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]

bfast54 wrote:

RandACampin wrote:

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.

You are very incorrect --Overnight means you pull in you maybe run the Generator a little bit for TV or air condition and you go to bed .

camping you put out your chairs put out your awnings put out grill that is camping

Wrong, anything I do in my camper is camping. Weather its an quick stay or not it's still camping.

[bfast54]

RandACampin wrote:

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.

You are very incorrect --Overnight means you pull in you maybe run the Generator a little bit for TV or air condition and you go to bed .

camping you put out your chairs put out your awnings put out grill that is camping

[Ralph_Cramden]

swimmer_spe wrote:

rockylarson wrote:
OK, here are the rules: RV industry Good Neighbor Policy

Looks like common courtesy rules.

The first sentence is interesting. Parking overnight on private property is apparently a right lol.

[swimmer_spe]

rockylarson wrote:
OK, here are the rules: RV industry Good Neighbor Policy

Looks like common courtesy rules.

[rockylarson]

OK, here are the rules: RV industry Good Neighbor Policy

[Chuck_thehammer]

my somewhat limited experience with overnight stays at business ..

over 2 years..
I stayed 10 nights, not together or same places..... chain restaurants next to major highways.( YES, I asked ).. I have always been alone in the parking lots after 11 pm..

I arrive between 6-8pm.. out by 6am.
I do not run my generator . but do put out the slide,
otherwise our kitchen is useless. I need my Hot Coffee in the morning.

[Veebyes]

AHHHHH! At a Walmart tonight & using Walmart WIFI no less. It works! something more than can be said for many CGs where the excuse for WIFI not working is always "We had a lightning strike a couple of days ago." or "The tech is coming TOMORROW." Not dark yet & there are already at least 4 other Wally campers in the lot.

The nights stay has already cost over $100 & the DW is planning another trip inside.

[DrewE]

Floridastorm wrote:

Something that has not been mentioned is running your generator while overnighting at Walmart, or any other commercial place for that matter. Since many areas of the country are too warm for comfortable sleeping in an RV, the generator has to be run overnight for AC and subsequently to muffle the outside noise. Does the generator sound disturb other people who are not there in RV's?

If it's a somewhat busy parking lot, there are almost guaranteed to be engines running due to people driving in and out. If it's not a busy parking lot, there's nobody around to disturb. I wouldn't have the slightest scruple with using the generator while overnighting at a Wal-mart or similar if the weather called for that.

[free_radical]

Floridastorm wrote:
Considering that Walmart is one of the most successful businesses on the planet, I'm positive their accounting department has already ascertained on average how much RV overnighter's spend in their stores. Want to bet that the average is probably more per night than the cost of an RV park.

Something that has not been mentioned is running your generator while overnighting at Walmart, or any other commercial place for that matter. Since many areas of the country are too warm for comfortable sleeping in an RV, the generator has to be run overnight for AC and subsequently to muffle the outside noise. Does the generator sound disturb other people who are not there in RV's?

I doubt it,,its not as loud as the big rigs hauling freight in,,besides if its very hot people idle their engines to run AC also..
Ive had one camper owner next to me appologize for runing genset,,
I said its no bother at all,,I just turn my radio volume bit higher

[Floridastorm]

Considering that Walmart is one of the most successful businesses on the planet, I'm positive their accounting department has already ascertained on average how much RV overnighter's spend in their stores. Want to bet that the average is probably more per night than the cost of an RV park.

Something that has not been mentioned is running your generator while overnighting at Walmart, or any other commercial place for that matter. Since many areas of the country are too warm for comfortable sleeping in an RV, the generator has to be run overnight for AC and subsequently to muffle the outside noise. Does the generator sound disturb other people who are not there in RV's?

[ThePowells]

Inflated hotel prices? This family decided to camp at Wal-Mart, and they’re loving it

http://www.myrtlebeachonline.com/news/local/article153178544.html

[swimmer_spe]

JaxDad wrote:

Veebyes wrote:
Jaxdad, there is always somebody with a good reason to use Walmart, or similar, for the occasional overnight. That is not the intention of the OP who seems to be planning a trip based on being able to Wallycamp to save money.

Nothing wrong with Wallycamping IMO for reasons such as you listed or simply an overnight in transit. A Wally stop, including some grocery shopping, is in my plans in a couple of days. Trips are not planned around the availability of a Walmart.

Actually, the OP said "Instead of finding a campground each night, I am thinking of camping in parking lots.".

The OP clearly stated that Wally Docking overnight was all they wanted to do. I think somebody else mentioned staying a few days, but it was not the OP.

OP here,

I do intend to stay just a night, not a few days.

[swimmer_spe]

JaxDad wrote:

Veebyes wrote:
Jaxdad, there is always somebody with a good reason to use Walmart, or similar, for the occasional overnight. That is not the intention of the OP who seems to be planning a trip based on being able to Wallycamp to save money.

Nothing wrong with Wallycamping IMO for reasons such as you listed or simply an overnight in transit. A Wally stop, including some grocery shopping, is in my plans in a couple of days. Trips are not planned around the availability of a Walmart.

Actually, the OP said "Instead of finding a campground each night, I am thinking of camping in parking lots.".

The OP clearly stated that Wally Docking overnight was all they wanted to do. I think somebody else mentioned staying a few days, but it was not the OP.

OP here.

I am planning on using it so that I do not need to pay for a site for a few hours in between my destinations.

[JaxDad]

Veebyes wrote:
Jaxdad, there is always somebody with a good reason to use Walmart, or similar, for the occasional overnight. That is not the intention of the OP who seems to be planning a trip based on being able to Wallycamp to save money.

Nothing wrong with Wallycamping IMO for reasons such as you listed or simply an overnight in transit. A Wally stop, including some grocery shopping, is in my plans in a couple of days. Trips are not planned around the availability of a Walmart.

Actually, the OP said "Instead of finding a campground each night, I am thinking of camping in parking lots.".

The OP clearly stated that Wally Docking overnight was all they wanted to do. I think somebody else mentioned staying a few days, but it was not the OP.