One of the well-known quirks of Walmart as a retail brand is that at many of their store’s customers can simply park up their vehicles and RVs, and sleep overnight in Walmart parking lots.
To learn more about the fascinating world of people sleeping overnight in Walmart parking lots, read on!
Overnight Parking At Walmart
Generally, Walmart does allow those traveling in RVs and personal vehicles to park and sleep overnight at 4,000+ Walmart stores across the U.S. Walmart allows motorhome travelers to park for a maximum of 1 night, and it is recommended to get permission from a Walmart store manager before doing so.
Continue reading to make sure you find out more information regarding overnight parking at Walmart stores!
Is It Legal To Sleep In Your Car At Walmart Overnight?
Whether you have had a long drive and need to rest for the night or maybe have fallen on rough times, you may be wondering if you can sleep in your car overnight while in the Walmart parking lot. Here is what I discovered.
Generally, yes, Walmart does allow people to sleep in their cars overnight in Walmart car parks. Walmart has no official policy on overnight parking with cars, so it is up to the discretion of the store manager or after-hours security guard to permit you to stay.
Additionally, it is legal to sleep in your car at Walmart, but Walmart has the right to wave you on since it is private property.
But in most cases, the Walmart security guard or store manager will allow people to sleep in their cars overnight as long as there are no issues and you are respectful.
To find out more about Walmart stores’ parking status across the USA, take a look at the interactive map which is regularly updated and shows which Walmart parking lots are currently available for people to sleep in overnight in their vehicle.
Does Walmart Allow RVs To Park Overnight?
Yes, Walmart does allow motorhome and RV owners to park overnight at Walmart car parks as of 2024.
Walmart states in its corporate policy that it strongly values RV travelers and considers them to be among its ‘best customers.’
Because of this, Walmart welcomes RV travelers to park overnight and take advantage of their propane exchange and auto services.
Also, overnight guests, of course, may decide to spend their money in their Walmart stores, so it’s a win-win!
How Many Nights Can You Stay In A Walmart Parking Lot For? + Walmart Parking Lot Rules
There is a rule that RV travelers can only spend one night at a time in the same Walmart parking lot.
The Escapees RV Club came up with the ‘Overnight Parking Etiquette – RVers Good Neighbor Policy’ to provide some codes of conduct and rules that overnight parking guests should abide by.
Other car park and boondocking rules made by the Escapees RV Club for overnight guests include; making sure you receive permission to stay overnight from store management, no barbeque grills, not littering the parking lot, and as a way of saying thank you, purchase some food, fuel, or supplies from the Walmart store out of courtesy.
How Safe Is Overnight Parking At Walmart?
Understandably, you may have a few safety and security concerns when sleeping overnight in a Walmart parking lot.
Most Walmart stores have CCTV security cameras covering the overnight parking area and should provide adequate surveillance of RVs and vehicles.
Additionally, Walmart also hires round-the-clock security guards that visit the store on an hourly basis to ensure everything is running smoothly.
We recommend using common sense when assessing how safe the neighborhood around the store is. So you may wish to take a quick drive around the roads nearby to inform your choice.
Do You Have To Pay For Overnight Walmart Parking?
Not only can you sleep in your vehicle overnight at Walmart, but it is also completely free!
You may wish to buy something from the store during your overnight stay, but there is never any charge incurred for staying overnight as you may experience with a hotel, motel, or hostel.
Overnight parking costing nothing is definitely a massive bonus for travelers!
Will Walmart Tow My Car If I Leave It Overnight?
Generally, if a car is left for more than 2 nights in a Walmart car park, yes, you run the risk of your car being towed.
However, if you park your car on the outskirts of a Walmart car park and leave it for a maximum of 1 night, then you should be ok to leave a vehicle unattended.
But if you do decide to leave your car unattended overnight, do so at your own risk, as it is up to the store manager or security guard to tow abandoned cars.
What Are The Benefits Of Walmart’s Overnight Parking?
Here are some of what we believe to be the main benefits of overnight parking at a Walmart store:
- Sleep! Driving when you are excessively tired can undoubtedly be very dangerous. So avoid the risks of driving when tired and potentially putting your passengers in danger, and pull in at Walmart free of charge to catch up on some essential sleep.
- A great way to break up your journey. The overnight parking is a great opportunity to break up your journey, whether you are on a long road trip or just need a rest. Take some time to look at a map and plan the rest of your journey.
- The store can be very handy and sells virtually everything you may need! Walmart sells everything from food, to health and beauty products, outdoor equipment, stationary, pet supplies, crafts, phones, auto parts for cars, pharmaceutical products and much, much more! Be sure to take advantage when staying next to the store overnight!
What Vehicles Do You Find At Walmart Overnight Parking Lots?
You can find a range of vehicles being slept in by overnight guests staying at Walmart parking lots, from trucks, to normal size estate cars, to gigantic RVs.
All types of vehicles are permitted to park in Walmart overnight parking lots. Drivers of these vehicles may be able to benefit from Murphy USA gas stations to refuel, which are often found in close proximity to Walmart stores.
To find out more, you can also see out related posts on overnight parking at Home Depot, Walmart return hours, and if Target allows overnight parking.
Conclusion
The answer is yes! There are plenty of Walmart parking lots across the USA, which see different people sleeping in their vehicles in them pretty much every night of the year.
However, we suggest doing your research. Prior to arriving late at night at a Walmart store, ring the Walmart store you intend to stay at overnight and ask to speak to the store manager and enquire if it is possible to stay overnight at that specific store’s parking lot.
Remember, the answer will not always be a yes. The store manager may advise that you go to a different Walmart store where overnight parking is available that night.
