Does Lowe’s allow overnight RV parking?
In this blog post, we will answer the following question: Does Lowe’s allow overnight RV parking? We will explain the basic rules of parking overnight at Lowe’s with your RV. We will also discuss alternative places for free RV overnight parking.
Does Lowe’s allow overnight RV parking?
Some Lowe’s stores allow overnight RV parking and they are very popular places for free and quick RV parking. However, not all store managers will allow RV parking and this will be clearly stated at the entrance to Lowe’s.
There is no state law prohibiting or allowing it, so in many cases, you will be left at the mercy of the store manager’s decision. Obviously, campgrounds are the favourite spots for RVers, and there are several in every state!
Once you’ve found overnight parking at Lowe’s, what to do?
If you managed to find a Lowe’s store that allows overnight RV parking, one rule is essential: respect!
- Do not use this place to throw away your garbage or to damage the area, a superfluous warning for almost all RV enthusiasts, but still important!
- You will need to inspect the chosen location so that no obstacle or branch can damage your vehicle. Don’t forget to put on chocks and apply the handbrake! Indeed, you want to prevent your vehicle from moving at all costs, don’t you?
- Another point to remember is to make sure your RV is level. A tedious step, if there is one, it will make sure that the plumbing and your appliances, like your fridge, are working properly; you might have some problems if you don’t.
- If you have a choice of two or three stores a few miles apart, choose the furthest from the highway. The possibilities for it to be open 24 hours a day decrease and by the same token, the chances of peace and quiet increase.
- On-site, keep your extension closed. Try to be as discreet as possible.
- Park at the end of the car park so as not to be disturbed by the lights and especially for a little peace. And yes even at night, Americans continue to do their shopping.
- For laundry, you have a laundromat everywhere. For a quarter change, you have machines inside that give you change. Distributors are also available to buy small boxes of laundry.
How to find places to park your RV overnight for free
Do you want to camp your RV for free? And not just in a Walmart or Lowe’s store parking lot? We have absolutely nothing against sleeping in the latter when the time is right, but here we are talking about spending the night under the stars in nature or on the seashore.
These places exist!
But to find them, give yourself time because the information is not consolidated into one resource. Keep in mind that you must be completely self-sufficient because most free sites do not offer a service. Then the road may be bumpy to get there. It’s part of the adventure!
| Where to find free RV parking | Pros | Cons |
| Harvest Hosts: The membership allows you to sleep at farms, wineries, breweries or museums in exchange for a few dollars spent on products or services on site. | Well structured, easy to access information and clear instructions. Pleasant places to visit and to sleep in addition to savouring local products. | Opening hours of the hosts to be observed, some regions offer few options. |
| Free campsites: Simple and efficient, a platform for sharing information on free or inexpensive camps. The search is performed on a map and offers a route planning function. | User comments and star rating. For some locations, detailed information such as road conditions, facilities are available on site. Links to official websites, location data. Also lists overnight parking lots other than Walmart. | Some descriptions are not very explicit. Website is difficult to use on a tablet or smartphone and not available in-app. |
| iOverlander: Also a community site based on user input. Registered places are mostly free or inexpensive but also have little known and very practical options. Please note, users travel in all kinds of equipment, some places are not accessible for motorized vehicles. | Offers locations that are out of the ordinary. Data for several countries. Easy-to-fill-out add-on form. | Web-version not up to date compared to the application. Inscriptions are sometimes not very detailed. |
| Ultimate Campgrounds: A directory of all public campsites in the United States. County, municipal, state, national parks and also territories managed by a government institution. You have to look carefully because sometimes a national park offers a free section while elsewhere it can be a forest management area. | Information on the opening times during the year. A good resource for localization. Available as an app and a version for Canada is available. | Difficult to research. No internet link to official sites, no location data. It must be supplemented with other resources. |
| Boondockers Welcome: This site connects motorized enthusiasts offering free, on their private property, a place to sleep. Each member has a detailed profile, can make and receive comments. A subscription is required and two categories are offered: host-user or user only. | Meetings with locals, a great variety of locations, the possibility of staying a few nights. | Depending on the availability of hosts, contact is to be made in advance. |
| Campendium: Directory of several possibilities, from private camping to forests and national parks. Offers a specific section for free camps. Also based on user reviews and star ratings. | Very complete directory, a structured site with an excellent search engine that offers several filters. Attractive visual. | Few user comments. This site will certainly become an excellent reference because it facilitates research by grouping together several pieces of information in the same place. |
With these resources, you can easily find where to park your RV overnight for free. These places won’t always be beautiful, easy to get to, or quiet. You have to find them and dare to go and see them without having to wait.
Final advice
To be able to plan your next vacation as well as possible, determine, in each of the places you will visit, the stops you can make there, so as to be able to optimize your trips. By knowing in advance where you can park your RV, you won’t waste precious time, when you arrive at your destination, looking for where you can stop for a few hours or overnight!
Please let us know if you have any questions, comments or tips on parking with an RV at a Lowe’s store!
FAQ on Does Lowes allow overnight RV parking?
Where to stop with a motorhome?
A motorhome can stop in town in a parking space and spend the night there. It does not matter whether the motorhome operators are on board or not, as long as they comply with the regulations.
Is it legal to sleep in a Walmart parking lot?
The quick answer is: Yes, it is legal to sleep in a Walmart parking lot. The less quick answer is that it can be done as long as you ask for permission and adhere to the regulations and you are not camping there.
Can RVs stay overnight at Flying J?
Yes, RVs can stay overnight at Flying J truck stops. There are usually parking spaces that allow you to empty and refill your water tanks, you can use the restroom facilities and even connect to Wi-Fi. Still, RVs at truck stops are a controversial topic.
Is it legal to sleep in a Walmart parking lot?
The quick answer is: Yes, it is legal to sleep in a Walmart parking lot. The less quick answer is that it can be done as long as you ask for permission and adhere to the regulations and you are not camping there.
Can you park an RV overnight at Bass Pro?
Technically yes, you can park your RV overnight at Bass Pro, practically it will depend on the store manager. Most Bass Pro, Cabelas and Walmarts allow RVs to spend the night in the parking lot, but some places may not be RV friendly at all!
