Forum Discussion

beachlovingmom's avatar
Oct 03, 2013

Rest areas?

I was just told it is illegal to spend the night in your camper in a rest area in Tennessee. Can anyone verify this?

If this is indeed true, does it apply to other state's rest areas? How does one get this information?

I am not thinking of "camping" in the rest area; however, if trying to drive through the night and need a couple hour nap, is that permitted? Seems safer to me to nap in the rest area than push on when one is tired.

56 Replies

  • don't know if you will ever make it to Oregon but they passed a law against it but then the truckers started parking on the side of the freeways to sleep. And I mean miles of trucks on the side of the road. the law was repealed with in weeks.
  • So we sleep in the day time and travel at night. My eye sight ain't so good at night. How am I going to tell if I just hit a deer or a pedestrian? It ain't safe to stop and look. Oh well, I guess I'll just stop at a campground and get a good nights sleep with out worrying about being evicted.
  • Florida rest area info;

    Each facility is protected by security personnel during evening and nighttime hours. Most of the rest areas provide family restrooms for travelers who may need companion assistance to make use of the facilities. The facilities in our Welcome Centers and Interstate Rest Areas are open and maintained 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for your comfort and convenience. The State of Florida's Welcome Centers, Rest Areas and Turnpike Service Plazas are generally equipped with public pay phones for use by travelers; facilities that do not offer pay phone services are equipped with call boxes to be used in case of emergency. Overnight camping is not permitted, but visitors may stay for up to three hours.

    http://www.dot.state.fl.us/statemaintenanceoffice/restareainfo.shtm
  • Many states do not allow over night parking.
    Not a very safe thing to do anyway.