We ran a survey last week, asking readers if they believed Walmart would still allow overnight stays in its store parking lots in five years. More than 5,100 of our readers responded. Fifty-seven percent said, “No,” it would not be allowed.
More than 80 readers left comments. Among them was one by Jim O’Briant, the owner of the website Overnight RV Parking, the most comprehensive source of information about where to stay with an RV for free or less than $20. He also regularly updates his members on Walmarts who stop offering free stays. He wrote:
Ten to 12 years ago about 80% of the Walmarts in the USA and Canada allowed overnight RV parking. Today, it’s about 65%. There are several reasons for this. One significant cause is the behavior of RVers themselves. In literally hundreds of conversations with Walmart managers over the past 12 years, they’ve told me again and again that their issues with RVers are (in no particular order):
(1) Parking overnight without permission.
(2) Parking in the wrong part of the parking lot.
(3) Staying more than one night (in some cases for weeks).
(4) Setting up camping equipment (lawn chairs, BBQ grilles, even inflatable swimming pools) outside their RV.
(5) Leaving trash in the parking lot.
(6) Dumping gray water in the lot or in storm drains (illegal in many places).
(7) Dumping BLACK WATER in storm drains (highly illegal everywhere).
When it comes to preserving the overnight RV parking privilege at retail locations, we are our own worst enemy.
Your comments are invited.
It is not going to get any better. Daily there are posts from self centered people saying I do it all the time and never ask. Or, I will do what I want, or I asked and was told it is pay to set up camp. NO IT IS NOT ! ! It is a parking lot not a campground. Even if you did it and got away with it, someone saw it and people’s opinions are formed in a few seconds. Imagine the city or local official that drives by and sees it and decides this has to be stopped. Once they get it in their mind, no amount of arguing will change it. Locally, we are forbidden from overnight parking because it was introduced at a council meeting as being an eyesore, a problem for police, and all kinds of other bad unsubstantiated remarks. Not one person knew what they were talking about but the signs went up and the wrecker drivers were called. There is an RV’ers code about parking in parking lots. Read it and adhere and don’t feel you are special.
The local city/county governments in which Wal Mart’s are located will make the ultimate decision for Wal Mart to stop allowing overnight parking on their properties. The passage of zoning restrictions, laws restricting or eliminating overnight parking as has already happened in many metropolitan cities across the country. The problem of the homeless and full time RV dwellers with only hasten this process.
Wal Mart will ultimately decide to stop the program when those laws and restrictions start cost them money for enforcement and/or fines for caused by those who continue overnight parking on their properties.
It’s only a matter time which may be sooner than you think!
Why, why, why do we ruin it for ourselves? Makes no sense to be rude slobs!
As Pogo the Possum said in the old Walt Kelly cartoon strip, “We have met the enemy, and he is us.”
Amen………..you see the abuse Everywhere…..and yes a few Bad apples have slowly caused it to come to an end store by store …. 🙁 I now just find remote spots as I go along and use state and National forest lands when ever possible…..but even dispersed camping in these parks is also being abused and little by little they are coming to and end because the parks are even tired of cleaning up the mess left behind and abusive RVer’s
I always ask, always spend money, park as far out in the parking lot as possible unless the manager says to park elsewhere. Leave no evidence we were there.
Some places like in Woodburn, OR do not allow parking because the RV park across the freeway complained so the city passed a ordinance forbidding it.
Just like with dog owners who refuse to clean up after their dogs, who are the minority of dog owners, they make it hard for the responsible owners.
We stay in a Walmart parking lot about once to twice a month. We appreciate the generosity of Walmart. Usually we spend more at Walmart than paying for a spot in a campground. It would affect us minimally.
This news is sad to hear. We saw some such abuse in Page, AZ. Several RVs looked like they were tailgating at a football game. One Walmart in Bakersfield, CA where we stayed has now banned overnight parking within the last 7 months.
Please be respectful if you stay overnight. Of course, i’m probably speaking to the choir. Those who abuse the privilege probably do not read posts such as these.
Glad you’ve had luck with Walmart Stays Charlene.
Our last stay at a Walmart about four years ago was at the one in Pocatello, or Idaho Falls ID.
We always sought permission to park on these private properties, and when instructed to park in a certain place we did.
