Is WalMart moving away from RVers Welcome?

[bobsallyh]

kinseypw, Twin Falls is kind of interesting. We usually spend a week or so at Rock Creek County Park on our way north and south. If the new high school across from Wally has a home football game I go and park in Wally, easier in and out. Noticed the no parking signs by where I park and it is a stupid city deal. So what the O/N parkers do is go up in the parking area for the auto center, sort of shielded from the other parking areas and no signage. Two years ago I went the first thing on a Sunday morning to get new truck batteries, and all the RVs were in that corner.

[nana25k]

kinseypw, Twin Falls is kind of interesting. We usually spend a week or so at Rock Creek County Park on our way north and south. If the new high school across from Wally has a home football game I go and park in Wally, easier in and out. Noticed the no parking signs by where I park and it is a stupid city deal. So what the O/N parkers do is go up in the parking area for the auto center, sort of shielded from the other parking areas and no signage. Two years ago I went the first thing on a Sunday morning to get new truck batteries, and all the RVs were in that corner.

Strange that a city ordinance would apply to WalMart and not another pkg lot. Most places we've seen apply to the entire

[nana25k]

kinseypw, Twin Falls is kind of interesting. We usually spend a week or so at Rock Creek County Park on our way north and south. If the new high school across from Wally has a home football game I go and park in Wally, easier in and out. Noticed the no parking signs by where I park and it is a stupid city deal. So what the O/N parkers do is go up in the parking area for the auto center, sort of shielded from the other parking areas and no signage. Two years ago I went the first thing on a Sunday morning to get new truck batteries, and all the RVs were in that corner.

Odd. I would think that an ordinance would apply city wide and not just to WalMart.

[2gypsies]

I would guess that once the city gets a handle of the RVers parking in the auto center lot, that will be excluded, also.

[Twotoes]

In 4 years of being on the road I have only stayed a one Walmart. I was very uncomfortable there. Lots of "people of the night" roaming around. Not sure what was going on, drug deals maybe? I usually stop at a truck stop like Flying J where there are lots of semi's and other RVers and feel much safer. I am in a 5th wheel so I have to put my slides out to make dinner but when I go to sleep I always put them back in for the night. Sometimes I may start my generator to watch television or a DVD but most of the semis are running theirs also. I always shut the generator off before going to sleep. I never set anything up outside. I always fill up, about $100.00 of diesel and make a purchase of some kind inside the store.

[Dutch_12078]

Strange that a city ordinance would apply to WalMart and not another pkg lot. Most places we've seen apply to the entire

 

I don't know what the circumstances are for Twin Falls, but we overnighted in one Walmart lot several years ago where they were very specific about where we should park. Since it wasn't in the remotest, least used part of the lot, when I asked about it, they said it was because that part of the lot was outside of the city limits and did not come under the city's no overnight parking ordinance.

[nana25k]

Well Dutch that's certainly an interesting situation but certainly could be an answer for Twin Falls

[ganto]

The West Coast has become a refuge for bums. Old RV's parked on streets with people living there full time. A Wal Mart in the Seattle area that has full time residents. The school bus even stops there. Outside Seattle there are hippies living in the ditches between the lanes on the Interstate. Oregon is not much better with old RV's parked on city streets. Times may be tough but don't the cities realize how this looks to tourists.

from what I gathered after talking to different people it's legal to live in your vehicle in Washington but you just have to change spots every 3 days

[champ_49]

What's aggravating is the trucking companies that are using WalMart parking lots as a drop point for there trailers. I am seeing more and more of this. Talk about damage to parking lots with that kind of weight. And like you all said, the people using the parking lot as there home! It's always the few that ruin it for the many!

