For many longtime RVers and newbies, too, a Walmart parking lot has been a convenient place to spend a night along the road. The price has always been free. Stores are located across America, most close to a major highway, often right along an exit. For RVers on a budget such “free camping” is far better than paying $30, $40, $50 or more to stay briefly at an RV park, when all they need is a flat spot to park overnight, then move on. Hookups are not important.
Traditionally, most Walmart stores have welcomed these RV travelers. Walmart founder Sam Walton was an RVer and he wanted his stores to be welcoming to others like him.
In the past decade, however, individual stores have erected “No Overnight Parking” signs. Sometimes it’s because of abuse by RV slobs or those who set up camp and stay for days, even weeks on end. Other times it’s because of a local ordinance that prohibits overnight stays except in an official RV park.
Lately, the pace of the closures appears to be quickening, prompting some RVers to wonder how long it will be before Walmart, as its corporate policy, bans RV stays at all its stores.
What do you think? Do you think Walmart’s policy will remain pretty much the same in five years or that the company will ban such stays altogether?
Many RV’ers are only concerned with themselves and not others or the industry itself. They feel rules do not apply to them which makes it tough for the rest of us. Walmart clearly ask certain things of anyone using their parking lot for the evening expecting the RV’er to be respectful. Unfortunately, all one need do is drive by a Walmart on any evening and you see RV’s with their slides out, jacks down, grill and chairs in the parking lot, etc. I’ve even seen trash bags full left behind. Walmart parking lots are not campsites. It’s a spot for the evening. Following the rules and cleaning up after one’s self will insure the option remains for the rest of us.
Agree 100%.
Personally, I think Walmart should charge overnighters $30, refundable if no rules are broken and after an associate inspects the area to insure no mess will be left behind. I can understand slide-outs as some must be extended to function inside, but people putting out chairs, barbecuing, or breaking other rules should be asked to leave immediately, with police assistance if necessary. And I believe that the “idiots” have already ruined access at many Walmarts and will continue to do do so until Walmart conveys the concept that overnighting is a not granted conditionally and is not a inalienable right.
I wouldn’t be surprised if they installed a few water and electric hookups and charged a minimal fee for campers to stay overnight. Of course, it would be self-checkout.
Sadly, Walmarts I believe will stop RV overnights! We are our own worst enemy. With the sights of trash being left behind, putting out lawn chairs and building fires on the asphalt is another reason. We don’t stop much, but when we do, we always purchase food and supplies and respect our free stay at these places. We are Harvest Host & Boondockers Welcome Members as well as TT & Encore members. We have full timed now for 10 years and are good stewards of our great country. Time will tell!
I think (I don’t know it for fact) that the Walmart store as well as many other big box stores could care less if you spend the night in there empty lot. I believe (don’t know of fact) that it is more dictated by a local ordnance, that local businesses such as hotels, AB&B, campgrounds, housing developments have pressured local government to forbid overnight stays. One thing I do know for a fact is Walmart is for me not a go to.
Yes it’s local ordinances that cause No Parking usually because there is a local campground nearby that pushes for the ordinance even though they may be at full capacity each night.
Well if on interstates, there are always Rest Areas. I know many states do not allow “overnight parking” in the rest area. But if I park at 0015 and wake up at 0400 for the bathroom, and then start driving again, Not Overnight! Also, if they door knock us after 2 or 3 hours, they usually just tell you that you can’t stay overnight. So if you head out shortly after that, you’re fine. Then just pull into the next Rest Area, if too tired. Or a couple hundred miles later if you’re not too tired.
I believe there’s a chance. But I also believe that as a corporation Walmart will leave it up to individual stores and local managers. Some stores already have and more will as boondockers continue to make a mess of their parking lots. It’s sad but people are our own worst enemies.
Do I believe Walmart will discontinue RV overnight parking? Hmmm? Do I believe aliens will take over the planet in the next 5 years? Hmmm? Do I believe the government will ban diesel pickup trucks in the next 5 years? Hmmm? Do I believe Disney with move out of Florida in the next 5 years? Disney is in the “do you believe in” business. Look what hot water it’s in. What I do contend is that as the number of run-down, rattle trap RV’s occupied by folks that have no other option increasingly show up and camp out at Walmart parking lots for multiple night, then YES, I do think Walmart management will have no other option than restrict any overnight RV parking. However, if Walmart were to start charging a minimum fee – say $10 or $15/night to Waldocking overnight, then NO, their capitalistic nature will rule the day.
