in between my destinations.

JaxDad
Explorer III
Explorer III
Veebyes wrote:
Jaxdad, there is always somebody with a good reason to use Walmart, or similar, for the occasional overnight. That is not the intention of the OP who seems to be planning a trip based on being able to Wallycamp to save money.

Nothing wrong with Wallycamping IMO for reasons such as you listed or simply an overnight in transit. A Wally stop, including some grocery shopping, is in my plans in a couple of days. Trips are not planned around the availability of a Walmart.


Actually, the OP said "Instead of finding a campground each night, I am thinking of camping in parking lots.".

The OP clearly stated that Wally Docking overnight was all they wanted to do. I think somebody else mentioned staying a few days, but it was not the OP.