Overnighting

[Chester Taje]

Hi All
My wife and I will be going to Arizona and area this winter. I have been told that we Cannot stop at Wallmarts or other store parking lots while traveling in Arizona. Is this true? Thanks in advance.

[Don H.]

Hi All
My wife and I will be going to Arizona and area this winter. I have been told that we Cannot stop at Wallmarts or other store parking lots while traveling in Arizona. Is this true? Thanks in advance.

This site has some information. Click on Arizona to get phone numbers of WalMarts, and call ahead. Some are already marked as no overnight campling allowed, but not all.

Also, if you buy the WalMart road atlas, you can get a list of stores that DON'T allow camping. Not sure how up to date that might be, however. Here is just one site for that, although you might visit a local store instead...

There are quite a few directories for free or nearly free camping, not just at walmarts. Many towns have city parks that allow overnights. National Forests are free for boondocking, and low cost at NF campsites. Many casinos don't seem to mind overnighting in their lots, especially if you go inside for a meal. There's quite a bit of information online, and it's probably more up to date than most printed directories. Try this search.

I don't know how accurate any of this is, just pointing out what I've found in about 3 minutes online.

[Chester Taje]

Hi Don
Yes thanks for info. I did know some of the things you mentioned. I did post the question in Gen Chat in case other were wondering also. Lots of times additional info which no one thinks about pops to the surface also some folks are afraid to ask.

[Doug Mager]

Hey Chester, I hear (from some American Eggers) that if one is a member, one can overnight in/at Elks, Eagles or Legion parking lots.

Another option is Campers World, they allow overnighters. I know certain countys laws/rules are different from others.....

[Gina D.]

You can overnite in the Show Low Walmart, as well as the KMart. Check the area you are going to.. some of the snootier (:-P) areas around Phoenix don't allow it.

[Adrian W]

I have spend one night at the Wal-Mart in Goodyear off I-10. It seems over half of them do not allow it, but many do it seems. http://www.allstays.com/c/walmart-ar...ations-map.htm


Only one in the Tucson area.
7951 N Oracle Road, Oro Valley AZ 85704
520 469-9567

Make that two
18680 S Nogales Hwy, Sahuarita AZ 85629
520 625-3808

and one in Norgales
100 West White Park Drive, Nogales AZ 85621
520 281-4974

According to the map.

[Joy A]

Chester,

I've found that it's City ordinances that generally prohibit parking at WalMarts and other parking lots. There have been very few WalMarts that I couldn't stay at in all my travels. If it's not posted on light standards go in and ask the Manager.

[Bigfoot Mike]

Ches, most Cracker Barrel Restaurants allow overnight RV parking and the food is great.

http://www.crackerbarrel.com/location.cfm?state=AZ

[David & Leslie]

Hi Chester & Marie - We have enjoyed Sam Walton's 'hospitality' in WalMart parking lots many times. We look for signs (other than 'security cameras in use') and also for other RVers who might already be parked. If there is a question, we ask the CSM (shift supervisor) if RVer's who are also WalMart customers may overnight in their lot. Unless a specific local ordinance prohibits overnight parking, we get an OK. I usually 'stage' a few WM bags with the evening's purchases in the front seat for extra impact.

WalMart management was not 'born yesterday'. They know travelers need supplies as they go along, and welcome us to spend our $$$ at WalMart!

Will you be visiting Quartzsite, AZ while you are in the state? We'll be there from end of Oct thru March - c'mon over! Wherever you'll be, we wish you safe travels and lots of fun! Glad you'll be out of the s***! L 'n D

[John Hussey]

I find "free" Walmart camping as usually very convenient but also very expensive, too. Once I park in one of their lots, I always wander inside and spend a little time perusing the aisles and always make a spontaneous purchase or two...or three...or..and wind up with more food than I wanted, a new book or two..

Then, there is the morning perusing for a fresh breakfast and perhaps buying something for later.

Yep, "free" Walmart camping often costs more than the paid sites, but, "variety" is certainly the spice of life, right?

[Raya]

I like the fact that Wal-Mart camping exists, as it's nice to have the option, but I seem to have the worst luck with it. I mean, do they "Zamboni" the parking lot *every* night? Or is it just the nights when I stop there? Seriously, it seems like every time I stop at a Wal-Mart, I no sooner get settled in than these big parking lot cleaning trucks come, and slowly (but noisily) sweep around the parking lot in ever tightening circles.

