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Old 12-05-2018, 05:09 PM   #1
fjr vfr
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Overnightrvparking.com

When traveling I use Allstays rest stops plus, Allstays truck& travel, Allstays onp walmart and a couple others to find overnight parking.


My question is Overnightrvparking.com worth $24.99? All the others are either free or cheap. Is it that much better? Who has this app?



Thanks
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Old 12-05-2018, 07:53 PM   #2
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My thinking, and I don't want to be rude, is to research your locations and rent a nice RV space. That way you won't be literally blocking the ingress/egress of a parking lot meant for "shoppers", not freeloaders. Just had to make an entire circle around the parking lot in the local Walmart because 2 Class C (old) RVs determined that they had the best idea of blocking the only easy exit. I have never, and won't ever, impose on anyone, or any business to save a buck. If I can't afford to stay in a nice place....I don't/won't go.

I know there are various views of this, and I'm not trying to put anyone down, but after looking at the lots around here for the last few weeks it is painfully apparent to me that RVrs need to pay their way or stay home. As a consumer I have found that Walmart parking lots are difficult at best, and getting worse. It isn't helped by old RVs with flower child junk painted on their sides taking up space and blocking entrances or exits. I go to Walmart to shop, not navigate a bunch of RV folks too cheap to pay for a place to park their rigs. To me, it's a pay to play game (RVing) or go home. Let the comments begin...
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Old 12-05-2018, 08:21 PM   #3
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RV Parky, Good Sams, RV park reviews are a few free good resource apps for rv parks.
As for staying in business parking lots, have NEVER done it, NEVER will do it & if I can't afford a spot in a rv park I'll stop rving.
I understand those parked in those lots normally go inside & shop or eat which should be mandatory, but the folks that own/operate rv parks are also in business to make money & probably could use the business far more than Wal-Mart.
My wife's brother in law has buckets of money, could afford to stay at any rv park, they travel from east Texas to Cheyenne Wyoming every year to the rodeo & "camp" at Walmarts all the way to & from every year. Not because they travel late & leave early, but because he's too damn cheap to pay for a site.
Not trying to offend anyone, just my opinion on the subject & I'm sure there's nothing I could say to prevent anyone from camping in parking lots, especially the cheap brother in law.
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Old 12-06-2018, 05:59 AM   #4
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I like RVParky app. It shows Walmart, Cabelas, Cracker Barrel. Easy to use.
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Old 12-06-2018, 06:18 AM   #5
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If you are stopping at 5 pm go to rv park.
if your stopping at 10 pm or after 11pm and get going at 7am why not use walmart or rest area ?.

Foxwoods casino in ct has rv parking (no hookups).Anytime we go that way we stop for the night eat + gamble a bit few free drinks and gone in the am.
You can stay as long as you want.
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Old 12-06-2018, 06:20 AM   #6
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Gotta agree with Danny and Danny above^^^. The long term "freeloaders" are making a really bad impression relative to RVers in general. Drove past a Walmart on I-15 the other day and it looked like Beirut
That said there are Free Camping opportunities that do not impinge on the general public's right to access their local shopping center.
Check this site:https://freecampsites.net/ Most sites listed (at least out west where we travel) are open space, BLM or other such areas. We use this app to locate overnight stopping places while on the road from point A to B. No hook ups, just a place to park, eat and overnight before moving on to our destination.
Once we even had dinner with the "Aliens"
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Old 12-06-2018, 08:57 AM   #7
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Im on the road 6 month a year never stayed at Wal-Mart. I have never paid for just one night. We use all stay app it tells us what to expect sometimes where misformed not often. Where into casino camping, some moose loudge will have overnight camping for donation .will be visiting Az spending a few months dry camping on BLM , if you want water ou dump there is charge .
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Old 12-06-2018, 09:22 AM   #8
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Just want to expound on my earlier post:

What I worry about is any/all RV forums advocating the use of "free" Walmart parking as the way to plan a trip to new owners. As the sales of RVs increase exponentially, and, IMO, poor advice being given to new owners telling them to use Walmarts as a way to plan overnite stays (of course, pay for that by running in and buying a bottle of water and a pack of chewing gum), we are going to kill a resource that has a legitimate place for RVrs. I have never used a Walmart but would not rule it out completely because I might have an emergency or failure some day requiring me to do so.

