Walmart Lot Full - Need a Place to Park?

Nomad

Haven't tried this app - just came across it - but it could be handy...

App Shares Free Overnight Parking For Trucks And Rvs
http://www.doityourselfrv.com/free-overnight-parking-trucks-rvs/

jkjenn

I have yet to come across a full Walmart parking lot, or even one with more than 5 trucks and RVs, combined. I do know that some Cabelas, Cracker Barrels, Bass Pro, Home Depots, and Camping Worlds allow free parking, too. The listing in RVPARKY for overnight parking are not always accurate. Some have been marked as no parking, yet when I called the stores they said no problem.

FWIW, the Walmart parking lot in Salida, CO where I have stocked up appears to be more scenic than some parks I have stayed at.its right in the shadows of the mountains.

Nomad

Jenn - Have you been to Page, AZ ... Packed 2 out of 3 times I've been thru there.

jkjenn

PXLated said:

Jenn - Have you been to Page, AZ ... Packed 2 out of 3 times I've been thru there.

Not to the Walmart, but there is tons of BLM boondocking near there, so not a big deal. I would only overnight there in the cold months. 

Nomad

But there are many that don't boondock or BLM and they're all at the Page Walmart :-)

Michigan_Mike

PXLated said:

Jenn - Have you been to Page, AZ ... Packed 2 out of 3 times I've been thru there.

I'll bet you've never pulled your T@B through the section of road from Kalidescope Canyon through Cottonwood canyon to Page....  

Stop in at the BLM office at 1000 N Hwy 89, Page, AZ 86040.  They welcome the public and have some prehistoric relics inside the office that are fascinating.  

Nomad

Nope, didn't do that.
Stayed NW of Page at the beach campground. Watch which route you take in, the sand gets pretty soft on the east end.

Tommy

I know this thread has been inactive for a while so I hope nobody minds if I hijack it while staying on subject. I wanted to ask fellow tabbers who have done it about their experiences staying at Walmart. Three times now we have pulled into a Walmart, lost our nerve, and left. The last time was because the parking lot was shared by after-hours establishments, restaurants, etc. and the level of activity was just too high for our tolerance. After several more hours of driving, wishing for a place to sleep, we ended up in an industrial park on a dark street. It was pretty miserable experience overall.

So my questions are - how do tabbers prepare for sleeping in a parking lot? Is your trailer ready for instant access while you are traveling? Do you get out of the TV and jump directly in the tab and dark out the windows and stay indoors? Surely you don't put chairs outside and have a glass of wine?

We haven't been doing this very long but we are already in the habit of tossing stuff like folding chairs and canopy on the bed when we travel because we have a huge dog that needs as much space as possible in the TV. The thought of pulling in WM, unloading stuff out of the trailer and into the TV just seems so ... obvious I guess. 

RZRBUG

The few times I have stayed in a parking lot I have tried to make it look like I was inside shopping.  That means I had no camping gear outside and no stabilizers down.  I do lower the tongue jack (which is not so obvious) to take some weight off the bumper and add a little stabilization.  However I'm packed, I just make enough room to sleep and go to bed.  If I have stuff in the trailer that prevents a sleeping spot and room to move around, I do take the time to move it to the truck.

In every case there was at least one other camper parked nearby for the night, and their setup was pretty much the same.  There were a couple of instances where camping chairs were set out, and one guy was washing part of his rig.  NOT.  Such activity will cause establishments to stop overnight parking.  It is parking, after all, not camping.  You get a gut feeling for any place.  If it doesn't feel right, move on.

Allie

During my recent x-country trip, I slept in WM, truck stops, and casino parking lots.  Kept the trailer attached to the car.  If the temps were high, I would open a window and start the fan.  Noise was a good thing, indicating an active area.  Besides, if you're tired enough, you'll sleep.  Being alone, precautions taken are: keeping car keys handy for the panic button, 20ft. reach wasp spray, and a taser.  Being in a public, 24 hr. area is better than a remote location when just stopping for the night.  If there is a problem the first line of defense is the panic button to start the car alarm; second is wasp spray; third is the taser.  If there are campers on the outer perimeter of a WM parking lot, chances are they allow overnight camping.  If a place doesn't feel right, move on.

Tommy

Allie said:

 20ft. reach wasp spray, 

Haha that's awesome we will definitely add this to the arsenal

I'm not sure if security is what is bothering me - it's definitely part of it though. Our big malinois is a pretty good deterrent and he takes protecting us very serous. When we are boondocking with both side windows open wide and it's awesome to wake up in the middle of the night and see him just sitting there quietly watching out both windows. Obviously we can't do that at WM but he'll know if anyone is coming close.  

