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Wal-Mart stores that do not allow overnight RV parking
Most Wal-Mart stores —
perhaps nine out of ten — graciously allow RVers to stay the
night in their parking lots.
The following stores, the
readers of FreeCampgrounds.com report, do not allow
overnight parking. This may be the decision of the store's
management or, more often, because of a local ordinance that
prohibits such stays.
This list is best used in
combination with the Wal-Mart edition of the Rand McNally
Road Atlas, sold at Wal-Mart stores for about $5. The atlas
lists every Wal-Mart store in America and Canada, plus its
street address. Some RVers carry the atlas with them and use
it to plot overnight stops. Using this list in combination
with the atlas will prevent drives to stores where overnight
parking is not permitted.
If you know of a Wal-Mart
(anywhere in the USA, not just the West) that bans overnight
stays that is not on this list, would you please
email us with the location. Or if you have stayed very
recently at a store that IS on
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Common sense rules about staying the night at
Walmart
No pop up trailers or tents.
Don't stay if "No overnight parking" signs are posted.
Obtain permission from a qualified person at the store
that it's okay to stay. However, if there are already
many RVs parked nearby each other in the parking lot,
you can probably assume overnight stays are allowed.
Park in an out-of-the-way corner of the parking lot. You
will often find other RVs already there.
Do not set up awnings or pull out your barbecue or lawn
chairs or do anything else outside your RV that suggests
you are "camping." In other words, "blend in!"
Do not use hydraulic levelers. You'll hurt the asphalt.
Make no noise. Don't use your generator unless you are
parked in a far corner of the lot with nobody around
including nearby residences.
Don't extend your RV's slideouts unless absolutely
necessary.
Limit your stay to one night. Never consider a Walmart a
campground, only a place to stay a night while on the
way to somewhere else or as a place to get some sleep
when you are so tired that it would be dangerous to keep
driving.
Buy something from the store before leaving. Support the
RV accessories department.
Never litter. And pick up and dispose of any litter that
is already there.
Don't stay if your RV has a leak in a waste holding tank
or is dripping any oil or other automotive fluid.
Carry a pack of post cards with you. After you leave the
store after staying the night, send one to the manager
thanking him/her and noting that you purchased something
while there (if you, in fact, did).
Remember, the more people who abuse these rules, the
more stores will post "No overnight parking" signs.
Tell any RVer you observe violating these rules that you
do not appreciate his or her behavior. |
this list, please let us
know. Some may have changed their policies since we posted
them here and once again allow free overnight stays. In that
case, we would like to know. If you know the address of the
store you're writing about (or even just the name of the
street or its general geographical location within its city
-- north, south, etc.), please provide that information.
Please keep in mind that
this list is growing by the week. Many Wal-Marts that do not
allow overnight stays are not yet noted here. So check back
often.
And keep in mind, too, that
many of these stores do not always enforce their "no
overparking" policy. We receive emails all the time from
RVers who have successfully stayed at many of the stores
listed here. We suspect that some of these stores only
enforce their "no stay" rule on occasion. So if you stay,
you may end up sleeping through the night with no
interruptions. But you may, in fact, end up getting a knock
at the door at 3 p.m. telling your to get out and "NOW!" So
keep your pants handy and don't drink too many nightcaps
before turning in.
THIS LIST
LAST UPDATED MARCH 10, 2002
Wal-Marts that do
not allow overnight stays in RVs
Alabama
Dothan (W.M.
SuperCenter on US 231 South, about a mile South Of Ross
Clark)
Foley
Fort Payne (Signs posted)
Gadsden (No signs posted, but guard will tell you to
leave)
Jasper (Stopped allowing overnight stays because of
vandalism and liability concerns)
Arizona
Apache Junction
Bullhead City (camp for free in a casino parking lot
across river in Laughlin, Nev.)
Casa Grande (No parking anywhere in city limits
except in campgrounds)
Flagstaff (No overnight parking or Wal-Mart or any
city shopping center)
Kingman (RVer was kicked out at 3 a.m., escorted away
by city police)
Lake Havasu City (no parking anywhere in town but RV
parks. You could get a severe fine if you stay at the
Wal-Mart)
Mesa (6131 E. Southern)
Show Low
Sierra Vista
Tucson (Super Center at 7635 N La Cholla Blvd. --
Foothills Mall Location)
Tucson (7100 E. Speedway at Kolb Rd)
Yuma
Arkansas
Arkadelphia (Overnighting
okay, but watch for height barriers to prevent big rig truck
entry)
Hot Springs
California
Arroyo Grande
Cathedral City (City ordinace bans stays, but RVers have
been seen staying anyway.)
Crescent City
El Cajon (store on Los Coches Road. Signs posted and
enforced)
Huntington Beach (new store, Dec. 2001. No parking due
to city ordinance)
La Quinta (police may show up at 3 a.m. to kick you
out)
Livermore (We have conflicting reports on this store.
RVers have been observed staying.)
Oceanside (the store at Jefferson Street Exit)
Pleasanton (city
ordinance)
Rohnert Park
Salinas
San Dimas (off I-210 freeway)
San Leandro (on the Davis Street Exit from I-880)
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