At this location we noticed two white cars with totally blacked out windows parked a fair distance away from us and about three other campers, all behaving ourselves, no awnings, no chairs no grilling etc.
Those two cars had occupants, who had, shall we say,, a number of visitors throughout the late afternoon and into the evening, The visitors with the lights on top and guns drawn around midnight scared the hell out of us, and we’ve never played Wally World again. If there isn’t better we keep moving.
Actually, TWO Walmarts in Bakersfield, CA have banned Overnight RV Parking within the past 7 months.
We ALWAYS call ahead to ask. We have been told no a few times. We always park where we are told to. We shop at the store.
I have seen some campers sitting outside in their camp chairs, awning out, grilling. These are the people who ruin it for those who follow the rules.
Now we all have to be banned for the sins of a few. I don’t blame Walmart.
Walmart should start a parking permit. You apply for a permit that allows you to stay one night or two in a emergency. A sticker would allow police and Walmart employees to know that you are registered and allowed to be there. Register on a app and if the Walmart allows stays you enter your permit number and the night you are staying. If there are problems you get your permit revoked.
Another way is that Walmart has one pay a fee, that get’s refunded if you obeyed the rules of staying overnight.
That would require an employee to go out and inspect the site, then go back in to process the refund. Walmarts are like every other employer who is trying to cut out employees. Just look at the check out lanes if you doubt me.
I suggested the Walmart RV idea a long time ago, even discussed it with the operator on MacLeod Trail in Calgary years ago. The response was roughly speaking that Walmart was not nor would they ever be in the RV Park business, way more headache per dollar to set-up, administer and make a profit from than selling Kleenex and razor blades. I get it big time!
Mass punishment is never the answer when dealing with a few bad apples. Those RV campers may be messy, but they are a customer base for Walmart. Walmart will lose more customers than just RV folks.
A parking permit and a clearly marked RV parking area is a great idea. Have clearly posted rules, e.g., $100 fine for dumping gray water in storm drain; and, $500 fine for dumping black water in storm drains. Limit the number of RVs that can park for the night. Personally, I’ve never seen more than 5 – 10 RVs parked for the night.
Don’t throw the baby out with the bath water.
This is another idea that RVers have been proposing for years. I don’t expect it to happen. As a group, we RVers tend to overestimate our importance to Walmart’s bottom line. Walmart averages over $200,000.00 in sales, every day, at each of their stores. Yes, they like our business, but the cost of such a program would exceed the revenue it would generate.
BEST IDEA award goes to…..John!!
And part of the permit application process would include a criminal BACKGROUND CHECK! Might not stop all riff-raff from camping ,but would screen out a lot of them!
Liability.
Walmart should put in power sources and charge for overnight camping. They have huge parking lots that are never utilized.
Totally right Bill
Most Walmarts do not own the land but lease it.
This idea has been around for a long time. But it will probably not happen, If Walmart did this, then they’d have to conform to all the local codes governing RV Parks, Campgrounds and Trailer Parks. I don’t think that’s a business they want to get into.
Our Walmart closed and truckers still use the lot for overnight. Seldom see RVs there though — guess the local LE sympathizes with the truckers.
Too much liability. Charge for something means accepting the liability for anything happening during whatever you are charging for.
In California the homeless living in RV’s turn the Walmart parking lots into, well just exactly what you might imagine they turn them into.
Yes you are right trippy. And have you ever asked yourself, why is living like a pig and homelessness synonymous with one another?
I started my journey in this life as a homeless 17 year old living in a 1953 Chevy on a parking lot, but I kept myself clean, talked nice to folks, had respect for man and nature, finally got a great job and became successful- what the hell has happened.
I think the S word (a word which if we use on this site we get canned) is burying society in despair, anarchy and hopelessness.
The druggy vagrants are the ones living like pigs. Some people don’t realize that the majority of the “homeless” are drugged out addicts who have made the streets their home because they don’t want to live by society’s rules.
You are unfairly maligning the state of California, where the majority of Walmart parking lots are NOT full of otherwise homeless RVers. And you are ignoring the fact that the same issues exist, to one degree or another, in every state in the union.
Many are.
It’s not just the Walmart’s in California (where I haven’t seen the extent you describe), trippy… I have, however, seen that in the South, Midwest… states where the poor do not really have options.
And it’s getting worse.
