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.

I take my lead from the truckers and other RVers.See where they go.

I have never really had an issue in 360k miles staying in rest stops or truck stops while on the road. Some say no overnight parking but if it is a bigger one then it usually does not. Many say no camping but we are not camping we are resting. Sure some will say get a campground and sometimes I do but if I have to make time I will pull in about 8-9 pm and leave out about 4-5 am. But I am cross country in a bit over four days.

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.

A book called "next exit" has a lot of that information,:)

Walmart and other over night stays. | Good Sam Community

John___Angela
Explorer
Jul 30, 2014
Tom N wrote:
Effy wrote:
What's wrong with campgrounds?

Campgrounds are closed here in the northeast when we do most of traveling.

Where do you stay when all the campgrounds are closed??

-Tom

We run into this problem often when heading back east in the fall to see family. Everything is closed. Walmarts work well unless in northern Ontario in which case they are all off limits to RVs. We have found travel centres like flying J, Husky, even tourist info centres that are closed for the season work well. Even police station parking lots will work in a pinch. Just get off the road and be safe. And besides, any parking lot is more convenient than a campground and a Walmart has a lot more over night amenities. :).
AllegroD
Nomad
Jul 30, 2014
Effy wrote:
Tom N wrote:
Effy wrote:
What's wrong with campgrounds?

Campgrounds are closed here in the northeast when we do most of traveling.

Where do you stay when all the campgrounds are closed??

-Tom

I don't go where and when CG's are closed. I plan my trips around them. I'm not judging, just asking.

There is absolutely nothing wrong with using a CG. Use them a lot for camping. What is wrong with using a CB, Walmart, Lowes, rest stop, etc when stopping for a few hours?
dogvetia
Explorer
Jul 30, 2014
I think the Rand McNally GPS has walmart listings with directions to get there. we pulled in one day during a severe weather warning and was told by the manager to come on in the store since they had a storm shelter of sorts for shoppers etc. class outfit tom
Matt_Colie
Explorer II
Jul 30, 2014
Tom N wrote:
Campgrounds are closed here in the northeast when we do most of traveling.

Where do you stay when all the campgrounds are closed??

-Tom

Tom,

I well know your issue. In the northeast, the camping world seems to end abruptly at Labor Day.

We even made reservations once only to find that the gate was chained closed when we got there and nobody would answer the phone.
That was when we became hard and fast Walmarters.....
Actually, I like Cabela's better because they typically have a dump and most have potable water available (but the people in the store don't know its out by the boat side).

Other than that, find a big lot and go in and ask.

Before my wife retired from Sylvan, the only time she could get off was after the school year started. We used to go visit family in the northeast then, not many had room for us or the coach.

Matt
J-Rooster
Explorer
Jul 30, 2014
Buster52 wrote:
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.
Buster, you need to ask the shift mgr. at any Walmart you visit if it's O.K. to park overnight in there parking lot. There are some cities or towns that have regulations (ordinances) that ban parking in Walmarts.
HHg_in_Austin
Explorer
Jul 30, 2014
This is straight off the Walmart Corporate website:

Can I park my RV at a Walmart store?

While we do not offer electrical service or accommodations typically necessary for RV customers, Walmart values RV travelers and considers them among our best customers. Consequently, we do permit RV parking on our store parking lots as we are able. Permission to park is extended by individual store managers, based on availability of parking space and local laws. Please contact management in each store to ensure accommodations before parking your RV.

Thanks!
Hhg
Effy
Explorer II
Jul 30, 2014
Tom N wrote:
Effy wrote:
What's wrong with campgrounds?

Campgrounds are closed here in the northeast when we do most of traveling.

Where do you stay when all the campgrounds are closed??

-Tom

I don't go where and when CG's are closed. I plan my trips around them. I'm not judging, just asking.
Tom_N
Explorer
Jul 30, 2014
Effy wrote:
What's wrong with campgrounds?

Campgrounds are closed here in the northeast when we do most of traveling.

Where do you stay when all the campgrounds are closed??

-Tom
IAMICHABOD
Explorer II
Jul 30, 2014
darsben wrote:
IAMICHABOD wrote:
Try the App. RV Parky it not only shows RV parks near you but Walmarts where you can stay over night or not and also Truck stops such as T/A and others and rest areas.

Very handy.

Nice App you made. How long did it take you

Hey I didn't have anything to do with it a guy that goes by Lenny RV Parky did it and made it free, whatta guy. I have used it since the beginning and it has only gotten better.
Bill_Satellite
Explorer II
Jul 30, 2014
Check out RV Parky (there's an app as well). It lists campgrounds, walmarts and other stores, truck stops and rest areas. It shows whether parking is OK or not but you can always make a call ahead of time to verify.