Overnighting at Walmart's during Covid

[ducksface]

Boondockers welcome
ioverlander app
Free camping app
FreeRoam app

[abjbrtd]

Originally Posted by ducksface

Boondockers welcome
ioverlander app
Free camping app
FreeRoam app

Here are some of our overnite parking web sites.
Walmart averages $50 a night.
https://www.allstays.com/c/wal-mart-locations.htm
Casinos average +/- 1 or 2 hundred $
https://www.casinocamper.com

Some states welcome centers allow overnight parking. One of our favorite I20 TX, MS Border

[abjbrtd]

Originally Posted by sforl

I’m traveling to Colorado in a couple weeks . I had planned to over night in a couple of Walmart parking lots while in route. I know some Walmart's are no longer staying open 24hrs/day and I’m wondering how this may impact my travel plans. Have any of you experienced any issues with being able to utilize these parking lots during shutdowns? Have you or would you have concerns with safety while overnighting there ?
Thanks

From MS to CO if you travel l20 to Fort Worth head N on US287 several Walmarts allow RVs we spend the night in Childress.
US287 will put you on I40 to Amarillo, which has a nice Walmart on the south side of the interstate.
When you get to Colorado you need to stop early, Walmarts' fill up early

[signguy71]

Check out Harvest Host, $70.00 a year with all free fun places to stay. Most are boon docking at museums, winery's , and breweries.

We just signed up last month and it has already paid for itself .

[Travelin' Texans]

Originally Posted by abjbrtd

From MS to CO if you travel l20 to Fort Worth head N on US287 several Walmarts allow RVs we spend the night in Childress.
US287 will put you on I40 to Amarillo, which has a nice Walmart on the south side of the interstate.
When you get to Colorado you need to stop early, Walmarts' fill up early

Very nice park, Ole Towne Cotton Gin rv park, between Quanah & Childress with very friendly owners that could use the income more than Walmart.
On west side of Amarillo are 2 very nice rv parks, Ft Amarillo & The Oasis that both would appreciate the business. Ft Amarillo has a very nice gift shop in the office.
Route 66 casino west of Albuquerque has a huge park behind with VERY long pull thrus, go in a get the players card & the park is cheaper.
As I stated earlier there's plenty of very nice rv parks on your route that could use the money much more than Walmart.

[lwmcguire]

If traveling in 80 degrees plus I run my generator

Given 10 or 12 hours of generator time running 2 or 3 AC units I can pay for at least a good portion of a camp site

[ducksface]

Originally Posted by lwmcguire

If traveling in 80 degrees plus I run my generator

Given 10 or 12 hours of generator time running 2 or 3 AC units I can pay for at least a good portion of a camp site

I hadn't thought o fthe cost of running an ac unit.
You're right. It's probably a ost savings to spend the time at a park for a big rig.
Add on convenience and comraderie and familiarity... Walmart and the like become a last resort for bigger rigs.
Even on my single ac unit the cost would be 6+-gallons for 10 hours.
Thanks.

[TurnerFam]

I wouldn't necessarily jump to the conclusion that running a generator many hours, even for a/c during hot times, is going to use anywhere near 6 gallons... most any assumptions for even 1/2 load(much more than any a/c unit, or even multiple units, would need), is only 1/2 gallon or less per HOUR.... I think you'll find that the efficiency of these generators won't move the needle nearly as far as you fear - plus, the air conditioner doesn't necessarily 'run' for 10 hours straight.

We bought our son a used '07 FR Rockwood last month, and waited out the extremely hot afternoon, until midnight, to tow it home thru less traffic and cooler temps, with our Palazzo - we ran the Palazzo's air conditioner(s) for over 8 hours and hardly moved the fuel needle...

so, no, I don't believe even using the generator for 'hours on end' will come anywhere close to the cost of a simply 'overnight' at an rv park. With diesel as low as it is right now, it's even a much cheaper option than even before.

[ducksface]

6 gallons for 10 hours is .6 gallons an hour.

Onan 4000 is rated at half gallon at half load 7/10ths at full load.
It's right there in the spec sheet and I'll guess the spec sheet is lab conditions not real world.

You're splitting hairs.
I'm splitting factory specs.

The idea was ANY cost of fuel is an offset to the cost of a rv park space.

