Rest area overnight stops.
Is it allowed to spend the night at a rest area? Hope this isn't a dumb question to ask.
Forum Discussion
Even when the sign says "no camping" it may yet be OK to stop and sleep. There's a difference between camping and parking overnight for rest, and that's what a rest area is for.
But some states have changed the function of their rest areas, or at least specific rest areas, to short stops, as rest areas become supplemented then supplanted by truck stops and "travel centers" along the Interstate system. They've done this most often to try to reduce security and policing costs, and reduce the amount of criminal activity associated with certain long-term visitors. Busy truck stops are easier to secure than remote locations along the highway.
If you want to make use of rest areas for extended sleeping, it usually works better to make your stops during the daylight hours, and do your driving at night. The predators seem to be less prevalent during busy daylight hours, and the police less likely to be checking who is staying how long. That is, if you can sleep with all the traffic and noise.
But some states have changed the function of their rest areas, or at least specific rest areas, to short stops, as rest areas become supplemented then supplanted by truck stops and "travel centers" along the Interstate system. They've done this most often to try to reduce security and policing costs, and reduce the amount of criminal activity associated with certain long-term visitors. Busy truck stops are easier to secure than remote locations along the highway.
If you want to make use of rest areas for extended sleeping, it usually works better to make your stops during the daylight hours, and do your driving at night. The predators seem to be less prevalent during busy daylight hours, and the police less likely to be checking who is staying how long. That is, if you can sleep with all the traffic and noise.
