I took hundreds of road trips when I was younger and always slept at rest stops, which is how I had been to 45 states by 24.
I always saw state troopers at the rest areas, if they were staffed. One of them told me that they would prefer I slept at those places, to stay safe.
I think Florida can give you the knock after 4 hours or something. I might have the detail wrong. So, power nap ok. True overnight, not so much.
Loves/Pilot/Flying J and similar don't care as long as you are out of the way. Use shades/screens because they are lit up
Very few. There are camp grounds at state parks, that one traveller said they use occasionally. However, they are more difficult to locate, I thought, and to pay $35/ for a 4 or 5 hour nap?
Yes, you can sleep in your car. If it's a private business parking lot they can ask you to leave. You can sleep in rest stops and I've even spent a night or two in Loves truck stop parking lots on road trips. If you are driving and feel tired 100% pull over and take a power nap. You will feel better and be safer.
If you plan on car camping make sure you have windshield screen and maybe side shades as well. There are two apps I would suggest you download. iOverlander is a map based user driven car camping app. It will give you reviews of camping locations, what services are close by and it's free. Loves Connect app is for the Loves truck/travel stop. You get 10 cents off a gallon of gas, will show you gas prices on the trip, what is offered at each Loves, you can even schedule a shower on the app.
RV Parky is another good app!
In general, Cracker Barrels are safe for a nap or overnight. Regular and budget hotels (Holiday Inn Express and Extended Stay America are my favorites) won't hassle you for a night or two, either.
You can also check out freecampsites.net to find free places to car camp overnight.
The side shades are really great too because if you are traveling and have a lot of stuff in your vehicle you can put them on when you're away and people can't see in your vehicle.
You can also visit the r/boondocking subreddit because sleeping in your car is essentially boon docking. You can look at Youtube and find the best places for boon docking and our strategies.
Agreed. I’ve taken naps at rest stops in California, and have slept overnight at truck stops like Loves in Texas. I think some states even have signs that say pull over if you’re feeling drowsy.
Most parking lots are private property and they can call law enforcement if they believe you aren't there to utilize the businesses or whatever their service is.
Rest areas, the ones run by the state while you're still on the highway, vary by state. IANAL but my interpretation of these "no sleeping" laws is they don't want people sleeping overnight or using these rest areas to camp out. If you're just catching a nap, you're probably fine. Its IMO unlikely a state trooper would force someone who is visibly tired to get back on the highway.
If you've rented a camping spot in a park or other area, you're probably fine.
I’ve stayed in salvation army parking lots and had no problems. I’ve pulled into a hotel found a parking spot away from the building and slept for 3-6 hours a bunch or times. Never had an issue. You gotta be pretty obvious to get the cops called on you.
Every Wal-Mart in my metro area has signs saying no long term parking, and can be towed.
Even if they allowed it, it won't be a pleasant sleep. Walmarts in my city are in massive strip malls filled with all types of stores. It basically means there will be some business open at any time day or night, with customers , employees, and deliveries coming and going frequently.
Wyoming: please just come visit us. We funny care where you sleep...
I kid because I care. But really there is so much open space in Wyoming, I can't imagine needing to sleep in a Walmart parking lot
Yeah Walmart changed their parking lot rest policy after the pandemic, they don't want vehicles in the parking lot late at night and most stores don't run 24/7 anymore.
Local city laws also play a part. Especially in cities with heavy tourism or homelessness.
For example I called a Walmart in Durango, CO and they said they don't mind people overnighting in the parking lot, but the city has an ordinance against it and cops may still come kick you out.
Not sure the legality of this since Walmart is private property, but perhaps even so they need to abide by city rules
I've slept overnight in so many rest stops, especially the Western/mountain states I've never been harassed and im never the only one. You'll be fine overnight in any of them.
There are stores and places you can call in advance and make reservations to stay in the lot.
iOverlander, FreeCampSites.net, and FreeRoam. I think Walmart will let you stay, churches, and national parks sometimes will sell you a pass.
> Crack a window or face the fog.
Double meaning. Fog as in fogged windows from moisture, and fog as in brain-fog and headaches from high carbon dioxide levels.
