New to Rv - questions about RV parking outside of campground

I've used Walmart many times for overnighting. I have always use a bag and walked the parking lot picking up trash and leave it nicer than I found it. I park on the outer edge and open the slide to the grass.

Why some folks worry about putting a slide-out out, while in a Walmart or any other parking lot is waaaaaaaay beyond me. You're putting a slide out out, not building a room addition with footings for Christs sake. What's the maximum a slide out uses, maybe 36"???? A whopping THREE FEET! Wow, that's really in the way!! I really don't want to seem too sarcastic but some folks just way over think things.

Staying in Walmart is a courtesy offered by many of them, along with any other business that offers it. Some don't tollerate it due to local city regulations, campgrounds near by and who knows what else. We've stayed in many of them, in many states and have never worried about security. It's been suggested that you find a campground near by and be more secured. Yeah sure. There are many situations where there's no campground within MILES of a Walmart or, potential sites and places to be traveled to. Walmart's just fine.

As for temp parking, well, that can get a bid dicy. Parking it along any street, business etc. could possibly render you a parking ticket, depending on local ordinances or, even worse, you return from your little escapade and, your coach has BEEN TOWED! Not good!

We've done that many times. We've parked our coach in a Home Depot, lowes, Walmart, K-mart, empty Church parking lot and more, so that we can disconnect and, go do some running around business, i.e. find parts for the M/H, or toad, or whatever. Or, just to run and see something of some value that we don't want to bring AMTRAK along with us. No one, in any of those parking situations, has EVER complained, or left any notes, stating "do not park here", EVER!

Now, we've not parked in those situations FOR DAYS! It's only been maybe a few hours or so, for temp parking anyways. If it's an over night thing, then as stated above, we've done it many times but, we've stayed with our coach.

You can make RVing hard or, easy. Don't over think things. If you do use a Walmart or any other business that allows overnight parking, you can put slides out, a couple of chairs etc. You're NOT BUILDING A HOUSE, just relaxing for an evening. We're always GONE in the morning with absolutely ZERO evidence we were ever there. Your choice.
Scott

If we plan to visit places or sightsee, we always get a site in a RV park and use it as our base. If we are just traveling from point A to B, we may elect to stay overnight in a Walmart, Lowes, Sam's, Cabelas. We park out of the traffic flow and only put out two slides. As far as danger or risk, we use our common sense and don't stay in places that don't feel or look right. As always, be aware of your surroundings.

If your talking about 800 mile days and just stoping overnight and leaving first thing then sure Walmart etc can fit the bill. Not my kind of travel to be sure , never again but I was there once and had to make the most of the time I had
re sight seeing on the way we hardly ever leave the rig to do that .. Many places have RV parking for your visit and if not we get a RV park and spend the night before or after and add it as a stop on the way. I kinda always felt if you could stop and sight see you had time to spend the night in a paid park

CB for over night theres plenty of room and put out the slides run the gen, for site seeing I,d stop at wall mart or other big lot. leave the rv and use the car. we ask but never been turned away. also you can do both at a church, parking lot ask before you stay. just being nice. even been invited to a supper diner .

Businesses dont care about slide outs. So put them out as long as they don't impeded traffic.
Not sure I understand the second question. We stay at a CG and make trips with the TV from there to visit attractions. It never occured to me to take the RV with me to them.

jschmelzer wrote:
Hello everyone,

Just picked up our new Winnebago Vista LX 30T. Have been reading topics in this forum for a few months. A lot of great information.

We've planned a couple of short shakedown trips over the next few weeks and going to campgrounds with a second vehicle to sight-see.

We also have a couple of longer trips planned (staying with friends, campgrounds, boondocking, et al) but we're not really sure how to handle these two scenarios while we're

traveling between campgrounds.

1)

When

staying at a business overnight

, like Cracker Barrel, Walmart, Flying J, rest stops, we assume that we do not extend our slide-outs to keep under the radar and be courteous to other vehicles? We've heard that we should get the manager's permission before staying.

2)

Where do most people park their RV when they want to visit a place when driving between campgrounds and the RV is too big to drive to the location? We would use our tow vehicle to visit those places where a RV will not fit. If we can find legal street parking, then problem solved; however, in rural areas, street parking might not be available and we only have business parking lots or cut-outs along the side of the road or county/state parks.

There might be other questions that we've not yet thought of. Any other words of wisdom and advice?Thanks,John (

A little contradiction in your question. You ask for only during the day parking and then ask about parking overnight at a business?

1)

Save your self a lot of headaches and avoid unsafe parking situations for your family by simply just finding a CG near by to spend the night. You just bought a new MH why on earth do you want to spend your nights with your family in a parking lot????

Because of all the meth dealers now choosing Walmart to do their selling and making of drugs, 'many' Walmarts have banned overnight parking.

2)

Parking off to the side of a road is just too dangerous with a large RV. And I really doubt you will find a spot large enough for your MH to park on a street.

When you want to sight-see during the DAY. Find a large grocery store parking lot and park way in the back of the lot.

Needless to say you will get a ton of responses about parking at Walmart. And the old standby response if you can afford a MH you can affore to stay at a CG. :W

When we stay at Cracker Barrel or Walmart we park out of the way. I do put slides out and run genny. Leave no trace behind is our moto.