If we finally make Walmart hostile to RVers that choice won't exist. Case in point; the Walmart I mentioned above was asked by RV owners at this park if they could temporarily move their RVs from this park to the perimeter of the Walmart parking lot when hurricane Michael hit (predicted to have a 9' surge here) - Walmart refused. I can only assume due to the bitter taste they have in their mouth over parking lot abuse. The RVs had to be relocated to the other big parking lot in town at a food store which agreed to allow them. As I said, we just don't want to abuse this courtesy until it is removed, which is what I fear will happen since I was told of the occurrence I mentioned.
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Old 12-06-2018, 01:15 PM   #9
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Been doing this since the early 70s. Have never stayed at Walmart or other "free" place. Always had a plan to get to a certain destination before dark. Hasn't always worked and had to set up in the dark at times.
I worked for wages all my working life and figured paying for a campsite was the "cost of doing business" as in camping.
We raised 3 kids and bought lots of toys along the way. Never looked for a handout.
Not saying staying at Walmart or other free overnight stop is wrong by any stretch sometimes it is necessary. I have seen it taken advantage of on many occasions.
This is my personal opinion. YMMV
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Old 12-06-2018, 02:00 PM   #10
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On long trips I usually do most of my driving at night. (weather permitting) In the morning after fueling and feeding my fat face I'll stay at truck stop or find the next large rest area and find a spot the furthest away from facilities, crawl into bed, put my pillow over my head and sleep most of the day away. (Repeat as many times as needed)

Traveling this way, staying in Wall-mart lots would be very costly since the copilot would be shopping while I slept and the bags of "goodies" might put me overweight at the scales and underweight in the wallet. JM2˘, Hank
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Old 12-06-2018, 02:27 PM   #11
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Okay, I don't want to be rude either. I hope this can stay friendly. But, what I've seen these day, and this can be almost any subject, we seem to have an epidemic in this country of self righteous people.

The fact is Walmart in their corporate policy states they are okay with it. I know some people, like with anything abuse it. When the day comes they don't want it, I'm sure they'll change their policy.
In the mean time telling people there is something wrong with them for accepting the hospitality is like if I were to criticize someone for accepting your hospitality staying in your house.
What business would it be of mine who you invite to stay with you? If you don't want to stay at a Walmart...Don't. But don't self righteously criticizes someone for using what's offered to them. And not everyone has buckets of money. Some people actually have a budget.



I want too reiterate, I sincerely hope this can stay friendly. I was just asking a question about an app.
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Old 12-06-2018, 02:58 PM   #12
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I see both sides of this discussion, probably siding more with VJR. We have stayed in the Wally World parking lot, only because it was handy, late and needed out early. I prefer the large truck stops as does DW Brenda because of more space and the noise doesn't bother us.
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Old 12-06-2018, 03:03 PM   #13
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The casino in Prince Albert has free parking for RV's, and maybe four or five have electricity. All you have to do is go in and register. They have a nice restaurant in the casino. We have also overnighted at Walmarts in SK and AB. We go in and ask if we may stay and we have always been welcomed. It is disgusting sometimes to see the privilege being abused.


Whitehorse, YT Walmart is a sight to see in the summer time. By afternoon it is full of huge 5th wheel and self-propelled RV's, 99% US plates. They are parked willy nilly all over the lot. We parked at the gov't campground. I wonder if the poor people in those land yachts maybe can't afford a commercial campsite? Frankly, I don't really care where you park, just have a bit of consideration for others.
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Old 12-06-2018, 03:04 PM   #14
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We don't stay at a Walmart (truck stop/rest stop) while traveling. I don't have a problem with anyone staying there if necessary. I do have a moral problem with folks with their 6-7 figure dollars Class A MH's bragging that they are staying there to 'save money'. Great fun and conviviality in a multi acre asphalt parking lot. HUH! Maybe they just need to 'save money' to make their 20 years of exorbitant payments that are crimping their lives - but how dumb is that. We enjoy most CGs. They are usually reasonably quiet vs the constant stream of noisy truck traffic (and often drunken behavior) in a Walmart, truck stop or rest area. Freebie parking may be your forte - not ours. But if you need to, for some reason, stay in a freebie lot - go for it.
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Old 12-06-2018, 03:30 PM   #15
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Here is the Walmart corporate statement on parking lot usage:

While we do not offer electrical service or accommodations typically necessary for RV customers, Walmart values RV travelers and considers them among our best customers. Consequently, we do permit RV parking on our store parking lots as we are able. Permission to park is extended by individual store managers, based on availability of parking space and local laws. Please contact management in each store to ensure accommodations before parking your RV.