The “homeless” Trippy is talking about have chosen this rootless, “we don’t follow no rules” druggie and alcoholics that have caused a crisis in the major west coast cities of Seattle, Portland, San Francisco and Los Angeles. These are by and large hardcore drug addicts who live on the streets because they DON’T want help, don’t want to go to shelters because shelters have rules. Combine that with the misguided leadership in those cities and you’ve got a crisis that goes well beyond the Walmart parking lot. Trashed Walmart parking lots are just part of the problem. Watch the Eric Johnson documentary “Seattle Is Dying” on YouTube.
The poor behavior of the modern camper is deep rooted in the lack of manners prevalent in today’s society. It seems that people now expect others to clean up after them. Loud talking in restaurants, leaving garbage behind, the expectation of free services, and the general lack of respect for those around you costs us all dearly. The old camping adage of “leave only footprints” seems to have skipped more than a generation but society in general.
Couldn’t have said it any better, thanks Dennis, Cheers Alvin
In any recreational activity, sport,business,profession,trade,etc. You’ll find that a percentage of them will do what they want to do regardless of the consequences to the rest. It is a shame that a few can ruin it for the rest.
I will echo what Dennis and John said it is a few bad apples and the blame rests squarely on the parents. Children in the south were at one time taught to watch your manners but sadly that is not a prevalent teaching any longer.
I live in the South and the younger people here are still more polite than I’ve run into most other places. Ever since schools started teach kids that their feeling good about themselves is more important than anything else, their respect towards others has gone downhill. Sadly, some of those kids are now parents and their kids are worse than they. Personal responsibility, respect for others, and self respect is nearly gone from our society.
I’ll go a step further, since corporal punishment is all but gone from society, we have raised a generation of monsters…
Maybe someone should start a website “shaming” guilty RVers. Like some small town papers do to people who visit, uh, ladies of the night…
Problem is Gary you cannot shame the illiterate, or if you can how do you go about it, with out getting shot at?
Unfortunately you cannot shame ignorant stupid inconsiderate people who are ruining the ability for RVer’s to stay one night at Walmart’s across the country. It is just the way THEY are and nothing will change them.
This is a great idea for Rv travel to have a section for photos and comments about these people that are ruining the Walmart parking privileges.
I like that idea— put them on blast. But even that can be abused. This is a good site for that …
I was an over the road truck driver, just as some of the low life truckers have ruined the trucking industry’s ability to have a safe place to park the same type of low life RVer is ruining a decent place to park. Truck drivers who throw their “pee bottles” out the window for someone else to pick up are the same as people who dump holding tanks down the storm sewers. It’s a societal thing, as someone else said parents are not being parents but simply becoming caretakers, and not very good ones at that. I’m from the 40’s and if I did what children do today I would not be here today or I would still be recovering from them. There was much better parenting back then. Part of that is the parents generally could survive on one parent income where mom was able to stay home and raise the family. Now children raise themselves watching junk TV and video games. I don’t think it will change back so we’ll continue to live in this fashion until we’re gone.
Ohhhh….it will probably get worse as time goes on. Morals are out the window.
As the daughter of a mother who worked, we still had those values instilled into us. It doesn’t really matter if both parents work. We both did and I think we raised a pretty good kid with those values instilled into him.
Walmart is a retailer, they build huge parking lots to accommodate their customers. Some groups such as truckers or RV want to take advantage of this free parking as they see it. Walmart is under no obligation to allow this activity. Doesn’t matter that you purchased stuff there either.
This is always typical of how a good thing gets messed up. A few bad eggs spoil it for everyone else.
You can’t even walk down a city street or a county highway without seeing litter. My husband and I live in our RV and rarely stay at Walmart but when we do we follow the rules. When people throw their garbage anywhere, what does their home look like?
These people are NOT RVers! They are slobs driving RVs.
Unfortunately, people who don’t have RVs see us all as one group.
The “good old days” when RV’ers and campers for that matter, were a socially conscious and civil group of people is long gone. Just as I would no longer leave an unattended tent, full of my belongings, for an entire day while I was sight seeing, as I did years ago, I no longer assume that my fellow RV traveler is someone I can count on to behave civilly. I lock my camper’s door even if I am just going to the campground restroom a few feet away. I don’t assume that those RV’s in a store parking lot will behave responsibly. Just accepting reality.
