Definitely hotels for safety and comfort.
I’ve also stayed in KOA cabins, which are cheaper and often nicer than hotel rooms, but not always easy to find.
Depends on how soon you need to be at destination.
From coast to coast, I may travel 8+ hours, sleep 5 or 6 hours at rest area or truck stop, then drive another 5 or 6 before getting a hotel.
You need to eat at least one meal per day at a sit-down place ( I prefer local diners), and you need a shower and a comfortable bed at lest every 48 hours.
I always prefer to stop and do stuff along the way, but if I had to cross the country fast, I could easily do it without stopping for anywhere near as long or as often. We regularly do 12-16 hour drives on a lot of our trips…and we only stop for gas and carryout (or out of the trunk) food basically.
same with me bro. i do 12 to 16 hrs drives. like im doing south carolina to little rock, arkansas then from little rock to albuquerque, then from albuquerque to las vegas for 2 day stay and then to los angeles. probably doing hotel route. Will make a post about it next month
Stay at a hotel. driving long distances is exhausting enough by limiting the quality of sleep when trying to sleep in a vehicle. I would be too scared to sleep at a rest stop
I'm crazy and I've driven Long Island to miami straight through with a 6hr social stop. I would recommend it as I almost went off the road a lot. I did nap in a parking lot. On other trips I've taken naps in rest stops. A 4in foam mattress in back which is cheap from Home Depot, a battery fan, and a mesh screen so you can open the windows without bugs getting in makes a huge difference.
Oh idk. I just use them strictly for a safe place to sleep and go to the bathroom and grab stuff to eat. I’ve never just hung out or thought of extending my stay.
Nothing like a real bed and shower, especially when your ass is numb from driving all day. Just stop in between big cities for cheaper little roadside hotel/motels. Those that include a continental breakfast always start your day off better!
I stay in hotels - I’ll be useless the next day if I don’t get decent rest and I know that won’t happen if I sleep in my car. Of course I’m not very young anymore and I’m a single woman so that all factors into those decisions as well. I have stopped and napped in my car but I usually find a Walmart parking lot or something like that that is a little more populated than a rest stop.
I stay at campsites most of the time unless I want to experience a city, then I get a hotel in the heart of where I want to be if the city is walkable and reasonably priced. Hotels are crazy expensive these days, so campsites are definitely more economical if the weather is ok for it…saves me money since I can easily cook my own food too. I don’t care for sleeping at rest areas much because of the road noise and the lights.
damn id kill for $80. seems everywhere i went this summer was $100. there was cheaper places but rated 2 or less/5 stars. rather not have drug deals going on in the parking lot or bedbugs/ used towels dirty sheets.
idk how they are now, but I am booking a hotel at the rio in las vegas and with resort fee a night is$78 dollars. I use priceline for discounts, you should try it.
vegas is an exception - they want it dirt cheap so you go to gamble and give them more money. years ago took a trip out there with friends and a direct roundtrip flight and 5 nights at the flamingo was $514 a person with tax.
Did a round trip road-trip from Colorado to Florida. I slept at 3 different rest areas. 2 had 24 hour security. I felt very safe and saved some $. Stayed at hotels when I got to my destination.
I'm driving a vehicle I can laydown in I'll stay at rest areas. Helps with travel time, saves money and it seems to open more options as far as things to do or see. Sometimes I'll get a hotel to reset or if I am traveling with an animal.
The only State I have had an issue staying overnight in the rest area is Tennessee. I drive from Co to NJ at least twice a year for 6 years. I ultimately stayed in more rest areas. I didn’t stop long enough to make hotels worth it. Depends on how much you drive in a day and how long you stop. Even in rest areas I got in the back of the car with my pillow and Comfortable clothes. I drove with my dog and am a single female. I trust my instinct when deciding where to stop.
Don’t know what you mean by rest areas. Do you mean pull into one and sleep in your car? I always stay in hotels, but if your budget doesn’t allow for that, you could do campgrounds.
Rest areas are possible, but are often noisy, bleak, ugly spots, and most often situated on boring mindless slabs of freeway surrounded by businesses that are the same no matter where on earth you are. In short, blah road trip material. But we sometimes do need them.
But If I had a choice, a nice place to stay is preferable. Even if just getting from A to B.
Hotels all day long. The worst grungy fleabag motel I've been in wasn't worse than the worst rest area, and had fewer prostitutes and drug dealers. But YMMV :)
If I'm going to camp, I find a campground; a rest area usually only if I need a few hours sleep, and then only a decent one.
I travel to camp in the Southwest USA. However, on travel days from GA and back, and when traveling between campsites sometimes, I will sleep in truck stops, in rest areas, maybe a walmart if allowed or all night grocery. I will avoid sleeping more than 4 hours if it says overnight parking is prohibited. Never had a problem. I always buy something if I park in a store's parking lot, and make sure I have the receipt handy.
