overnight parking walmart [How Long Can You Stay, RV’s, Sleeping In Car + More]
A well-known quirk of Walmart as a retail brand is that many customers of their stores can simply park their vehicles and RVs and spend the night in a Walmart parking lot.
To learn more about the fascinating world of people sleeping overnight in Walmart parking lots, keep reading!
Overnight Parking at Walmart
In general, Walmart does allow those traveling in RVs and personal vehicles to park and sleep overnight at any of the more than 4,000 Walmart stores across the U.S.. Walmart allows RV travelers to park up to 1 night and it is recommended to get permission from the Walmart store manager before doing so.
Read on to make sure you find out more about parking overnight at a Walmart store!
Is it legal to sleep in your car overnight at Walmart?
Whether you’ve driven a long drive and need a night’s rest, or you’re stuck, you may be wondering if you can sleep overnight in your car in a Walmart parking lot. Here are my findings.
In general, yes, Walmart does allow people to sleep overnight in their car in the Walmart parking lot. Walmart doesn’t have an official policy on overnight parking for cars, so it’s up to the store manager or after-hours security to let you stay.
Also, sleeping in a Walmart car is legal, but Walmart has the right to wave you over because it’s private property.
But in most cases, Walmart security or store managers will allow people to spend the night in their cars, as long as it’s okay and you respect them.
To learn more about parking conditions at Walmart stores across the U.S., check out the regularly updated interactive map that shows which Walmart parking lots are currently open for people to sleep in their cars overnight.
Does Walmart allow RVs to be parked overnight?
Yes, starting in 2023, Walmart does allow RVs and RV owners to park overnight in Walmart lots.
Walmart states in its corporate policy that it takes RV travelers very seriously and considers them its “best customers.”
Because of this, Walmart welcomes RV travelers to park overnight and take advantage of their propane exchange and car service.
Of course, overnight guests may decide to spend at their Walmart store, so it’s a win-win!
How many nights can you stay in a Walmart parking lot? + Walmart Parking Rules
There are rules that RV travelers can only stay overnight in the same Walmart lot at a time.
The Escapees RV Club has proposed “Overnight Parking Etiquette – RV Neighborhood Policy”, which provides some codes of conduct and rules that overnight parking guests should abide by.
Other parking and parking rules the Escapees RV Club has for overnight guests include: Make sure you have permission from store management to stay overnight, no grills, no littering in the parking lot, and purchase some food, fuel or supplies as a way of saying thanks.
How safe is overnight parking at Walmart?
Understandably, you may have some safety and security concerns when spending the night in a Walmart parking lot.
Most Walmart stores have CCTV surveillance cameras covering overnight parking areas, which should adequately monitor RVs and vehicles.
Additionally, Walmart employs 24/7 security guards who patrol stores hourly to make sure everything is running smoothly.
We recommend using common sense when assessing how safe the community around your store is. So you might want to take a quick drive on nearby roads to inform your options.
Do You Have to Pay for Overnight Walmart Parking?
Not only can you spend the night at Walmart, but it’s completely free!
You may wish to buy something from the store during your overnight stay, but there is absolutely no cost to staying overnight, as you would experience in a hotel, motel, or hostel.
Free overnight parking is definitely a great benefit for travelers!
Will Walmart tow my car if I sleep overnight?
Generally speaking, if a car is in a Walmart lot for more than 2 nights, yes, your car is at risk of being towed.
However, if you park on the perimeter of the Walmart parking lot for up to 1 night, you should be able to leave your vehicle unattended.
However, if you decide to leave your car unattended overnight, do so at your own risk, as abandoned cars are towed away by store managers or security personnel.
What are the benefits of overnight parking at Walmart?
Here are some of the key benefits we think of overnight parking at a Walmart store:
- sleep! Driving when overtired is undoubtedly very dangerous. So avoid the risk of driving when you’re tired and possibly putting your passengers in danger, and catch up on some much-needed sleep with free parking at Walmart.
- A great way to break up your trip. Whether you’re traveling a long distance or just need a break, an overnight stop is the perfect way to end a trip. Take some time to look at the map and plan the rest of your journey.
- The store is so convenient and sells just about everything you could possibly need! Walmart sells everything from food to health and beauty products, outdoor equipment, stationery, pet supplies, arts and crafts, phones, auto parts, pharmaceutical products and more! Be sure to spend the night next to the store!
Which vehicles did you spot in the overnight Walmart parking lot?
You can find all kinds of vehicles that overnight guests have slept in in Walmart parking lots, from trucks to regular-sized station wagons to gigantic RVs.
All types of vehicles can park in the Walmart overnight lot. Drivers of these vehicles may benefit from refueling at Murphy’s U.S. gas stations, which are often located near Walmart stores.
To learn more, you can also check out related posts about Home Depot overnight parking, Walmart return times, and whether Target allows overnight parking.
in conclusion
The answer is yes! There are so many Walmart parking lots across the US that you will see a different person sleeping in their car almost every night of the year.
However, we recommend that you do your research. Before arriving at a Walmart store late at night, call the Walmart store where you plan to sleep overnight and ask to speak to the store manager to ask if you can spend the night in the parking lot of that particular store.
Remember, the answer is not always yes. The store manager may recommend that you go to another Walmart store that offers overnight parking that night.
