OVERNITE WALLY WORLDS

Many RV’ers depend and use Wal-Mart for overnight parking while others frown on it.  Some respect it by using it for only a night or two and not setting up “camp” while others will set up as if they plan to camp for days on end.

We do use Wal-Marts parking lot for overnight stays.  But generally just for that one night only.  I guess you can call us “cheap”, because we don’t believe in paying $25.00+ dollars to a private park when all we plan on doing is sleeping and then getting up early the next day and heading out on the road.  If we were going to be there longer than just sleeping, then we would feel we would get our money’s worth.

Whenever we do use Wal-Mart for overnight parking, we try to be respectful by going way out and staying out of others way, letting the manager know we are there, and not setting up completely.  Since we do live in a very small motorhome, we do bring out our slide for just a bit more room.  But when we had our 5th wheels, we hardly ever did.

Recently we had to stay in a Wal-Mart parking lot in Parker AZ for a few nights due to battery engine trouble and waiting for parts.  We let them (Wal-Mart) know about our situation and they were just super to us.  We parked in the way back near their receiving door, but out of the way for their truckers to get in and out. 

What amazed us the most sitting there are those that live in their RV on a very short shoestring, move during the daytime to maybe another area of town and then back at Wal-Mart at night.  There were 3 single guys we watch do this faithfully every day.  Then we had an RV move in next to us, setting up as if they were in a regular campground!  Chairs out, a small mat, grill and if the winds hadn’t kicked up I think they probably would have had their awning out!  We just shook our head.

Now some Wal-Marts will not allow you to park overnight.  Most times it’s a city ordinance more than Wal-Mart policy.  Although there are a few That simply don’t want you to park overnight and that’s because they have had very bad experience with RV’ers.  There is a web page you can go to, to find out if it’s a no park Wal-Mart:  http://www.allstays.com/c/walmart-locations-noparking.htm

We have come across a few that even though they are a no park Wal-Mart, they allowed us to stay overnight-mainly because we were having oil change done the next morning.  We also came across one in Corpus Christi where we found a quiet out of the way spot and before I was out of the driver seat, security came over knocked on the door and told us that we had to move to the center area!   Once we got moved we notice he was making us park right in the main area of traffic and where other paying customers parked.  I opened my big mouth to the security guy and told him that he needs to let the manager know by “making” us RV’ers park here that if we should get hit, that he could be held liable for a lawsuit.  His response was that they were having trouble with RV’ers coming down for the winter months and literally parking all over for the whole season!  So the manager said that by parking us out in the middle we wouldn’t set up camp and only allowed 72 hours and then had to move off.

If a Wal-Mart won’t allow you to park in their parking lot, generally a Lowe’s, Home Depot, or Cracker Barrel will allow you to stay in their lots.  But make sure it’s not a city ordnance first-or you might get asked to move onto a private RV park.

So if you are traveling and really don’t want to pay for an overnight stay.  Please be respectful to other RV’ers that do use Wal-Mart parking for overnight stays. 

• DON’T set up as if you plan to camp for days on end.
• Unless you really need your slide out-leave them in
• DON’T stay more than a night or two, and if you must stay longer for some reason or another, talk with the manager and let them know your situation.
• DON’T dump your gray or black water down their sewer holes-that’s what makes it bad for the rest of us!
• DON’T park where you block other customers from coming in to shop-try to take an out of the way spot-even if it does angle badly.
• And least but not last-no matter how tired you are and how busy the store may be, try to be pleasant when you go in to do a little shopping. 

Wal-Mart for the most really don’t mind us RV’ers parking because we come in and spend money.  I know we do, sometimes just a few dollars while other times lots more.  Sometimes if there is a Sam’s Club near Wal-Mart we will park there instead; only because they do close at night and can be a little more quieter for sleeping.

One last thing;  If you stay over night and something should happen, Wal-Mart is NOT responsible.  And don’t think because they have security camera’s that they will help you if should get robbed or hit.  Their cameras are for their own security purpose only and they will not assist you in any way as far as the police looking at their video surveillance.

Thank you Wal-Mart for your patience with us RV’ers!