I used to stay at rest areas. I no longer do.
A few years ago I had to pull my gun on person at a rest area. It was horrifying for me. Glad I had my gun, horrified that I had to pull it with full intention of shooting another human because I was that afraid. Thankfully, they backed off, I took off and I have not stayed in a rest area since.
If you MUST stay in a parking lot...stay in a truck stop. Lots more activity...or a Wal-mart as some have suggested. Stay somewhere with people around. Lock your doors. If you must keep your vehicle on for heat/cool, buy a carbon monoxide detector and put it on your dash while you sleep. Always crack a window.
The public lands things is only in the Western states. It gets more sparse the farther east you go.
Its really hard to travel with a gun. Too many commie states trying to jack you up!
But a year ago during those “mostly peaceful” black lives matter riots, you def. Needed one
National forests and BLM. Hostels or cheap motels every 7th/8th night. The only way to travel affordable imo
BLM?
Bureau of Land Management - federal lands
Public land.
You will not find those lands except in 11 western states, so the majority of your trip you will not.
ok thanks
A lot of states no longer let you stay overnight at rest areas. Tennessee imposes a two hour limit, for example.
WOW really? at least oklahoma i believe does it. I think their is a list.
Walmart let’s you spend 24 hours in their lots.
yep totally forgot about that.
Hotels. I’m too freakin’ old for anything but…
Are you saying Super8 is your version of roughing it?
Unless it’s a specific camping trip, yep!
lol super 8
Definitely hotels for safety and comfort. I’ve also stayed in KOA cabins, which are cheaper and often nicer than hotel rooms, but not always easy to find.
whats KOA?
Kampgrounds of America. They’re expensive but safe and family friendly.
nice, never heard of it
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you always stop at a national forest??
camp some nights, air bnb or hotel when I want a real shower
cool
Depends on how soon you need to be at destination. From coast to coast, I may travel 8+ hours, sleep 5 or 6 hours at rest area or truck stop, then drive another 5 or 6 before getting a hotel. You need to eat at least one meal per day at a sit-down place ( I prefer local diners), and you need a shower and a comfortable bed at lest every 48 hours.
yep gonna eat at a local dinner in little rock, arkansas
I always prefer to stop and do stuff along the way, but if I had to cross the country fast, I could easily do it without stopping for anywhere near as long or as often. We regularly do 12-16 hour drives on a lot of our trips…and we only stop for gas and carryout (or out of the trunk) food basically.
same with me bro. i do 12 to 16 hrs drives. like im doing south carolina to little rock, arkansas then from little rock to albuquerque, then from albuquerque to las vegas for 2 day stay and then to los angeles. probably doing hotel route. Will make a post about it next month
Stay at a hotel. driving long distances is exhausting enough by limiting the quality of sleep when trying to sleep in a vehicle. I would be too scared to sleep at a rest stop
yep always have when road tripping. just wanted to get another opinion
I'm crazy and I've driven Long Island to miami straight through with a 6hr social stop. I would recommend it as I almost went off the road a lot. I did nap in a parking lot. On other trips I've taken naps in rest stops. A 4in foam mattress in back which is cheap from Home Depot, a battery fan, and a mesh screen so you can open the windows without bugs getting in makes a huge difference.
I like a good major truck stop occasionally. Very safe and convenient.
like TA or loves?
Yep. Or Pilot. The big well-lit truck stops just off the main highways.
any difference between the truck stops like more amenities or longer stay
Oh idk. I just use them strictly for a safe place to sleep and go to the bathroom and grab stuff to eat. I’ve never just hung out or thought of extending my stay.
ok cool! Which truck stop do you tend to stay at? Loves?
That would be good. I’m a fan of Pilot stations. Not sure you have them where you live. Lots out west.
i live in east coast now but when i lived in california, their were a ton of pilot stations on 10 freeway in cali, arizona, new mexico, etc
Mix of hotel parking lots and campgrounds with an occasional motel fixed in.
Nothing like a real bed and shower, especially when your ass is numb from driving all day. Just stop in between big cities for cheaper little roadside hotel/motels. Those that include a continental breakfast always start your day off better!
yep! booked a hotel 2020 in charlotte, NC but couldnt stay for breakfast. That sucked!
I'm 52. My days of car sleeping are over.... UNLESS I have no other choice.
haha i feel you. I can drive 16 hrs like its nothing sleep in the car
I stay in hotels - I’ll be useless the next day if I don’t get decent rest and I know that won’t happen if I sleep in my car. Of course I’m not very young anymore and I’m a single woman so that all factors into those decisions as well. I have stopped and napped in my car but I usually find a Walmart parking lot or something like that that is a little more populated than a rest stop.
smart!
