Of the 4,000 or so stores nationwide, more than 1,000 prohibit overnight RV parking for one reason or another. Oftentimes local ordinances prohibit overnight RV parking. In some cases, Walmart is only a tenant and does not own the property their store is located on nor do they own the parking lot. In these cases, landlords may prohibit overnight RV parking.
Permission to park is granted by individual store managers. Some managers may not allow overnight RV parking because of previous bad experiences while others may choose to allow it. It is possible to speak with different managers at the same store on the same day and receive different answers regarding overnight RV parking. That’s why it is important to ask management for permission to park. Don’t just assume it is allowed because there are other RVs in the parking lot.
Walmart Map
An interactive map that shows the location of Walmart stores nationwide is available through the link below. The map also indicates the overnight parking status.
Of the ~35 or so Walmarts we called, and some we went in and very politly asked in persone, “none” let us park. This was between 10-1-23 and 11-27-23.
I sent the followitn to Walmart. I will sope someplace else from now on.
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To Walmart,
My wife worked at Walmart in Jefferson City, MO for over 5 years and even knew Sam Walton in person back then. We have been a loyal customer for 50 years.
However, I now have an issue with the store. I read on your website how you “value and welcome RV’s”, and will let RV’s park over night; and qualify it with “Permission extended by individual managers, based on availability, etc”. However, you say in your advertising how you love RV people, but in real life nothing seems to me farther from the truth.
We left Tucson, AZ 10-1-23 (returned 11-27-23) pulling a small trailer and drove to northern AZ, then zigzagged across the country going through many small and big towns like Albuquerque, Saint-Louis, Little Rock, Huston TX, Galveston, El Paso and back to Tucson. 7,000 miles in two months. We either stopped at, or called, every Walmart store we were close to and very politely asked if there was any place we could park a small RV on their parking lot over night. We were told every single time without exception “No we do not let RV’s stay overnight”, and they blamed it on the corporate level. In Prescott, AZ I was even told the local police would have us towed after the store closed! So, I called the police station and asked them about this, told me “No, that is not true; we would never tow someone off of private property”. I then went into the Prescott store and politely asked at the service counter and was now told that “No, the police would not tow you, but the corporate view has changed and we can no longer let RV’s park over night.” True or not, that was what I was told over and over all across the USA.
But I do not have a problem with Walmart saying “No RV’s over night”, you own the stores, you are free to do whatever you want. But I am also free to decide rather to spend money and shop at Walmart or not. And right now it is to not shop there. I also just called Walmart help number and the guy that answered told me again that RV’s could stay at most all Walmarts. I told him my story, and all he could do was give me your email address, and say there has not been ant official change listed.
But what really annoys me is you telling the public “You Welcome RV’s” when this does not seem true. I ask you, how could this be true when every single Walmart turned us down, around 30-40 of them and all we contacted. If there is one single Walmart along the path we took that would have let us stay, which one is it? I didn’t find any.
The only Walmart we finally did stay at was the one in Jefferson City, MO. They first said “No” and gave us the same company-line about 18 wheelers backing into things. Then when my wife told them she had worked at the old Walmart store there in Jefferson City (before they built a new one) and earned her 5 year pin, and told them she knew Sam Walton personally (back then she even had his personal phone number), the ladies at the Service counter apologized for them saying no to her, and said their hands were tied from corporate. But they then told her because she had worked there, they would make an exception for her, and the called the security guard and told him to not bother us; and we did stay there that one night.
Now, I do not expect Walmart to care much about me not coming to their stores to shop anymore. But to be fair, I am going to wait for a reply before posting this on line everywhere. Maybe Walmart will “enlighten me about there policies some how”. and if I do not get some revelation in this issue, I will post this story on-line, not because I am upset, but to let all RV users know not to plan on ANY Walmart letting them park over night. If they want to park, they need to go to places like the ones that Welcomed us like Cracker Barrel (really nice every time), Tractor Supply, Sizzlers, Applebee’s, JC Penny’s, and others.
Question, does anyone really think professional truck drivers are backing into things all the time? Really? I have been in may truck stops over my 50 years of driving and so far I have never seen a truck back into anything. And if you pull into a Walmart at night, with ALL THAT ROOM, why would they need to ever back up, and what would there be to hit? Sounds like BS to me.
I got kicked out of the Jefferson City Walmart lot two weeks ago—no overnight parking, period…
Mr. Branson…
Thank you for your thoughtful post. I came to this site because I began to wonder if things had changed at Walmart. I have been living in my trailer for several months, going from parking lot to parking lot while I go through my mom’s storage unit after she passed on. Up until a couple weeks ago, I rotated between 3 of the four local Walmarts and Cracker Barrel and one of our Targets that allows it.
About 10 days ago I went on a trip without my trailer. I haven’t picked my trailer up from my friends driveway since I’ve been back, but I have been to two of the Walmarts that had been allowing overnight RV parking. I haven’t asked yet, and I will when I pick up my trailer, but I haven’t seen ANY RVs in either store! I appreciated the information you posted about other places that do allow overnight parking, like JCPenney’s, Applebee’s, Sizzler, and Truck Supply. You wrote the words, “and others”. Are there any of those other places that you could share? Of course I would not just assume they would allow it. I live in California and would check with each one.