Yep, if I can’t see my RV, I LOCK it..!
We spent a lovely night this past week at the Walmart in Kerrville, TX Fabulous! A well behaved group of fellow RVers shared the back end of the parking lot with us!! No house, no trash. Just a group of tired travelers catching a good night’s sleep.
PS. The store was beautiful, the staff friendly.
Thank you!!!!
We spent last winter in Kerrville, and agree with you about the Walmart (and Kerrville in general)!
Unfortunately, while we were there, a trashed-out motorhome spent nearly a week in the parking lot.
They finally left, but it was sad they took advantage the way they did…
As people that use the RV more for travel than for camping, we have often taken advantage of many retailer’s largely empty parking lots. There are many other than Walmart, but their locations are both numerous and along traveled routes. When we think a Walmart might be a good stop, often the shopper of us will go into the store to ask the manager if “when we have finished shopping, can we spent the night in your lot”, and “if so where would you prefer?” On more than a few occasions, we have gotten the OK at locations that were not listed as good for ONP. By the by, a typical Walmart stop is about the same cost as an inexpensive campground but they frequently come with dinner.
This topic also has me thinking that if and when we see someone abusing the privilege (we have seldom actually seen this) I will take at least one good picture to post on Facebook. If I take a picture that leaves little doubt who it is but the plate numbers are obscured, there is no way that any complaint can hold up. If many of us did this, maybe we can convince Walmart that most of us are good customers.
At which retailers have you stayed?
We need to tell the store managers and call the police on these pigs. I was in a Yuma Walmart this past winter. I was heading north to Nevada In December.When I parked My van I went in and asked for permission to park overnight. When I came out after getting permission and shopping. I walked past this 30’ pusher. The guy opened the sliding window and poured his piss bottle onto the pavement. He saw me but he could care less. 2 months later I was driving through Yuma again and the same rv was in the parking lot. He was there for 2 months. I don’t like ratting people out but we need to do something about these slobs. Because there won’t be any places available to rv’s if we don’t. Next time I see this trash going on I’m on my cell.
Here is a suggestion I should send in to RV TRAVEL’s tips section. If you rv a lot or full time as we do get the Walmart app. It will allow you to check out without using a credit card and keep all your receipts in the app for easy returns. For this reason we buy as much as possible at Walmart and buy from them online to be delivered to a local store. The app works great and is fast.
I don’t park or shop at Walmart. Why not take license plate numbers and show the mess left by individuals and post them online? Add the city state too. There are Walmart shoppers online, enough pictures that every state has a page. They are rarely doing anything wrong, just weird.
Regarding the issue of Walmart overnight parking, it is too, too bad that people who don’t seem to understand and follow the basic boundaries of ‘polite society’ are causing Walmart to restrict parking to those of us who do observe the boundaries. I use Walmarts infrequently, but I always check with the store first, AND I always am pushing a cart with some purchases, however minimal, to show that I appreciate this courtesy they are extending to me!
We all know the problem comes from the homeless class of rv’er. You’ve seen these people. **** [bleeped]
For the most part, people who are trying to get along and just can’t. Hence, they illegally dump their grey and black water tanks, leave trash in the parking lots, bbq outside, virtually set up a home, and other egregious behavior that ostracizes them from general society.
How about a solution?
WALMART.
1. Have a designated area much like a campground. All pull thru types. 20 spots max.
2. Only overnight. That was the original idea. RV,ers on the move across our great nation
3. Charge people a nominal fee. Just enuff to keep the riff raff away. $10 comes to mind.
I could get into the weeds with details, but every rv’er that reads this newsletter, knows what needs to be done and where the problem lies.
It’s that charging them $X dollars that causes the problem. You then have a secondary business on the property that is not zoned nor permitted for that parking or campground activity.
Good idea!
Only problems I can imagine would be 1/ Who collects the money, 2/ Where does it go, 3/ If you charge people to park overnite , you now must provide some type of security and 4/ insurance
Walmart’s problem with that would come from their insurance carrier. If they charged they’d be accepting a strong degree of liability in the matter. The insurance carrier would have to raise their fees to cover the expected costs and just $10 a night probably wouldn’t cover it.
I hate to say it but WE ARE OUR WORST ENEMIES. three years ago in Washington State we saw the same thing an RV’er was dumping there tanks, my wife was livid and called the police and you got it they were arrested and had there RV impounded.
