Wal Mart parking?

We stayed at the Wal-Mart in Watseka, IL, a first for us. We parked in a far corner of the lot with the ability to put out our big slide over the grass. We went into the store to Customer Service and asked for the manager. We stopped in mid afternoon and left at around 9:00 the next morning. We were joined by a motorhome that was still there when we left. We were apprehensive since it was our first time trying this but it was a non event and we felt perfectly safe. We even ran our generator the next morning to recharge our batteries.

How do you find the manager? Do you ask a checker or is there some part of the store they always hang out in?

Eric

BCSnob wrote:
So let's review....

1) Can't come after dark to a campground because we might shine our headlights on someones RV/campsite, make too much noise with our tow vehicles, make too much noise setting-up, etc.
2) Can't sleep in a parking lot because we're being cheap, free loaders taking money away from campgrounds.

I guess the rule is we must all only drive after sunrise and be in a campground before sunset.



But we're not allowed in campgrounds since we travel with too many dogs that might pee on the grass killing it off where someone might want to walk barefoot or someone might have to see them poop.:S

That pretty much sums it up. :)

We had our first experience with an overnight in a Walmart and it was great.

We arrived late in the day (9 P.M.), extended our wardrobe slide just a few inches to get it off the side of the mattress, and went to sleep. In the morning, we walked up to the store, picked up a few things and then hit the road. There was even a Starbucks nearby and my wife walked over to grab a coffee.

Easy and painless.

There were a couple of semis, a Class A and a fifth wheel also parked there (and a guy sleeping in his car).

This was at the Walmart on Grey Lag Way in Lexington, KY.

BCSnob wrote:
So let's review....

1) Can't come after dark to a campground because we might shine our headlights on someones RV/campsite, make too much noise with our tow vehicles, make too much noise setting-up, etc.
2) Can't sleep in a parking lot because we're being cheap, free loaders taking money away from campgrounds.

I guess the rule is we must all only drive after sunrise and be in a campground before sunset.



But we're not allowed in campgrounds since we travel with too many dogs that might pee on the grass killing it off where someone might want to walk barefoot or someone might have to see them poop.:S

I see no reason you can't arrive after dark, we've done it many times and it's common practice. As to the dog issue, I don't know.

I've spent the night at a USFS office parking lot a time or two, en route, out west, in barren small town country.

My thought process is that it is USFS leased/owned land I am overnighting on, how can they be mad at me for that? ;-)

So let's review....

1) Can't come after dark to a campground because we might shine our headlights on someones RV/campsite, make too much noise with our tow vehicles, make too much noise setting-up, etc.
2) Can't sleep in a parking lot because we're being cheap, free loaders taking money away from campgrounds.

I guess the rule is we must all only drive after sunrise and be in a campground before sunset.



But we're not allowed in campgrounds since we travel with too many dogs that might pee on the grass killing it off where someone might want to walk barefoot or someone might have to see them poop.:S

Keith Haw wrote:
Hope this is the right forum.

I have a question about WM camping. I've seen "The ABC's of Wal Mart Camping" and it said never open slider. Is that a fairly solid rule? Reason I ask is, in our current TT, the restroom isn't usable without the slide out. Never thought about that when we were looking at the TT and it's to late now to do anything about it.

There's no such thing as "WalMart Camping", but there is WalMart parking overnight allowed at SOME WMs. I think you would be OK opening your slide enough to use the bathroom if you were parked out of the way.

BTW, overnight parking at our local WM is prohibited by local city ordinance and will result in a fine.

But if you're not talking about staying overnight and just staying for a while, I see no problem with what you want to do.

NinerBikes wrote:

K3WE wrote:

Redsky wrote:
There are zero advantages to staying at a public parking lot and I always know in advance where I am going to be the following day and what my options are for spending the night.

Zero advantages?

Here's a hint: Absolute statements are almost always wrong.

Advantages: Walmarts are often more convenient to get to than a campground (or free city park), WalMart has lots of great supplies at great prices a very short walk away, WalMarts usually have spacious parking lots,WalMarts often welcome campers. WalMart does not require any sign in procedure where you have to complete a card with your rig's length, license plate, TV make, model and color.

Seems advantageous to me- most especially the bolded statement.

But WalMart doesn't welcome camping in their parking lot.

It's a slippery slope when you put your slide out. In my eyes, that is a step towards setting up camp. Where do you draw the line?

Sure- everyone will draw the line at a different place but soemwhere between parking in a far corner and opening a slide so you can pass by to the bathroom and and sleeping one night versus rugs, chairs, BBQ's, unhitching and multiple nights.

And, for whatever it's worth- it doesn't matter where you or I draw the line, it's the Wal-Mart manager. A few years ago, out west I was amazed at how Wal Mart did resemble a campground, with chairs, rugs, unhitched campers...a bit over the top for me, but it's not my call. At the other extreme are the folks who stop for the night and patronize the store.

Keith Haw wrote:
Dustytuu wrote:

Just my opinion, if you can't afford or want to spend money for a campground for overnight, then maybe this RV life may not be for you.


Dustytuu, yes I did read your post and it did sound like a personal attack. But you have a right to your opinion, that's the reason I didn't reply to it.

Nuff said, time to move on.

I concur 110%.