First choice is an RV park:
Second is a major parking lot, Wal*mart, Flying J, Et-al
Last choice is a rest stop.
Reasons: (last to 1st)
Some truckers seem to feel that the rest stops are for their exclusive use, They have no problem with you stopping in for a few minutes to walk the dog or drain the sock, but overnight, Slides out, FORGET IT.. They may get nasty and you wake up feeling a tad low... in the tires. So only use rest stops if you have to.
Also "Overnighting" at a rest stop... Laws vary from state to state (Your Millage May Vary) Now as it happens I know the law in Michigan,, but I was surprised when I learned it.. (NOTE: I'm not a lawyer and thus the only legal advice I can legally give is RESEARCH and/or CALL A LAWYER).
(When I was a police dispatcher I had a caller who would not give up asking me for legal advice, I findally ended by telling him "Sir we are at a point were if you ask me what time it was I'd tell you to call a lawyer", he hung up).
Truck Stop/Wal*mart et-al.. Traditionally you tnank the business by giving them some custom (Most would say "By giving them some business" but in fact the proper word is Custom). I often spend as much as 50 bucks on dinner plus breakfast combined for two people at the Truck Stop's Diner.
25 bucks at the campground a quarter mile away and perhaps 10 bucks on the meals in the motor home. PLUS. I have fully charged batteries, No need to run Generator.. If needed I can re-fill my fresh water tank and empty the "Used" tanks, no additional charge. And so on. I mean. Best deal.
Problem.. RV park is not always all that easy to find.
I do recall one trip where I pulled into a truck stop.. Did not feel good about spending night,, Or even parking,, Spotted RV park, just down the road.. 25 bucks, as described above.