 

Dave

[bigjim]

Last night in Ark. I needed to stay at Wmart. The lot had one sign that limited semi's to 1 hour and in talking to a trucker that stopped there regularlly he said they were very serious about it. He said it was largley caused by stuff left in the parking lot. There was a separate sign saying no overnight parking but I asked a manager and he said just park "out" and not take up spots near the store. There were quite a few rv'rs there over night. All seemed to be one night only and just in transit but sad to say some of them left at least some litter. And in the AM they filled up most of the trash cans in the parking lot with trash to running over in some cases. This Wmart has a smaller than normal parking lot for a Wmart I would say. I made a point of spending about 20 min picking up some of the litter. My brain has partially locked up in the closed position so I can't recall the nameof the town just now. It is about 120-130 miles east of Memphis on I40.

[sandsys]

Some trucking companies contract with businesses to use their lots for various activities. Behind the McDonald's in Parker, AZ, you can watch two UPS trucks meet to exchange trailers. I wasn't sure at first as to what was happening because the first driver dropped his trailer and drove away. Then a second one pulled in and dropped his trailer. The first guy came back and they hooked up to opposite trailers and departed. I was talking on the phone to my daughter, who is an OTR driver, who said such activities are not uncommon. So, maybe those unhooked semi trailers had permission to be there and the drivers just went to pick up supplies?

 

Linda Sand

[BasicRV]

Interesting how the local camp sites are petitioning to have the Wallyworlds not allow overnighters. Loss of revenue or taxes.

[Kirk W]

Interesting how the local camp sites are petitioning to have the Wallyworlds not allow overnighters. Loss of revenue or taxes.

There is nothing new in that tactic and in fact it seems to be less active now than in the past. It has at times been promoted by the campground owner's association, ARVC to a point where there was once a major effort lead by our founder Joe Peterson to boycott any RV parks that were known to be members of it. They even went so far as to post things on their website denigrating the Escapees and attacking the Peterson's. Eventually the two called a truce and a strained relationship evolved and over the years since it has all pretty much faded into history. The big fight was mostly back in the 90's and before and if ARVC still makes that effort they keep it all behind the doors of their members only areas. KOA has also been accused of such an effort but although some of their franchised parks may have made such an effort, so far as I know the parent company has never been a participant in such efforts.

[kinseypw]

Thanks for the info bobsallyh I'm thinking I will just give Twin falls a miss, Pocatello is accomodating and near enough. had a similar situation in Bullhead city, Called ahead and the store manager told me walmart didnt care but there was a city ordinance and they couldnt tell me I'd be alright. Other folks in RVs told us they had stayed many times with no issues and in fact we stayed the night no problem. I'm thinking of writing to city councils of places that have these kinds of ordinances - most people who walmart surf cant afford to spend $30/night at an RV park. They wont go to the park, they'll just avoid that town. No business for walmart and no gas purchase, food purchase, RV dealer visit, auto repair etc. Towns will lose out in the long run and we need to let them know that.

[Randyretired]

The ban in Bullhead City has been active for quite a few years. Before the camping ban the casinos had parking on the Bullhead side of the river. Lots of RVs stayed there. Then the ban and the RVs now park on the Laughlin side. Lots of business lost. Restaurants and other businesses in Bullhead City lost customers but still the camping ban remains.

[DuneElliot]

I'm not RVing yet (at least not full-time) but I know our local Walmart in Sheridan, WY is always full of RVs and trucks overnight, especially in the summer. I think they bring in a lot of revenue for the company and the city. No city ordinances here although Billings, 2 hours to the north in MT has no ON parking anywhere in city limits, except at truck stops.

 

The Sheridan Walmart has a huge truck/RV area that is probably supposed to be regular parking but no one ever uses it (not enough people in this town to fill it). I think KMart is okay with it too. We are kind of a tourist town, so RVers who stop here for any length of time use the campgrounds vs Walmart.

[Barbaraok]

Sheridan is being smart - catch the passing through as you can and the longer stays will go to a park. In fact some of those who overnight might be inclined to stay in a park because the area is welcoming to RVers.

