Sleeping in the Walmart Parking Lot

[Tedd]

I recently bought a trailerable sailboat and had a 4,500 km tow home with it. On the way home we found out that many Walmarts will let you park overnight in their lot and sleep in your car, motorhome, trailer, or whatever. We slept on the boat each night and ate meals on board, saving a bundle on hotel and restaurant expenses. I'm throwing that out in case there are other trailerable owners who didn't know about it who might find it useful on a long trip.

 

[sail sfbay]

That is a widely known / used by rv'ers. However, in 40 years of trailing we always overnight in rv camp grounds, preferably those with a gate for safety and security.

More information on camping in Walmart parking lots: The Complete Guide to Walmart Parking Lot Camping (and Real Alternatives) - Camper Smarts AND Is Walmart Camping Dangerous For RVers? - RV LIFE

 

[Ralph Johnstone]

I'm familiar with the People of Walmart :

.......... but was not aware of the Campers of Walmart. An ingenious idea as long as the People don't come out at night to mingle with the Campers. That would be downright scary .

 

[Tedd]

It's a great set up. You can buy stuff you might need in the store, even food. You can use the washrooms until 10 PM and they re-open at 7 AM (at the stores we stopped at). None of the stores we stopped at had showers, but you can shower at Flying J truck stops, in Canada. I'm sure there's something similar in the U.S. It revolutionized our trip across the country with a boat on a trailer.

 

[Leeward Rail]

We slept on the boat each night and ate meals on board

That is one benefit that we enjoyed, in spite of the fact we didn't do as much trailering as planned.

While I wouldn't sleep at a Walmart unless I had no other choice, we did use campgrounds.
The reaction from other campers was priceless. Especially if we were sitting in the cockpit, eating, reading etc.

People of Walmart

I believe they are formally called "Walmartians"

 

[Leeward Rail]

It revolutionized our trip across the country with a boat on a trailer.

You should also look into using the small town, municipal camgrounds.

They are often free. Run by veterans, rotary club, etc. Often very nice and in the middle of town.

You buy stuff at the local small town stores and eat real food at the local diner. Breakfast with fresh apple pies... Yum.. No dishes. No cleanup.. Just eat and go.

Best part is you spend money with the small guys instead of the Walton family Corp.

We once woke up to a Saturday morning, little league baseball practice, on a field next to the boat, and then made friends with the locals at the diner.

You will occasionally get the "piano player stops playing" type of initial reaction, but if you are the friendly type, you can then become the entertainment of the week.

 

[Tedd]

While in wouldn't sleep at a Walmart unless I had no other choice, we did use campgrounds.

I initially considered campgrounds for our trip. For sure I would look at campgrounds if it was a pleasure trip, so to speak--definitely a nicer environment than a parking lot. But in our case the priorities were practicality and cost. Walmart parking lots have it all over campgrounds by those measures.

For example, my truck needed an oil change part way through the trip. No problem in the Walmart parking lot. Nobody even batted an eye.

 

[Ralph Johnstone]

"Walmartians"

That is waaaaaay too funny, Mr. Rail. Think I may have wet myself.

 

[rgranger]

That is waaaaaay too funny, Mr. Rail. Think I may have wet myself.

View attachment 210247

 

[Hayden Watson]

The second night after I took delivery of my brand new 40' class A from the factory, I had a reservation at a campground in Little Rock. I showed up at the campground at 5:30 pm only to find out that they lock the gate at 5:00pm and there is no way to get in after that. I continued west calling every campground I could find a listing for but after a couple of hours (and 100 miles) of trying with no success, I pulled into a Walmart and spent a very peaceful night in the parking lot with about a dozen semi's and 3-4 other RV's. In the morning, I when in a bought some groceries and other supplies before continuing on. It was nice to have a fall-back.

 

[JBP-PA]

You should also look into using the small town, municipal camgrounds.

They are often free. Run by veterans, rotary club, etc. Often very nice and in the middle of town.
...
Best part is you spend money with the small guys instead of the Walton family Corp.