I too hope this can be a friendly discussion - we are friends on this forum with a common interest. The OPs original question wasn't particularly about pushing Walmart parking lots as a prime way to camp, but looking for apps to find Walmarts for free parking, with lots of newbies on this and other forums reading and logging that. Then hearing that the local Walmart wouldn't even let these poor folks move their trailers to their lot for the incoming surge.....I can put 2 and 2 together. It was just to point out the potential problems those that need a parking place could face in the future. "Self righteous person" might be a little stiff...but, hey, my "red A" personality takes it in stride.

As far as the "freeloading" comment, if that is why I'm "self righteous", I refer to, as a previous poster said, all the folks that drive/tow very nice trailers and Class As that literally take over a section of a Walmart lot and turn it into a tailgate party then justify that because they went in and spent $2. That is wrong in my book any way you look at it. But, here's the deal, it's immaterial to me - I don't go there and don't intend to. I'm just trying to point out a situation that I worry will get worse....and I have ZERO doubt it will because folks just seem unable to help themselves.
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Old 12-06-2018, 04:34 PM   #16
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I'm very happy this has stayed friendly. Just a couple points to clarify my question. First, I am looking not just for Walmart...I already know about that and the current app's I have show them as well as my GPS. I thought this app might also have other options I hadn't thought of.
Also, we leave Virginia right after Christmas for the Southwest. Most RV parks on our way are closed for the season and the few who are not are usually well out of our way.
Another point, it isn't until Texas before we start seeing other RV'rs on the road. Sometimes we drive all day without seeing another and if we find a Walmart for the night we are frequently the only ones there at that time of year.
Another thing, I always go in and ask if it's okay to stay and if so I make a point too park well out of the way. I never extend my slide out. We are only stopping to sleep and we usually spend more than a couple bucks. We often stock up. BTW, Walmart has gotten rich off me, so I don't feel that guilty.



I also would love to be able to pull into a KOA or other campground along the way. I wish they would offer a lower rate for travelers that just need to park for the night. I don't want to sound cheap, but who wants to pay $40 to $80 if you are not going to use any of the facilities. We are passing through and just need a rest before continuing.
We also have stayed at Casinos, truck stops and rest area.


Thanks for keeping lite. BTW has anyone used that app?
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Old 12-06-2018, 07:37 PM   #17
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Still can't understand why folks are hung up on Walmart and truckstops (not quiet or private) when other options are available. Really, if just stopping for an overnight spot to eat and sleep is the criteria, check this app out: https://freecampsites.net/. Simply plug in the city you're close to and it will come up with multiple options. Some free some minimal charge some just good old rv parks. We've used it and found that it works for us.
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Old 12-07-2018, 04:03 AM   #18
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To answer the OP I do not have that app and doubt many do. With all the free apps, gps poi's and plethora of information available on the www I suspect it wouldn't be cost effective.
As for camp Wally World I've not used them and can't foresee staying there. That's my choice. I don't have an issue with those that do as that's their choice. If the campers there are blocking the roadway or doing something offensive then inform the manager. The reality is if it disturbs you then shop elsewhere. Nothing gets a retailer's attention like lost sales.
I must say there have been many occasions where I have wished the folks that came in at midnight and left at daybreak stayed there, or somewhere else rather than disturb me at all hours. Some cg along interstates will keep a section for the "one nighters" but I'm not aware of any offering a discount. If I owned a cg I would not offer a discount either because its not about you and your limited usage. That space could be used by someone staying several days so the revenue must be consistent. JMHO
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Old 12-07-2018, 03:55 PM   #19
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I agree with "sourdough"
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