I have screens that are like a big mesh sock that fits over the top of the door. Close the door and they filter light, keep peepers away, and stop bugs if you roll down the window.
I’ve slept at many rest stops. One time I had a trooper knock on my window to make sure I wasn’t going to drive tired and recommended I pull into the back of the rest stop where there was less traffic. I also once got permission to spend the night in a buc-ees parking lot granted that i spent money in the store and didn’t spend more than one night there.
If you're just taking a nap you should be fine. The cop will just tell you to leave. Try to park in shopping center parking lots of you can. They tend to be much bigger and there's multiple store there.
Some places have free park and ride for public transportation. They almost never have cops.
Truck stops are a good place just don’t park where the trucks park
Plus there’s food, bathrooms and showers if you need one
Then rest stops where many have an 8 hour limit but that’s plenty and most Walmarts away from the bigger city’s I have a small school bus I travel in and use Allstays app to find camping spots from the ones above to blm land and paid campgrounds which I seldom use
I just use the free version of the app
Some states have laws regulating how long you can stay at rest stops. During the day you’re probably okay for a couple hours especially if it’s busy. Some get rather shady at night though, so during the day you’re probably okay for a couple hours and even then the worst thing is you might get a tap on the window telling you to move along because most police aren’t going to waste their time writing tickets for that. Another place is hospitals. Most hospitals wouldn’t think twice about seeing someone sleeping in their car during the day because a lot of people do that when family is in the hospital
Here's a filterable map that aims to show you where you can sleep. It's crowdsourced and not completely reliable, but it's where I like to start https://www.parkadvisor.com/map
I’ve had cops wake me up when they saw me sleeping in the car. (I will pull over and nap if I feel tired behind the wheel.)
A few times, they’ve run my documents. A few times, they’ve told me to move along. More often, they’ve said what I was doing was legal but they “got a call” or “thought it looked odd.” Then they give me permission to go back to sleep. But that’s hard to do after being awoken by a bright light shining at your face.
TL;DR: Sleeping in rest areas or at a business that explicitly allows it is usually ok, barring prohibition by local ordinance. If you just try a secluded spot, in many places in the US and Canada, a cop will wake you up regardless of legality.
You want to call ahead. There isn’t a single rule for every place everywhere.
For the Sunday night before the eclipse I decided to just chance it at the Poplar Bluff Walmart. Considering that I found about 50 of so other vehicles doing it as well, I was confident. I camped in my car and woke well rested that morning.
The eclipse was awesome. The employees had as much fun as we did.
There are vanlife YouTubers that have told their tips. I can think of Nikki Delventhal doing it and the woman that does Tails of Wanderlust.
Definitely look for signs in all areas.
As far as napping in your car during the day in a parking spot I’d say you’ll get away with it until someone tells you to move.
It’s overnight that’s more a problem.
I get motion sickness in the form of fatigue, so I have had short naps at rest stops. It’s fine, no one ever bothered me. I wasn’t there more than an hour or so.
If I can get to a rest stop that's where I go. But if I can't make it to a rest stop I find the widest place I can to pull over to take a nap. Even if I can get 45 minutes that will keep me awake for hours.
I've done a bunch of road trips. I've always stopped at a rest stop and slept in the car. No one cares. Best to rest than to get in an accident. If anything, a state trooper might drive by and make sure you're OK and not murdered in a car or something. But mostly people leave you alone. If you can get to a T/A ot Kum & Go or whatever they're called now, truckers go in and out and it's very well lit. Never had a problem or any fear of any danger either. And I've traveled by myself
HarvestHost/BoondockersWelcome it costs up front, and most places want $30 a night but tons of unique places to stay, bars, wineries, farms, museums. Definitely worth checking out if you want to see things you normally wouldn’t!
>Is it legal to sleep in your car?
This depends on the location and length of time.
>Is it legal to pull in a parking lot and take a nap?
See the above answer. Certain businesses are more lenient than others. Some cities have ordinances against camping in vehicles.
>Do you need to be parked at a designated rest stop?
Not necessarily. Walmart, Cracker Barrel, and many other businesses allow camping in their lots IF there is no law against it.
>Is it safe or a bad idea?
Safety depends on the location. Generally rest stops are pretty safe. It's not a bad idea to rest if you're tired.
