For those who keep a listing of the Walmarts that allow or don't allow overnighting, you may need to change your Cottonwood, AZ listing from ALLOW to DOES NOT ALLOW. Last year there was an altercation in the parking lot that resulted in the murder of a homeless individual that had been living in a car and panhandling patrons. The Cottonwood city council passed an ordinance prohibiting overnighting in parking lots and it's being enforced. For those looking for a place for an overnight or up to 2 weeks stay, 4.2 miles south of the WM on state route 260 there is a road called Thousand Trails road. This road goes through the Prescott National Forest land and allows boondocking for up to 2 weeks. No facilities though. Just pull off the road in a vacant area.

Good information. BTW, most U.S. National Forest land in Arizona is authorized for "dispersed" camping. In other words, you don't need to camp in a developed campground in these areas. As you posted, the limit is 14 days before you have to move. There are also reservation lands, BLM land and Arizona State trust lands which have their own rules and regulations. You can easily find the rules for these lands on their respective websites.Jim

Looks like this web page is pretty up to date. Cottonwood and my local Walmart which changed last year are both shown on the "no" list.Walmart overnight

I think most of us assumed this would be the result of the shooting incident.It's too bad for RVers but, I understand the actions of Walmart and the community.

pigman1 wrote:For those who keep a listing of the Walmarts that allow or don't allow overnighting, you may need to change your Cottonwood, AZ listing from ALLOW to DOES NOT ALLOW. Last year there was an altercation in the parking lot that resulted in the murder of a homeless individual that had been living in a car and panhandling patrons. The Cottonwood city council passed an ordinance prohibiting overnighting in parking lots and it's being enforced. For those looking for a place for an overnight or up to 2 weeks stay, 4.2 miles south of the WM on state route 260 there is a road called Thousand Trails road. This road goes through the Prescott National Forest land and allows boondocking for up to 2 weeks. No facilities though. Just pull off the road in a vacant area.It wasn't actually a murder. The police went to Walmart to investigate a family living in the parking lot. The family members attacked the police and the police killed one person and, I believe, shot another. The whole family, from Idaho, was arrested.RichH

more info here. http://www.nydailynews.com/news/crime/family-arrested-ariz-walmart-brawl-lived-store-lot-article-1.2160262 Just don't want people to get the wrong impression.RichH

Cottonwood, AZ Walmart | Good Sam Community

TucsonJim
Explorer II
Feb 01, 2016
aguablanco wrote:
more info here. http://www.nydailynews.com/news/crime/family-arrested-ariz-walmart-brawl-lived-store-lot-article-1.2160262 Just don't want people to get the wrong impression.
RichH

Thanks for the link. Here's a clickable version:

Clicky
aguablanco
Explorer
Feb 01, 2016
more info here. http://www.nydailynews.com/news/crime/family-arrested-ariz-walmart-brawl-lived-store-lot-article-1.2160262 Just don't want people to get the wrong impression.
RichH
aguablanco
Explorer
Feb 01, 2016
pigman1 wrote:
For those who keep a listing of the Walmarts that allow or don't allow overnighting, you may need to change your Cottonwood, AZ listing from ALLOW to DOES NOT ALLOW. Last year there was an altercation in the parking lot that resulted in the murder of a homeless individual that had been living in a car and panhandling patrons. The Cottonwood city council passed an ordinance prohibiting overnighting in parking lots and it's being enforced. For those looking for a place for an overnight or up to 2 weeks stay, 4.2 miles south of the WM on state route 260 there is a road called Thousand Trails road. This road goes through the Prescott National Forest land and allows boondocking for up to 2 weeks. No facilities though. Just pull off the road in a vacant area.

It wasn't actually a murder. The police went to Walmart to investigate a family living in the parking lot. The family members attacked the police and the police killed one person and, I believe, shot another. The whole family, from Idaho, was arrested.
RichH
gbopp
Explorer
Feb 01, 2016
I think most of us assumed this would be the result of the shooting incident.
It's too bad for RVers but, I understand the actions of Walmart and the community.
kohldad
Explorer III
Feb 01, 2016
Looks like this web page is pretty up to date. Cottonwood and my local Walmart which changed last year are both shown on the "no" list.

Walmart overnight
TucsonJim
Explorer II
Feb 01, 2016
Good information. BTW, most U.S. National Forest land in Arizona is authorized for "dispersed" camping. In other words, you don't need to camp in a developed campground in these areas. As you posted, the limit is 14 days before you have to move. There are also reservation lands, BLM land and Arizona State trust lands which have their own rules and regulations. You can easily find the rules for these lands on their respective websites.

Jim

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