How can you find places like this? Especially if you are traveling. I've run across one or two, but it was just by luck. Is there was a reliable directory somewhere?

 

[Brian D]

One cannot just pull into any Walmart, or for that matter public parking lot, and assume that overnight stay is allowed. One should have the common courtesy of talking to the manager and getting permission. Unfortunately this is not always the case. At the Walmart where I shop, this practice it is not allowed. However, the parking lot is big and not all of it is related to Walmart. There are other businesses that lends to the question of who has what say over parking. There are even signage saying overnight parking is not allowed.

If one is going to stay at a Walmart vice a local hotel/motel, have the common courtesy to ask for permission instead of pleading ignorance and saying I'm sorry. I know, it is easier to say the latter than doing the former.

Safe travels and as always, JMHO.

 

[Leeward Rail]

At the Walmart where I shop, this practice it is not allowed.

Yup.. Always ask.
Only approximately half of the Walmart stores currently allow it. As you say, many do not own the parking lot.

 

[Leeward Rail]

How can you find places like this? Especially if you are traveling. I've run across one or two, but it was just by luck. Is there was a reliable directory somewhere?

Every time I found them, it was usually either a old campground listing book or advice of others. We have only found a few online.
That may have changed recently.

I suspect that due to the fact they are usually free, and run by small town councils or veterans or whatever, many aren't listed online yet.
Some are listed online, but many do seem to be behind the times.

It is also amazing how many great camp locations we have found by stopping and asking people.

The time when we woke up next to a baseball game, was a last minute place because we couldn't find a anything else available. We asked at the gas station and they said.. "Yeah.. We have one in the park."

 

[Tedd]

One cannot just pull into any Walmart, or for that matter public parking lot, and assume that overnight stay is allowed. One should have the common courtesy of talking to the manager and getting permission.

Yeah, as always, don't be an idiot. But it's definitely not necessary to talk to the manager. You can find on the web in advance which Walmarts allow it and which don't and plan your trip accordingly. (Sorry, no link handy but it's not hard to find.) Generally speaking, when a Walmart doesn't allow it it's because of local bylaws, not the manager.

 

[Crazy Dave Condon]

One night late as a dealer returning home with a trailererable sailboat, I pulled over and went to sleep. Fiancé woke up and could not believe I parked in the middle of a graveyard. At least the folks there were quiet

 

[Leeward Rail]

Walmart doesn't allow it it's because of local bylaws, not the manager.

In many cases Walmart doesn't own the land/parking lot. They are simply tenants. They don't have the ability to make the decision to allow it.

If the list you refer to is not constantly updated, I would NOT 100‰ trust it. Less and less Walmarts allow overnight stays in their lot, assuming they even own them.

Asking the manager is simply asking them to confirm the rules. Nothing to do with the manager having the authority to make the decision.

 

[JamesG161]

Fiancé woke up and could not believe I parked in the middle of a graveyard.

And their GPS said...

Final destination reached.

Jim...

 

[Tedd]

Asking the manager is simply asking them to confirm the rules. Nothing to do with the manager having the authority to make the decision.

Relevant quote from the Walmart corporate web site (emphasis mine):

While we do not offer electrical service or accommodations typically necessary for RV customers, Walmart values RV travelers and considers them among our best customers. Consequently, we do permit RV parking on our store parking lots as we are able. Permission to park is extended by individual store managers, based on availability of parking space and local laws. Please contact management in each store to ensure accommodations before parking your RV.

It appears that each individual Walmart manager has the authority to either allow or prohibit overnight parking, so long as local bylaws don't prohibit it.

 

[Leeward Rail]

So the Walmart Manager can allow it or not... Assuming. His landlord and the local government allows it.

Obvious.

I doubt a manager of a Walmart has any say on what his landlord will allow.

Of course local bylaws would also restrict it.

But as that says... Ask the manager. He will be knowledgable about the local situation. If Walmart actually owns the land or parking, what the local government rules are etc.