Quote:
Originally Posted by grawk /img/forum/go_quote.gif
It's almost always legal to camp in walmart parking lots. That seems preferable to risking arrest sleeping in neithborhoods.
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WalMart, Target and K-Mart are all fine with RVs spending the night, although it's always best to check with the store manager on night duty.
There are a select few WalMarts that do not allow RVs to stay overnight. I'm told that RV "gangs" have caused some problems in Tennessee and have thus worn out their WalMart welcome. Essentially, they're people who are hanging around a state park for a week on a fishing trip, but are too cheap to pay for RV slips.
From my perspective, the main thing is to be respectful. WalMart is actually my preferred "RV park" when I'm on the road alone and off of the interstate system, which isn't often now that I have the big trailer. But if it's just my motorhome (no trailer) and just me and all I'm really needing is some sleep, it doesn't make sense to pay for "hook ups" because I don't need them.
When I stay at WalMart:
1. I always ask for permission even if I see other RVs in the lot.
2. I always buy something, either for the fridge or whatever I might need at the time.
3. I never turn on my generator, open my slide out, use my grill, break out the lawn chairs, or crank up the music, etc.
I other words, I sleep, shower, buy something, and leave.
Same goes with staying overnight at truck stops (Flying J and Pilot are my favorites). I always buy fuel whether I need to or not, and eat breakfast at their restaurants even if my fridge is full. The food isn't too bad, actually.
When I'm traveling with others along for the ride, then it makes more sense to find RV parks that are large enough to accommodate my rig. Usually this means paying for two slips unless they have a separate area for large trailers. So it can get kind of expensive after a while, which is another reason to stick with truck stops if the intent is to get up in the morning and keep moving.