[DuneElliot]

I think part of it is small town attitude...only 17,000 people. It's right on the interstate and a thorough-fare to Yellowstone and Grand Teton NPs...plus is it is the only moderate-sized town for two hours in any direction.

[richfaa]

We have seen abuse in all kind of parking lots Box stores, supermarkets, etc. We have never overnighted at a wall mart but appreciated the opportunity to do so if needed.

[Dutch&Di]

We Wally-docked in Parkersburg, WV, and were warmly welcomed there.

 

We asked at two Walmarts near Charleston & they both said "no". The third one we decided that "it's easier to ask forgiveness than to get permission". We had a knock on our door at 12:30 from the Security Supervisor to tell us that they do not allow overnight parking, but he let us stay the night with the promise that we wouldn't do it again. Has anyone else run into Walmart stores backing away from the RVers welcome policy?

We don't see that much difference from years past. RE: the Charleston WM, they did have "No Parking" signs at the one we drove into so we just moved over to the Lowes practically on the same property that had no signs and had a peaceful night.

Sometimes we do knock on our door asking us to move and if it isn't late, we do. If its late, we ask to stay and they let us. Only in Stupid Yuma did a cop knock on our door at 4 am in a closed down Sam's club and demand that we move. Very rude and dangerous in my opinion as we were not dressed, half asleep and tired AND there were no "no parking" signs. We drove to the mall lot, dressed and went into Denny's for a very long breakfast. We stopped at the 1st rest area and took a nap.

My favorite is the WM in Demming. We had driven most of the day, stopped to play golf in Demming, then decided to stop at WM for the night. As we turn in, here comes the "security". Dutch stopped and put down the window and the guard asked: Are you staying the night?" Dutch said, "I had planned on it" and the guard said "Follow me and I'll take you to the RV parking section!" He said WM didn't mind RV 'ers or truckers but wanted them to park in certain areas to not disturb the shoppers. How neat is that.

We do find that Wally World seems to be much more lenient out west over the east. Hugs, Di

[Dutch&Di]

We have seen abuse in all kind of parking lots Box stores, supermarkets, etc. We have never overnighted at a wall mart but appreciated the opportunity to do so if needed.

Interesting post. We must be extremely lucks but in all the times we've used WM, Home Depot, Lowes or a mall {spread over 19 years} I have never seen any abuse. I'm sure it was a disturbing thing for you to see and I'm glad we have never experienced it . Hugs, Du

[Kirk W]

Interesting post. We must be extremely lucks but in all the times we've used WM, Home Depot, Lowes or a mall {spread over 19 years} I have never seen any abuse.

That is our experience as well. I wonder what sort of abuse he is referencing and did he see it or experience it? I always do a "walk around" before heading out after any stop, anywhere and in many years of RV travels, not once has there been any indication that someone had tampered with anything. I can't think of anyone that I know who has had that experience either.

[Dutch_12078]

Only twice in many years of RV use have I experienced a parking lot issue. One time was seeing someone empty a cassette toilet reservoir into a storm drain, but that was an OTR trucker not an RV'er. One other time was a couple of years ago when another OTR trucker parked near us at a restaurant told me I should check my toad hookup before leaving, that he had run off a couple of kids fooling with something on the front of the car. I found one of the two electrical cables partly pulled out of its socket, something I'm not sure I would have noticed on my normal walk around check.

[RV fan]

A couple of years ago we were panhandled at the WM in Page, AZ. There were 4-6 people roaming the parking lot going to every truck and RV asking for money. They all would make a loop and then gather to apparently discuss their take. Unfortunately, their gathering place was right behind my rig and made us a bit uncomfortable but as soon as the sun went down they all went away and were not overly aggressive. Anyone here think it would have been prudent to drop them a $5 or $10 and consider it "protection" money well spent? Or would they just have told their brethren and have them hit me up too?

[Pat & Pete]

A lot of them take more money home than you do :

 

https://www.google.com/?gws_rd=ssl#q=panhandling+income