5 years I see fewer Wal-Mart stores which will means less opportunities for an over night stay.
On my recent trip trip from Massachusetts to Myrtle Beach and back two Walmart’s that I stopped at to stay overnight said no. Not because of the store but because local politics. They are being told by their local councils and boards not to allow overnight parking. One store had signs erected by the local town listing the towing service that would tow your rig if caught parking overnight followed by a hefty fine. The manager said she did not like the policy but had no choice. She did apologize and recommended a truck stop a few miles away. So not only have horrible RV owners have had an input but also your local politicians.
I hope Loves and Pilot and Flying J see the opportunity.
You forgot “I have zero information upon which to base any opinion about this.” You know–the one one hundred percent of your respondents should click.
They should or start charging the cheapskate overnight camping fees.
Well, we have been RVing since the mid 1990’s and have never spent the night in a Walmart parking lot or any other retail store or restaurant. My wife & I have criss-crossed the USA multiple times and have always stayed at a Campground. So? I don’t care!
I’m with you Walt. I paid a lot of money for my motorhome… I think I can afford a few bucks each night to stay in a secure and well equipped rv park/campground.
I agree! No Walmart’s for us.
IF you can fit into the sites in the campground. Parks around the North of New York city have 60 foot or shorter sites. Cant stay there if your towing a car. So, only Walmart has space. Its not about wanting to save money its about needing a place to sleep.
Yes, I see this happening. My local WalMart is packed with mostly 18 wheelers day and night. There is a dedicated large truck area and it’s always full. Then they spill out into the main parking lot almost covering the “garden” area. There are at least 25-40 trucks at a time now. RVs? Not so much. One or two.
That has been our experience also. We used to stop at Springville Walmart on the south end of Salt Lake City. Now it has become a full fledged truck stop. 30-50 semis with engines running all night. No RVs.
I know of no Walmarts that allow overnight stays. 10+ years ago Wisconsin had one that we traveled by but no more.
Howdy All; Most likely they will, unless they decide to start charging for the “privilege”
and the Mgr. can boost their gross receipts bonus.
hank
In less than 5 years…
YES!
Local city/county government that will cause this to happen sooner than you think with new legislation outlawing this practice.
That way local government can make their residents “FEEL” safe!
I think Walmart will close many stores. Why should it be their place to take care of homeless?
Yes, all Walmart/Sam’s and other places such as these, will ban all campers/truckers from parking overnight.
I have seen what some people throw out in the parking lot for others to clean up.
I come from a retailer background so I believe at least some of this depends on who has authority over the parking lot – WalMart or the landlord, and local laws/ordinances.
I’ve stayed a Camp Walmart many time, usually when leaving Wisconsin in late November/ early December.
All campgrounds are closed for winter. We use anti freeze in the toilet,drink bottled water and turn down the heat to minimize propane usage. Where are you supposed to park.
We stop at walmart. We shop for supper at walmart. ( a nice rotisserie chicken and potato salad)
Breakfast can be fresh bakery or cereal . Usually a walmart stop is $75/100. Or we stop at a truck stop and hope we dont have a refer running all night.
I know we’d miss it if we can’t park there but I’ve got other ideas which I won’t go into.
Probably not, but I do see them transitioning to the same setup Loves or many Casinos use, where you get to spend the night for $20-
Agree. Walmart may start looking at the “Truck Stop” model we see with Loves and other locations offering a basic spot for $20.
Once the homeless vagabonds living in dilapidated RVs and tarp tents start to squat by the dozens in Walmart parking lots, adjacent to the occasional class A traveler, the policy will change. Good news though, the local governments in many cities will force Walmart to provide potable water and bar them from evicting the squatters from the private parking lots for fear that it may trigger them into a feeling of greater despair. Most likely, clean injection sites can set up near the garden center parking areas and to top it off, Walmart will have to pay security to keep the peace in this new dystopia lest they be sued for not maintaining a safe space with gender neutral Porta-Potties and complimentary deodorant.
