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Old 11-07-2017, 12:00 PM   #1
Sailorpat1954
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Walmart’s ? Anyone ever spend the night

Has anyone ever spent a night in Walmart’s parking lot while traveling ? Do you check in with the store? Where do you park ?

We are planing a trip the end of the month. It was going to New Mexico but now we are thing Florida due to the weather being warming.

So while traveling we were thinking about Walmart’s and rest areas.

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Old 11-07-2017, 12:37 PM   #2
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Pat, DW and I have spent many, many nights in Wally-World parking lots. We look at our phone app to see if it is one that usually accepts people in their lot and then when we arrive she goes in and talks to store personnel to get the okay. Always get the name of the person you talk to. We never get all comfy, put out all the slides, light the fire ring or grill steaks. We do park where directed, fire up the generator, purchase a few things to help pay for the hospitality and then tell them thanks in the morning when we leave. Your phone app is AllStays.
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Old 11-07-2017, 01:42 PM   #3
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There is a Yahoo discussion group called WalMart RVing. https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/walmartrving/info

There are about 10,000 ,members and quite an extensive listing of which WalMarts allow overnight stays, facilities nearby and any precautions such as vandalism, theft, errant birds, wayward sprinkler systems, etc. It's updated regularly and is an "open, free group"....
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Old 02-18-2018, 09:23 PM   #4
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Originally Posted by JRTJH View Post
There is a Yahoo discussion group called WalMart RVing. https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/walmartrving/info

There are about 10,000 ,members and quite an extensive listing of which WalMarts allow overnight stays, facilities nearby and any precautions such as vandalism, theft, errant birds, wayward sprinkler systems, etc. It's updated regularly and is an "open, free group"....
Just looked that up and joined that group. There's a lot of info in the lists there!
Thanks for passing it on.
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Old 11-07-2017, 02:38 PM   #5
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DW and I stayed at one for the first time last August, even had the pleasure of meeting John (JRTJH) as he and his DW came to visit us at the Gaylord WM.. Had zero problems, slept like a baby and paid our "dues" by buying a few things in the store. Plan on doing that again next year on pur way UP to the U.P again..

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Old 11-07-2017, 02:46 PM   #6
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Thanks guys. I downloaded all stay and joined the yahoo group


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Old 11-07-2017, 03:49 PM   #7
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We stay at Walmart often now that it is just my wife and I and we just want a safe place to sleep. I have a Honda EU3000i generator that is very quiet.

Also our 325SRX has 60 gallons of fresh water so we can go several nights taking showers and doing dishes before we need to replenish.

We feel safe at Walmart and there is always something we need while we are there.

I will not stay in a rest area. We sometimes stay at a truck stop after asking permission of course.

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Old 11-07-2017, 04:16 PM   #8
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Stayed at Walmart many times while I was transporting. Most allow you to stay, only ran into a few that didn’t. The ones that said no, had signs in the parking lot on the light poles. Some have you park in the same area as the tractor trailers, others have you park in a different area to avoid damage. For the most part, just stay at the far ends/corners of the lots to avoid causing parking problems for other customers.
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Old 11-08-2017, 05:41 AM   #9
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Originally Posted by Sailorpat1954 View Post
Has anyone ever spent a night in Walmart’s parking lot while traveling ? Do you check in with the store? Where do you park ?

We are planing a trip the end of the month. It was going to New Mexico but now we are thing Florida due to the weather being warming.

So while traveling we were thinking about Walmart’s and rest areas
We've stayed at wally world a few times but prefer a nice Home Depot or other home improvement center back lot. Cracker barrels and many other businesses are far quieter options overnight as well. We have never "checked in" or asked permission.
We really like road side rest areas and parks for stops while traveling. Some of them are very nice and quite remote! Some travelers get nervous about personal safety but my wife and I are quite prepared and capable people as we all should be.
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Old 11-08-2017, 06:12 AM   #10
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I’ve found many places to stay while I was transporting. Just about any large store will have some far off corner of the lot that they don’t mind people staying at. The reason I liked Walmart is I could use their restroom facilities. As a transporter I couldn’t use the ones in the trailer and with my personal RV I don’t travel with anything in the tanks.
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Old 11-08-2017, 06:17 AM   #11
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We've stayed at wally world a few times but prefer a nice Home Depot or other home improvement center back lot. Cracker barrels and many other businesses are far quieter options overnight as well. We have never "checked in" or asked permission.
We really like road side rest areas and parks for stops while traveling. Some of them are very nice and quite remote! Some travelers get nervous about personal safety but my wife and I are quite prepared and capable people as we all should be.


