Walmart and other free camping

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 NO

You 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

Overnighting in rest areas vary by the State, some have 3 - 6 hour limits, others have 12 -24 hour limits. There are a variety of stores that allow RV parking some are more friendly about it than others, Wal-Mart has a pro RV overnighting corporate policy, but leave the actual decision up the the individual store a mangers, some / many towns have parking laws that don't allow it, again here enforcement varies. There are also generally more peaceful alternatives like Cracker Barrel restaurants, most / all of which have RV parking spaces generally allow overnight parking, I have also heard Cabella's sporting goods encourages it and some even have RV dump stations, in fact they have a full service campground at their corporate headquarters in Sidney, Nebraska.

In addition to free camping there are a lot of low cost camping options out there, particularly in the central part of the US. These include forest service campgrounds, these generally don't have hookups, but may typically have pit toilets and limited fresh water on site, but the price is right at around $10 per night often with great scenery. Dispersed / boondock camping in some of these forest service parks is even cheaper, or free. Many small towns have RV sites in their public parks, at community centers, etc. often available at minimal charge $10-$20, some are even free for the first night or simply ask for a donation in order to keep them free. This is really not bad considering these sites often have water and at least some electricity (20 or 30 amp hookups) as well as often free dump stations on site. Then of course there are COE and State park campground,which vary by location, but are often cheaper than commercial RV parks, with prices for sites with at least electric and water hookups in the $20-$30 ballpark.

swimmer_spe wrote:
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?

I think all rest areas in Canada are ok to park overnight,,unless you see some signs saying otherwise..
If you see some strange people knocking on your doors at night dont open it..

Plz dont call stoping at WM camping,,its not campground just a shoping place..

"3) Any other thoughts?"

Where are planning to dump and add fresh water?

If you abuse Walmart as well as other places that allow overnight parking they will ban it if you decide to make it home by camping. We travel and use a lot of apps on our phone like allstays etc.

Cabelas all have overnight RV and truck parking and yes they have dump stations and water to fill your FW tank. No hookups though.

I use my local Cabelas (3 miles from the farm) to dump my tanks and fill my FW. I reciprocate by having a Cabelas Black Card.

I'd never consider overnighting in any rest area on any Interstate (toll roads excepted) in the USA, especially near any population centers. Urban and suburban rest areas are filled with 'ladies of the night' plying their trade.

Cracker Barrels all have RV overnight parking as well.