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?

[RandACampin]

jarata1 wrote:
Don't plan on setting up a grill and cooking

Why not?

[Atlee]

Agree completely. Staying at WM isn't about touring America,
one parking lot after another. It's about getting from point A (home) to point B (say national park), and spending some down time sleeping on the way.

There is a lot of open road between Virginia and the national parks in southern Utah. Therefore there will be a lot of nights on the road getting there. I'm not going to seek out a private campground every night while transiting. I will be stopping at a lot of WM type places to get some nighttime sleep, and then continue the trip in the morning.

rjxj wrote:
People don't go to places like wm because they enjoy it they go because it works on their way to where they will enjoy being.

[Matt_Colie]

ScottG wrote:
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.

JaxDad wrote:

I'm on the road at zero-dark-thirty each morning and even in the best of the summer daylight I'm never off the road until way past dark.

Maybe it's just the considerate part of me but I would NEVER pull into a campground so late and then depart before dawn and disturb a park full of people on vacation, and paying for some R & R.

Wow, I read this and JaxDad hit squarely where we sit. We don't mind paying for a campground (we are in one now for a rally), but when we are traveling. We often have a destination. We also Co-Drive, so a road day can be very long. We have landed at 24hr Walmart Super Centers that had fewer than a dozen vehicles in the entire lot. We have hit Cabela's that were closed. If you have to have a campground to stop and sleep, there is a great deal of this country you might never see.

JaxDad also hit on the late arrival and ea rly departure issue. That would be us all over. Then there is the issue that many crampgrounds simply can accept arrivals after 9PM. Of course, all the amenities a that are included are worthless, but if you are that wealthy, I guess you don't mind giving it away. We don't like doing that.

There have been times that I was driving and DW was making breakfast. Other times its dinner, but lunch is often skipped.

Matt

[swimmer_spe]

I am thinking of doing it for the times that I am trying to get to my destination, and it is just too far to do in 1 day. I also do not like pulling in past dark either.

[jplante4]

JaxDad wrote:
Maybe it's just the considerate part of me but I would NEVER pull into a campground so late and then depart before dawn and disturb a park full of people on vacation, and paying for some R & R.

Not everyone who travels by RV is a retiree who can be off the road by 3pm and not need to head out before 10am.

More people should be this considerate.

[JaxDad]

jarata1 wrote:

ScottG wrote:
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.

+1

In my case, more than 9 out of 10 times I'm travelling it's for sort of business, 'monkey business' as my DW calls it.

I'm on the road at zero-dark-thirty each morning and even in the best of the summer daylight I'm never off the road until way past dark.

Maybe it's just the considerate part of me but I would NEVER pull into a campground so late and then depart before dawn and disturb a park full of people on vacation, and paying for some R & R.

Not everyone who travels by RV is a retiree who can be off the road by 3pm and not need to head out before 10am.

[jplante4]

Smaller general aviation airports will usually allow an overnight in their parking lot. Go to skyvector.com to find them and if you click on the airport dot, it will bring up the info on that field along with the phone number of the airport manager. Call him/her and check.

[azrving]

People don't go to places like wm because they enjoy it they go because it works on their way to where they will enjoy being.

[dave17352]

We just stayed at Walmart in Salina Kansas. We stay a Walmart now and then. Great when you are driving late and just want to crash. I always call ahead and check with them and ask about the neighborhood also. The folks are always real friendly and helpful. We do not put down stabilizers etc. We just pull in sleep and maybe shop a little in the morning before heading down the road. If we stop early in the day we go to a campground. JMHO

[Lwiddis]

"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"

Because it was completely legal or because you didn't get caught and cited?

[SidecarFlip]

Both the Walmarts close to us have no overnight parking signs posted in their lots but I suspect it's from local ordinances.

[JimK-NY]

jarata1 wrote:

ScottG wrote:
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.

+1

I have found a great deal of difference in what people consider to be camping and what they enjoy. I enjoy travel, visiting the national parks and other great scenic areas. That often means driving considerable distances. At the end of the day, I am interested in a quiet, safe and convenient place to pull off the road and spend the night. I have endless choices with a truck camper. For those who have slides, need to lower jacks or need hook ups, choices are more limited. Walmart parking lots are not designed for any of those needs. I have noticed Walmart has become more restrictive. They still welcome RVers, but I seen signs limited stays to 24 hours. Some Walmart lots have been taken over my workcampers and those who are just trying to live cheap.

[jarata1]

ScottG wrote:
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.

+1

[jarata1]

Don't plan on setting up a grill and cooking

[dahkota]

We have overnighted dozens of times over the last three and half years of full timing.
Our first choice is typically casinos - they often have a restaurant.
Our second choice is rest areas - we've never seen a prostitute or drug dealer in the dozens we have been to. We also have never been kicked out of one. North Carolina has some great ones.
Our third choice is Cabela's - they can get busy but are typically clean and quiet
Our fourth choice is walmart - they are ok but can be loud and sometimes the people hanging out there leave a lot to be desired.
Our fifth choice is truck stops - we look for ones with RV parking. Loves, T/A, and Pilot all have apps that describe their stores.

Best of luck and enjoy the trip!