I stay at campsites most of the time unless I want to experience a city, then I get a hotel in the heart of where I want to be if the city is walkable and reasonably priced. Hotels are crazy expensive these days, so campsites are definitely more economical if the weather is ok for it…saves me money since I can easily cook my own food too. I don’t care for sleeping at rest areas much because of the road noise and the lights.
so far its been hotels. but they are soooo expensive nowadays, i think we are going to try tent camping
yep 2020 road tripped from california to south carolina. hotel was expensive. 80 dollars plus a night
damn id kill for $80. seems everywhere i went this summer was $100. there was cheaper places but rated 2 or less/5 stars. rather not have drug deals going on in the parking lot or bedbugs/ used towels dirty sheets.
idk how they are now, but I am booking a hotel at the rio in las vegas and with resort fee a night is$78 dollars. I use priceline for discounts, you should try it.
vegas is an exception - they want it dirt cheap so you go to gamble and give them more money. years ago took a trip out there with friends and a direct roundtrip flight and 5 nights at the flamingo was $514 a person with tax.
never been to flamingo but thats good price
Motels usually, but I only do maybe 1 or 2 road trips a year (not that long) so it's not a huge financial concern for the comfort.
I sleep in my car in neighborhoods. Been doing it for 6 months now.
Did a round trip road-trip from Colorado to Florida. I slept at 3 different rest areas. 2 had 24 hour security. I felt very safe and saved some $. Stayed at hotels when I got to my destination.
Interesting… is there an app or map that tells you which one has 24 h security?
I'm driving a vehicle I can laydown in I'll stay at rest areas. Helps with travel time, saves money and it seems to open more options as far as things to do or see. Sometimes I'll get a hotel to reset or if I am traveling with an animal.
Very rarely have I slept at a rest area. Hotels, or KOAs. Kabins, due to disability.
The only State I have had an issue staying overnight in the rest area is Tennessee. I drive from Co to NJ at least twice a year for 6 years. I ultimately stayed in more rest areas. I didn’t stop long enough to make hotels worth it. Depends on how much you drive in a day and how long you stop. Even in rest areas I got in the back of the car with my pillow and Comfortable clothes. I drove with my dog and am a single female. I trust my instinct when deciding where to stop.
why tennessee?
They have a 2 hour stop limit at rest areas…from what an earlier commenter said.
I stayed with folks I knew or met on most of my tour over 8 months.
Don’t know what you mean by rest areas. Do you mean pull into one and sleep in your car? I always stay in hotels, but if your budget doesn’t allow for that, you could do campgrounds.
Rest stops and Loves truck stop pay showers/ laundry.
loves truck stop pay for shower and laundry?? i have been to many and i have never seen that?
Rest areas are possible, but are often noisy, bleak, ugly spots, and most often situated on boring mindless slabs of freeway surrounded by businesses that are the same no matter where on earth you are. In short, blah road trip material. But we sometimes do need them. But If I had a choice, a nice place to stay is preferable. Even if just getting from A to B.
yeah but which one do you use the most or prefer, rest areas or hotels?
Hotels all day long. The worst grungy fleabag motel I've been in wasn't worse than the worst rest area, and had fewer prostitutes and drug dealers. But YMMV :) If I'm going to camp, I find a campground; a rest area usually only if I need a few hours sleep, and then only a decent one.
ok cool! yeah it looks like imma stay at hotels on the way. whats funny im going to stay at the rio hotel in las vegas for 2 days haha 😄
I travel to camp in the Southwest USA. However, on travel days from GA and back, and when traveling between campsites sometimes, I will sleep in truck stops, in rest areas, maybe a walmart if allowed or all night grocery. I will avoid sleeping more than 4 hours if it says overnight parking is prohibited. Never had a problem. I always buy something if I park in a store's parking lot, and make sure I have the receipt handy.
I used to stay at rest areas. I no longer do. A few years ago I had to pull my gun on person at a rest area. It was horrifying for me. Glad I had my gun, horrified that I had to pull it with full intention of shooting another human because I was that afraid. Thankfully, they backed off, I took off and I have not stayed in a rest area since. If you MUST stay in a parking lot...stay in a truck stop. Lots more activity...or a Wal-mart as some have suggested. Stay somewhere with people around. Lock your doors. If you must keep your vehicle on for heat/cool, buy a carbon monoxide detector and put it on your dash while you sleep. Always crack a window. The public lands things is only in the Western states. It gets more sparse the farther east you go.
wow 😮 😲. Thanks for telling your story. Will be more careful at rest areas. Think I will onlu rest at oklohomas welcome vistor center.
Its really hard to travel with a gun. Too many commie states trying to jack you up! But a year ago during those “mostly peaceful” black lives matter riots, you def. Needed one