Walmart and other over night stays.
I am planning a trip. Is there a site that will tell me witch Walmarts will allow over night stays. Also what are the laws in each state about stopping over night stopping along the roads. Thank You.
Forum Discussion
You might enjoy this website. FreeCampgrounds.com They also might have some of the advice you are seeking.
Most Wal Marts that allow you to park overnight kinda do it on a "Don't ask, and don't tell" basis. Feeling that if you take the manager out of his office to ask "Can I park here" a dozen times a day when they will always say yes, it consumes more of his time, that is otherwise used to plan work schedules, or purchase orders, or many other hours of store related workload. If they do not allow parking due to local city ordinance, or something, they will post it in the parking lot.
Rest areas are another subject altogether. In 1975 while traveling across country in a station wagon, my parents thought that setting up a pup tent for the teenage kids would be a great idea in rest areas, on the grass. Works great, even though signs posted "No overnight camping" back then. They also timed the sprinklers to come on at 2 am and again around 4 am, to discourage such camping! Some states allowed camping in rest areas, but it became a problem with those wanting to live free wherever they could find a place to hang out and beg for money, so "No overnight camping" signs became normal in many areas where there had become a problem.
My thought is that if you do not abuse the parking, it should not cause a law enforcement officer to stop by to knock on your door and ask "Are you planning on moving on in the next hour or so?" They have better things to do. But will take the time when it looks like someone has lived there, or is planning on living there for a while.
Personally I would rather be in a National Forest, or BLM land, or someplace far away from anyone else. Wal Marts seem to have noisy trucks delivering to the store all night long, as well as bread trucks at 4 am. The refrigeration equipment can also be noisy, and yes runs 24/7.
Good luck, and have fun camping!
Fred.
Most Wal Marts that allow you to park overnight kinda do it on a "Don't ask, and don't tell" basis. Feeling that if you take the manager out of his office to ask "Can I park here" a dozen times a day when they will always say yes, it consumes more of his time, that is otherwise used to plan work schedules, or purchase orders, or many other hours of store related workload. If they do not allow parking due to local city ordinance, or something, they will post it in the parking lot.
Rest areas are another subject altogether. In 1975 while traveling across country in a station wagon, my parents thought that setting up a pup tent for the teenage kids would be a great idea in rest areas, on the grass. Works great, even though signs posted "No overnight camping" back then. They also timed the sprinklers to come on at 2 am and again around 4 am, to discourage such camping! Some states allowed camping in rest areas, but it became a problem with those wanting to live free wherever they could find a place to hang out and beg for money, so "No overnight camping" signs became normal in many areas where there had become a problem.
My thought is that if you do not abuse the parking, it should not cause a law enforcement officer to stop by to knock on your door and ask "Are you planning on moving on in the next hour or so?" They have better things to do. But will take the time when it looks like someone has lived there, or is planning on living there for a while.
Personally I would rather be in a National Forest, or BLM land, or someplace far away from anyone else. Wal Marts seem to have noisy trucks delivering to the store all night long, as well as bread trucks at 4 am. The refrigeration equipment can also be noisy, and yes runs 24/7.
Good luck, and have fun camping!
Fred.
