RV Repair Manual
for the RV Do-It-Yourselfer
Every time a campground owner stops by a local Walmart and sees an RV parked overnight, it might seem like lost revenue. Sure, that RV could be nestled in a campground paying $30 or more for full hookups with electricity and water. Instead, it is parked on asphalt, paying nothing and receiving only a level space to sleep. On the surface, it seems counterproductive for campground owners. However, overnight retail parking is actually a money-making proposition for RV campground owners over the long term.
Those who utilize free overnight RV parking bring substantial economic benefit to surrounding businesses. In addition to purchasing groceries and supplies at Walmart, RVers patronize local movie theaters, restaurants, supply stores, and historical attractions. When municipalities pass ordinances banning overnight RV parking, travelers simply bypass those towns entirely to spend their money in more welcoming communities.
For most RV owners, balancing campground fees with overall travel budgets determines trip length. Having to pay full campground rates every single night makes long-distance travel cost-prohibitive. Mixing occasional free overnight stops with paid campground stays allows RVers to remain on the road for months rather than weeks.
Most travelers use free parking areas once every three or four days to reset budgets between extended campground stays. Without the ability to offset costs with free overnight stops, many owners would take fewer trips or stay home altogether – resulting in zero campground revenue.
Overnight Parking Tip: When parking overnight in retail lots, maintain privacy and security using custom-fit RV windshield blackout shades, upgrade your entry door with a heavy-duty keyless RV door lock, and power internal 12V devices quietly using a portable power station or an off-grid RV solar kit instead of running a noisy generator.
Ultimately, seeing an RV in a Walmart parking lot means that traveler is extending their time on the road and will likely be checking into a paid campground within a night or two. Retail parking and full-service campgrounds complement each other to keep the RV lifestyle accessible and thriving.