Here in the ‘City of Stone’ you will have been driving east–west on the I80 corridor if you find yourself in proximity to this Walmart Supercenter in Joliet. It’s quite large with a fairly massive parking lot along with decent space on the backside, just in case the front of this mega blue box retailer that has everything for every reason is full. When we stopped by, this pavement pasture was incredibly busy with cars and trucks dashing just about every which way. So net-net, if you’re looking for some P&Q, this place is going to be a tough sell.
As for the parking lot itself, it’s wide expanse is interrupted here and there with tall light poles that case some really great light in the location adding to the feeling of safety and security, let’s be honest, in a town not too terribly far away from Chicago that is known for not being a bastion of peace and tranquility. If you were going to park anywhere here it would be the northern side that parallels 52, which while that will put you right next to non-stop traffic, it’s furthest from the actual storefront and therefore not as busy in the actual parking lot itself. This will also give EZ entrance / exit privileges.
While you could go and get just about anything you want or need inside this particular Walmart, if like me, you prefer to shop elsewhere, then have no worries, as there’s an Aldi’s and Walgreen’s right across the street and a Menard’s just a short walk from here as well as a Sam’s Club a bit further east.
Looking for a there’s lots of ‘drive by’ no frills options like Wingstop, Subway, McDonald’s, Culver’s, Steak ‘n Shake, Wendy’s, Burger King, White Castle, Checkers and Taco Bell all within a stone’s throw from Walmart, I would recommend instead you check out one of these local joints: El Burrito Loco, Pop’s Italian Beef & Sausage or Louie’s Waffle House.
If grabbing a slice of nature is on your agenda while passing through, then head due west of this retail outpost to Middle Rock Run Country Forest Preserve, where in addition to a small pond there’s some decent hiking and biking trails to navigate. It’s a decent enough place to stretch your legs or walk the dog or both. Just due north along the Des Plaines River, which is decent in case you have a kayak or canoe with you, there’s Prairie Bluff Preserve, Brent Hassert Park and Lockport Prairie Nature Preserve, all of which have decent trails and some fairly good bird watching if that’s your jam.
Instead of parking overnight in this Walmart, I would instead recommend you give consideration to other nearby alternatives like: Channahon SP, Love’s RV Hook-up in Morris or Martin’s Camping Ground.
While scoring criteria may vary from one person to the next, here are the 5 most important criteria that informed my rating of this overnight location: convenience (EZ on- and off-access), safety & security, quality (of facilities), peace & quiet and amenities (either on-site or nearby).
Here’s how I ranked this particular overnight spot:
Convenience: 3
Safety& Security: 3
Quality: 3
Peace& Quiet: 2
Amenities: 4
Overall, I scored this location a 3.
Happy Overnighting!
