my report on sleeping at walmart

[rvwandering]

I love your blog! It is really great. BTW, what part of PA are you from? I grew up in the Pittsburgh, New Castle, Sharon area (Western part of PA). There are some great places to camp in central PA (Clear Creek, for example). Where do you go in PA?

<br /><br />&nbsp;Thank you! We both grew up in the Pittsburgh suburbs then lived in Carrick for about 15 years. We still have friends and relatives in the area , plus our RV is registered in PA , drivers' licenses , doctor and all that stuff in PA so we go back every year to visit and take care of things.<br /><br />&nbsp;When we lived in PA. we camped mostly in the state parks in the western half of the state - Cooks Forest , Raccoon Creek ,Ryerson Station and Trough Creek. I don't think that we ever camped at Clear Creek but Cooks Forest, very close by, was one of our favorites. I love Allegheny National Forest!

 

[twokniveskatie]

I am staying at a Walmart in town tonight, about 20 miles from the farm. &nbsp;I have to go to the bank in the morning, and talk to the pharmacist here at Walmart. decided to stay the night instead of driving back up tomorrow. Told the cashier I was spending the night, said I'd park over by the garden center where there are at least 2 dozen campers, rv's, semis, and vans. She said, no, sleep near the main entrance since I was a woman alone. (I've been told that before, likely because people think its dangerous out there). I was parked near the entrance since it was after midnight anyhow. Thought it was so nice if I wanted to use the bathrooms or something. That didn't last long! It was so noisy with the kids and customers going in and out, I switched over to the "camping section" where it was quiet and cozy feeling. There are still rigs pulling in as I type.Security drove by a couple times, waved at me every time. Definitely not a place where I'd enjoy staying long, but these places have been like a home away from home so many times. I am grateful for them.&nbsp;

 

[Journeyman]

Had some stop at my van yesterday and ask me whether he could park at the church because walmart won't let him stay there, yet people park there all the time, made me suspiciousVery odd.

 

[maritimecamper]

A few years ago, in nova scotia canada, we were told that in THAT province, you could not stay overnight at a walmart or truckstop, etc...You had to park at a rv resort. We started a boycott on 4 rv websites...They changed the provincial law, we stopped the boycott...THEY DO WORK ! &nbsp;The boycott was to boycott all Nova Scotia. We told walmart at Victoria bc canada, that we would start a boycott their..after they told us to leave, but they said it was the mall rules..not theirs. Walmart phoned HOME DEPOT, we could park their.<br /><br />

 

[Trout]

come to Wyoming....apparently no one cares....<br />I've been parking at one of 2 walmarts 90% of the time.&nbsp; I do move my truck everyday when I go to work, but there are many I keep seeing at the parking lot.&nbsp; I must take a photo if I remember.&nbsp; There are enough folks on a constant basis I expect to see a comunal campfire one of these days as the Manager puts the smoors on sale.<br /><br />There are a few&nbsp;including 2 toyota dolphins which have been there a week, the rest are mostly one night, but every day everyone dissapears.&nbsp; That could be why no one seems to care.<br /><br />

 

[SirJoey]

...but every day everyone dissapears.&nbsp; That could be why no one seems to care.

<br /><strong><span style="font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif;">I'd bet on it!</span></strong><br /><strong><span style="font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif;">Great username, BTW!&nbsp;</span></strong>

<br /><br /><br />

 

[VanTrekker]

<p style="text-align: left;"><br /><br /><br /><img src="http://www.readymade.com/file_uploads/blogs/travel/files/2010/07/walmart-camping-500x171.jpg" alt="" /><br />This one just makes me shudder...&nbsp; Oh well...<br /><br />On Tuesday and Wednesday nights this coming week, I will be staying at a Walmart in NE Iowa where the Internet said Walmart does not allow camping.&nbsp; Supposedly there is a city ordinance against it.&nbsp; (The city runs several campgrounds nearby)<br /><br /><br />I called ahead and talked to a couple of employees who advised that it is okay to park the van for a&nbsp;day or two as long as it is away from the fire zone.&nbsp; The employee was super friendly and she said a lot of people do it with no problems.&nbsp; Woo hoo!&nbsp; <br /><br />Just in case, I located a number of nearby wildlife management&nbsp;areas - state land where free camping is allowed.&nbsp; Also, Anytime Fitness is a good cover for a quick snooze.&nbsp; As a member, I can enter or exit any time, 24 hours a day.<br /><br /><br />I've never had a problem at Walmart and have camped at many of them for a quick overnight stop.&nbsp; The unwritten rule seems to be to show respect for the business.&nbsp; Be discreet and don't overstay.&nbsp; I never stay more than one night at each Wallyworld, usually less than 10 hours.&nbsp; It's nice to arrive in the dark and leave in the early dawn light.<br /><br />V.T.<br /><br /></p>

 

[offroad]

Cool. <br /><br />I go in and talk to someone...I don't call. I find it better to find the manager or floor manager and ask them...face to face....tell them I'm tired and need to sleep for the night...

<br /><br />Social engineering at its best.&nbsp; Face to face. Real person.&nbsp; Really tired looking.&nbsp; ask for one night only.