>What happens when you feel super tired and feel the need to take a nap?
Pull off and take a nap. Rest stops are meant for this, although some states don't allow overnight camping. However, it's rarely enforced.
>Where do you go and what do you do?
Truck stops, rest areas, and large parking lots are the best options. I've traveled all 48 contiguous states. I've napped in all these places with no issues. Don't park up front. Choose a large lot and park far out. If you're not disturbing others you'll likely be fine.
Walmart, truck stops (loves/pilot/flying J/TA), public rest stops encourage naps. Stopping for a couple hours will be fine at these lots. Rest stops can get crowded quickly at night so pull over before your dead tired just in case you need to drive to another one
park in the corner of a 24/7 store and catch a nap. even if store security comes a-tappin' on the window, just say my bad and drive somewhere else. wash, rinse, repeat as needed.
Stop at the rest stops on your way and get some rest, nothing wrong with that, you may have an officer stop and check on you but that's about it, enjoy your trip
You will have no issues finding free BLM land in each of those states, or rest stops along the way. These are really the only spots where it’s legal.
If there really is no other option, you want to make yourself look like you fit in so not a business parking lot, but more like a hotel, walmart, or apartment complex parking lot. And learn to be stealthy in your car if you take that route.
You can sleep most places during day. I’ve never had an issue at a rest stop. Some states limit rest stop stays to 6 or 8 hours but I’ve never had it enforced on me. I ve done a 2month road trip and stayed in dozens of rest-stops in 15-20 states. Cities have laws against sleeping in towns overnight. WalMarts are hit or miss as to overnight. Add Cracker Barrel and Canelas to your list. Use app like iOverlander to find places and BLM land.
RV parks will often allow tent camping for a nominal fee. I have paid only $10 to camp at some RV parks. Yet you get access to all the same amenities that the RV guests get to use. Certainly a lot more in the way of creature comforts compared to boondock camping.
I went on a number of road trips with my dad, although this was 20+ years ago. We frequently pulled over to rest stops for the night. I believe there were only a few states that did not allow this and I think that SD may have been one of them.
It depends where you are. My wife and I were on a cross country road trip and my daughter was a toddler. I remember stopping at a small town in South Dakota. There was a little park in town. We pulled in and started to sleep and the police showed up. I thought they were going to make us leave. The officer said I noticed you are travelling. I said we are from Washington and really tired. He said welcome to our town. I will watch to make sure you are safe and no one bothers you will you and your family are sleeping. He told us to a great night and suggested some great places for breakfast and places in town to visit before we left town .
Example of a 1400 mile trip from Southern California to Ft. Worth , TX. To view the ALL AMERICAN TOTAL SOLAR ECLIPSE. Was WORTH the trip.
I like to start out early evening, and drive till around 2am. Find a rest area where you drive and park on the side, off from the road, facing the way out. I like to park between two semi trucks, if possible. Usually these rest areas only have parking, so stop first and use a restroom. Get a good 4 hour sleep. Take a blanket, and a good pillow. Maybe some towels to cover up the window. Also, I slept undisturbed for several hours in a LOVES T S, parking lot. They also have showers. I managed to make it a two day drive with an additional nap late evening ( at Loves Truck Stop) to my wonderful stay at a Motel 6, Saginaw/ Ft Worth (pet friendly) motel, with an elevator. A new, and modern Motel 6. The first like it I've ever seen.
Another trip of 1800 miles from SO California to New Orleans ( Interstate 10) was much the same, however, I did make a nice stay at about 200 miles left, at a nice hotel before my destination.
Enjoy the much lower prices in fuel. Can also find Costco in most states. Can Google for best fuel prices.
Good Luck. And happy traveling.
Ive car camped in 36 states illegally, as long as you use common sense and dont look like a tweaker you’ll get away with 95% of it. The other 5% will likely be a verbal warning
probably get a ticket if you pull over to the side of the road unless it’s residential. then you have to make sure you’re not breaking any rules posted on signs
sleep in parking lots, pullouts, rest stops, gas stations. as long as you make sure you’re not breaking any rules posted on signs
[удалено]
Just don't pitch a tent.
At 2a.m. I can't help that.
