Public street construction is much different than parking lots.    …   Parking lots are 1 1/2 to 2 inch asphalt over 3 to 6 inch compacted aggregate.     …. Streets are 4 to 10 inch asphalt over  6 to 12 inch compacted aggregate.  And if the street is old and has been repaved there is multiple layers of asphalt and/or concrete.    …  It is not likely some one can easily pound a 3/4″ rod into a street.

A 1/2 or 5/8 inch rod by 18 inch long should be OK for smaller tents (14ft x14ft). These should be fairly easy to drive into a parking lot asphalt.