To camp or not camp at WMart ?

[hokeypokey]

Big story in the paper today about 4 Walmart in our area. 2 allow overnights, 2 do not. It was discussed by City Fathers when building permits were issued, but no action so now they have a dilemma. Wish they would report exactly where overnighters should go if outlawed.

[ccchuck]

Camping at Walmart - been enough said about that here to publish a book.
Please, yes folks do, some folks don't, the latter often think no one should -
but (cliche coming) this is America, so short of breaking the law, or "camping" at a Walmart or similar that has declared itself off limits, is the personal decision of the persons involved,
I've been rving since the 70's, stayed in a parking lot one time, worked fine btw, but rehashing this over and over ain't changing no body's mind, sorry about this, kinda like Trump/Clinton - but, shoot, it passes the time.

[Atlee]

I think you used the wrong term in your subject line. Obviously, there should never be any "camping" at Walmart. Walmarts should only be used for over night sleeping, getting some supplies in needed, eating a meal at a close by restaurant, and then get on the road in the morning.

Don't put out chairs and awnings. I don't even put out my slide since I can use all functions without doing so.

hokeypokey wrote:
Big story in the paper today about 4 Walmart in our area. 2 allow overnights, 2 do not. It was discussed by City Fathers when building permits were issued, but no action so now they have a dilemma. Wish they would report exactly where overnighters should go if outlawed.

[Lantley]

I have Wal Mart over nighted and I have CG overnighted. WAl Mart is less expensive, and more convenient with no time constaints. It is also generally noisier, less secure and always a bit of a gamble as to what can happen vs. a CG which more expensive, less convenient, has set hours to be observed, but always quieter and more secure.
At a CG there is a policy,staff,system and amenities to cater to your needs, that you are paying for. At a WAl Mart you are on your own but their is no expense.
In today's age both Wal Mart and CG's have their place for passing through travelers. A wise RV'er understands their options and current situation and chooses accordingly.

[FunnyCamper]

Yup, the judging of another. How we despise when it is done to us yet so many do it to others every waking minute.

RV means to me, freedom, hit the road, live the carefree lifestyle, enjoy what works for you, live that adventure, roll with the flow and SO MUCH more, yet so many 'confine' Rving to 'their standards'. So sad really.

Are you the live free type and go with the flow and whatever happens in your day on the road you find the good in it and smile, or are you the type that takes that 'rigid rat race' mentality of homeownership on the road and live that 'tight' life you are trying to escape from in the first place by buying an RV to 'live how you want with your freedom to move at the drop of a hat?'

I find this so interesting how people 'approach' Rv'ing actually.

[Ringer]

:

Busskipper wrote:
Wal*Mart


Always interesting - when leaving a local WM in Maryland I watched 2 Prevost pull in to spend the Night - almost took a picture for this type discussion.

Some people do some don't - just do what works for you!

We DO when it make sense - and we do not JUDGE those who need to.

JMHO,

AMEN:) As the song goes: "Different Strokes for Different Folks"

[colliehauler]

Over nite yes, camp no. If I just need a nap because I'm to tired to go on then a parking lot will work. Would prefer a campground with electric in the summer.

[FunnyCamper]

restful sleep at a truck stop or parking lot situation. OF COURSE!

at a rest area loaded with big trucks, we pulled in and parked and I said to hubby, no way, listen to all this noise, well within 1/2 hr we were out like a light and about 5 hrs later when we woke, ALL trucks were gone, we were the only ones in the rest area. Didn't hear any rev up and leave.

When exhausted while driving long on the road, when your head hits the pillow it doesn't matter what the outside situation is around you 🙂

I don't stop overnight for fast rest to take a shower, even tho I could in my own camper.....self contained ya know!

And on these long trips, expense is a factor for many! everyone is not retired with all the time in the world to get somewhere, everyone is not loaded in the bank and has money to throw out at every turn, one thing many RVers love is that they can control expenses easily, they have their home on wheels, park and sleep wherever you can!

[GordonThree]

Regarding the noise issue... I've stayed in some awful noisy campgrounds, no better or worse than a WalMart lot.

Murphy's law or whatever, at a campground I'll get a spot next to the guy who needs to be a work by 6 so he starts his diesel at 5am to "warm up", or the group that's well into their second 36 pack of beers yucking it up around the campfire.

the rumble of a trucker's diesel or aux cooling unit turns into white noise - no worse than my Yamaha 2000 purring away in the truck bed.

I do admit, I find the automatic occasional purging of air brakes to be distracting while trying to sleep.

[VE3ESN]

Those of us who travel in the winter months to a southern destination cannot find an open campground the first or second night of the journey. Thank goodness that many (but not all, so check first) Walmarts, Lowes, Home Depots, Cracker Barrels, Flying J/Pilot and others allow getting a night's sleep in their parking lot. But folks, please don't refer to it as "camping". No barbecues, lawn chairs, slideouts, etc., or you'll ruin the privilege for all of us. Also, try to patronize the businesses that welcome you to stay overnight in their lot.

[Roy_Lynne]

Your right Dewey02, and I should mention that we are retired and NOTHING in this world would make us travel after dark or late into the night until we are exhausted. I didn't consider this when I posted.