I’d appreciate your feedback! It sounds like you and your wife are seasoned RVers!
Thank you,
Lynne
I have been in my RV for three years. Do to my health list everything including my job. I make 859.00 a month on SSDI. I have yet to find a parking lot, in Mesa, Chandler,Gilbert Az. area and have not found one single parking lot that will allow you to park over night. On June 01,2024 a law became active that you can receive a fine if found camping in the city limits. Because of what little I receive I can’t find a trailer park to move into.
This is very helpful information. Next weekend I’m planning a short RV trip into the desert here in Southern California during which time I assumed (without question, doubt, or concern) that I would spend my two overnight stays at the local Wal-Mart and my days would be spent at another location. I was so sure of this plan that I’ve made no alternate plan. You may very well have sparred me a great deal of nuisance. I will be tightening up my plans before departing. Thanks for sharing your”unfortunate experience”, though it may serve to spare many others the same. RcG
I’m very glad I stumbled upon this website. I don’t understand why these companies & cities won’t allow, as if they are rulers over a kingdom, people to sleep in their vehicles in public retail parking lots during the night. Their attitude’s are hurting people and yet they expect these same people to buy from them and pay taxes. It’s like they want everybody’s cake with all the trimmings and eat it too all by themselves. Don’t they realize what their decision can also potentially cause? In them choosing to do this, they are contributing to wrecks on the road including the injuries and fatalities those wrecks cause. Some say that they don’t but yet they take the same scenario and apply it to other situations. Some will say the reason why they won’t allow parking is because of the trash some people leave or the noise they may make or the damage to the asphalt vehicles may cause or some other reason that’s still not as important as a human being. It’s really sad that these companies and cities value the dollar more than the people. And it’s really sad that someone brought up homeless people vs them being able to park their RV. That’s ridiculous. That’s a show of self entertainment and selfishness. Is it because they have money? Hmmm . Just my thoughts.
We are bias in our reasoning because we want to park there. Local juridictions have taken your opinions and have decided they are not creditable. Yes, freak accidents happen, but laws are made with the understanding that the risk is worth taking. Cities do not eliminate road intersections because they cause accidents.
The people in RVs don’t hang clotheslines and drape underwear on em, do oil changes in the parking lot. they don’t empty urine jugs in lot or toss tissues on ground.
The Walmart on Tucson Marketplace Blvd, Tucson, Arizona, has looked like an RV park all winter. …just beginning to thin out. There are no trash cans there, unfortunately, but there is a Planet Fitness across the street. I’ve seen everything there from cars and trucks, schoolies, towable RVs, and motorhomes.
We pulled into a Walmart downtown Hot Springs, AR we saw the No Overnight Rv or truck parking sign so we left. If its because of a city ordinance, they surely allow for the ” homeless” people to lie in the bushes and/ or store their things in the bushes until the next day. Some people do that (beg) for a living and do quite well at it.
Girl stop lying
This week I was asked to leave the Walmart in the Center of New England, Coventry Rhode Island and I found out several before have been asked to leave…
The signs say “No overnight RV parking”, specifying RV. What about sleeping in your personal car/truck/Jeep?
The overnight parking prohibition would also apply to other vehicles. This is often because of a city ordinance that prohibits overnight parking or sleeping in a vehicle.
This was very helpful thank you. For those of you that are computer illiterate. Click on the blue “Link to Walmart Map” above here. It’s located just under the “Walmart Map” paragraph header. It’s free, accurate, and up to date. This saved me probably hours of driving around because the 2 Walmarts I was going to try did not allow overnight even parking. Probably would’ve gotten kicked out as soon as I smell asleep haha…
I’ve seen posting at a few walmart’s saying no rv overnight, but I’ve stayed in my SUV with no problems.
I did a few drag shows over the weekend and I came back in my RV and stayed in Walmart’s parking lot. The people invited me to eat some ham and eggs pork chops ribs this cute drag queen had a great time cannot wait to return.
Monroe, Michigan and Belleville, Michigan have “No overnight parking signs” and enforce towing. City ordinance.
Bellingham,MA just posted “ no overnight parking” signs. A couple of weeks ago they said “ no truck or trailer parking”.
PUTNAM CT – STORE 1980 – changed their policy due to bad experiences with overnight RVs – no longer permitted
The No Park walmart list was free, why has it changed? It should stay free, thanks for nothing.
I’m unsure of what you are referring to. There is no charge for accessing the information here. If you are referring to the list of locations that prohibited overnight parking, that information was removed more than a year ago. See this for more: https://www.walmartlocator.com/articles/website-changes/
That link is in affiliate you can just get the information through the free Walmart app. You must have clicked on the link above these comments and that was a third party. Good luck in your travels 🙂
Luray, VA does not allow RV overnight parking.
Called …. don’t allow rv’s
Warrenton, Mo