First Time RV owner

[MWaden1956]

New RV guy here. Arroyo Grande CA.
Minnie Winnie  22R. (2018) Already started just doing very minor repairs (still in honeymoon stage) Love just sitting at table and reading up on RV stuff and watching YT videos.
Will use for short trips by myself and with the grand kids  (introduce them to RVs!)
Will sleep in it when visiting grand kids.

Already had my first visit in a Wal Mart parking lot in the evening ( Arroyo Grande).
I had no plans to spend the night there as I live locally. I was just testing things out and practicing off grid stuff.

A Police cadet or something like that from the local Police station reminded me that there was no overnight camping in the parking lot. No problem for me. He was very respectful.

 

[Rene T]

New RV guy here. Arroyo Grande CA.
Minnie Winnie  22R. (2018) Already started just doing very minor repairs (still in honeymoon stage) Love just sitting at table and reading up on RV stuff and watching YT videos.
Will use for short trips by myself and with the grand kids  (introduce them to RVs!)
Will sleep in it when visiting grand kids.

Already had my first visit in a Wal Mart parking lot in the evening ( Arroyo Grande).
I had no plans to spend the night there as I live locally. I was just testing things out and practicing off grid stuff.

A Police cadet or something like that from the local Police station reminded me that there was no overnight camping in the parking lot. No problem for me. He was very respectful.

Welcome to the Forum. I'm sure you'll have a ton of questions so feel free to ask away no matter how small the question may seem to you. Also, there is no dumb questions. If you don't know the answer, it's not dumb to ask.

As far as Walmart. I make it a point to always go in and ask a manager if it's OK to stay in the parking lot (even if there are other RV's parked already) just for the night. I tell them that I'll be out early in the morning. I usually pick up a few things before asking just to show them that I'm supporting Walmart by purchasing something.
Also, I don't make it look like I'm camping. No grills, no lawn chairs and if I don't have to, I don't open up any slides but that's my approach. Others have to open slides in order to get around in the RV. 

 

[RVMommaTo6]

Welcome! My first night in my motorhome was in a Wal-Mart parking lot with my daughter during a storm after picking it up earlier that day to drive 1,300 miles home. We loved every minute!

 

[BikerFlex&HappyJen]

Welcome! My first night in my motorhome was in a Wal-Mart parking lot with my daughter during a storm after picking it up earlier that day to drive 1,300 miles home. We loved every minute!

That?s too funny! We also spent our first camping night in a Walmart parking lot on the way to our destination. Must be a catchy trend for maiden voyages. LOL ;D

??????

As another posted suggested, we did however call the Walmart ahead of our arrival for overnight approval.

??????

Congrats MWaden on your new RV! You will have a great time camping!

 

[Seilerbird]

That?s too funny! We also spent our first camping night in a Walmart parking lot on the way to our destination. Must be a catchy trend for maiden voyages. LOL ;D

Walmart is the very best destination for your first night of camping. It is easy and cheap to run into the store to pick up the things you have discovered you really needed and did not bring.