Wal-Mart "camping" with a popup

We'll be heading to Maine in a little less than 2 weeks (the combined family reunion and NE 'pod get-together posted elsewhere).  We will be caravaning up with my parents who have a popup.  We've talked about leaving Tuesday night instead of Wednesday morning, but that will require a stopover somewhere.  I suggested Wal-Mart, we've stayed there several times over the last few months, twice in the 'pod and once in our minivan.  They are fine with that, but I got to thinking today.  Its one thing to shut out the light and some of the noise in our cozy 'pods (or a van), and its also easy to not look obvious that you are staying overnight, but its another thing to set up a popup.

I once asked our local Walmart manager about the whole rv in the parking lot thing. he told me that "strictly speaking", the policy is that rv's are allowed to park overnight or during inclement weather but that they are not supposed to "set up" as if they were at a campground.

I suppose every Walmart is a bit different.

MJ

Some towns won't allow over night parking so a Walmart wouldn't be allowed to let people stay.  I have seen a lot of pop ups using them so that isn't a problem.  What they don't want is for people to set up camp there.  That means don't put out awnings, BBQ grills etc.

Terry

There isn't many states that allow overnight stops in rest areas.  Some have real nice ones.  Truck stops often have overnight places just for RV's and a separate one for trucks.

In a Walmart parking lot park as far away as you can from the store.  Put you camper as close as you can to the curb so that your slide out goes out over the grass.  That way you don't have to worry about someone hitting it.  Always ask even if there are other campers there.

Terry