WalMart campground?

[Tom]

Could it be that we as a race have evolved to the point that we don't need TP anymore?  

LOL Denny, how I wish. Wendy gave you the correct link.

At that time, we probably didn't have anywhere "logical" to put that file, so I put it in 'miscellaneous'.

BTW a search would have found it for you. Meanwhile, I inserted the link in that earlier message.

[sheltie]

Wendy - thanks for the link.  Incidentally, while I totally agree with Tom regarding WalMart and "camping", I also wonder how one could be comfortable using the WM in Cortez.  To my memory - frequently wrong, I admit - there didn't seem to be a lot of level areas where RVs would normally park.  I did shop at WM a lot during the month I was just outside Mesa Verde, though.  Certainly no one could use the excuse that there are no CGs near Cortez as there are quite a few of them, several right there in town.  What I miss most about Cortez is playing golf with the other geezers who come up from the hot SW at Conquistador.  Sure is a neat course with a friendly staff.

Tom - I did try a search first prior to my post and was unsuccessful.  My magic fingers didn't work this time.

[Wendy]

Denny, I'm a Wal-Mart "parker" as opposed to a "camper." We've stayed more than once in a Wal-Mart parking lot. As for Cortez, there are plenty of level spots. Most RVs park in the section closest to the highway. There are "No Overnight Parking" signs in the parking lot but the WM management says they don't care if people park overnight so the local cops don't enforce it unless WM calls to complain (which they don't). There are plenty of campgrounds in Cortez, in fact, they're the ones who got the "No Overnight Parking" signs posted at Wal-Mart (nowhere else in town, just Wal-Mart). Most of the people who stay in the WM parking lot are just passing through and only want a place to stop for the night. They don't want hookups or swimming pools or anything else, just a place to park and sleep, so they don't want to spend $30. When the NOP signs were first posted, many people just kept right on driving through Cortez without stopping to spend any money on anything. I'd rather people were allowed to stay at WM and spend money in our little town.

Too bad you're not here, we've got a coupon book with Buy One Get One Free golf at Conquistador....we don't golf so you'd be welcome to it.

Travel safe
Wendy

[Tom]

.. I did try a search first prior to my post and was unsuccessful.

Denny, the library has a separate Search button. The Search button above only works on forum messages, not in the library.

[sheltie]

Tom - that's the one I used and was unseccessful.  But then, my wife says I'm not a very good snake hunter either.

Wendy - thanks for the offer, I wish I could take you up on it.  The WM debate is one that will never be settled to anyone's satisfaction until/unless they actually designate an area for RVers who want to overnight/rest/whatever.  An unofficial wink and a nod just doesn't get it.  I understand why some want to stay at WM, and in many cases it is certainly warranted.  However, I'm probably more radical than Tom in my thinking in that I think many people use it because they are too cheap.  It confounds me that people will spend in excess of $100K (in some cases WAY more) and yet be so cheap as to not be willing to pay $30 to stay overnight at a CG.  Those are the folks I don't understand.  Oh well, discussing it is similar to beating a dead horse, but it does keep me off the street and out of trouble (except on this forum)!

[sheltie]

Wendy - I forgot to ask in my last post ....  I spent the last four months in Olathe (I'm back home in Texas now) and am down to my last doz ears of Olathe Sweet sweet corn.  Is it still in City Market or is the season completely over?  There is no better corn in the world!!!

[Tom]

...I'm probably more radical than Tom in my thinking...

Denny, you need to be more specific; There's more than one Tom in this discussion.

[Wendy]

Denny - Sadly the Olathe has been done and gone for nearly two weeks now. If you're ever in this area the first weekend in August, you should hit the Olathe Sweet Corn Festival - all the corn you can eat, roasted or steamed, with or without butter. It is absolutely the best corn anywhere.

Wendy

[Ken & Sheila]

>>I understand why some want to stay at WM, and in many cases it is certainly warranted.  However, I'm probably more radical than Tom in my thinking in that I think many people use it because they are too cheap.  It confounds me that people will spend in excess of $100K (in some cases WAY more) and yet be so cheap as to not be willing to pay $30 to stay overnight at a CG.  Those are the folks I don't understand. <<

Denny,

While I am not a Wall Mart "parker", I am a overnight boondocker at Truckstops (usually away from the trucks), Casinos, and other businesses that want my business and are willing to let me park overnight. Yes, I save money, but more important is the convenience. Campgrounds are often far off the road we traveling, the offices are often closed by the time we get off the road - usually around 7pm and aren't open when I want to leave, 6 or 7am.

My only concern usually is security. Here I reply first on my gut feel and second by seeing if there are other RVs stopped.

ken

[Wendy]

If I need/want hookups, I stay in a campground and pay the going rate. However, if I have no need or desire for hookups, I see no reason to pay $30 or more for things I don't want. And, yes, I am cheap, but by saving money on our overnight expenses, we're able to travel more. The $30 I don't drop at a campground will buy me 10 gallons of gas.

Wendy

[Ned]

We did find a campground in Rawlins, WY, that offers long, level, pull through sites with electric only, perfect for a one night stop.  Unfortunately, it was $22 even with the GS discount

[rsalhus]

However, I'm probably more radical than Tom in my thinking in that I think many people use it because they are too cheap.  It confounds me that people will spend in excess of $100K (in some cases WAY more) and yet be so cheap as to not be willing to pay $30 to stay overnight at a CG.

Did you ever consider for a minute that the reason those folks could afford to spend in excess of $100k (and WAY more) for their rig was because they were thrifty?