But
My argument against casually parking at Walmart to save some money is
'Taking too much from the well.'
Someone stopping there habitually to save money will eventually negate everyone's ability to stay there in a dilemna scenario.

We know it's happening now. we know some companies are cuttiing back on it. We know why they're cutting back no matter who's doing it.

My broken front caliper (insert a devastating malady here) requiring me to be parked for two days while a mechanic drives forty miles each way to get the part and there's no rv park within that distance, will not be accommodated because too many people saved too few dollars by overusing a valued resource.

We know it's happening now. We know due to overuse a calamity might require a 40 mile tow instead of a Walmart stay.

We also know some people don't foresee forethink or bother with anything but 'me first'.
It's a bad blemish on the good tomato of rv culture.

I'll all but guarantee the 'I'll park at Walmart(used generically like bandaid is) to accommodate myself in the smallest financial ways and put no thought into future consequence' folks are the same 'better to ask forgiveness than ask permission' bane.

I'm reading some abject undeniable selfishness in this thead.

A life standard;
I am last, first.

[EA37TS]

Originally Posted by 16ACE27

In our Wally World the trash is left behind by the shoppers. Dirty diapers, empty 12 packs of beer cases, etc. The RV area is spotless in comparison.

In the case of our Walmarts the areas where the RVs were parked were in places normal shoppers wouldn't park because of the long walking distance. Since overnight parking was banned I have not seen anyone parked in those areas of the parking lots and I haven't seen any trash lying around either. One of the Walmarts has started using that area of the parking lot to store the unused pallets from their mulch deliveries and empty delivery trailers and now that is becoming an even bigger mess.

I will also add, the folks that were leaving their trash behind are probably the same ones that leave a campground leaving the fire pits full of cigarette butts, beer cans and other unburned trash that the campground folks have to clean up.

Unfortunately thee are a bunch of folks out there that haven't familiarized themselves with overnight parking etiquette.

[Bob Denman]

The cost of running a generator can become significant over time... especially if you've got one that runs on diesel...

[ducksface]

There's a well done professional 20+minute documentary on youtube about rv camping at Walmart... My nearest Walmart specifically.
I don't know the name but I bet it's the first pop up when you type in:
RV parking Walmart Flagstaff.

[The_Breeze]

"You're splitting hairs.
I'm splitting factory specs."

Same difference?

Look. There's no doubt in my mind you have the Eddie's of the world out there and I've walked up to more than my share of fire pits with trash in them. I clear the trash and take it to the dumpster. In Salena, UT I walked through the boondocking campsites, picked up the trash and disposed of it at a truck stop down the road.

If I'm parked at a Walmart and there's a bag blowing in the wind, I make an honest effort to grab it and put it in the trash can. Same with a piece of paper. Someone once left their meds in a cart. I made sure the pharmacy go it back to call the person and let them know.

It's not what you do but the way you do it. If you think RVing is only for the elitist rich, you're wrong - dead wrong.

Save the a-holes that do abuse the privilege extended to them, don't demean people until you fully understand their situation.

[JGallagher]

I think it is fair and reasonable to see what Walmart has to say about overnight stays:

(From corporate.walmart.com)
"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."


So, corporately, they support our stays. We support them with our purchases and it is an easy overnight while we travel to our destination.
I don't see why this is a problem but I do agree that it will likely be ruined and prohibited in the future due to actions by the entitled.

We do prefer our overnights at State Parks and the Harvest Hosts groups. Much quieter and darker and more fun things to do!

[The_Breeze]

Originally Posted by JGallagher

I think it is fair and reasonable to see what Walmart has to say about overnight stays:

(From corporate.walmart.com)
"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."


So, corporately, they support our stays. We support them with our purchases and it is an easy overnight while we travel to our destination.
I don't see why this is a problem but I do agree that it will likely be ruined and prohibited in the future due to actions by the entitled.

We do prefer our overnights at State Parks and the Harvest Hosts groups. Much quieter and darker and more fun things to do!

That puts most of it in perspective. Thanks for digging it up. The rest is a mindset.

[abjbrtd]

A few years ago we were talking to security at a Walmart, we spent the nite the year before.
He said "NO IT'S NOT the RVers that killed it, it was the truckers"
He said they were tired of picking up plastic bottles full of a yellow liquid, dog poop, hamburger wrappers, DEF jugs etc!