 

[SirJoey]

<p style="text-align: left;"><img src="http://www.readymade.com/file_uploads/blogs/travel/files/2010/07/walmart-camping-500x171.jpg" alt="" /><br />This one just makes me shudder...&nbsp; Oh well...

<br /><span style="font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif;"><strong>Can U say "CONSPICUOUS"? <br /><br /></strong></span></p>

 

[VanTrekker]

If that happens in Iowa, it's got to be in "redneckland" like Ottumwa or one of our other hillbilly cities in the southern part of the state.&nbsp; We're a little more reserved in the more northern counties.<br /><br />Then again... This picture is (according to a blog)&nbsp;a vendor&nbsp;from Michigan&nbsp;who was&nbsp;here for the Iowa State Fair.&nbsp; It&nbsp;looks pretty cool but might pi** off any Walmart mangers if it showed up in their lot for the night.<br /><br /><br /><img src="http://gypsyjournal.net/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/09/michigan-camper1-300x181.jpg" alt="" />

 

[gypsydreamer]

edited

 

[Trout]

Sir Joey, thanks for the complement.
2 days ago I.returned to my camper from shopping inside when several vehicle dwellers were about to get into a heated and probably fisted discussion. Apparently someone they had a pecking order for the corner (begging cash) and one of them had stayed 15 minutes longer. These were not the type of people who would be here and they were doing tbis instead of working (as apparent the conversations.). Anyway I thought it would be better in another part of town.
I don't know what bothered me more, Making it harder on folks down on their luck with their con, or making the area unpleasant/unsafe and possibly loosing the opportunity to camp their for the rest of us.

This was brought to you by fat fingers and a little touch keypad.

 

[angeli]

Although the truck with the pop up on top is pretty cool, if I were to use it, sometime in the middle of the night, there would be a loud "Splat!" and the ground would rock a little.&nbsp; maybe a whimper or two.<br /><br />Anyway - one site that helped me tremendously is the Google Earth map overlays.&nbsp; They also have overlays for other mapping programs, but their overlay files have everything from Walmarts that DON'T allow overnights, to Walmarts that do, to truck stops, to Kmarts and Sam's clubs, to BLM lands and Army Corps of Engineers, to state and federal parks, etc.&nbsp; You can choose which of these files you want to download, and your program should automatically pick them up once you do, OR you can go to the downloaded folder and click on the main file.&nbsp; That should do it.&nbsp; It's pretty cool, and they keep it pretty well updated.<br /><br />http://discoveryowners.com/cginfo.htm<br /><br />I suggest clicking on 'newest first', then choose the type of program you own in the drop down menu, then go for it!&nbsp; If you want info for State Parks and rest stops (saved my behind!) go for the 'alphabetically' option, just because they are easier to find that way.&nbsp; <img src="/images/boards/smilies/biggrin.gif" alt="" align="absmiddle" border="0" />

 

[VanTrekker]

<p>Thought I'd share this info.&nbsp;&nbsp; The other day I was in Decorah, Iowa.&nbsp; Several places on the 'net say camping is not allowed at Walmart in that city.&nbsp; I went in and spoke with a manager who was really friendly and said it wasn't a problem at all.&nbsp; I had a great night's sleep...&nbsp; It never hurts to ask.&nbsp; <img src="/images/boards/smilies/smile.gif" border="0" align="absmiddle"></p><p>V.T.</p>

 

[[email protected]]

As long as they don't know what u are doing.....who knows
Don't go there and set up a homestead....lol
Pull in...and take a nap....they won't even know what u are doing

 

[Reducto]

In Henderson,NV there is a walmart with a big empty store across the parking lot. The walmart will have the occasional RV, but next to the vacant part there are several RVs who have seemingly been there for months. There's also a couple of cars who seem to be there every night.

I've never seen any trash or generators or any other bothersome signs. I don't stay there often, usually only if I need to be in the city the next morning. The only interaction I've had with the security dude is one time I tried to push a cart full of food over to my van and triggered the wheel lock. He watched my cart while I ran to pull my van up to it.

One time I did stop there and ALL of the RVs and other people were gone - I assume they got shooed away by someone. A couple of weeks later they were all back.

 

[sparky1]

walmarts near me have more Camera's than customers..
always be polite, ask for permission,Buy some stuff. & possibly maybe "Thanks" .

 

[PastTense]

The People Who Live In Wal-Mart Parking Lots

Some photos and comments:
http://www.businessinsider.com/waking-up-in-walmart-2013-11

 

[user 423]

A few years ago I stayed at a Walmart in Mt.Vernon,WA and I met a couple of people who had been living in their cars for 3 months. They said it was fine with the manager and they both thought that maybe since they didn't have huge RVs they were given a break. I see now that Walmart is listed as a NO on Allstays.com. Maybe a new manager or a new city ordinance?

 

[caseyc]

Interesting article and pictures. I found some of those pictures utterly depressing though. Just my opinion. Interesting nevertheless.

The People Who Live In Wal-Mart Parking Lots

Some photos and comments:
http://www.businessinsider.com/waking-up-in-walmart-2013-11