Wal Mart camping

[jill9072]

Do any of you stop at any of the wal marts on the way to wdw, just as a resting spot? Or any other destination. Would you recommend it?

[drafthorsecrazy]

We have done it when we are traveling till late at night. Dont expect to get a peaceful nights sleep. There is often bright lights and traffic noise. With that said.....we usually spend one night at a Walmart going down to FW. I have heard that alot of Walmarts in Fla. do not allow this. Maybe some Fla. locals can report in.

[mr.merlin]

It's a tradition with us to stop at the Lake City, FL Wal Mart on the way in to buy things we "forgot". We will be on the way to the fort in 9 days (can't wait). We've been camping there every other year since it opened, usually Thanksgiving week. This time will be our first in a cabin. I'm looking forward to it.

[kimluvswdw]

We always stop at a Walmart in Georgia late at night to snooze. We have never had a problem and always get a good night sleep. We go to the far end of the parking lot where it is quiet and we hear nothing.

[ftwildernessguy]

I remember a news item a couple of years ago where a Walmart employee was kidnapped and killed leaving work. The kidnapping was captured on Walmarts wonderful surveillance camera system, and Walmart security did virtually nothing. Think about that when your camping in their lot on the far end where it's quiet.

[bigdisneydaddy]

We use the Flying J when its cool out or sometimes a well lit rest area. Lately we have been stopping and spending the $20-$30 for a campsite and hooking up to electric. I dont sleep well until I get home to FW.

[BigDaddyRog]

I remember a news item a couple of years ago where a Walmart employee was kidnapped and killed leaving work. The kidnapping was captured on Walmarts wonderful surveillance camera system, and Walmart security did virtually nothing. Think about that when your camping in their lot on the far end where it's quiet.

Whoa....that was a kick in the pants!!!! Same exact thing happened here less than a year ago at Target....I guess they are neck & neck in competition even with their kidnapping/murders!!!
I have, however, pulled in for the night at a walmart lot in the conversion van and lived to tell about it. Most walmarts have security traveling the parking lots throughout the entire night, they will usually tell you where the "snoozing section" is if its not very obvious. But, as always, be aware of your surroundings and listen to your gut feelings about the area.

[PolynesianPixie]

Having lived in Bentonville (home of Wally world), I do know that Wal-Mart has a policy of not allowing campers in the parking lots. This could be due to the killing? I'm not sure how much this policy is enforced, however; I know it had some opposition from campers who planned this stop in their trips. It is probably left up to the managers, and I assume most of them enjoy the extra sales from campers needing "just a few things they forgot or ran out of." If you get kicked out of one parking lot, there is always another a few miles down the road!

[stacktester]

Having lived in Bentonville (home of Wally world), I do know that Wal-Mart has a policy of not allowing campers in the parking lots. This could be due to the killing? I'm not sure how much this policy is enforced, however; I know it had some opposition from campers who planned this stop in their trips. It is probably left up to the managers, and I assume most of them enjoy the extra sales from campers needing "just a few things they forgot or ran out of." If you get kicked out of one parking lot, there is always another a few miles down the road!

I would imagine it's the liability. I mean if something happens to you and you're on their property they could be held responsible. Sad but true. There is a Wal-Mart near my house (not even near the interstate) and there are campers there all the time. IMO Wal-Mart is a retail store, not a campground. There are hundreds of state parks that campers can go to. Flying J I'm sure is good too, but I notice when we stop there it's really noisy. I do love the F J because it's a one stop shop for fuel and dump station if you need it. They are really good to campers with the RV pumps.

[Colson39]

My parents on their trips back from Montana stay in Walmarts quite a few times on their way to Florida. They never have an issue, and there is actually quite a few Walmarts in Florida, locally, that I pass by that have campers in them almost on a daily basis.

[des1954]

I have heard that alot of Walmarts in Fla. do not allow this. Maybe some Fla. locals can report in.

The Wal-Mart's around Disney do NOT allow RV's to overnight in their parking lots. Too many people were taking advantage of Wal-Mart's generosity and spending their entire vaction in the Wal-Mart parking lots. That 's the same reason you now have to have a tag issued by FtW front desk to hang on your RV if you are parking it in the guest/day visitor lot.

Too bad that a few cheap idiots have to ruin a good thing for the rest of the people.

[Colson39]

Actually, most Florida Walmarts allow you to stay overnight. Des is right, the one's in Orlando do not, because of the reasons she specified.

I don't know the exact numbers, but I have seen plenty of Walmarts in Florida with overnight campers in them.

[jason_rving]

We stopped at one in Gainesville, Fl a few years ago and an idiot in a black jeep stalked us. At 1 in the morning he started by and threw full cans of open beer at our RV. We called the police but they did not come. Then later it came by and threw a coke at us. He would then sit and watch from a few spots away. I travel with a Smith & Wesson 357 Magnum sometimes and had it this time luckily. I loaded it and went out and put the kids and my wife in the tow vehicle and we got back on the road. I might be crazy but I am not stupid so I did not go over a pop a cap in him or his tires but I wanted to. I'll live to fight another day...the idiot that stalked us may be dead from someone else by now. Never again will we stop in a wal mart parking lot overnight.