[3oaks]

Roy&Lynne wrote:
We just returned from a trip and I was so pleased to see how many folks who are traveling stop at real Campgrounds even if they are just overnighting We spent one night at 7 Feathers, a popular RV campground in Southern Oregon and its was like $35 ish a night, but we got nice hot showers, we got to wash a load of laundry, we got a shuttle down to the casino for dinner and having electricity, water and a dump is great. We also spent a couple nights at a KOA and again, having a hot shower, having TV, and the safety and quite was worth the money. Our other nights we stayed at State Parks and enjoyed the space, the fresh air, the showers, the walking trails. I know that staying at WalMart is cheap and convenient, but do you really get restful sleep in some parking lot?

I agree with you 100%, IF that is what we want along the way. However sometimes our plans are to travel from point A to point B without any side excursions. Sometimes our trips are 1000+ miles apart and all we are looking for are places to catch 6+/- hours sleep and move on.

Do we really get a good night's sleep in a parking lot? Yes we do.
Although we prefer Cracker Barrels. Love their breakfasts early in the morning. 😉 Even Flying Js that have a decent restaurant as part of their complex. 🙂

[dewey02]

Roy&Lynne wrote:
We just returned from a trip and I was so pleased to see how many folks who are traveling stop at real Campgrounds even if they are just overnighting We spent one night at 7 Feathers, a popular RV campground in Southern Oregon and its was like $35 ish a night, but we got nice hot showers, we got to wash a load of laundry, we got a shuttle down to the casino for dinner and having electricity, water and a dump is great. We also spent a couple nights at a KOA and again, having a hot shower, having TV, and the safety and quite was worth the money. Our other nights we stayed at State Parks and enjoyed the space, the fresh air, the showers, the walking trails. I know that staying at WalMart is cheap and convenient, but do you really get restful sleep in some parking lot?

What you described is clearly a good reason to stay at a "real campground."

But when we have used Walmarts, we aren't there to take showers, or do laundry, or go to the casino for dinner or dump our tanks. We are there to stop driving and climb in the bed for a six or seven hour sleep. Yes, I have had many nights of restful sleep at Walmarts, and I have some nights with a lot of noise waking me up. This is EXACTLY how it is at some state park and private campgrounds. Some nights of restful sleep, but other parks/CGs where the CG is right next to the highway with jake braking, motorcycles, car alarms and the lights of all the businesses.

And sometimes when you are travelling until late at night, you just want someplace easy to find and a place to park that is easy to get into (no backing up among trees).

[ependydad]

azdryheat wrote:
Except for camping-on-the-cheap, what's the allure for a night at Walmart?

mgirardo wrote:
We don't camp at Walmart, just spend 6 to 8 hours to get some sleep. Most likely if we are spending the night at a Walmart it is because we are on a long haul and just need to get some rest. Most highway rest stops along I-95 (where most of our travels are) don't allow overnight parking. Truck stops are too noisy and too bright.

Walmart welcomes the practice and it also offers us a place to stock up on things we may have forgotten or perhaps we planned to use the Walmart to stock the camper for our trip. If we are pulling into a Walmart for some rest, it is usually late at night, after 11 pm. Instead of bothering campers pulling into or backing into a site and to possibly bother them again when we leave at the crack of dawn, it makes more sense to park at a Walmart. We don't need electric, water or sewer; we don't need a pool, playground, dog walk, etc., etc., Walmart is the better option for us.

-Michael

Ivylog wrote:
As the owner of a CG, Please go to Walmart if it's after dark. By then we've already put in a long day and some "campers" may already be asleep. When traveling I still put in long days and rarely know where I'll be stopping...when I get tired I stop, often at a Walmart or Cracker Barrel and it usually costs me $25+ at CB and $35+ at WM.

Michael & Ivylog pretty well summed it up for us.

For me, it isn't about money. It's hugely about not being "that guy" who showed up at 11pm-midnight-1am and did minimal setup. As much as my truck is quiet, it's still a diesel and it's noisy. Add in my headlights flashing people's windows as I drive around to find a spot. And finally, a pull-thru is ideal but I don't always line up on them 100% the first try; and I pity you if I have to back into a spot in the dark of night. Then, I love my family- I really do, but I've yet to find we get somewhere and not make 3-5 trips into and out of the truck for "random thing". The kids don't ever close the doors gently. But hey, be happy I turned off my horn when I hit the lock on it. 😄

Contrast that to Walmart:
I drive into a well-lit parking lot. I pull up to a set of spots away from cars. I still get into and out of my truck, but that's no different than dozens of other vehicles in the parking lot.


Now, the second side of it IS convenience for me. Walmart parking lots and drives to/through them are usually decently lit. I don't have to worry about driving over a small boulder, or hitting a 3-4' road side, or taking out an ill-placed site marker.


All of that comes well before the cost factor.

[Roy_Lynne]

We just returned from a trip and I was so pleased to see how many folks who are traveling stop at real Campgrounds even if they are just overnighting We spent one night at 7 Feathers, a popular RV campground in Southern Oregon and its was like $35 ish a night, but we got nice hot showers, we got to wash a load of laundry, we got a shuttle down to the casino for dinner and having electricity, water and a dump is great. We also spent a couple nights at a KOA and again, having a hot shower, having TV, and the safety and quite was worth the money. Our other nights we stayed at State Parks and enjoyed the space, the fresh air, the showers, the walking trails. I know that staying at WalMart is cheap and convenient, but do you really get restful sleep in some parking lot?