We were forced to stay overnight in a Wal Mart parking lot because the idiot,(me) got us totally off track in central California on a highway that had no RV parks for at least 100 miles. We finally went thru Sacramento (during rush hour of course) stuck in bumper to bumper traffic. No chance of easily finding a park. About 15 miles south I finally punched in my GPS for RV parks and had it route us to the closest one. MY GOD, what a scary looking park in a scary part of town.
I gave up! Found a Wal Mart, parked at the far end of their lot, no other rv's in sight. We laid there dozing on and off all night hearing noises, cars stopping nearby. Got out of there at 5AM breathing a sigh of relief.
That was our first and last ever stay in a Wal Mart lot!!!!!!
2005 Everest 344J
1 wife
1 cat who thinks she owns it all
Took a two week trip in May and had planned on staying overnight at a few Wally Worlds just to save some cash. Our first and only time we tried this was in Junction City, KS. Seemed to be a safe and quiet town.
It was warm out and our trailer didn't have a generator so we had to keep some windows open. Bright lights shining in the bedroom all night, noise from traffic in the parking lot almost non-stop, and trains going by on near-by tracks every hour. Didn't get much sleep.
The real kicker was when a street sweeper came in to clean the lot at maybe 5 in the morning. At least the operator had the decency to start right by our trailer and work his way across the lot, getting quieter with each pass.
What can I say, I got what I paid for. Any overnight stops after that were at campgrounds.
I think you need a new GPS. If you were 15 mi. south of Sacramento, there are a number of good parks, in particular, there is a new (but costly) park at I-5 and Calif. 12. Haven't stayed there, but it is not a shabby place at all. I know of several others in the general area and your GPS should have told you about them.
When you stop at Walmart, you get what you pay for. If I stay there, I expect to hear traffic because it is a business,not an RV Park and think accordingly. Quitcherbelliaching!
your lucky the cars woke you up. Here in our home town the mexican gangs have drive by shooting to wake you up. Only problem is I don't know what phone number to call for a 5 am wake up call.
Over the years, I've "camped" in quite a few Walmart lots. Not to save $$, but because it was late and there was no campground anywhere the freeway. My first Walmart experience was bad, because I was in a more "seedy" section of town. Lots of young people driving around and through all night long. Lots of car horns, sirens, loud music from the car stereos. HOWEVER, most of my stays have been just fine. I appreciate that convenience every once in a while when I can't find a campground anywhere near my route and it's dark. I think all Super Walmarts have all night security, which I very much appreciate. All I'm saying is you can't judge one stay in a Walmart as the way it is everywhere. Anyway, it was a free night's stay so count your blessings.
CAMPING ON CHRISTMAS EVE AT WALMART (long post)
My most memorable Walmart stay was three years ago. It was Christmas Eve and I was pulling my new (to me) travel trailer all by myself to stay with friends in Naples for the holidays (didn't feel like being alone). Since I didn't have a tow vehicle yet, I borrowed a friends old Dodge Dakota pick up. I had my two dogs with me and a kitten I had recently rescued. My friends had just lost their long time kitty and were so happy to adopt this little rescue kitty. Boy, that was one crowded pick up truck cab. I live on the other side of Florida so I figured the trip would take about 5 hours.
Well, it was getting dark, and I was on I-75 headed south when people passing by me started waving a honking their horns. I knew something must be wrong so I pulled off at the first exit into a Citgo station. By now, it was 7:00 p.m. on Christmas Eve and the trip had taken way longer than I thought--seeing as I had gotten very lost somewhere in central Florida. I tried to fix the problem by changing fuses, no tail lights or brake lights on trailer. It didn't work. I couldn't get back on the road with no lights, so the nice man at the Citgo station directed me to a Walmart which was only two blocks down a side street.
By the time I "checked into" the Walmart and talked to the nice security man to let him know I would be staying overnight it was 8:00 p.m. ON CHRISTMAS EVE. Since I had planned to have meals with friends and my TT was new, I hadn't stocked it with food and the Walmart had closed at 6:00. The only thing I had was a can of beans, some bread, water, and a very nice bottle of wine for a gift to my friends. I ate my beans and bread and drank 1/2 bottle of wine. The dogs were nervous about the new TT, the kitty was nervous about the dogs and the whole traveling ordeal, and I was nervous about them being nervous. What a night. The wine was excellent. The next day I went on to Naples about another 1 1/2 hours (still no brake lights, but at least it was daylight. It's Christmas I'll always remember and I was sure grateful for that Walmart store.
Lighten up people. The way I read this is that the OP was sharing an experience and how that experience has shaped his viewpoint on something.
Chuck D.
'03 Jayco Kiwi 17a, '03 Chevy Trailblazer EXT, Garmin Nuvi 200 GPS
Photography is my obsession: http://coldwater.smugmug.com/
“Adventure is just bad planning.” - Roald Amundsen
I did not hear the OP belly aching or complaining other than to admit that he had a navigationally challenged day, and tried the WM lot. He decided it was not for him, thus he chose to make such an announcement. I'm with Chuck, you folks are way to critical. I would imagine there are hundreds, maybe thousands of people who refuse to post here, for fear they will be attacked or ridiculed. Lighten up.
20carfans wrote: I did not hear the OP belly aching or complaining other than to admit that he had a navigationally challenged day, and tried the WM lot. He decided it was not for him, thus he chose to make such an announcement. I'm with Chuck, you folks are way to critical. I would imagine there are hundreds, maybe thousands of people who refuse to post here, for fear they will be attacked or ridiculed. Lighten up.
My comment was not necessarily directed to just the OP, others have complained about "camping" at Walmart.
* This post was
edited 10/25/07 02:11pm by hemlox *
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