Yes we are always prepared also


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Old 11-08-2017, 07:49 AM   #12
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I parked in one for a few hours during a storm filled trip home, didn't check in, but had no problems. Other than my wife doesn't enjoy it.
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Old 11-15-2017, 11:26 AM   #13
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Great thread...was wondering about this. We will likely be doing this a time or 2 next year.
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Old 02-18-2018, 07:16 PM   #14
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A few years ago, we bought our first TT. My wife had never been camping (if you can call it that) with a trailer, so we just went to the nearest Walmart for a night, then to another one not far away for another night. Worked out good, as we were able to outfit our little trailer.

Since then, we have often stayed in Walmart parking lots. I always go in and ask, and have always been given the go ahead. We always make sure to buy something we will use.

The only lot I wouldn't stay in is the Walmart in Whitehorse, YT. It is a major zoo, huge land yachts parked every which way. The lot is packed by early afternoon.

We have never had any trouble at a Walmart. Usually soon after closing time, it gets very quiet. I did have to move one night in Prince Albert, SK. The young fellow was very apologetic when he came to the door. They were going to sweep the lot, and he said to just move to the other side of the lane and all was good.
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Old 06-18-2018, 09:11 AM   #15
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The only lot I wouldn't stay in is the Walmart in Whitehorse, YT. It is a major zoo, huge land yachts parked every which way. The lot is packed by early afternoon.
Kjohn, funny you should mention Whitehorse. We didn’t camp there, but shopped there. The stench was terrible. Looked like there were some long term campers who were dumping waste into the storm drains around the perimeter of the parking lot. We made one visit to Walmart, then shopped at Canadian Tire the rest of the week.
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Old 06-18-2018, 10:29 AM   #16
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[QUOTE=Cbrez;292198 We made one visit to Walmart, then shopped at Canadian Tire the rest of the week.[/QUOTE]

Steve hope what you bought was on sale. There is a saying up here about Canadian Tire. If it's not on sale this week it will the next. They also honour last week's sale price.
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Old 06-18-2018, 10:47 AM   #17
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Steve hope what you bought was on sale. There is a saying up here about Canadian Tire. If it's not on sale this week it will the next. They also honour last week's sale price.
Joe, Amen brother. Went to Canadian Tire in St John NB yesterday. Wanted to pick up a spare sediment cartridge for my water filter. $28 CAN. I’ll wait until we get home unless we run into some bad water - or they put it on sale.
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Old 04-26-2018, 08:18 PM   #18
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Yes, on our way to Utah from Michigan we stopped at Walmart in Wyoming. I know you are supposed to check in but there were so many trucks and campers in the lot, I just found a spot and camped with the rest of them. My wife thinks people peek in the campers, if they do they'll get stared right back by 2 big black labs.
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Old 04-26-2018, 08:45 PM   #19
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I'm a little late to this conversation and will have those that vehemently object to my post.

I think it's an imposition on any business for anyone using an RV to think they can just pull in, park, take up space on private property and think it's OK. That, to me, is silly. I wouldn't dream of pulling into a farmer's field and just setting up because it was "clear" land. Same on my property....things are going to go sideways very quickly. Walmart is the same.

RV owners should (hopefully) understand the costs that come with the lifestyle; finding a place to put them every night when traveling - not a "free" spot you can find in some person's open spot. If you can't pay for the hobby, don't play. I've seen some very "stressing" situations with RVs parked in public parking lots....they all embarrass me to be one of "those people".

Let the fun begin....
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Old 04-26-2018, 09:51 PM   #20
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I'm a little late to this conversation and will have those that vehemently object to my post.

I think it's an imposition on any business for anyone using an RV to think they can just pull in, park, take up space on private property and think it's OK. That, to me, is silly. I wouldn't dream of pulling into a farmer's field and just setting up because it was "clear" land. Same on my property....things are going to go sideways very quickly. Walmart is the same.

RV owners should (hopefully) understand the costs that come with the lifestyle; finding a place to put them every night when traveling - not a "free" spot you can find in some person's open spot. If you can't pay for the hobby, don't play. I've seen some very "stressing" situations with RVs parked in public parking lots....they all embarrass me to be one of "those people".

Let the fun begin....
Well I can't help but play devil's advocate a little bit here Danny. We plan a lot of our trips in National Forests, Buereau of Land Management, or other state run lands simply to avoid the costs of the "lifestyle", and it's what we like. I dont mean developed areas either. We have also camped in rest areas but like others mention we keep a low profile, and usually no more than 6 houses or so to sleep. Pretty easy with the 2 doors and rear living as we can do our thing and slide doesn't have to go our more than about 8". We have only stayed in a park once. I use a local one for my dumping and tank fills as their setup is nicer than most others(Riverside RV in Boise)
I feel like it boils down to the courtesy/permission thing. Have hunted quail on others property after a simple knock on the door and a nice chat. Have stayed the night in a hotel parking lot after a chat with the front desk and we made sure to patronize their restaurant for breakfast in the morning before we pulled out.
Not hopping the fence and taking liberties, or taking advantage of the situation and getting permission seems like it's not an imposition on the landowner/business owner.
Ugh, you laid the trap and I stepped right in it.
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