Parking at Walmart

[DReisinger]

Wanted to leave my 5th wheel and TV in their lot at Fleming Island,Fl, just south of Jacksonville. I had shopping to get supplies,on my way South.Was leaving next morning. Was told, NO, it would be towed if supervisor for outside, Amanda, saw it when she came to work. Winn Dixie next door was more accommodating and they got my business. Walmart has the last of my money.

[toedtoes]

It really comes down to "ask first". It is not your right to park overnight in any parking lot. Whatever their reason: town ordinance, store policy, manager preference, etc.; they have the right to tell you no.

And those things can change pretty much overnight. So just because you stayed once doesn't mean you can stay again. A problem with an RVer one night can cause a store to change its policy. An ordinance can come into effect between your trip out and your trip back.

As for the idea of identifying RV friendly places like hobos used to do, that won't work well. Those identifications are considered graffiti and vandalism nowadays and would make RVs less welcome than they are now.

While convenient overnight stays are desireable for us RVers, we need to consider all the other people affected by it. And despite the belief that RVers are all wonderful people and never cause trouble, there are a lot of RVers out there who are not considerate, thoughtful or polite. Those RVers are often the ones at fault for stores banning RV overnighting.

[toedtoes]

GordonThree wrote:
Most of those listed surely do charge.

I believe he meant the producers of the books don't charge the campground to be listed in the book.

[GordonThree]

Most of those listed surely do charge.

[westernrvparkow]

GordonThree wrote:

hypoxia wrote:

GordonThree wrote:
Why not park overnight at a local campground?

One thing that surprises us is how often we find ourselves in an area with no camping facilities nearby or availability. None of the campground apps are complete which leaves many camping facilities empty, no one knows about them for some reason.

Try to find the downtown Lynchburg, TN camp in Allstays, Good Sam or RV Parkey. Five 50 Amp with water and one of those has sewer in downtown Lynchburg at Wiseman Park. That is just one example of many.

I guess, for overnight, are hookups really needed? Walmart does not provide hookups.

I agree, a complete directory of campgrounds would be nice, this is the information age after all. I guess it's also the age of greed, those who compile these lists want compensation from both ends.

The Good Sam guidebook sets the criteria at 10 sites available to the public (I am not 100% certain on that amount, but it is close). They also require it to be an actual campground not just parking lots, truck stops, internet rest stops etc. Finally, they don't list campgrounds that only seasonal (no short stay allowed) or are not available to the public (member only, fraternal only etc.). That seems like a reasonable set of criteria to me. Contrary to your implication, the most complete directories I know of such as Good Sam and the online resources such as Trip Advisor, RVParkreviews, RVParky, Allstays, Google etc. do not charge any fees whatsoever to be listed. Greed just isn't a factor.

[TomG2]

Human nature being what it is, I wonder how many choose to keep their secret places instead of reporting them to the makers of campground lists?

[GordonThree]

hypoxia wrote:

GordonThree wrote:
Why not park overnight at a local campground?

One thing that surprises us is how often we find ourselves in an area with no camping facilities nearby or availability. None of the campground apps are complete which leaves many camping facilities empty, no one knows about them for some reason.

Try to find the downtown Lynchburg, TN camp in Allstays, Good Sam or RV Parkey. Five 50 Amp with water and one of those has sewer in downtown Lynchburg at Wiseman Park. That is just one example of many.

I guess, for overnight, are hookups really needed? Walmart does not provide hookups.

I agree, a complete directory of campgrounds would be nice, this is the information age after all. I guess it's also the age of greed, those who compile these lists want compensation from both ends.

[TomG2]

wanderingbob wrote:
I never ask , and have never been told NO or been told to leave . We stay at maybe 20 Wal-Marts per year .

There are reports of local police and tow truck operators that can make it more expensive than a campground. "If" I owned the parking lot, I would be more inclined to fight local ordinances against overnight parking if people showed me the respect of asking.

[wanderingbob]

I never ask , and have never been told NO or been told to leave . We stay at maybe 20 Wal-Marts per year .

[drsteve]

Our local Walmart has sold so many outlots around their perimeter that there isn't really a good place left to park a large RV.

[TomG2]

Most of you do not remember hobos, but they had ways of marking the places that were friendly to bums. Maybe that is what we need today?

(I have spent many nights at the Walmart Astoria myself)

[Matt_Colie]

This is why it pays to call ahead and ask the manager. If we have any doubt, one of us will call and ask. The call usually starts with - we would like to stop at your store, do some shopping, then have dinner but remain until morning when we will be on our way.

The response is typically positive. At one such place, we were told that there was a new ordinance against it, but the local police had no interest in enforcing it and the store had a policy that was the same. She just instructed us as to where she would like us to park.

Matt

[TomG2]

When I asked the manager of a large Supercenter about parking, I was told that the store did not own or manage the parking lot. Being right on the Interstate, it had become a night parking lot for big trucks and RV's. The manager was not happy with the congestion it caused.

[hypoxia]

GordonThree wrote:
Why not park overnight at a local campground?

One thing that surprises us is how often we find ourselves in an area with no camping facilities nearby or availability. None of the campground apps are complete which leaves many camping facilities empty, no one knows about them for some reason.

Try to find the downtown Lynchburg, TN camp in Allstays, Good Sam or RV Parkey. Five 50 Amp with water and one of those has sewer in downtown Lynchburg at Wiseman Park. That is just one example of many.

[SidecarFlip]

free radical wrote:

Retired JSO wrote:
We shop at the Fleming Island Walmart, US 17 and county road 220. There are campers and semi’s parked over night regularly on the lot.

Theres a diference between daytime parking and nightime.

No one is shoping at night,so there is plenty of space to park.

Not true in the states. Most Walmart's are 24-7 operations.

Still PRIVATE property and you are a guest so it's up to the manager and local ordinances.

[TomG2]

free radical wrote:


No one is shoping at night,so there is plenty of space to park.

True, but much easier for them to sweep, perform security, and do maintenance on an empty or nearly empty lot. Some sweeper operators might be tempted to sweep around and around the expensive RV's that are in their way of doing a good job.