WalMart, Great Falls, MT

Why talk about WalMart? If you are driving a camper on a road trip, stay at WalMart.

We are driving a 1977 Chevy van with a mattress in the back. We had trouble starting the engine at the two stops we made that day. About 9:30 PM, about 30 miles from Great Falls the headlights suddenly went dim. The problem became apparent. The alternator was failing... at this point it had failed. We had 30 minutes of driving to get to Great Falls. Could we make it? Could we find the WalMart where we planned to stay, before the battery died?

We did. We arrived at WalMart and entered the store just before 10:30. The greeter was wonderful. She offered several suggestions as options for getting the van repaired. Figuring that it would be better to buy a battery we could keep rather than to pay for a tow, we headed to the automotive department. The battery was quickly installed, we had a good night's sleep and by 7:15 AM we were on our way to find a repair shop in Great Falls.

This recent trip was our first experience staying at WalMart. It worked out well. In addition to getting the things we needed to keep the old van running, we picked up fresh fruit for the day and, of course, some sweets for breakfast. My wife even found some blouses on sale that she wanted.

Planning on traveling around the U.S. in a 1977 van... or maybe a newer camper. Walmart is the place to stay. Not all Walmarts are able to allow overnight parking (it is illegal in some cities) so check ahead. There are a number of online resources available.