[Jeff]

We did find a campground in Rawlins, WY, that offers long, level, pull through sites with electric only, perfect for a one night stop.  Unfortunately, it was $22 even with the GS discount

Ned:

Come out to New England! $22.00 would be a real bargain. We have been paying 26/30 for W/E, up to 40 for FHU.

[Gary RV Roamer]

We have been paying 26/30 for W/E, up to 40 for FHU.

You've been staying in the cheap places in New England, Jeff! Many are even more than that.

[Ned]

No thanks, Jeff, been there and done that.  In the past week we've paid $51 and $46/night for full hookup, but our average for the year is still <$13.  What is surprising is how full the campgrounds are at this time of year.  Usually they're quite empty after Labor Day.

And too many trees east of the Mississippi

[seilerbird]

Denny, you need to be more specific; There's more than one Tom in this discussion.

It must be me, I'm not radical in my thinking. Oh wait, I don't think.

[Just Lou]

".... our average for the year is still <$13.  

Ned, is this the average for all nights this year, or just those nights on the road?

[sheltie]

Denny - Sadly the Olathe has been done and gone for nearly two weeks now. If you're ever in this area the first weekend in August, you should hit the Olathe Sweet Corn Festival - all the corn you can eat, roasted or steamed, with or without butter. It is absolutely the best corn anywhere.

Wendy

I stayed in Olathe for four months this year and managed to hold down my corn intake at the Fest to a mere nine ears!

[sheltie]

Denny, you need to be more specific; There's more than one Tom in this discussion.

You are the Tom to whom I was referring. 

[Ned]

Lou, all nights.  Our average for 12+ years is just under $14.

[Just Lou]

Lou, all nights.  Our average for 12+ years is just under $14.

Just curious how you account for the nights at the Texas lot?

[Ned]

Same way you would account for WalMart parking

[Just Lou]

Same way you would account for WalMart parking

Not quite the same, (I don't have a deed or a mortgage on a Wal-Mart parking lot. ) but I get your point.

[BernieD]

Ned, is this the average for all nights this year, or just those nights on the road?

Lou

I'm not sure what this can demonstrate, but since we bought our first motorhome in 1998, we've "camped" 1,968 days at an average cost of $17.40. We seldom use Wal-Mart, which was included and we don't own a lot to park on for "free". Thank you Rolling Stock for the statistics. One interesting number is that the summer of 2009 was our lowest average for the last 5 years, $18.34 vs. a high of $26.99 in 2005. Probably didn't stay at any Wal-Marts that summer 

[FrontrangeRVer]

Well, if I might step in here with the RVForum oldtimers....

We have a new Walmart here in Woodland Park, CO, and they put up "NO Camping" signs in the parking lot of it, and in our opinion, we are very glad.  The closest Walmart in Colorado Springs looks trashy because of their allowing RV's....just our opinion.  

If I were Walmart, I would just ban any overnight camping at all their stores, and be done with this......

I hear the "Walmart Campers" say "I spend money there", and apparently they think they now have the right to squat on the property....I contend once Walmart does away with the RV overnight parking, their revenue won't go down any.   

[Just Lou]

Bernie, your data is probably more applicable to my (and the average non-full timers) situation than is Ned's. 

For my purposes, I would only calculate costs for nights away from my residence.  The only other factor I can think of that may cloud the issue would be storage fees when not on the road.  Folks like myself, who can park on their own property, have a small advantage.  However, unlike Ned, I can't legally live in mine while parked at home.

A thought (might have been a brain fart) just occurred to me.  If I didn't have this RV to park, I probably wouldn't need this property.

OR, put another way, if I didn't have this property to look after, I wouldn't have to park the RV

[Wendy]

If you really want to muddy the waters, we averaged $3.84 per night last winter. We do a lot of boondocking and also have half-off and free camping at a number of places.

Wendy

[Mc2guy]

If I were Walmart, I would just ban any overnight camping at all their stores, and be done with this......

Wal*Mart does indeed make money on RVers and as such, will not institute a ban as a corporate policy.  You are talking about a company that squeezes every single penny out of their suppliers, employees, service providers, and distribution operations in order to maximize their profit margins.  If they believed they could make more money by not allowing RV parking, trust me, they wouldn't allow it.

In Virginia, most retail stores are located in retail development complexes that include more than just the Walmart.  As such, most of the time Walmart doesn't own the property or have any sway (other than through political pressure) on the parking regulations.  In most of these situations, overnight parking is not allowed.  I have never stayed at a Walmart overnight, but respect their business decision to allow it.

[Just Lou]

I'm with Mark on this one  

Who wants to git the family all dressed up, git 'um loaded in the truck, git on over to that "New Wal-Mart" only to have to park in the same lot with a Monaco Diplomat trashin' the place up?

[carson]

I shop at Walmart, maybe once every 3 months. Have never stayed in their parking lots, why? We have 2 big ones in a 10 mile area from my home. The few things we need while traveling are minimal.. we prepare. (Unless you are a full-timer..most are not.)

   Just to save a few bucks not parking in an RV park? I love to give RV parks my money so that the can stay in business...

  We all need RV parks all over the country, good or bad, so why cut their knees off?

  I guess I am of the old school. Live and let live.

I support the RV parks..they are hard working folks trying to stay alive. Folks who want to save buck, maybe buy a hamburger instead of those $12.00 steaks on your BBQ.

  Believe me, I am a free entrepreneur. (Enterpriser).

Guess I had better quit before I get into trouble.

carson FL