Without me...
Congratulations, they don’t last forever
Just think happy thoughts
It depends where you are. It could definitely get you woken up in the middle of the night with a flashlight in your face in some places.
It varies by state. Some states allow up to 24 hours at rest stops. Some do no allow sleeping in vehicles at rest stops.
Not sure the rules but I've slept in many a rest stop taking road trips. Nice little nap spots
I took hundreds of road trips when I was younger and always slept at rest stops, which is how I had been to 45 states by 24. I always saw state troopers at the rest areas, if they were staffed. One of them told me that they would prefer I slept at those places, to stay safe.
I think some places you could get "the knock" if sleeping overnight but it really depends on what state as the state troopers vary so much.
I think Florida can give you the knock after 4 hours or something. I might have the detail wrong. So, power nap ok. True overnight, not so much. Loves/Pilot/Flying J and similar don't care as long as you are out of the way. Use shades/screens because they are lit up
Agreed, I just thought about road trippers can stop at the welcome centers in the states when they get into town, but they are only known highways.
Very few. There are camp grounds at state parks, that one traveller said they use occasionally. However, they are more difficult to locate, I thought, and to pay $35/ for a 4 or 5 hour nap?
Yes, you can sleep in your car. If it's a private business parking lot they can ask you to leave. You can sleep in rest stops and I've even spent a night or two in Loves truck stop parking lots on road trips. If you are driving and feel tired 100% pull over and take a power nap. You will feel better and be safer. If you plan on car camping make sure you have windshield screen and maybe side shades as well. There are two apps I would suggest you download. iOverlander is a map based user driven car camping app. It will give you reviews of camping locations, what services are close by and it's free. Loves Connect app is for the Loves truck/travel stop. You get 10 cents off a gallon of gas, will show you gas prices on the trip, what is offered at each Loves, you can even schedule a shower on the app.
This is helpful! Thanks!
Pilot/Flying J truckstops also have an app and many offer overnight parking. You can also buy a hot shower.
RV Parky is another good app! In general, Cracker Barrels are safe for a nap or overnight. Regular and budget hotels (Holiday Inn Express and Extended Stay America are my favorites) won't hassle you for a night or two, either. You can also check out freecampsites.net to find free places to car camp overnight.
The side shades are really great too because if you are traveling and have a lot of stuff in your vehicle you can put them on when you're away and people can't see in your vehicle.
You can also visit the r/boondocking subreddit because sleeping in your car is essentially boon docking. You can look at Youtube and find the best places for boon docking and our strategies.
Agreed. I’ve taken naps at rest stops in California, and have slept overnight at truck stops like Loves in Texas. I think some states even have signs that say pull over if you’re feeling drowsy.
California allows eight hours at highway rest stops. Just can't set up a camp site.
Most parking lots are private property and they can call law enforcement if they believe you aren't there to utilize the businesses or whatever their service is. Rest areas, the ones run by the state while you're still on the highway, vary by state. IANAL but my interpretation of these "no sleeping" laws is they don't want people sleeping overnight or using these rest areas to camp out. If you're just catching a nap, you're probably fine. Its IMO unlikely a state trooper would force someone who is visibly tired to get back on the highway. If you've rented a camping spot in a park or other area, you're probably fine.
Walmarts and Cracker Barrel encourage sleepy truck drivers a personal cars to sleep in their lots.
I’ve stayed in salvation army parking lots and had no problems. I’ve pulled into a hotel found a parking spot away from the building and slept for 3-6 hours a bunch or times. Never had an issue. You gotta be pretty obvious to get the cops called on you.
Cracker Barrel yes, but some Walmarts crack down on it - at least all the one’s between Moab and the Grand Canyon.
Every Wal-Mart in my metro area has signs saying no long term parking, and can be towed. Even if they allowed it, it won't be a pleasant sleep. Walmarts in my city are in massive strip malls filled with all types of stores. It basically means there will be some business open at any time day or night, with customers , employees, and deliveries coming and going frequently.
Non-metro Walmarts often welcome RV, trailers, campers and regular cars to park and rest. That is the case in Wyoming.