On the other hand, I did have one nice night at a Wal-mart, which also happened to be the only time I've ever had the dreaded tap-tap on my window. I was heading south on I-85 to my brother's place, and since he lives in the city, with no possible trailer parking, I was just in my station wagon. I have a nice comfy camping bed in the back, so for short or quick trips it works fine to get some sleep.

Anyway, it was about 2:30 a.m. when I got tired, and I pulled off at an exit that had a Wal-Mart and a Starbucks right near each other. Plan was to sleep at Wal-Mart, then go across the street for coffee the next morning on my way out (I do buy plenty of stuff from Wal-Mart; just not my "on the road" coffee).

I pulled in, took a spot near the huge big rigs out at the edge, dove through into the back, got my jammies on, and settled down. It was quiet. Ahhhhhh....

Then, not five minutes later: "Tap, tap" on the glass of my side window, plus a flashlight beam. Argh! I always dread this but never once has it actually happened in all my car camping trips. I opened the window just a bit, saw a "coppish" looking uniform, and said "Hello, I just pulled over on the way to my brothers when I got sleepy; I know I'm not one of the big rigs, but is it okay?" but actually thinking "Ack! the tap-tap-flashlight!"

I kid you not when I say that he answered back "Good evening, and Welcome to Wal-Mart #1234. I'm Bob, the security guard here. If there's anything I can do for you, I'm over there around the corner. Just let me know!"

Me: "Well thank you! I think all is fine, but I'll keep that in mind. Thanks for providing the spot."

And no Zamboni, either!

[Chester Taje]

Will you be visiting Quartzsite, AZ while you are in the state?

Yes we are making a point of going there.

[Bill MacDermod]

Chester?? What year is Florida on your list??? we have more Cracker Barrels in Florida than all the western states put together, Ha. Just kidding Texans. When we went out west 3 years ago we missed the Cracker Barrel meals. We found one in Loveland, Colorado and one in Boise, Id.

I think as far as Wally world goes all of them would let you stay but its the local ordinances that forbid it so they have to go along with that.

Another freeby would be most churches, they are very willing and some have large shady parking lots, some in Florida even have free coffee after 8:30 a.m.

[Chester Taje]

Chester?? What year is Florida on your list

Not really sure on that one. It will be a wait and see with us at present time. We really want to get this up coming trip done.

[Chester Taje]

Thanks so far for info. What we have gotten so far is great. Our main concern was finding a place to go to if RV parks and campgrounds were full or an emergency. Just trying to look ahead abit. I know others will follow this thread so all this info will come in handy.

[Weinel, Alan]

Chester -

My apologies for not responding sooner.

There is a Yahoo! group dedicated to Overnight parking at Wal-Mart.
http://autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/walmartrving/

There have been threads in that Group that have talked about OTHER Overnight Parking - at Cracker Barrell restaurants, etc. That group also maintains a complete data base of W-M stored - indicating whether or not they allow O-N parking.

Thanks so far for info. What we have gotten so far is great. Our main concern was finding a place to go to if RV parks and campgrounds were full or an emergency. Just trying to look ahead abit. I know others will follow this thread so all this info will come in handy.

[Chester Taje]

Chester -

My apologies for not responding sooner.

There is a Yahoo! group dedicated to Overnight parking at Wal-Mart.
http://autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/walmartrving/

There have been threads in that Group that have talked about OTHER Overnight Parking - at Cracker Barrell restaurants, etc. That group also maintains a complete data base of W-M stored - indicating whether or not they allow O-N parking.

It never occuried to me that there was so many Wallmarts. Its almost unbeleivable.

[John H]

I saw this at the Walmart in Prince George, BC.

[Greg A]

Chester,

I know the Cottonwood, AZ Wally is good to go for overnite. Of course, with Dead Horse state Park there you'd only want to do that if you couldn't get in which is always a risk as it's very popular in season. The Anthem Wally right off I17 as you come into Phoenix is a no go as are many of the Phoenix Metropolitan ones.

[Chester Taje]

Chester,

I know the Cottonwood, AZ Wally is good to go for overnite. Of course, with Dead Horse state Park there you'd only want to do that if you couldn't get in which is always a risk as it's very popular in season. The Anthem Wally right off I17 as you come into Phoenix is a no go as are many of the Phoenix Metropolitan ones.

Thanks-----Wally World will be a back up as required. We do want to do some desert camping and lots of travelling and really see things and meet people. I went on the wally world site mentioned above and man are there a lot of Wallmarts.
I have looked at a lot of state parks and national parks. This should be lots of fun.