Heading to the Keys sometime next month, but not exactly sure of the date yet.We don't want to drive straight through in one day.We need an overnight stop between Tampa and Keys and our usual overnight spot is booked.We've never stayed at a rest area. Do they allow overnight stays in the rest areas off interstate 75 in south Florida, probably Ft Myers or Punta Gorda?

overnight parking is not allowed in Florida rest areas. only allow stays of up to 3 hours. Good luck on your trip.

jw of 4 corners wrote:overnight parking is not allowed in Florida rest areas. only allow stays of up to 3 hours. Good luck on your trip.The above is technically correct. However, most any LEO or Security officer is not going to force a sleepy traveler back on the road.I would not hesitate to grab a few, or more hours of sleep. No slides deployed etc.

There's a Cracker Barrel in Bradenton, just past the Manatee River which hasa separate parking lot for RV's. Might want to give them a call to see if they allow it. Also a CB next to Lazy Days, Seffner just off I-75 to the east and a TA truck stop at same exit. I see RVs at the TA a lot.

I just checked on South Carolina or Georgia for my trip. No luck, the states on the east coast just don't allow overnighting.

We always use the Miccosukee Casino RV lot as our overnight before going into the Keys. It is at the intersection of US41 & SR997. Very easy in/out and has a very good restaurant if you want to dine out that night of for breakfast before pulling out. They also have a truck stop at that intersection to fuel before heading down 997 to US-1.

Rest areas in Ft Myers or Punta Gorda,Fl allow overnight?

16 Replies

puttd
Explorer
Jan 03, 2015
Drove down to florida 6 weeks ago. Even in GA the Walmart parking lots were bumper to bumper. Lazy days the campground is not a bad option.
The_Texan
Explorer
Jan 03, 2015
We always use the Miccosukee Casino RV lot as our overnight before going into the Keys. It is at the intersection of US41 & SR997. Very easy in/out and has a very good restaurant if you want to dine out that night of for breakfast before pulling out. They also have a truck stop at that intersection to fuel before heading down 997 to US-1.
jim1632
Explorer
Jan 03, 2015
I just checked on South Carolina or Georgia for my trip. No luck, the states on the east coast just don't allow overnighting.
LadyRVer
Explorer II
Jan 03, 2015
There's a Cracker Barrel in Bradenton, just past the Manatee River which has
a separate parking lot for RV's. Might want to give them a call to see if they allow it. Also a CB next to Lazy Days, Seffner just off I-75 to the east and a TA truck stop at same exit. I see RVs at the TA a lot.
Dog_Folks
Explorer
Jan 03, 2015
jw of 4 corners wrote:
overnight parking is not allowed in Florida rest areas. only allow stays of up to 3 hours. Good luck on your trip.

The above is technically correct.

However, most any LEO or Security officer is not going to force a sleepy traveler back on the road.

I would not hesitate to grab a few, or more hours of sleep. No slides deployed etc.
JW_of_Opechee_S
Explorer
Jan 03, 2015
overnight parking is not allowed in Florida rest areas. only allow stays of up to 3 hours. Good luck on your trip.

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Rest areas in Ft Myers or Punta Gorda,Fl allow overnight?

16 Replies

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