Is it Legal and Safe to Stay Overnight at Rest Areas?

Should Solo Women Stay at Rest Areas?

After a long day of driving, sometimes you just want a place to pull over and sleep. As a solo woman RVer or vanlifer you might be wondering, can you sleep legally at a rest area? And, most importantly, is it safe to stay overnight at a rest stop?

The short answer is, it depends. Read on.

What are rest areas?

Rest areas are stops, usually along interstate highways, that offer a place for drivers to pull over, stretch their legs, let their pets out, use the restroom, have a snack and well, rest. Some rest areas are very basic with just a spot to pull off on the side of the road. Others are full service with restaurants, coffee and souvenir shops. Some, like those in Washington State, even offer free dump stations.

Since driver fatigue is a major cause of accidents, it makes sense to provide areas where drivers can pull off and rest for a bit. If you need to close your eyes and rest up, a rest area is the perfect place to do that. But can you stay overnight at rest areas? It all depends on which rest area you are in.

How to tell if overnight camping is allowed?

You can stay overnight at some rest areas. Some states and municipalities allow it, but might have restrictions on how long you can stay. Other states such as Nebraska and Colorado do not allow overnight sleeping in your vehicle. It’s best to do your research before you head out to know the laws and regulations in each state regarding sleeping at rest areas.

Boondockers Bible has a comprehensive breakdown of the laws in each state.

What Does “No Overnight Camping” Really Mean?

Some rest areas may have signs that say “No Overnight Camping.” Does this mean you cannot stay overnight? Not necessarily. It means you can’t camp. Resting in your RV is not the same as camping. If I pull into a grocery store, do a little shopping, make some lunch and close my eyes for a few minutes, I wouldn’t consider that camping. I’m just resting up a bit before I hit the road. Think of staying an at a rest area as the same thing.

Be discreet.  Don’t put out your awning, set up chairs, make a fire, barbeque or open a slide. Don’t put down levelers or disconnect your vehicle from a trailer. Definitely don’t put up a tent. All those things would be considered camping.

How Long Can you Stay at a Rest Area?

This is where each state has its own regulations. Some states allow up to 24 hours, others just three. Remember, the primary purpose of rest areas is to provide a safe place for drivers to rest up so they can safely continue their journey. It’s not to provide a free place for RVers to camp. Keep that in mind when you’re making your decision of whether or not to stay a rest area. Do you need to pull off the road and rest in order to continue safely on your way? Then yes! Definitely stop and rest at a rest area.

Are you looking for a free spot to spend the night to avoid paying high campground prices? In many cases, rest areas can meet that need. Just be mindful that it might be loud, bright and depending on which state you are in, you could potentially be asked to move along.

A note on Truckers

If there are designated areas for trucks, do not park there-even if you have a long RV or are pulling a trailer. There are several reasons for this. The trucking industry is highly regulated and truckers need to make regular rest stops. If all of the trucking spots are full, they may need to keep driving to look for another spot and face consequences for missing a scheduled rest.

As RVers we have plenty of places we can stop for the night—campgrounds, Walmarts, stealth camping. Truckers are not so fortunate. They rely on rest areas and truck stops. Make sure they have access to what they need.

How to Tell if a Rest Area is Safe

As a solo woman traveler, you want to know not just is it legal to stay in a rest area, but is it safe? The first thing I will suggest, as in any place, is to listen to your gut. Does it feel like a safe area? Look around. How clean does it look? Are there other RVers or truckers spending the night? Do you see any vehicles with broken windows or signs of break-in? Do you see anyone who looks like they’re casing out the place? Are the rest rooms clean and well-lit? Do you see security cameras?

Look for things like lighting. How well lit up is the place? Are there security guards or state highway patrol presence? Are there other RVs or trucks parked?

You can check apps like iOverlander to find reviews and photos of rest areas to see what other people’s experience has been.

How to Stay Save at a Rest Area

While there is no guarantee that ANYPLACE is going to be entirely safe, there are some things you can do to minimize your chance of a break-in or attack. If there are other RVers staying in the rest area, park within close proximity to them. Introduce yourself, if you get the chance, so you can look out for each other. While normally you might not choose to park under or near a light, this might be the place when you will want to. Cover your windows and close your blinds so no one can see in.

Have a Safety Plan

Like camping anywhere, it’s good to have a safety plan when you stay overnight at a rest area. Park your vehicle pointing so that you can quickly drive away without having to back up.

What will you do if you hear someone trying to break into your RV in the night? Whistles and air horns will call attention to you and likely scare off anyone trying to break in. If you travel with a weapon or other security device, make sure it’s within reach.

Many criminals are looking for easy targets. A rest area might fall into the category, because it’s usually super easy to drive in, commit a crime and drive away.

How Safe will You Feel?

Take a gut check. What is your comfort zone? Some people feel super safe stealth camping on city streets and others are scared to death to go to remote BLM lands. Cars and trucks will be coming in all night, so assess how you will personally feel hearing people coming and going, car doors slamming, people talking all hours of the night. Will you personally feel safe sleeping in that environment? Will you be able to sleep?

Personally, I would stay at a rest area in a pinch, especially if I was on a long haul, trying to get from one destination to another on a major highway, but it wouldn’t be my top choice. As a solo woman, I would try for some other free options, like Harvest Host or Walmart. Have you ever over-nighted at a rest area. What was your experience?

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