Thousands answer the call of the open road every summer when they climb into an RV and strike out, bound for windswept beaches, spacious skies, a brush with that purple mountain majesty. It’s practically an American tradition.

But as the sun sets, a steady stream of motorhomes drops off the highway. Their drivers make a beeline for the nearest Wal-Mart, where they’ll spend the night under the glow of parking lot lights instead of under the stars.

Welcome to camping at Wal-Mart.

[Read](http://content.hamptonroads.com/story.cfm?story=131695&ran=26458&tref=de “Read the Story”) (The Virginian-Pilot)