Good for you!!!!
Must not have been in the city of Seattle.
We stay at Walmart quite a bit when we’re on the move! We are full time and have cleaned up after many “campers” ! It’s usually the homeless people living in there cars!
But we have also experienced the same at many BLM locations! I guess it will be up to the rest of the camping community to police these people…. you can always make an anonymous phone call if you don’t want to confront someone!
It is just like everything else, a few assholes ruin it for the majority. Ask for permission, shop in the store, treat it as you would a rest stop on the freeway, leave it nicer than you found it, thank the manager in the morning before you leave. Real simple, courteous, and promotes goodwill between stores and RVers.
Unfortunately, it’s true, we are our own worst enemy in this instance.
I can believe it. Some people can be utterly stupid and inconsiderate. It only takes a small minority to wreck it all for the rest of us who play by the rules with respect for other people and property, whether its WalMart or the public lands that we all “own”.
AS usual, the actions of a few ruin it for all of us.
and rather than admit they’re lazy slobs, they’ll claim it’s their “Right”
We haven’t heard of your group. But now that I have we will definitely be joining once we purchase the RV in the near future.
The issues listed was a surprise because of what was not on the list. If we think we might want to use a Walmart for an overnight stay we usually call ahead to see if it’s allowed. In the cases where it is not allowed the most frequent answer is that it’s not allowed by town ordinance. Maybe the ordinance exists due to the items on the list?
Also the unwashed vagrants in barely functioning beaten up, cinched up with bungee cords and duct tape RVs who “camp”, or better put “squat” in Walmart and other locations have ruined things as well. I’ve seen clips on YouTube of wild drug and alcohol fueled fights among the RV campers at Walmart. Could you really blame Walmart for banning ALL overnight stays after that? The last thing any Walmart executive wants is for one of their locations to end up looking like the streets of the SODO neighborhood of Seattle!
Sadly there are two classes of RVers now. The normal, law-abiding, respectful, clean and sober folks who love to travel in clean, well maintained rigs. And the others…..the hardcore addicts, criminals, and others in decrepit, filthy rigs who engage in unacceptable behaviors no matter where they happen to be.
Walmart can’t background check everyone who wants to stay in their lots, so banning all overnight stays is all they can do to protect their property and paying customers.
Absolutely spot on.
We live in a world of people who feel entitled. They throw trash in the parking lot because, after all in their mind, shouldn’t WM employees pick it up? NO, they shouldn’t. You don’t have privilege just because you are alive. We all have to work for what we get and working does not give us the right to inconvenience others or make them do our work for us. We call those people Karen and Kevin – the entitled ones who think they are better than others and deserve so much more than they get. Sorry, that’s just not true. If you see someone acting entitled, let the management know so they can call the cops. Get that license place number and don’t obscure it – pass it along.
It’s the same outside or RV land. At concerts people throw their crap on the ground when a trash can is feet away. So I call them on it, and get the standard entitled response….. well there are people who clean it up. I’m providing jobs! Where do these morons come from? I’ll bet they don’t do that at their house, then again, maybe they do.
I have been full timing for six years. Last summer I worked in an RV Park in Idaho. Amazing what types of RV’ers you deal with. I dislike having to discriminate but I found that many of those RV’ers traveling in the US (most in rented RV’s) from other countries, either did not care or chose to ignore rules. Of course there are also those part timers who believe they can ignore them simply because they won’t be back to that park or area. Many times threats of eviction had to be made before they would comply. I have used Walmart for overnight stays only twice in my years of travel. It was a nice privilege at times when I had no other choices. There are thousands of RV’ers these days. Very sad that there are those who have no consideration for others. Can’t say that I fault Walmart’s for changing their policies.
Seems like the logical thing for Walmart to do is start charging a fee for overnight stays. It could be enough to keep out the riff-raft or pay for those impounded.
Yep, another ‘good thing’ ruined by slobs.
In one in Oregon we were told no because of the mobile meth labs in rv’s.
A day of reckoning will come to those traveling with dogs too. And it could affect us all. The landscaped islands at the Casino near south west Tucson was covered with dog poo a year ago.
Mobile meth labs??????? This is a thing?
I wonder why the store manager can’t send their security out at various times to check the parking lot and send the undesirables down the road?
