Seriously, I don’t think I've ever been anywhere that was as densely populated as this retailer and its accompanying parking lot. Whether you’re passing through or diving from the ‘City of Brotherly Love’ with your RV, 5th Wheeler or Big Rig, should you be looking for some 'room at the Inn’ I would highly suggest you bypass this retail concrete jungle. Is it the heavily-trafficked nature of this particular Walmart that casts such a negative light on the place? Yes. Is it the fact that the parking spots are so close together that no matter where you park or how, there’s going to be a door dink waiting for you upon your return? Yep. Maybe the half mile line of cars that one needed to patiently wait in before arriving to this particular retail destination? Uh-huh. Or the delipidated condition of the place on top of everything else? All of the above would be the correct answer.
Unless you are a fan of strip malls or heavily congested retail theaters such as this, then I would just stop reading this review and simply move on in search of ‘higher ground.’ But hey, if it’s late, dark and / or you are just too dang tired to press on, well then at least go next door to Lowe's where the experience will be just a smidge better, but you will be more closely parked to Chick-fil-A (if that is a bonus). In any direction you look, there are retail shop fronts, fast food joints as well as the non-stop slug of urban sprawl with its congested traffic. And while you are located in a shopping complex called Aramingo Crossings offering up easily accessible amenities without having to drive too far for anything you might need, trust me, you’ll pay for it.
Let me count all of the downsides: the traffic in and out of this Walmart is horrendous. The condition of the store itself leaves a lot to be desired. There is non-stop foot traffic all over the place, making for one very nerve-racked driving experience. The area itself is as sketchy as all get out. And that local neighborhood parked cruiser with the private rental security sticker somehow does more to add to my safety and security concern than it does to quash it. Net-net, if you do decide to stay here, despite all of my warnings, then I would definitely recommend a pair of earplugs and being sure to secure your perimeter with cameras if you have them.
This Walmart fits into its surrounding area chocked full of dilapidated retail shops and their parking lot, which beyond just being jam packed, is in good need of some re-pavement, so look out for those pot holes and divots. You’ll also want to take note that there’s a number of larger vehicles, like school buses, moving vans and even ambulances, so at a minimum, you’ll see that there’s already a ton of people that have the same idea as you. If you were to choose to stay here, I would recommend the least busy area of this retailer’s lot, which unfortunately is closest to the main road you came in on, but at least this will keep you away from the heavy congested traffic at the front of the store plus making for a quick and EZ escape at the end of your stay.
Insider’s tips? Here’s a few: (1) Should you be RV'ing with your four-legged friends entowe, you’re in luck as just a short walk due southwest of here is Heitzman Recreation Center, which is great for a quick stroll and to find a nice patch of natural greens to get in a quick game of frisbee tag (if that’s your thing); (2) Should you need to stock up on anything, you’re in luck as there’s everything you could think of from of course, here at Walmart, next door at Lowes, down the street at Target, back north to Wawa, across the street at Lidly groceries or across the other street to Dollar General, kitty-cornered at Shop-Rite as well as completely surrounding you with shops like Five Below and One Dollar Zone; (3) In the event that you are looking for a spot of natural refuge to enjoy in this otherwise paved urban jungle, then head across the Delaware River to Palmyra Cove Nature Park that features 250 acres of riverfront outdoor escape complete with bike trails, ponds, an environmental center along with a cute little place for your kids to explore called Turtletopia; (4) When you grow tired of trying to conjure up that next meal from the remains of what is in your onboard mini-fridge, then nearby you’ll have access to a handful of EZ drive-by fast food stops like Chick-fil-A, which is located literally right in the same parking lot as Lowe’s, as well as other drive-by joints like Dunkin’, McDonald’s, Checkers and Popeyes; and (5) If you are looking for some decent local dive bars and restaurants, head on over to Mile’s Table, Czerw’s Polish Kielbasa, M&M Restaurant or Byrne’s Tavern for something truly off the beaten path and down-home delish for the NE food mecca that Philly is.
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: 2
Safety & Security: 1
Quality: 1
Peace & Quiet: 1
Amenities: 2
Overall, I scored this location a 1.
Happy Overnighting!
Overnight Parking
