Yes, you can park overnight at Walmart. Most Walmart stores allow RVs, van-dwellers, and car campers to sleep in their parking lot overnight. However, there are a minority of Walmart stores where overnight parking is not allowed.
Can You Park Overnight at Walmart?
The vast majority of Walmart stores across the United States have no issue with you parking overnight in their lots. They seem to love the idea of letting RVs and trucks park in their lot. Travelers park their rigs in the back portion of the parking lot, and then they walk into the store to buy supplies. It’s a win-win.
Why Do Some Walmarts Prohibit Overnight Parking?
It’s not so much that some Walmart store managers don’t want you to park overnight in their lot, it’s that there are other issues that create problems for them…
- Local Laws Prevent Overnight Parking – Medium to large-sized cities have laws against sleeping in vehicles. They also have laws against camping within city limits. As a result, law enforcement officers will patrol shopping centers and kick people out. Walmart stores don’t want to see red-and-blue flashing lights in their parking lots.
- Many Walmarts Are in a Shopping Center– Walmarts that are located inside a larger shopping center don’t have a say with their parking lots. Rather, the company that owns the shopping center set these rules and hires security to enforce them.
- High Traffic Walmarts – Particularly those located in suburbs, or high-traffic shopping centers, large RVs can create problems with other vehicles.
Which Walmarts Allow Overnight Parking?
Here’s a guide that will help you “guess” which Walmart allows overnight parking…
High Probability – A free-standing Walmart, one that doesn’t share land with other stores, located in a small town close to a major highway.
Better Probability – A Walmart located in a small town, inside a larger shopping center, close to a major highway
Good Probability – A Walmart located in a small town, regardless of proximity to major highway.
55/45 Shot – A free-standing Walmart, located in a medium to large city, on the out-skirts of town, on a major highway
50/50 Shot – A Walmart located inside a larger shopping center, in a medium to large city, on the out-skirts of town, on a major highway.
Probably Not Allowed – A Walmart in a medium to large city, in the middle of town, near a major highway.
You’ll Get Kicked Out for Sure – A Walmart in a medium to large city, located in the suburbs.
Apps For Finding Walmart Parking
FreeRoam – Has every Walmart in the United States listed, along with reviews from other users. Free.
AllStays – Seems to have the most reviews from other users, but charges a fee to use their app.