Camping at a WalMart

[david]

[p]Seriously, it can be done, and WalMart encourages it. Apparently Sam Walton was an RV kind of guy and more importantly he recognized that allowing RVs to pull in for the night was good business- they often bought something. So about 95% of the WalMarts in the country allow overnight camping and those that don't, prohibit it because of a local ordinance.[/p][p]
[/p][p]If you google camping at WalMart you will get a list of WalMarts that allow camping and those that don't. It is best to call ahead of time and just ask whoever answers the phone if it is ok. So far I have never been turned down. They will usually tell you where to camp, usually in a side corner of their parking lot.[/p][p]
[/p][p]You don't do this for the rustic experience that I talked about in another thread. You aren't going to sit around the campfire listening to the bubbling brook. But if you have been driving all day, are half way to your endpoint and just want a place to stop for the night, then do it. To me it doesn't make sense to seek out a commercial campground and pull in at 8:00 at night and leave the next morning early. Stay at a WalMart for free![/p][p]
[/p][p]Do not unhook your TV. Park out of the way in a pull through parking spot. Keep a low profile. Lock your trailer when you go to bed. Once a shopping center security guard stopped by and said that the nearby Duncan Donuts wasn't happy about RVers camping nearby, but he also implied that WalMart had made prior arrangements with the shopping center owner to allow camping, so I was ok. Just keep a low profile he said. I avoid DD after that experience.[/p][p]
[/p][p]Give it a try when you need to- it works.[/p][p]
[/p][p]David[/p]

[ammobob]

The Allstays Camp & RV App also shows all Walmarts and the info tab will tell you if you can camp on their lot or not. Good when you are on the road traveling.

[shovelhead]

As David noted not all Walmarts allow camping.  Some do not  because of local municipal  restrictions. The Walmart close to me does not  for this reason.  Cabelas is great for free over night camping. Free water, some have dump stations, some even have horse stalls, dog exercise areas.

[mitch]

[quote source="/post/13039/thread" timestamp="1436476433" author="@shovelhead"]As David noted not all Walmarts allow camping.  Some do not  because of local municipal  restrictions. The Walmart close to me does not  for this reason.  Cabelas is great for free over night camping. Free water, some have dump stations, some even have horse stalls, dog exercise areas.
[/quote]Good to know about the Cabelas, thanks.

[fasteddieb]

When we just want to sleep, WalMart is kinda a go to for us. We always call ahead to verify its OK.

So far, in the first year we hit the WalMarts in...

Lake City, FL
Perry, GA
New Bern, NC
Asheville, NC

Not an idyllic camping experience, but quite serviceable when tired and the price is right!

[jtelles3993]

Pilots and Flying Js are good for last minute, quick overnighters too. Another shout out for the Allstays App, it's a great tool for locating, reading reviews and phone links for instant calling ahead.

[peislander]

Casinos & many wineries often allow free rv stays. (I suppose it would be possible to have a very inexpensive vacation in Vegas if you are in the neighborhood).

[fasteddieb]

Karen found, and signed us up for, Harvest Hosts.

[a href="http://harvesthosts.com"]http://harvesthosts.com[/a]

Have not yet had occasion to use it, but she's checking out places to overnight for our upcoming trip to Indiana for her High School Reunion.

Will report back on our experience.

[ammobob]

[quote source="/post/13250/thread" timestamp="1436961030" author="@fasteddieb"]Karen found, and signed us up for, Harvest Hosts.

[a href="http://harvesthosts.com"]http://harvesthosts.com[/a]

Have not yet had occasion to use it, but she's checking out places to overnight for our upcoming trip to Indiana for her High School Reunion.

Will report back on our experience. [/quote]Looks like a neat site. Will sign up and explore. What part of Indiana? Lived in Rushville growing up.

[jeeps]

[font size="3"]We've spent several nights at different Walmarts, arriving late and leaving early, respecting all the rules and courtesies.  We felt safe, comfortable, and appreciative.  I've heard one reason that the number of stores that allow this is decreasing, ..... campgrounds where you must pay are in league fighting it via city ordinances.  That doesn't set well with me.[/font]

[david]

Brenda:

I agree. Whenever I find a WalMart that doesn't allow staying overnight (rare), I make it a point of not stopping in that town, buying gas, groceries, food, whatever. If the town fathers would just look at the benefits of allowing WalMart overnight stays, they would change. But lobbyists are lobbyists, small towns or not.

David

While staying overnight at WM is a great idea, I do not believe that pop-ups are allowed.  Best to call ahead first.

[dh50]

[quote source="/post/13255/thread" timestamp="1436967691" author="@ammobob"][quote source="/post/13250/thread" timestamp="1436961030" author="@fasteddieb"]Karen found, and signed us up for, Harvest Hosts.

[a href="http://harvesthosts.com"]http://harvesthosts.com[/a]

Have not yet had occasion to use it, but she's checking out places to overnight for our upcoming trip to Indiana for her High School Reunion.

Will report back on our experience. [/quote]Looks like a neat site. Will sign up and explore. What part of Indiana? Lived in Rushville growing up.[/quote]Graduated high school, (reunion was last May), in NE Indianapolis.  Family still in the cornfields of Darlington, IN.  Too cold for us, but Indy will always conjure up warm feelings for us. 

[fasteddieb]

Karen's High School reunion is in Peru, IN.

She spent part of her childhood there. Her father was in the Air Force and stationed at what is now Grissom AFB.

[jeeps]

[quote source="/post/13273/thread" timestamp="1436981466" author="@bjugrad79"]While staying overnight at WM is a great idea, I do not believe that pop-ups are allowed.  Best to call ahead first.[/quote]That seems reasonable.  I would guess they want their parking lot to look like a parking lot and not a campground.  When we did our overnights there, we kept our slide in for that reason.