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I have a question and I hope this is the correct place to put it. I've heard lots of recommendations regarding overnighting at Walmarts, etc. such as not putting slides out or bbqing. I have a pop up truck camper; should I find myself having to stay overnight at Walmart or some such, can I put up my pop top? It would be pretty hard staying there without doing so. What are your opinions?

I would think that would be allowable since you need to do that to stay in it. And it isn't something obtrusive or even obvious.

It is also not something that makes your "foot print" even larger.....

The two times we stayed at Walmart we put our slide out because it's the only way to get Ronnie from the garage area of the TH (where his wheelchair lift is) to the main part of the rv. Plus the garage area is where his bed is, so I'm not going to close the slide and not be able to get to him during the night. I think you are okay putting your pop-up up, the idea is to just be overnighting it there, not to look like you've moved in and plan to stay a while.

also look for signs that say no overnight parking cause some of the walmarts have done that because of city ordinances. (Scottsdale AZ)
There are many casinos that will allow overnight parking as well. I would think putting the pop up UP would be ok.

No problem with your pop up. I think you'll find the majority at WalMart put their slides out - me included! However, I do nothing else - chair, awning, bbq, satellite, etc.

bluepinecones wrote:I've been told the Wal-Marts in FL do not allow over night parking at all.

Many Florida Walmarts permit overnight RVs. The one in St. Cloud allows it. The City of Kissimmee has an ordinance against overnight street or parking lot camping, probably because they are so close to the attractions. Some of the larger cities (such as Miami) would probably be a problem because of the homeless problem. They have a lot of transients sleeping in cars come down in the winter because of the weather. Best to avoid any problems by asking in advance.

I got a Walmart parking app for my phone - think I paid about $4. It has the 'No Parking' and 'Possible Parking'. The possible parking sometimes has reports people have submitted. It tells the month and the year they were allowed to park. It may also tell if they asked and if they were told where in the lot to park. There are even reports from those who live nearby or reports of not feeling like it was a good place or a small lot. The app is put out by All Stays.

sometimes even when asking wal mart it might not be enough...we had stopped in St George at Wallyworld asked was given permission...bought stuff then went to bed about 1:30 AM (why they waited until that late I'll never understand) city police come by and pound on the door informing us there is a no parking ordinance and we have to leave now!!! Here we are sound asleep and they wake us up to travel down a road that at best is hairy...my husband boycotted St. George....we didn't stop in the town for anything there was everything we would need close to it ....so don't stop in the wally world in St George UT for over night...
I rarely do the stop at Wall Mart ect as if we are stopping early enough I want to be able to enjoy the time between stopping and going to bed
and not putting the slides out or no tv ect doesn't equal fun actually the tv is ok as long as I'm plugged in and have the computer..if we stop later way after dark then it's ok for me just my personal preferences
sheila

I still remember the time I went across town to the big Sam's Club to shop and saw a rv parked with slides out, a big mat down, and potted plants set out. I asked inside if it was someone working or vending and they said they had no idea who it was but had been there a couple of days. People like that make it harder on is all. A few years later I went to a town hall meeting by the Lt in charge of parking talking about new RV regulations. She said she had owned an RV and knew what the changes meant to all of but said she had little choice but recommend them because they were getting so many complaints. Said she actually was sent to visit and wrote to many similar size cities in the US before writing her recommendations for new regulations. What sent it all in motion was two major things: the police had caught several sexual predators bringing their RVs into parking lots in town to look for victims and the city needed to give teeth to our police to make sure that stopped right away and the police driving the streets at night or day can't be having to check every RV that stops at every parking lot at night to see who is inside. The second was people blocking their neighbors parking by taking up multiple lengths worth of street parking and the like in neighborhoods. So for the cause of a few bad apples, now no one can overnight at any parking lot in Roseville CA and if you own a RV it must be fully on your own property and only on city street parked in front of your house long enough to load or unload, for a maximum of 72 hours per month. For now the residential parking is totally complaint driven, but one of my neighbors was having her roof done and parked out of our cul de sac on the street we drive into, not even in front of a house because all the houses face the cul de sacs, and left it there I think 3 days and got a $600 ticket because someone complained. We still dont know who. We are lucky to have a huge drive and all our vehicles fit.

I have stayed in many Wal Marts but I always go in or phone and talk to the manager for permission... I stayed at an Olive Garden one night when I could not find another spot and I do not like to drive at night... The manager was fine with me parking but not where their customers were parked...
The key thing is to be courteous..
Kathleen