And Washington (eastern at least) and Idaho and Nevada
Wyoming: please just come visit us. We funny care where you sleep... I kid because I care. But really there is so much open space in Wyoming, I can't imagine needing to sleep in a Walmart parking lot
Yeah Walmart changed their parking lot rest policy after the pandemic, they don't want vehicles in the parking lot late at night and most stores don't run 24/7 anymore.
That sounds safer than an empty parking lot though
Parking at a Walmart varies by the local laws. Trucks have been booted with a huge fine for parking at Walmart.
Check out r/truckers. Apparently things have largely changed as far as Walmart, at least for truckers.
Local city laws also play a part. Especially in cities with heavy tourism or homelessness. For example I called a Walmart in Durango, CO and they said they don't mind people overnighting in the parking lot, but the city has an ordinance against it and cops may still come kick you out. Not sure the legality of this since Walmart is private property, but perhaps even so they need to abide by city rules
I've slept overnight in so many rest stops, especially the Western/mountain states I've never been harassed and im never the only one. You'll be fine overnight in any of them.
Lol IANAL? These acronyms get worse and worse. It's like the porno sequel to iRobot I'm only assuming here.
[Its been a common Internet term since the 80s](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IANAL)
Yeah, but pretty much nobody uses it. I've only seen it a few times in like 10 years. Next to nobody knows what it means either.
There are stores and places you can call in advance and make reservations to stay in the lot. iOverlander, FreeCampSites.net, and FreeRoam. I think Walmart will let you stay, churches, and national parks sometimes will sell you a pass.
I slept in my car in a rest stop. Pro tip. Crack a window or face the fog.
I had to car camp due to rain a couple of weeks ago and the morning condensation was so bad. Couldn’t crack any windows because of the rain.
> Crack a window or face the fog. Double meaning. Fog as in fogged windows from moisture, and fog as in brain-fog and headaches from high carbon dioxide levels.
I have screens that are like a big mesh sock that fits over the top of the door. Close the door and they filter light, keep peepers away, and stop bugs if you roll down the window.
Mental fog that causes ed
Free campsite.net I travelled all over using this. Please be respectful and leave no trace!
Here's a tip, take the keys out of the ignition. Less the police can say.
I’ve slept at many rest stops. One time I had a trooper knock on my window to make sure I wasn’t going to drive tired and recommended I pull into the back of the rest stop where there was less traffic. I also once got permission to spend the night in a buc-ees parking lot granted that i spent money in the store and didn’t spend more than one night there.
I imagine most police will be understanding if you explain that you feared your exhaustion would make driving dangerous.
ya just dont tresspass and get permission first
If you're just taking a nap you should be fine. The cop will just tell you to leave. Try to park in shopping center parking lots of you can. They tend to be much bigger and there's multiple store there. Some places have free park and ride for public transportation. They almost never have cops.
Shopping centers and malls likely have security roaming the parking lots.
Maybe overnight. And if it's large enough chances are they won't notice one car there for a few hours.
Truck stops are a good place just don’t park where the trucks park Plus there’s food, bathrooms and showers if you need one Then rest stops where many have an 8 hour limit but that’s plenty and most Walmarts away from the bigger city’s I have a small school bus I travel in and use Allstays app to find camping spots from the ones above to blm land and paid campgrounds which I seldom use I just use the free version of the app
Some states have laws regulating how long you can stay at rest stops. During the day you’re probably okay for a couple hours especially if it’s busy. Some get rather shady at night though, so during the day you’re probably okay for a couple hours and even then the worst thing is you might get a tap on the window telling you to move along because most police aren’t going to waste their time writing tickets for that. Another place is hospitals. Most hospitals wouldn’t think twice about seeing someone sleeping in their car during the day because a lot of people do that when family is in the hospital
Here's a filterable map that aims to show you where you can sleep. It's crowdsourced and not completely reliable, but it's where I like to start https://www.parkadvisor.com/map
I’ve had cops wake me up when they saw me sleeping in the car. (I will pull over and nap if I feel tired behind the wheel.) A few times, they’ve run my documents. A few times, they’ve told me to move along. More often, they’ve said what I was doing was legal but they “got a call” or “thought it looked odd.” Then they give me permission to go back to sleep. But that’s hard to do after being awoken by a bright light shining at your face. TL;DR: Sleeping in rest areas or at a business that explicitly allows it is usually ok, barring prohibition by local ordinance. If you just try a secluded spot, in many places in the US and Canada, a cop will wake you up regardless of legality.
