Decision Time: Spend Spring Break at the beach or... WalMart!?!

[Gemini Cricket]

During a cross country trip, my friend tried to stay in a Wal*Mart parking lot in his RV overnight and was kicked out several times by WM security. He tried at least 4 or 5 different ones in different states. No dice.

[Alex]

Over the years I've probably slept in the parking lots of two dozen WalMarts across the country, at least one was in a thoroughly urban area (Okalahoma City) and at none of them was I the only one doing so (I'm always in a car, not an RV but there were always plenty of RVs there).

Santa Rosa, I think, was in the news last year for forcing WalMart to stop letting RVs park in its lots or they'd ban it statutorily.

Here's an article on how free RV parking at WalMarts is having a negative impact on RV parks. It includes this paragraph including comment from a Wal-Mart spokesperson:

Most Wal-Marts provide only space for the R.V.'s to park, not electrical hookups or dumping stations. The company says its invitation to R.V.'s, which has been in place for decades, is not predatory competition. "It is very simply an extension of customer service," said Sharon Weber, a spokeswoman.

There is a book called Wal-Mart Locator RV Guide that lists all the Wal-Marts, has pictures and maps, and detailed driving directions. And a pamphlet that lists the 350 (out of more than 4,000) or so WalMarts that do not allow parking.

Maybe your friend had the bad luck to only try it in municipalities that have banned it.