I think it has to do more about being confined to the trailer if we decided to pull over early - say 6/7pm and I was just looking for the experiences of others. If we get out to let the dog pee or open the windows and show light are we going to get asked to move? I'm a little jealous of the walk-thru RV's that all they have to do is pull over and they are already in their house haha.

Nomad

Curious - What types of Walmarts being discussed... Bigger city, metro...smaller town, rural...what part of the country?
I've never stayed in one, have always been able to find a small muni or county park but do pass thru many Walmarts in the midwest and west and have't really come across one where I would feel uncomfortable security wise.

cbarnhill

I travel solo and Last week I attended a rally in eagle nest NM (30 miles N of Taos) driving from Phoenix.  I decided to overnight at the dancing eagle casino RV park. What a great over night spot! $10 for full hookups, free wifi and a shower at the travel center (truck stop) adjacent. Great grocery store, and nearby DQ and restaurant at the casino. Never used a truck stop shower and was leery. Cleaner than any CG I have ever used and included fresh towels. If you're on I-40 50 miles w of ABQ, I recommend. There were only a few other  RVs there. Security guard came by every few hours. 

USWildflowers

Tommy said:

If we get out to let the dog pee or open the windows and show light are we going to get asked to move?

I've only stayed in WM once, but checked with Walmart manager on parking when I did, and she told me which part of the parking lot would be OK. Most Walmarts allow it; a few don't.  Stay self-contained, but moving items between TV and T@b shouldn't be a problem. Purchase stuff you need while there. Remember their deli as an alternative to cooking - especially if you've got a CS.

Nomad

Some do, some don't...The Allstays app is good for identifying this. Walmarts that don't have a red W in the symbol.

Allie

cbarnhill said:

Never used a truck stop shower and was leery. Cleaner than any CG I have ever used and included fresh towels. 

I stayed at truck stops along the road and used their showers also.  Found I like Pilot the best.  They supply soap, towels, and in some cases hair dryers also.  For $11 its cheaper than stopping at a campground just to sleep.

jkjenn

I have now visited the Page, AZ Walmart. The parking lot there is very small for a Super Walmart. 

I try to stay in smaller towns or nicer suburbs. I use Street view to get a feel for the area.

Nomad

The busiest camper Walmart I've ever been by is the one in Page. Been thru there three times and it's been loaded up with rental Winnies.

Note: NW of Page about 7 miles there's NP camping on the lake - sand beach. Warning: Pick your route carefully, the sand can get soft - especially on the east end. Also, nce pay showers at the NP campground right outside Page. Just park in the lot and go for it.

Michigan_Mike

I've camped in WM parking lots traveling X-country and survey the area well before deciding on a spot or staying.  I've ended up re-locating at night too when semis pulled in with their diesel engines running and fumes coming my way.  Sometimes you have to do what you have to do!   I also factor in safety and will park in close to other rigs in the area and make my set-up as less intrusive and noticeable as possible.  

We were on our way up to Alaska via the Yukon last summer and it was disgusting as some of these people appeared to actually be living at Walmart, dogs chained to trucks, vehicles up on jacks doing oil changes, etc.  Some of the trailers obviously wouldn't have made it 5 miles down the road they were so tattered and beaten up!  This is why communities establish ordinances against it as people take advantage of a good thing and think they can do whatever they feel they need to do.  

Rule of thumb is to ask first, find your spot and keep it clean and without a bunch of gear or tables, etc. set up.  

rfuss928

If you buy a Rand McNally US Road Atlas at WM, there is a directory in the back listing all WM locations and services available at each one.  Kind of handy as time to pull over for the night approaches.  Most of the"SuperCenters" are 24hr - a nice convenience.
For us - "over-nighting" is just that, a brief overnight stay convenient to the interstate.  We arrive late, 9-10pm and are rolling again by about 7am.  A clean washroom is all we are looking for.  Any thing more is just a bonus.  Some interstate rest areas are very nice and preferred to WM lots.  Occasionally it's a noisy truck stop.  Sometimes we end up driving further/later than we felt like but didn't like the first place we tried.  As MMike said "You do what you have to do."
We tolerate the rigor to reach long distance destinations in fewer days.  We pack light so the interior and CS kitchen are always ready to use.  The only set up is putting out the step.
Have fun!
Bob
SUNT@B


Sunrise after over-nighting in a central SD rest area
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KyBawpaw

Stayed at WM several times now. We do a drive around to get a "feel" for the place. I try to park near other campers depending on their need of space should I say. I do crank down my stabilizers (I don't like the rock and roll during sleep time) but not tongue jack. We stay hooked up to TV of course. No visor, rug, chairs or tables, etc. are set out. If you don't sprawl out like a tailgater and get all rowdy it should go well. We shop or eat if the WM has a Subway embedded. We get in there just before dark too. We have left middle of night before because of diesel, noise or (once) inexplicable industrial type odor in the area.