Its not their job to do so. And that is a cost that Walmart should not be burdened with. Don’t need that confrontation
In the walmarts here they dont need or have uniformed Security. And the “loss prevention ” folks have more than enough to do inside and have limited authority outside.
Security aren’t cops. Most are college kids or retirees just looking to make some part-time money.
They have no weapons, no backup, no legal authority. Asking them to confront a group of rowdy drunk slobs is a bit beyond the call of duty.
Walmart needs to give each person that goes in and asks to stay the night a paper pass. We can fill out a small questionair so they have our name and info. Anyone who doesn’t have a pass is towed. If we leave a mess they can charge us. Many would even pay a little to stay
Great idea, we stayed in Anchorage a couple of years ago at Walmart and the major problem was full timers staying for weeks on end! We were allowed to stay but was told to watch out for the ones who were taking advantage of their kindness. Pretty simple treated others as you want to be treated.
When I was younger I listened to Paul Harvey’s “Rest of the News” . He was often sponsored by Walmart. That was before they were located in the West. He had a great show and always mentioned when traveling to stop by your local Walmart and stay the night at no charge. “You’re always welcomed”. Well, we’re not welcomed so much anymore because of the slobs who think they can do what they want anywhere they want.
It’s not Walmart’s responsibility to police the lot and start charging or issuing permits for overnight stays. They would like to simply welcome you to stay overnight and shop if you like. If people can’t respect their property and be civil they’ll just have to not allow overnight parking.
Paul Harvey was one of the great “Moral Voices” of his time…wish we had more personalities espousing true American values.
Thanks to our culture’s increasing apathy and tolerance, you cant blame Walmart for ending it. Too many people will take advantage of it and turn their parking lots into trashy dumps and the “homeless” will move in and establish little cities. People will be living out of their cars and in tents made of tarps. Yeah, that’s where I want to park. And shop, too. Just look under the bridges of any fair sized city and you’ll find a tent/tarp city covered with trash. Bigger cities have had to live with people camping on the side walks, relieving themselves wherever and doing drugs in plain site. It might sound good for Walmart allow RV over-nighters for a token fee, but that would require them to hire hosts to regulate it. If they had any interest in that they would have done it by now. I’m still willing to pay for a real RV park with real facilities, which isnt much when you consider what a decent RV costs.
As always it unfortunately takes only a few inconsiderate and ignorant individuals to ruin a situation for the rest of the public or in this case the RV Travelers.
Walmart has no interest in expanding its business into campgrounds. Ever read the various laws regulating campgrounds? Considered the expense of adding required utilities, etc.? Charging a fee makes Walmart or the shopping center owner liable to those laws and regulations. Cruising security around to police casual overnighters creates other liability and legal issues. Our suburban county banned overnight parking in commercial lots. Not much debate as there was more than ample evidence of all the problems outlined in this thread and more. Sadly, a courtesy has been abused.
I have noticed a lot of RV Parks have some open space areas without any hookups, more of a storage area. If I’m traveling from Point A to Point B all I want is a SPACE to park overnight! I’d like to see some of these RV Parks to allow parking in their open space areas for one night for a small fee, such as $10. I just want to come in after 6-7pm and I’ll be gone by 8 am!
That’s already common at Escapees RV parks. In some it’s just 5 dollars. Or at least it was just a few years ago.
And then dump tanks and load water, sneak onto an electric site. I see problems with that system.
As a campground owner, accommodating transients, even on a 12-hour basis at, say, $10/night as suggested, is counter cost-effective for numerous reasons:
#1) Not all campgrounds have 24/hr security/check-
in.
#2) It’s likely EVERY camper will utilize the dumping
station on its way out, taxing the onsight sewer
system.
#3) As we all know, SOME inconsiderate campers (as
discussed, regarding Walmart’s Free Parking
limitations) tend to “overstay”
their welcome, and not actually check out on
time.
Although it’s a wonderful concept, and in a perfect world, it might work. But reality dictates actions. And in some geographical areas, it’s too much work with NO rewards, to undersell a campsite…sorry!
I would pay the $10.00 and Walmart issue dated window sticker that states its for one night only and they assume no responsibility for you and your rig , just as it is now. Some other common sense rules as well and violators will be asked to leave by law enforcement.