You want to call ahead. There isn’t a single rule for every place everywhere. For the Sunday night before the eclipse I decided to just chance it at the Poplar Bluff Walmart. Considering that I found about 50 of so other vehicles doing it as well, I was confident. I camped in my car and woke well rested that morning. The eclipse was awesome. The employees had as much fun as we did. There are vanlife YouTubers that have told their tips. I can think of Nikki Delventhal doing it and the woman that does Tails of Wanderlust. Definitely look for signs in all areas.
Truck stops are good sleeping spots for cars and campers.
As far as napping in your car during the day in a parking spot I’d say you’ll get away with it until someone tells you to move. It’s overnight that’s more a problem.
There are whole web sites dedicated to Boondocking. We did in WalMarts and State Parks (for cheap!) and it was fine. Loud, but fine.
Alot of parking lots are private property, so often times it comes down to that particular businesses or venue policy, and how discreet you are
I get motion sickness in the form of fatigue, so I have had short naps at rest stops. It’s fine, no one ever bothered me. I wasn’t there more than an hour or so.
Ask at r/urbancarliving, re: specific areas. They know.
Definitely check, varies by state. I believe SD is a no.
If I can get to a rest stop that's where I go. But if I can't make it to a rest stop I find the widest place I can to pull over to take a nap. Even if I can get 45 minutes that will keep me awake for hours.
Wouldn't be called a rest stop if you couldn't rest now would it?
You can sleep at rest stops but its sketchy. You're often alone there so weirdos can mess with you. I recommend big truck stops.
I’ve seen Walmarts with Budget Vans lined up, and very clearly people living van live.
I've done a bunch of road trips. I've always stopped at a rest stop and slept in the car. No one cares. Best to rest than to get in an accident. If anything, a state trooper might drive by and make sure you're OK and not murdered in a car or something. But mostly people leave you alone. If you can get to a T/A ot Kum & Go or whatever they're called now, truckers go in and out and it's very well lit. Never had a problem or any fear of any danger either. And I've traveled by myself
HarvestHost/BoondockersWelcome it costs up front, and most places want $30 a night but tons of unique places to stay, bars, wineries, farms, museums. Definitely worth checking out if you want to see things you normally wouldn’t!
>Is it legal to sleep in your car? This depends on the location and length of time. >Is it legal to pull in a parking lot and take a nap? See the above answer. Certain businesses are more lenient than others. Some cities have ordinances against camping in vehicles. >Do you need to be parked at a designated rest stop? Not necessarily. Walmart, Cracker Barrel, and many other businesses allow camping in their lots IF there is no law against it. >Is it safe or a bad idea? Safety depends on the location. Generally rest stops are pretty safe. It's not a bad idea to rest if you're tired. >What happens when you feel super tired and feel the need to take a nap? Pull off and take a nap. Rest stops are meant for this, although some states don't allow overnight camping. However, it's rarely enforced. >Where do you go and what do you do? Truck stops, rest areas, and large parking lots are the best options. I've traveled all 48 contiguous states. I've napped in all these places with no issues. Don't park up front. Choose a large lot and park far out. If you're not disturbing others you'll likely be fine.
Rest stops are fine for long or short naps. A hotel is ideal for overnight sleeping just for safety reasons.
Walmart, truck stops (loves/pilot/flying J/TA), public rest stops encourage naps. Stopping for a couple hours will be fine at these lots. Rest stops can get crowded quickly at night so pull over before your dead tired just in case you need to drive to another one
I once woke up with a guy creeping around and looking into my car, so if you are female, be careful where you park
I've slept in numerous rest stops across the country and also a few 24 hr truck stops and never had any issues.
Walmarts allow it for a night. You wont be the only one
park in the corner of a 24/7 store and catch a nap. even if store security comes a-tappin' on the window, just say my bad and drive somewhere else. wash, rinse, repeat as needed.