[kimluvswdw]

I remember a news item a couple of years ago where a Walmart employee was kidnapped and killed leaving work. The kidnapping was captured on Walmarts wonderful surveillance camera system, and Walmart security did virtually nothing. Think about that when your camping in their lot on the far end where it's quiet.


I think about that alot, but me and my husband both have protection that we take everywhere we go.

[bigdisneydaddy]

I think about that alot, but me and my husband both have protection that we take everywhere we go.

How is that going to help? and why would you BOTH have them. :rotfl:

[ftwildernessguy]

Why would anyone want to camp where they feel it necessary to be armed?

[DisCamper]

Sam Walton back in the day started the Good Sam rule. On Wal-mart and Sam’s club property Sam would let people take a break from their driving trip. Sam felt if people that where traveling and just need a 2-4 hr. break why pay for a hotel. You can pull to any company own store and stay to get some rest. Sam felt this would keep the roads safer.

[kimluvswdw]

How is that going to help? and why would you BOTH have them. :rotfl:


I don't depend on my husband to save me, that is why I am armed all the time. If someone is going to try to kidnap me they are going to kill me or I am going to kill them.

[BigDaddyRog]

If someone is going to try to kidnap me they are going to kill me or I am going to kill them.Hmmm.....isn't that a direct quote from ol'Walt himself?

[kimluvswdw]

Why would anyone want to camp where they feel it necessary to be armed?


I would never camp overnight if I felt that I had to be armed. I am always armed. We just stop at Walmart over night because it is easier.

[Tigger1]

I just stop at a state park. Very nice parks and more secure.

[OK GRUMPY]

We stayed at the Walmart in Lake City a couple of weeks ago. It was noisy, the lights did not bother me much. After about 1:00am I never heard anything else til morning. I have a customer who goes down to Orlando alot and she told me that she does this all the time. So I said why not try it! I'm really glad I did, as it turned out we were leaving the parking lot in the morning and I had a blow out. So glad it happened there! I was able to turn back into the parking lot and get it fixed. Great people in there Tire center!

[loveDmouse]

We prefer to stay at a campground. We thought about WalMart or a Flying J last year (which was our first big trip in the RV) but decided we felt more comfortable at a campground.

[bigdisneydaddy]

I don't depend on my husband to save me, that is why I am armed all the time. If someone is going to try to kidnap me they are going to kill me or I am going to kill them.


That was an ineffective attempt at humor, sorry

Scott

[bradisgoofy]

Here is a really detail post on rv.net about Wal-Mart and Flying J. (http://www.rv.net/forum/index.cfm/fuseaction/thread/tid/20090664.cfm)

[lisa8200]

That was an ineffective attempt at humor, sorry

Scott


At least it wasn't a complete waste of humor, I got it. :banana: I was going to comment but I couldn't find the " appropriate " words.

[bigdisneydaddy]

At least it wasn't a complete waste of humor, I got it. :banana: I was going to comment but I couldn't find the " appropriate " words.


Neither could I :lmao:

[ftwildernessguy]

I was just gonna say: :scared1:

[kg66]

We were at the Fort over Halloween and arrived a day early into Florida. I called the Fort but they had no sites available for that night. We stopped at the KOA on 192, it was about 10 pm at night. The office was closed obviously but the night box said, a tent site no hydro or water was $56!!!:eek: There was no way I was paying that much $$$ when I knew I was leaving by 7 am to check into the Fort. We went out of their parking lot and straight into Sam's Club, and I checked with the manager and she said no problem we could stay! It was a beautiful night so we opened the windows in the TT, and low and behold who pulls up beside us but a big C class, flipped on his gennie and ran his air all night! I mean right beside us!! There is enough room in that lot, and it's all completely lit he could have went somewhere down the lot! But now you know you can stay at Sam's club overnight, just let the manager know!

[ms1031]

Sam's Club was open after 10pm? Cool. They all close earlier than that around here.

[PolynesianPixie]

Sam Walton back in the day started the Good Sam rule. On Wal-mart and Sam’s club property Sam would let people take a break from their driving trip. Sam felt if people that where traveling and just need a 2-4 hr. break why pay for a hotel. You can pull to any company own store and stay to get some rest. Sam felt this would keep the roads safer.

Good 'ol Sam. He had the right idea about a lot of things. Too bad he died and those corporate people decided to do things their way. Errrrr:sad2:

sorry. I'll kick away my soap box now.

[John VN]

Good 'ol Sam. He had the right idea about a lot of things. Too bad he died and those corporate people decided to do things their way. Errrrr:sad2:

sorry. I'll kick away my soap box now.

It is my understanding that WalMart has not changed the overnight policy, it is the individual towns and counties restricting the overnight stays.

http://www.onfpg.com/

[Colson39]

Yep, John is right, Walmart has a corporate policy of allowing overnighters, but individual town/cities/counties can say it's not allowed.

[bob_bldr]

We stopped at a WalMart in VA last year at 3 am when I couldn't drive any more. There were about 10 other rigs there and only 1 had made themselves "at home" with the awning/rug/slides/chairs/etc. out. We were up before 7 am and dropped about $50 on breakfast, snacks and drinks before we headed out for the day after staying less than 5 hours.

[tilliet]

years ago we've stayed in a K-mart parking lot and I was really concerned but my husband told me not to worry. When we got up to leave a few hours later there was another camper and an 18 wheeler parked next to us so I assume people do it all the time.