It has to be law enforcement because the people that break these rules are not going to listen to the person who rounds up grocery carts ! Perhaps monies generated by this fee be donated to the Salvation Army in December when the Salvation Army has their ringers out.
Most are private property and the local police won’t even think about doing what you suggest
We have also found that city ordinances sometimes forbid this practice. In some instances, Walmart is part of a mall, and the parking lot is not theirs. The mall authority controls it.
At one walmart here the manager simply got tired of having a paving company come in every month or so to repair the holes punched through his parking lots by motorhomes’ hydraulic jacks.
Sam Walton would roll over in his grave if he knew that his company Management was not allowing any weary traveler to stop & park at his stores to get a little rest. That’s why the store construction before he passed away had large & easy accessible parking lots. I know that this initially applied for any Trucker but the same was applied to RVers.
As has been stated, it’s the few ruin it for all. When I drove an 18-wheeler & Walmart started restricting parking I asked a manager why. He stated that when a new store was built, the cost had to be amotorized out over 25-30yrs. However, if repairs have to be made because the initial construction was done cheap, the cost can be deducted the very next year.
If jacks have to be used, put a larger pad down underneath it so that it doesn’t sink into the asphalt.
Rver’s bring it on themselves. Your not supposed to throw your trash on the ground or dump your tanks.
Unfortunately some people have no respect for being allowed to stop overnight. It’s really a shame for full time RV travelers. We respect all rules, this is our home and we treat all places and things with respect. So RV travelers blame yourselves for this – it’s your actions that make it hard for people who are respectful of the places we stop overnight or stop for a long period of time.
I used to say “some” but now it’s becoming very very common to see this type of behavior from the “me and I” generations who just frogging don’t care about anyone else but themselves. Most recently in a 4 star resort idiot owner had so many exterior light strung it looked like a carnival turning nighttime into daytime. When folks asked him to turn them off his response was KMA. That night someone cut his 200 feet of LEDs into 12” sections. They left the next morning really upset.
That was awlful – “wink-wink!”
It’s always one bad apple to ruin for everyone. How nasty to leave your trash, when you have garbage inside. Also, there’s plenty garbage cans there.
Never have stayed overnight at a Walmart. Once in a gas station after i asked and once in a closed Lowe’s (for a hurricane) under their portico after I called the local Sheriff and asked if it would be OK since we had evacuated our home. I asked at a Meijer’s in Grand Rapids, Michigan if I could park for a couple hours while I visited with a cousin that lived a few blocks away and I couldn’t get there because of trees. Was told NO, in no uncertain way. I’ve heard that is corporate policy for overnight but a couple hours? There were trucks parked there and some vans that had been there quite a while.
When we stay at a Walmart we do not extend our slides, lower our jacks or unhook our toad. We ask where they would prefer we park and usually shop in the store.
Pull in/Pull out.
Yes, rvers abusing things are ruining it for all of us! I’ve witnessed this so many times over decades of travel when all the Walmart locations welcomed you. Not anymore!
Same thing for dispersed camping areas in national forest. People leaving trash everywhere. Using the areas just yards away as toilets and toilet paper all over. Driving not only past signs saying “no motor vehicles past this point”, but often running over the signs. Trying to actually live there. So areas get closed off, and these slobs are probably clueless as to why.
I have been living in my 33 foot RV for well over two years now, neighbors allow me to stay, I in return, keep clean the entire street and sidewalk, I don’t leave trash, drink or have friends over, as opposed to rvers a few blocks away who live like pigs, blocking the sidewalk and storing trash under their rvs. They had an entire two blocks, of free parking, but end up messing their stay, LAPD MOVED IN , kicked them out and the city of los angeles posted no overnight parking, only a few tents remain. But the biggest trash makers are gone, sometimes they park in the same area as I do, but I make sure is for a couple of hours, as my neighboors dont like trash in the area, which is unfortunate, but these RVers scream for it. Sad.
Its the few that destroy a good thing for the many. If you talk to the trashies, they will tell you that they are either justified in their behavior or ignorant that they are doing anything wrong. They are the people who will soil their own area and complain that nobody cleaned it up, then they leave their garbage behind for all to admire. They are as filthy as homeless people and just as uncaring about anything but themselves.
Most of them are lazy slobs and don’t even really care about themselves.