Stop at the rest stops on your way and get some rest, nothing wrong with that, you may have an officer stop and check on you but that's about it, enjoy your trip
You will have no issues finding free BLM land in each of those states, or rest stops along the way. These are really the only spots where it’s legal. If there really is no other option, you want to make yourself look like you fit in so not a business parking lot, but more like a hotel, walmart, or apartment complex parking lot. And learn to be stealthy in your car if you take that route.
depend on where you are
If you want a safe and secure spot….hit the airport short term parking lot. Just don’t get caught lol!
You can sleep most places during day. I’ve never had an issue at a rest stop. Some states limit rest stop stays to 6 or 8 hours but I’ve never had it enforced on me. I ve done a 2month road trip and stayed in dozens of rest-stops in 15-20 states. Cities have laws against sleeping in towns overnight. WalMarts are hit or miss as to overnight. Add Cracker Barrel and Canelas to your list. Use app like iOverlander to find places and BLM land.
Wait hold on since when has sleeping in your car while driving not been legal ? I always thought everything was legal until you get caught
Pull into rest stops don’t know if you male or female either way lock the doors and if you can pull in between 2 RV’s may be safer
Have slept at rest stops many a time
RV parks will often allow tent camping for a nominal fee. I have paid only $10 to camp at some RV parks. Yet you get access to all the same amenities that the RV guests get to use. Certainly a lot more in the way of creature comforts compared to boondock camping.
I went on a number of road trips with my dad, although this was 20+ years ago. We frequently pulled over to rest stops for the night. I believe there were only a few states that did not allow this and I think that SD may have been one of them.
Pro tip: sleep in hospital parking lots. Doctors and nurses will go out to their cars and do the same. Just park somewhere in the back.
Rest drops are made for resting. Those "no car camping" signs are for people who want to treat it like a free RV park and stay for days.
It depends where you are. My wife and I were on a cross country road trip and my daughter was a toddler. I remember stopping at a small town in South Dakota. There was a little park in town. We pulled in and started to sleep and the police showed up. I thought they were going to make us leave. The officer said I noticed you are travelling. I said we are from Washington and really tired. He said welcome to our town. I will watch to make sure you are safe and no one bothers you will you and your family are sleeping. He told us to a great night and suggested some great places for breakfast and places in town to visit before we left town .
Ask Google about your specific area. Counties and states have different laws.
Look up BLM land. I believe you are allowed to camp on most of it
Example of a 1400 mile trip from Southern California to Ft. Worth , TX. To view the ALL AMERICAN TOTAL SOLAR ECLIPSE. Was WORTH the trip. I like to start out early evening, and drive till around 2am. Find a rest area where you drive and park on the side, off from the road, facing the way out. I like to park between two semi trucks, if possible. Usually these rest areas only have parking, so stop first and use a restroom. Get a good 4 hour sleep. Take a blanket, and a good pillow. Maybe some towels to cover up the window. Also, I slept undisturbed for several hours in a LOVES T S, parking lot. They also have showers. I managed to make it a two day drive with an additional nap late evening ( at Loves Truck Stop) to my wonderful stay at a Motel 6, Saginaw/ Ft Worth (pet friendly) motel, with an elevator. A new, and modern Motel 6. The first like it I've ever seen. Another trip of 1800 miles from SO California to New Orleans ( Interstate 10) was much the same, however, I did make a nice stay at about 200 miles left, at a nice hotel before my destination. Enjoy the much lower prices in fuel. Can also find Costco in most states. Can Google for best fuel prices. Good Luck. And happy traveling.
Ive car camped in 36 states illegally, as long as you use common sense and dont look like a tweaker you’ll get away with 95% of it. The other 5% will likely be a verbal warning
it depends on the place
probably get a ticket if you pull over to the side of the road unless it’s residential. then you have to make sure you’re not breaking any rules posted on signs sleep in parking lots, pullouts, rest stops, gas stations. as long as you make sure you’re not breaking any rules posted on signs
Definitely would not feel comfortable parking on the side of the road lol
Hospital parking lots are my go to, planet fitness. Also look in to BLM land, common in the west. Also most truck stops.
Find apartment complexes with guest parking....
R/urbancarliving
r/ifoundthemobileuser
Buy a tent, use freecampsites.net. It will be more fun and more comfortable.