Travel overnighter

[MN-Clark]

Completed our 3rd trip with our 357 Carbon and have really enjoyed them all. Now we're looking forward to extended trips where an on the road overnighter would be necessary.

Questions we have.

1. What about a Walmart night? Good idea or no?

2. Landing gear down, full disconnect and park or just stop and sleep?

3. Slides out?

We're not sure what we should/could do if we can't find a campground for the night. Our friends have a motorhome and have spent nights at Walmart, etc. but their unit is different enough from our 5th wheel.

Thanks.

[travelin texans]

Personally we've never overnighted at Wal-Mart, but if we were to do so it would be to stop late in the evening just to sleep & leave early always with permission from store management.
We've witnessed folks at Walmart with all the slides out, awning out, chairs & table out while Dads grilling & to me that should not be allowed. There's Utube videos of "our Walmart campsite", that's abusing the prevlige.

[Logan X]

We haven’t camped at a Walmart but I’ve heard if you camp there, you should stay connected to the truck, keep the slides in, and don’t put out chairs and awnings etc. Check with the manager and it is nice to buy something from the store. As the Travelin Texans mentioned, arrive at night and leave first thing in the morning. Park in the back part of the parking lot so you are not congesting the area where normal shoppers are parking.

[Northofu1]

Been there done that, Allstays tells you which ones you can and can't.
It's just a place to sleep. I only open one slide a bit to get me to the terlet. Wake up, splash water in face, egg mcmuffin and split. Never ask, never make a mess, always park
on outer edges, never disconnect.

[Canonman]

Here is another option: https://freecampsites.net/ Good app for finding overnight spots close by.A list of overnight camp spots, usually free on public land. You can camp as you wish.
Understand your question re Walmart parking. Pull in (usually around back) away from the day to day parking traffic, don't unhook, slides in unless needed for access. Treat it as a "favor" Wally's allowing you to park and sleep there overnight. It's not a camp spot! More like a roadside rest.

[JMaster]

Another good option is Casinos. We don’t gamble but we do have some local casinos in the area that allows rv’s to stay. They are Indian Casinos and are really nice. Again, as stated, just don’t abuse the situation.

[Roscommon48]

walmart is always fine...if they allow you to stay there. there are more and more saying no. we usually just pull off to the back and say nothing to anyone.
of course you can put your slides out. and, i'd just drop my front legs to give the trailer support.
remember to retrack the legs when you leave.

[Frank G]

Don't forget to look at Bass Pro Shops and Cabela's for overnight parking, some may offer utilities. We live near the I-75, I-80/90 Interchange and any given morning there are overnighters in any of the big box store parking lots, even Camping World parking lot. Walmart wins the popularity contest.

[TomD1]

I planned a Walmart stay into one of my trips, it didn't happen, parking lot was full and just to much of a pain. Get something like RV Trip Wizard and try to plan your stops or bring it up on your cell phone and call campgrounds when you have an idea where you will be. Travel during the week doesn't seem to be a problem on weekends some CG's want you to stay 2 or 3 nights.

[rjrelander]

We've seen a few hotels/motels with gravel lots out back divided into RV sites with full utilities that they rent out for cheap. Nothing fancy but gets you off the road.

[NH_Bulldog]

We did an overnight at a Walmart in NJ years ago on our way from VT to the Outer Banks with our hybrid. Pulled in late, parked under a light pole, stayed connected, didn’t put out the slide or rear tent, but did put out the front one. It was a pretty sketchy area but had no issues (until the parking lot street sweepers and leaf blowers woke us up at 5 am). Otherwise, worked well and no one hassled us.

[notanlines]

We’ve parked at Wally Worlds many times. We ask every time, always buy a number of things, park where they suggest and put out the small slide for bed access. Never unhook ever. Usually we park by the truckers. Diesels dont bother us and generator doesnt bother them.

[Customer1]

I've spent many nights in parking lots. Walmart, Cracker Barrel, Tractor Supply, Camping World, roadside rest areas, shopping malls, truck stops, and way more than I can remember.

Keep it simple and be ready to git if need be. Do not unhitch, do not put down jacks, do not put out slides if possible. You are NOT camping, you are just taking a rest break. If possible spend some money to support the business that is providing your overnight parking spot.

[sourdough]

I guess I have a different view of using others property for my benefit without either permission or giving them compensation.

I've never stayed in a "free" camping spot unless it was on BLM or Forest Service land - I pay/paid for that. Walmart/Cracker Barrel/ business parking lots? I didn't pay for them and buying $2 of bottled water didn't pay for my intrusion.

I always, always, have a site reserved for the night. I don't leave home without it. I also understand taking off and wanting to end where the trip may end up....got it. At that point, find a park that you can pay. The problem is there might not be one and I have zero patience for trying to find a place when I'm ready to stop the day - did that too many times and won't do it again.

If Walmart/Cracker Barrel/places with big parking lots put big ads in RV magazines, trade magazines etc. soliciting RVs parking all over their lots, I might rethink, but, I've never seen such a thing...and we won't IMO.

To me it's abuse of a property owner. I own, have owned, various properties in pretty places. I have none, zero, tolerance for someone that shows up in a TT or other, finds a place under the trees and proceeds to make themselves at home on my property...ZERO. Maybe 25-30% of the time they are legit (requiring consideration), the rest of the time I run them off, at gunpoint if required (usually depending on the age, day of the week and time of the evening/night).

Not trying to start a debate; what we each think is what it is and that's what we will do, but I truly think it is abuse when we start using a "large" vacant area that is actually owned by a large corporation but managed by some inept local yocal and they have no idea....so it's OK. To me that's taking advantage so I can go cheap.....I don't do that, or want to.

[roadglide]

Casino camping is a good choice but you need to ask there is website called casino camper. I do a lot of traveling and have found that more casinos have rv parks will not allow you to stay with out paying. Times are changing because to many campers are taking advantage there more truck stoping at casinos. Truck stops are ok but miserable and road side rest areas are ok if there not posted no over night . I try to find moose lodge camping with electric for the night. No Walmart’s here .

[MN-Clark]

Thanks for all the info and suggestions. We should be able to put them to good use.

Safe travels everyone.

[Nelljal]

Walmarts are fine! Call ahead to Walmart to confirm the local municipality allows it. They will tell the location in the parking lot to stay. Slides out, generator on, all good. We stay hooked up, arrive @ dusk and leave in a.m. No problems! Great when heading south in winter months and campgrounds not open.
Nelljal
08 F250 Super Duty
17 Fuzion 369
20k Reese
07 HD Classic
07 HD Heritage Softail

[Irv]

I agree whole heartedly.
It’s a short rest stop, not a campground.
Ruins it for the rest of us.

[Tooth Ferry]

When quick overnighting I still try to get level enough to not worry about the frig.

[arturob]

Walmarts generally like having RVs in their lots since they usually have a ton of unused space and RVers buy stuff and so generate profits. There are exceptions of course, but we usually find if a Walmart is not allowing overnighters it is due to a city ordinance not a Walmart policy. And just a note to avaricious campground owners - if I can't overnight at the walmart I'll just go on to the next town. So Mr Town Councillor that means no repairs or gas purchases in your town if you give in to the RV parks.