• Home
  • About
  • Campsites
  • Knowledge Base
  • Blog
  • Contact
  • Home
  • About
  • Campsites
  • Knowledge Base
  • Blog
  • Contact
home/Knowledge Base/Overnight Parking
Popular Search:Solar Panels, Battery Banks, Joshua Tree

Can You Sleep in Your Car at a Rest Area?

1267 views 5

Written by Steve Johnson
September 16, 2020

can you sleep at a rest areaYes, you can sleep in your car at a rest area.

Rest areas are intended specifically to “combat driver fatigue”. This phrase is used commonly from state to state to define the primary purpose of rest areas. The reason why states use this phrase is to discourage driver’s from using rest areas for recreational purposes.

Can You Sleep in Your Car at a Rest Area?

Even though each state is different, they all are in agreement that rest areas are intended to “combat driver fatigue”, and encourage driver’s to rest well enough to get back on the road safely. While no state specifically endorses sleeping, no state specifically prohibits sleeping either.

In order for a law enforcement officer to cite you for sleeping in your car at a rest area, there has to be a law against it. And after examining the laws and rules of every state, with respect to rest areas, there are no laws against sleeping in your car at a rest area.

Should a law enforcement officer knock on your window, tell him or her that you are very tired, and that you need this moment to close your eyes and rest long enough to get back on the road safely. By the same token, you should make it clearly evident that you are indeed resting, and not looking like you’re having fun.

Overnight Parking versus Overnight Camping

Many states have prohibited “overnight parking” and/or “overnight camping” at their rest areas. But that still doesn’t mean that sleeping in your car at a rest area is prohibited.

Keep in mind that all rest areas are open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. It is completely fine to pull into a rest area at night, and sleep in your car long enough to rest and return to driving.

Where states have prohibited “overnight parking” or “overnight camping” they are referring to people using rest areas for purposes beyond “combating driver fatigue”. This could include staying well after you’ve already rested, or taking extra time to cook breakfast and participate in conference calls.

Camping is generally defined by states as being recreational. Hence, recreational use of rest areas are prohibited. Law enforcement officers would have to look for evidence that you’re enjoying your stay at a rest area, perhaps by noticing that you’ve put out slides on your RV, set up patio chairs and tables, playing music outside, etc. As long as you’re just parking your car or RV, staying inside, and not looking like you’re having fun, you’ll be fine to sleep overnight.

States Have Time Limits on How Long You Can Stay

Most states have adopted rules or laws limiting how long you can stay at a rest area. Some states, however, still have not adopted any such limits.

The majority of states generally adopt time limits ranging from 8 hours to 12 hours. South Dakota goes as short as 3 hours, while Idaho goes as long as 16 hours on certain highways. States like Arizona and Utah have no time limits at all.

Hence, if a rest area allows you to stay for 12 hours, and you need all 12 hours to sleep, rest, and get back on the road safely, then you’re fine to do so, even if its during night time hours.

Law Enforcement Officers Rarely Kick People Out

It’s rare for highway patrol officers to kick someone out for staying too long at a rest area.

Officers do not keep log books of everyone who pulled into a rest area with their dates and times. Moreover, people who have extended their stay at rest areas are not considered a threat to public safety. However, highway patrol officers do pull into rest areas at least once a day during their patrols, and eventually will take notice if your vehicle has been parked in the same space for three or four days.

As long as you don’t remain parked for more than 24 hours, you’re generally fine to remain at a rest area. Just make sure you don’t make excessive noise, draw attention to yourself, or make it clear you’re having a party.

Tags:Rest Areas

Was this helpful?

5 Yes  No
Related Articles
  • Wyoming Rest Area Rules
  • Utah Rest Area Rules
  • Nevada Rest Area Rules
  • Arizona Rest Area Rules
  • Washington State Rest Area Rules
  • Oregon Rest Area Rules
Leave A Comment Cancel reply

Overnight Parking
  • Can You Sleep in Your Car at a Rest Area?
  • Wyoming Rest Area Rules
  • Utah Rest Area Rules
  • Nevada Rest Area Rules
  • Arizona Rest Area Rules
  • Washington State Rest Area Rules
View All 18  
Popular Articles
  • Can I Dump my Gray Water on the Ground?
  • Can I Run My RV Air Conditioner on Battery Power?
  • What is the Best RV for Boondocking?
  • What Do the Different Colors Mean on Google Maps?
  • Where Can I Park Overnight?
KB Categories
  • Getting Started With Boondocking
  • Costs
  • How to Find Boondocking Sites
  • Outfitting Your RV
  • Boondocking Safety
  • Boondocking Myths
  • Boondocking in National Forests
  • Boondocking in National Parks
  • Boondocking Etiquette
  • Boondocking Rules
  • Boondocking on BLM Land
  • Boondocking on National Wildlife Refuges
  • Boondocking on Bureau of Reclamation Lands
  • Boondocking and Off-Road Vehicles
  • Boondocking Water and Sewage
  • Overnight Parking
  • Boondocking Electrical
  • Boondocking Tips
  • Army Corps of Engineers
  • Idaho Department of Transportation
Join Our Community
  • FAQ
  • Forums
  • KnowledgeBase
  • Documentation
Useful Help Links
  • Community Home
  • Item support
  • Refunds
  • Market API
Frequent Visit Links
  • Licenses
  • Terms
  • Refunds
  • Privacy Policy
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • © 2019-2020 Too Much Tina. All Rights Reserved.

Popular Search:Solar Panels, Battery Banks, Joshua Tree