I like to stay over at the Walmarts for the same reasons you noted.
Although, I was camping out in the Scranton, PA Walmart ( on the NE side of
town, new strip mall ), and had an interesting situation arise.  In addition
to me, there were 2-3 other groups of cars / people and a pickup / camping
trailer.  One of the groups was a guy hollering at his kids and I didn't pay
much attention other than just stay away from them.  So after about 30
minutes or so, I notice a wrecker truck pulled up at the parking lot
entrance.  It shuts down and just sits there.  Slowly the 2-3 other groups
of cars eventually leave.  Still the wrecker is there.  So after waiting
another 20 minutes or so, I leave, and sure enough, the wrecker follows me
out.  The pickup / camping trailer didn't leave.  So I don't know if that
Walmart didn't allow overnighters, or what, but I wound up going to a state
camp ground and having another adventure there.  I survived and enjoyed the
rest of my vacation which included a trip to Steamtown.

-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM]On Behalf
Of Don Hanson
Sent: Tuesday, June 05, 2007 10:15 AM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Sleepiing/Rest stops.

I've done the California trip down Interstate 5 and 99 a bunch of times.  I
go via 395 if I have a little extra time this time of the year..But the
"rest  stop" sleeping method does work ok on the interstate, too.  I prefer
'informal' rest stops..there are many truck stops, cafes, gas stations and
Wal Mart parking lots that are usually a bit less "transient" than  the
actual interstate stops.  Wal Mart seems to allow RVs to park overnight
everywhere and they are ubiquitous.  They also often have a coffee shop
inside.  I try to purchase some forgotten items from them after spending a
night there..

  When I travel into urban areas, or overnight in 'iffy' suburban settings,
I am glad I have along (usually) my large male Chesepeake Bay retriever and
my 357magnum.  Only once in 40 years of roadside camping have I ever needed
the pistol.  One time, when on the way through Texas to windsurf at Corpus
Christy, some idiot climbed up onto the top of my van  while I was
overnighting at a highway rest stop..probably looking to take a bicycle or a
sailboard..Dunno what he was thinking..climbing onto a van in a rest  stop
out of town..Had to know someone was probably sleeping inside there...
  I simply hollared out from my bed, "Get the ---- off my roof, or I will
blow you off!  Listen carefully and you will hear my Dan Wesson  44magnum
(Dirty Harry was being shown at the time) being cocked"..which I did, he
did, and the next sound was "feet beating" as he ran off...
  There is a nice campground near Grants Pass, right on the Rogue River
just off I-5..My favorite Wal Mart is in Willows, Ca..just north of
Sacramento.
  Don Hanson