Walmart and other free camping

[swimmer_spe]

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?

[Turtle_n_Peeps]

I never did get this "have to find a place to park" thing. You have a self contained unit; park it anywhere you want to park as long as it's legal to park there.

I've stayed anywhere it's legal to park. I've stayed at WM, at Lowes, at Cracker Barrel, at truck stops and more than likely a dozen other places. I've stayed along side of a road or on a street many, many, many times. I just make sure I'm legally parked and I go to sleep. It really is that simple................at least it is for me!

[ScottG]

Not to sound harsh but if my only means of traveling the country were to have to stay in parking lots it just wouldn't be worth it for me. That just doesn't sound enjoyable to me.

[myredracer]

Overnighting in some states is legal and in some isn't. There is a state by state list here. Some states also have a max. stay limit ranging from 3 - 24 hours.

Casinos are a great place to overnight and many are extremely clean & tidy and can have full services, and some with all 50 amp sites. Some charge and some don't. Some have a shuttle service. Good place to have a decent priced buffet meal - well usually at least. 😞

Truck stops might seem like a possibility but truckers don't want RV-ers taking up spaces like mentioned here. RV-ers are welcome at some truck stops though - Flying J, Loves & Pilot for example. Check with each truck stop ahead of time before stopping at one. Some truck stops are humongous, like one I've been to in CA is like an international airport. Way cool! Don't forget your earplugs...

There is an app "Allstays Camp and RV" that is supposedly good for finding places to overnight and also tells you where to find gas stations, stores, low clearances, CGs, etc.

I'd suggest having a computer and a Verizon (or other) mifi so you can get online anywhere instead of having to resort to CG wifi. Besides being able to look up places to stop, you'll be able to check out routes for construction delays, road condition, dump stations, etc. and where you might want to stop for a little sightseeing.

I'd also add be prepared to alter your route at any time due to forest fires, hurricanes, floods, etc. This summer has been pretty bad for fires in the PNW. Climate change is creating some severe and unpredictable changes in weather patterns across NA.

[Matt_Colie]

Isaac-1 wrote:
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,
While most of what Isaac writes if true, you should be aware that while all Cabela's allow it, some municipalities have stopped this. Most notable is Hammond Indiana. It used to be one of our favorite stops, but not anymore. Shame too, between that and the Walmart next door we used it as a re-provision stop and left a lot of money in Hammond.
Corps of Engineers are great, but many are far enough off the highways as to make them no advantage. Without the book, they can be difficult to locate.
The RVparky app has ratings for many places to ONP at zero cost. I suggest you get that one. I access it from the web because I don't like the keyboard on my phone.

Matt

[Campfire_Time]

Pay attention to your "Spidey sense". That is if it doesn't feel right, bail out. And this is also a recommendation from Frommers travel guides. We've been to some waysides and truck stops that were just plain creepy. We move along.

An additional note about waysides. An increasing number of them are adding truck/trailer spaces as they remodel. In WI they've even added real time LED signs with available truck space reports a mile or so before the wayside. Very cool.

Officially you cannot overnight in a wayside in WI, but they'd rather have you stay there then have to scrape you off the pavement at 2:00 AM somewhere along the road.

[midnightsadie]

wal mart churchs, cracker barrel all great places to over night. leave the area better than you found it. p.s curchs are great ,some times theres a pot luck supper going on that we,ve been invited too,

[JaxDad]

Don't worry about the 'C word police' neighbour, you clearly said stopping each night, I.e. overnighting in your first post.

Lots of people just post replies without actually looking at the post their responding to.

I overnighted in parking lots and rest areas coast to coast in both countries more times than I care to remember in the past 13 years. It has never been a problem. Enjoy the trip.

[swimmer_spe]

OP here.

Ok, it is not camping. However, anytime I sleep in a tent or a travel trailer, regardless of where and how it is set up, I call camping.

I merely mention dropping the jacks as it means moving around doesn't shake the trailer.

And, thank you for the other ideas.

[Atlee]

I would never drop the trailer, put down stabilizers at a Walmart. For one thing, it looks like you are indeed camping there, and Walmart's aren't for camping. For another, even if I dropped the trailer and put out stabilizers, it defeats the purpose of why I used Walmarts. I use Walmarts strictly as a place to get some rest before continuing on my journey. Nothing more.

If I need to drop my trailer, I'll find a campground to stay at.

As for highway rest areas, depends. Some allow overnight rest, others do not. They are usually marked if you can or can't.

[RandACampin]

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.

[gbopp]

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.

[SDcampowneroper]

Overnighting in parking areas around restaurants, shopping , truck stops, rest areas are often open , often restricted.
Contact the local Chamber of Commerce for info.

Our faves for overnighting are public areas like schools on weekends, churches on weekdays. We always donate to show our appreciation

[SidecarFlip]

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.

[ulvik]

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.

[Lwiddis]

"3) Any other thoughts?"

Where are planning to dump and add fresh water?