[Bob Denman]

Originally Posted by abjbrtd

A few years ago we were talking to security at a Walmart, we spent the nite the year before.
He said "NO IT'S NOT the RVers that killed it, it was the truckers"
He said they were tired of picking up plastic bottles full of a yellow liquid, dog poop, hamburger wrappers, DEF jugs etc!

Stupidity can thrive just about anyplace...

[lwmcguire]

Originally Posted by ducksface

6 gallons for 10 hours is .6 gallons an hour.

Onan 4000 is rated at half gallon at half load 7/10ths at full load.
It's right there in the spec sheet and I'll guess the spec sheet is lab conditions not real world.

You're splitting hairs.
I'm splitting factory specs.

The idea was ANY cost of fuel is an offset to the cost of a rv park space.

But
My argument against casually parking at Walmart to save some money is
'Taking too much from the well.'
Someone stopping there habitually to save money will eventually negate everyone's ability to stay there in a dilemna scenario.

We know it's happening now. we know some companies are cuttiing back on it. We know why they're cutting back no matter who's doing it.

My broken front caliper (insert a devastating malady here) requiring me to be parked for two days while a mechanic drives forty miles each way to get the part and there's no rv park within that distance, will not be accommodated because too many people saved too few dollars by overusing a valued resource.

We know it's happening now. We know due to overuse a calamity might require a 40 mile tow instead of a Walmart stay.

We also know some people don't foresee forethink or bother with anything but 'me first'.
It's a bad blemish on the good tomato of rv culture.

I'll all but guarantee the 'I'll park at Walmart(used generically like bandaid is) to accommodate myself in the smallest financial ways and put no thought into future consequence' folks are the same 'better to ask forgiveness than ask permission' bane.

I'm reading some abject undeniable selfishness in this thead.

A life standard;
I am last, first.

Truly an excellent take on the Wally Docking situation

We have rarely used parking lot boondocking for that very reason

If the weather is 90 plus we have to run a minimum of two AC and will burn several gallons of fuel

It would be great to see more city/ CV county type camp grounds that are much cheaper for the short overnight stays

On our typical routes West and back we have found several such parks

The point to make Wally Docking the last choice is excellent advice

[The_Breeze]

Originally Posted by lwmcguire

Truly an excellent take on the Wally Docking situation

We have rarely used parking lot boondocking for that very reason

If the weather is 90 plus we have to run a minimum of two AC and will burn several gallons of fuel

It would be great to see more city/ CV county type camp grounds that are much cheaper for the short overnight stays

On our typical routes West and back we have found several such parks

The point to make Wally Docking the last choice is excellent advice

And then there are those that pontificate with sarcasm, self-righteousness and fool snobbery - little help to somebody in need. The OP asked a sincere question about a situation he/she was trying to figure out and suddenly the thread turned into the rights and wrongs about staying in a Walmart parking lot. Tell me, how did that help? I wonder if they’re trying to eliminate the competition and actually stay there themselves.

They also think they have command of the English language and use it to try and berate others. Nothing could be further from truth. True command of the language doesn’t include those elements. It’s more subtle in the way it draws you in and convinces you. It doesn’t turn you off. It makes you stop, listen and think.

You have to wonder if those same people know they share the DNA of a rat from 60 billion years ago. Why does that matter? Because if they were as educated as they try to convince everyone else they are, they would know it and not discard it as irrelevant. The meek shall inherit the earth has already happened and you don’t judge another person until you understand who they are, what they’re made of, and why.

If wanting to stay in a Walmart parking lot makes them a lesser creature, they themselves should remember they came from the same place and to mock others is to demonstrate they are less than the person they mock.

I am not going to go back to my APA days and cite numerous references. Let those that think they’re above the rest do that on their own. After all, they’re superior intellect should have taken them there first. I don't need a lecture on evolution or Darwinism. I had to study and learn it. The intellectually superior, in their own mind, will try to argue the facts and should stop there before they make further fools of themselves.

(re: https://www.irishnews.com/magazine/s...ative-1181112/)

[KrisCatNC]

Originally Posted by signguy71

Check out Harvest Host, $70.00 a year with all free fun places to stay. Most are boon docking at museums, winery's , and breweries.

We just signed up last month and it has already paid for itself .

We just stayed at one in VA. It is a brewery that also had a small restaurant. All the food is made boxed so you can bring back to your RV or stay inside and eat. We were the only ones there this time and it was really beautiful and quiet.

Cat