Bet if you seen their homes…..a pig pen!
Don’t put Homeless people in the same category as the trashies. They are just trying to survive day to day, where the RV’ers who crap in their own nest are selfish, ignorant and deserve to be booted out wherever they stop.
Know a lot of homeless people do you?
Blm camping will be next ! Same thing goes on shame !
The few, the bad and the ugly always ruin it for everyone… be thoughtful of others wherever you stay…
Yes, always one bad seed in the crowd. We have never witnessed any wrong doin when parking at Walmart. And we’ve always gone in and talked to manager. And we always get our oil changed there. Think that kinda gives us a foot in the door.
My husband is a long -haul driver and we also own an RV. Our WALMART is only 3 miles away and because of city ordinances we can’t have our camper nor his Cab in our driveway. For years he has parked in their lot with no issue. Last year we were leaving on vacation and we were stopping to pick up prescriptions at Walmart. His truck was gone. Overnight with no warning they had it towed. We had to return home with our camper and park it until we could find his truck. Close to over 800.00 in fees we had to pay. The new signs stating the ban were not placed when he parked. We not only lost money there we lost our reservation fees for camping. What is so sad is that we have spent thousands of dollars there in the past 15 years. we paid for that parking spot. Walmart does not get it that yes, there are a few inconsiderate RV ers and truckers but the money that these people spend in their stores out weighs that parking spot. How many campers head to the nearest Walmart to buy their products when they reach their destination? Years ago the Walmart’s were all available for a safe stopping point. Think twice before you walk in a Walmart again.
That’s terrible! The least they could have done is post a warning. My husband drove truck and we always tried to stop at Walmart to shop for food and supplies. We didn’t have too much trouble for a few years (starting in 2001) but eventually, we weren’t even welcome to park and shop. So we drove around back and lined up like we were making a delivery. We drove containers so they weren’t suspicious. We went in through the back of the store, shopped, and got back to our truck without any trouble. We never did try to stay overnight at a Walmart. We got in, got what we needed, and got out. Truckers definitely felt unwelcome. They wouldn’t even let us park on the side roads next to the store.
RVers are the nicest people in the world! That said, the people who have spoiled our welcome at Walmart are not RVers! Just because they have/use/live in an RV, they are not RVers any more than standing in a garage makes me a car! A true RVer is thoughtful, helpful, considerate, generous and trustworthy. I run into them all the time!
Sometimes I wonder about the excuses Walmart uses to close their lot to trucks and RVs. Perhaps it’s just that it’s one more thing they have to worry about while they work for low wages? My only experience with someone who I know and who has worked at Walmart was that Walmart expects people to work for next to nothing. Some people, thankfully, will work for low wages and next to no benefits. But it’s got to be wearing on one’s soul! And I think that eventually erodes the generous nature of even the meekest of employees. After the 20th cleanup on aisle 9, I might have my nerves worn down to the point that it only takes the sight of an RV in the parking lot to snap that last nerve?
I know I never overnighted in a Walmart parking lot and probably never will. However, I have to say, it’s been good for RVers for some time. It’s sad to see it go. Still, my heart is lightened every time I see a Walmart along my journey. It is a place where I can find a place to stop for a bit; get some supplies; and, if only for an hour, rest before moving on. So thanks, Walmart! It’s been better. But our trips are made easier by your great big lots with room to stop – if only for awhile!
You coulda spared us all the whole “oppressed workers” bit.
Regular employees dont make the call as far as overnight parking, that would be the GM.
In a safety seminar 2009 Grand National a State Trooper told us that Walmart was safer than a rest area. What we should do was approach or asked to speak to the manager. Tell him you are here to pick up some grocery and would it be Ok to park just overnight. He said if you just buy a tooth brush even it is in good faith. To many people are abusing the privaledge to park there by being thoughtless slobs. Throwing your garbage in a bag out, dumping and other inconsiderate acts. I don’t blame them. If any of you have don this and you know who you are then get the idea they don’t want to deal with this kind of behavior. In Myrtle Beach there was a grouping parked there and tables all over one end of parking lot.
Ning’s and tables
Why should they put up with this “me” generation? I watched an idiot dump his grey tank in the parking lot…when confronted he told me to f….off….after the Sheriff that I called, arrived he denied the stench was from his dumping. Was escorted off the property. No charges filed….