I am planning to cross the USA and Canada next summer. Instead of finding a campground each night, I am thinking of camping in parking lots.So, Here are my questions:1) When parking at Walmart or other commercial sites, can you unhook and drop the stabilizing jacks?2) Can you camp at rest areas along highways?3) Any other thoughts?

Walmart is getting less hospitable in many locations and you certainly cannot 'camp' in any rest area I know of. If you mean 'stealth' overnight in a rest area, you can do that but unhooking and setting up shop...no way.

Yes but dont damage hot asphalt, use appropriate blocking.Some rest areas allow over night stays.If you pull in somewhat earlier you can get a spot at the edge of the lot where you can put your slide out over the lawn. Some park along the edges of the lot and put slides out toward the aisle side but stay back within the lines. If you sit outside try to go on the side of your rig where you are away from the lot. Try to buy stuff in the store but you dont have to. If you are staying for a number of days move your rig around and change clothes so you dont look homeless.

rjxj wrote:Yes but dont damage hot asphalt, use appropriate blocking.Some rest areas allow over night stays.If you pull in somewhat earlier you can get a spot at the edge of the lot where you can put your slide out over the lawn. Some park along the edges of the lot and put slides out toward the aisle side but stay back within the lines. If you sit outside try to go on the side of your rig where you are away from the lot. Try to buy stuff in the store but you dont have to. If you are staying for a number of days move your rig around and change clothes so you dont look homeless.Thak you. One thing - I don't have any pull outs.

You should not camp at Walmart. Overnight yes. Camp NOYou cannot legally stop for the night at a rest stop in Ohio except on the Ohio turnpike. You will be considered as camping and that is not allowed.

We are not Walmart fans after staying one night. We found that there are a lot of casinos that welcome Rv's. link

Walmart and other free camping | Good Sam Community

66 Replies

RandACampin
Explorer II
Oct 01, 2017
bfast54 wrote:
RandACampin wrote:
gbopp wrote:
As said before, it's Overnighting not camping.
I think the important thing is, keep a low profile and be courteous.
Always ask for permission if possible.
And don't just look for a Walmart, there are other places in addition to Casino Camper.

Enjoy your trip.

Overnight VS camping is purely semantics.

You are very incorrect --Overnight means you pull in you maybe run the Generator a little bit for TV or air condition and you go to bed .

camping you put out your chairs put out your awnings put out grill that is camping

Wrong, anything I do in my camper is camping. Weather its an quick stay or not it's still camping.
bfast54
Explorer
Sep 30, 2017
RandACampin wrote:
gbopp wrote:
As said before, it's Overnighting not camping.
I think the important thing is, keep a low profile and be courteous.
Always ask for permission if possible.
And don't just look for a Walmart, there are other places in addition to Casino Camper.

Enjoy your trip.

Overnight VS camping is purely semantics.

You are very incorrect --Overnight means you pull in you maybe run the Generator a little bit for TV or air condition and you go to bed .

camping you put out your chairs put out your awnings put out grill that is camping
Ralph_Cramden
Explorer II
Sep 30, 2017
swimmer_spe wrote:
rockylarson wrote:
OK, here are the rules: RV industry Good Neighbor Policy

Looks like common courtesy rules.

The first sentence is interesting. Parking overnight on private property is apparently a right lol.
swimmer_spe
Explorer
Sep 30, 2017
rockylarson wrote:
OK, here are the rules: RV industry Good Neighbor Policy

Looks like common courtesy rules.
rockylarson
Explorer
Sep 30, 2017
OK, here are the rules: RV industry Good Neighbor Policy
Chuck_thehammer
Explorer
Sep 29, 2017
my somewhat limited experience with overnight stays at business ..

over 2 years..
I stayed 10 nights, not together or same places..... chain restaurants next to major highways.( YES, I asked ).. I have always been alone in the parking lots after 11 pm..

I arrive between 6-8pm.. out by 6am.
I do not run my generator . but do put out the slide,
otherwise our kitchen is useless. I need my Hot Coffee in the morning.
Veebyes
Explorer II
Sep 27, 2017
AHHHHH! At a Walmart tonight & using Walmart WIFI no less. It works! something more than can be said for many CGs where the excuse for WIFI not working is always "We had a lightning strike a couple of days ago." or "The tech is coming TOMORROW." Not dark yet & there are already at least 4 other Wally campers in the lot.

The nights stay has already cost over $100 & the DW is planning another trip inside.
DrewE
Explorer II
Sep 25, 2017
Floridastorm wrote:

Something that has not been mentioned is running your generator while overnighting at Walmart, or any other commercial place for that matter. Since many areas of the country are too warm for comfortable sleeping in an RV, the generator has to be run overnight for AC and subsequently to muffle the outside noise. Does the generator sound disturb other people who are not there in RV's?

If it's a somewhat busy parking lot, there are almost guaranteed to be engines running due to people driving in and out. If it's not a busy parking lot, there's nobody around to disturb. I wouldn't have the slightest scruple with using the generator while overnighting at a Wal-mart or similar if the weather called for that.
free_radical
Explorer
Sep 25, 2017
Floridastorm wrote:
Considering that Walmart is one of the most successful businesses on the planet, I'm positive their accounting department has already ascertained on average how much RV overnighter's spend in their stores. Want to bet that the average is probably more per night than the cost of an RV park.

Something that has not been mentioned is running your generator while overnighting at Walmart, or any other commercial place for that matter. Since many areas of the country are too warm for comfortable sleeping in an RV, the generator has to be run overnight for AC and subsequently to muffle the outside noise. Does the generator sound disturb other people who are not there in RV's?

I doubt it,,its not as loud as the big rigs hauling freight in,,besides if its very hot people idle their engines to run AC also..
Ive had one camper owner next to me appologize for runing genset,,
I said its no bother at all,,I just turn my radio volume bit higher
Floridastorm
Explorer
Sep 24, 2017
Considering that Walmart is one of the most successful businesses on the planet, I'm positive their accounting department has already ascertained on average how much RV overnighter's spend in their stores. Want to bet that the average is probably more per night than the cost of an RV park.

Something that has not been mentioned is running your generator while overnighting at Walmart, or any other commercial place for that matter. Since many areas of the country are too warm for comfortable sleeping in an RV, the generator has to be run overnight for AC and subsequently to muffle the outside noise. Does the generator sound disturb other people who are not there in RV's?