I predict ground zero will be Portland or Seattle.
Sure wish you would keep your hateful intolerance to yourself.
The truth hurts, don’t it Steve…
I don’t see that Cancelproof is that far off the mark unfortunately. He isn’t quoting from a script that hasn’t been read from the headlines in places already.
Thanks, just keeping it fresh for the $6mm dem.
Better off wishing for a pony. 🤣😂🤣😂
If we can’t laugh at the abysmal failures of the endless virtue signalling, social justice warriors that fight for equity among the homeless methheads in Oregon, what can we laugh at. It is not hateful to laugh until your gut hurts at these failures brought on by the demagoguery of others. Speech you find hateful, others may find hilarious. What’s hilarious is that these failing leaders think they can fix drug addiction by legalizing it. Decriminalize crime and crime STATISTICS go down. While Nero fiddles, other clutch pearls and some of us have to laugh. 😂🤣😂🤣😂🤣😂
I suspect that they essentially will ban overnight parking, largely due to the political entity each is within.
My local Walmart has a very small parking lot. They have recently taken up at least 20% of it by installing EV charging stations in front of the garden area where the RVs used to park. No matter what time of day I go, there are at least 5-7 RVs in the parking lot with their jack stands down and the lawn chairs out. They now have to park pretty much in the middle of the parking lot and they take up lots of parking spots. Some people stay for days, not just overnight to sleep. It is starting to cause problems for the store and I anticipate overnight parking there getting banned sooner rather than later.
We have a local Walmart that put up signs stating NO TRUCK, TRAILER parking.Two days ago there was a trailer sitting right on front of the sign. It was a Walmart trailer. So much for no trailer parking!!! They don’t even follow their own rules.
Made a 700 mile trip last summer, had a couple of mechanical problems with the rig, so several hours were spent trying to fix. We were exhausted, and found all the Rest Stops crammed with semi trucks sticking out on the edge of the freeway. The one rest stop not full had 15 minute time limit signs on every parking spot. It was difficult, couldn’t find any RV parks either. We found out that because of the homeless problem in Oregon and Washington, restrictions had been placed on any spaces that even looked like a place to rest. Couldn’t find a Walmart, but after seeing the trash, the abandoned rigs and other unpleasant things going on, we realized we need to adapt our travel plans to be pleasant instead of a total nightmare. We have no objection to paying for a night, be it Walmart or anywhere else, but frankly travelers need to rest and the homeless problem needs to be seriously addressed and resolved. Traveling 3 states with no rest is dangerous.
Some folks staying in Walmart lot purchase there first, maybe groceries and get the check-out in a big bag with WALMART on it. Then leave that in the front window so they know you are true customers.
Or they just carry around a Walmart bag for that specific purpose.
I think it will all come down to local ordinances, as cities and counties pass more laws.
In most cases, Walmart does not make the no parking overnight policy. It is the local governing body that the Walmart is in that makes the policy for overnight parking.
We’ve stayed overnight at Walmart many times over 4 years of fulltiming if we’re on a multi-day drive to get across the country. We check to see if staying over is OK before going there – and almost always ask again when we’re inside getting groceries just to be polite. As people have said the only times we’ve been told no are because of local ordinances which is larger cities. And we have never had the first problem in a Walmart lot.
Some commenters have mentioned staying in a Rest Area, well, on our trip last month, we traveled several states in the SE area of the US. Nearly all rest areas were packed with Semis and not only in the parking lot, but all along the driveways as well and even on the shoulder of the roads. Even the Love’s with camper areas were packed with Semis, we had no choice but to stay in a gas station parking lot to get some rest.
If the Feds want to set up drive time restrictions on Semis, they should be sure there is space for them to park during down times.
When you ask the store, most times they will say that they would allow it if it wasn’t prohibited by city ordinance. It’s fairly rare for them to say no themselves but when they do it is normally because of some inconsiderate butthead that has done something that anyone with a half a ethic/moral would know isn’t right. But it’s been someone ruining it for everyone since time began I suppose.
I think they will start charging.
Walmart has reached its peak and as they slide down the back side they will need people like the RVers. They are well known and people know what it’s like to shop at Walmart, but they are no longer the best deal. I wish them luck