Rest Areas Safe?
How safe are restareas to stop in at night and get a few hours sleep?
Forum Discussion
As other posters have said..some rest areas do not allow overnight stays, some do, some have 24hr security on duty, some are safe enough during the day but not at night, some never safe, some great, or any combo you can think of!
You really can never know for sure unless you have recent experience with individual rest areas. There are horror stories about drug deals, prostitution, bad truckers, theft, muggings, rape, etc.
We have stayed at one that had 24hr guard on duty that actually had a section devoted just to RV and did not allow trucks in that area so it was much quieter.
We will only stay overnight at one that allows it that has the 24hr guard on duty. All other stops are brief/no more than a couple of hours then we hit the road.
The same caution should go for all parking lots especially Wal*mart--24hr security guard that allows parking--always speak to the store manager to let they know you are there, ask permission and thank them for allowing you to stay.
Travel safe...
You really can never know for sure unless you have recent experience with individual rest areas. There are horror stories about drug deals, prostitution, bad truckers, theft, muggings, rape, etc.
We have stayed at one that had 24hr guard on duty that actually had a section devoted just to RV and did not allow trucks in that area so it was much quieter.
We will only stay overnight at one that allows it that has the 24hr guard on duty. All other stops are brief/no more than a couple of hours then we hit the road.
The same caution should go for all parking lots especially Wal*mart--24hr security guard that allows parking--always speak to the store manager to let they know you are there, ask permission and thank them for allowing you to stay.
Travel safe...
