Understanding Blacktop Boondocking

Big box stores and other business’ parking lots can’t replace a waterfront site in a National Park, but they do serve a great temporary purpose and come in handy when you’re weary from the road.

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Words by Jan Lee

A few years ago, my husband Jack and I were driving through Northern Idaho, returning from a short vacation in Washington State. We were towing a small trailer and doing our best to navigate the heavy rush-hour traffic. We had travelled this route quite a number of times and knew there weren’t any RV parks nearby. Weary from the road, we pulled into a Walmart parking lot, figuring we’d get some snacks, use the restroom, and then continue on our way.

The northeast end of the almost-empty parking lot was dotted with motorhomes, campers, and a few cars. It was clear they were there for the night. Most of the RVs had their interior lights on and the cars had visors over the windows. Jack and I looked at each other and then he quietly selected a parking place far away from the front entrance so we wouldn’t block traffic.

“You’re supposed to ask permission first,” I told him as he got out of the truck. “Yup,” is all he said, as he headed into the Walmart. He came back 15 minutes later with drinks and a smile.  “They said no problem.” He rattled off a few requirements as we moved the dogs into the RV and got ready to settle down. The stipulations were no lawn chairs outside, quiet behaviour and we stay only one night. “They said that last one is mandatory,” Jack added.

We figured it was a fair deal for a well-needed sleep. After we had discussed what to have for dinner, we went back in and purchased the ingredients. The next morning, we returned to the store and brought back coffee and breakfast. The stay wasn’t the Ritz, and because we were only travelling with a small trailer, we missed many of the benefits of a larger, self-contained rig. But we had lights, water, food, and a bed for the night. It gave us the ability to get home safely the next day.

Parking lot RVing – or what some call euphemistically ‘blacktop boondocking’ – has been gaining popularity in recent years. For those free spirits who don’t always want to contend with the rigour and formalities of setting up and tearing down for a single night’s stay, a parking lot can be a handy alternative.

Walmart gained a fair amount of notoriety in the 1990s for its acceptance of overnight RV parking, although the number of Walmart stores that now allow boondocking has decreased considerably (particularly in the U.S.). But Cracker Barrel, Cabela’s, and Canadian Tire also allow parking on a site-by-site basis.

For some store managers, the idea of having a few watchful campers outside their entrance can be an asset as well as an additional money-maker. Most of us will head for the nearest grocery aisle or restaurant rather than pulling our rig back out into traffic again. Stores that offer convenient shopping and a comfortable, level place to park tend to get a lot of business from RVers.

But there are some strings attached with most of the big box stores or restaurants that allow lot camping:

  1. Always ask the owner or manager before deciding to stay. Remember they have the final say. Some big-box stores lease their facilities from other firms and aren’t allowed by contract to permit overnight parked vehicles.
  2. Obey all signs. If you see signs prohibiting overnight stays, it’s wise to find another location to park. RVs can be ticketed or towed if they violate the property owner’s rules.
  3. Be discreet. Leave the chairs inside for the night and don’t make it a social occasion with the other campers. By and large, stores don’t appreciate noise that calls attention to your stay or disturbs other shoppers.
  4. Keep it to a one-night stay. The biggest complaint from store owners (and the most frequent reason that stores stop offering this service) is about the RVers that choose to stay two or three nights. Make your stop brief. Early risers who leave before the store opens for rush hour are often appreciated the most.
  5. Leave no trace. If you have dogs, obey signs and be sure to pick up after your pooch and use all the garbage facilities.

The Art of Finding your Perfect Blacktop Boondock

The website AllStays (www.allstays.com), offers a list of stores that permit and don’t permit overnight stays. The list covers Canada and the U.S. and is organized by province and state. It has separate sections for Walmart stores, Cracker Barrels, and Cabela's. RVers can log on and report their latest experience by location, indicating whether RV overnight parking was allowed and whether there were any unusual experiences. Enthusiasts will also frequently note if there are other camping areas worth checking out nearby. AllStays also has a “Pro” subscription service with additional features.

Overnight RV Parking (www.togorv.com) tracks RV usage of free and low-cost boondocking and provides access to that information through its paid-subscription service. Both OvernightRVParking and Allstays offer downloadable apps for on-the-road convenience.

In general, many RVers find stores in smaller towns and cities can be more receptive to RV stays than those in larger metropolitan areas. That may because of higher commercial traffic or greater concerns about patrons loitering on the property after hours. But many Walmarts and other stores in semi-rural Canada still permit one-night stays.

Keep in mind that store policies and procedures can change over time. The Walmart that we first stayed at in Hayden, ID, later put in a gas bar that dramatically reduced their lot space. According to recent reports, RVs are no longer permitted to stay overnight.

Keep an eye out for other store chains that permit pavement boondocking as well. Once I learned about this “secret” camping privilege I made a point of scoping out commercial parking lots anywhere we traveled. We found two stores in Fernie, BC that regulars knew about and said they returned to each year with the stipulation that the RVs cleared out well before opening time.

COVID-19

Many stores exercise a higher level of precaution these days in an effort to minimize the spread of Coronavirus. Wearing your mask when you are outside your rig, parking away from other RVs and following store rules will only help encourage all travelers to follow suit, but increase the incentive for store managers to keep offering this free service to RV travellers.

Happy Travels!