• Home
  • About
  • Campsites
  • Knowledge Base
  • Blog
  • Ask a Question
  • Home
  • About
  • Campsites
  • Knowledge Base
  • Blog
  • Ask a Question
home/Knowledge Base/Overnight Parking/Michigan Rest Area Rules
Popular Search:Solar Panels, Battery Banks, Joshua Tree

Michigan Rest Area Rules

13758 views 41 February 13, 2021 Updated on July 25, 2021

Is overnight parking allowed at Michigan rest areas? How long can you stay at a Michigan rest area? Is camping permitted at Michigan rest areas? What are the full Michigan rest area rules?

michigan rest area
Rest area in Michigan

Michigan Rest Area Rules

The State of Michigan has not adopted any laws specifically concerning the use of its highway rest areas and roadside parks. The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT), however, has posted signs in some rest areas with limited rules. In some cases, they’ve posted signs prohibiting overnight parking and camping. But in most other rest areas, they’ve not posted such signs.

Note: A few other privately run websites claim that Michigan has a four hour time limit on rest areas. However, we checked through the State’s laws and administrative rules to validate this, and found nothing. The MDOT has not published any such rules on its website. We poured through numerous reviews and photos posted by travelers on other camping websites and on Google Maps, and found no such rule. We believe the four hour time limit is simply just hearsay, and was copied by other websites without doing any kind of verification.

Michigan Roadside Parks

MDOT operates 85 roadside parks throughout the Upper and Lower Peninsulas. These are small rest areas with picnic tables. Some have restrooms, but most do not. All roadside parks in Michigan are seasonal, opening on May 15 and closing in late October. Roadside parks are small enough that they’re not suitable for medium to large sized RVs. They’re better suited for vandwellers and car-campers. Tent-camping is not allowed at roadside parks.

How Long Can You Stay at a Michigan Rest Area?

Michigan has no official time limits for staying at one of their rest areas or welcome centers. That’s not to say that you can stay there for 24 hours or more. If you remain long enough, a law enforcement officer may eventually check on you.

Is Overnight Parking Permitted at Michigan Rest Areas?

Yes. Because Michigan rest areas are open 24 hours a day, you can arrive at a rest area during night time hours and park overnight for an indefinite period of time. With no specified maximum time limit, overnight parking is effectively permitted.

Can You Sleep Overnight at a Michigan Rest Area?

Yes. There are no rules or laws against sleeping in your vehicle while at a Michigan rest area. And because there is no maximum time limit, that would also include overnight sleeping.

Note: Some rest areas in Michigan have signs posted prohibiting overnight parking and camping. These signs are posted very clearly in front of the restroom facility. If you don’t see such a sign posted, you can assume you can sleep in your vehicle overnight.

Is Camping Allowed at a Michigan Rest Area?

Camping is generally frowned upon at Michigan rest areas. However, the Michigan Department of Transportation has not adopted any official rules against camping at a rest area. A handful of their rest areas do have signs posted prohibiting camping. But because the State has not adopted any statewide policy on rest area camping, you should approach this on a case-by-case basis.

Despite the above, many of the State’s rest areas include recreational facilities that would be consistent with camping. Such facilities include picnic tables, children’s play areas, pet areas, scenic walkways, and viewing areas. As long as you don’t extend your camping activities through the night and into the following morning, it’s unlikely you’ll be approached by law enforcement.

If you plan to stay overnight at a Michigan rest area, then you should instead limit your activities to inside your vehicle. Do not put your camping equipment outside, do not roll out your awning, and try to look like someone who is too tired to do much of anything. This way you can demonstrate to a law enforcement officer that you’re here only to rest long enough to continue driving safely.

Listing of Michigan Rest Areas

MDOT publishes a map showing all of its rest areas… https://www.michigan.gov/mdot/0,4616,7-151-9615-60528–,00.html

Tags:Rest AreasMichigan

Was this helpful?

41 Yes  1 No
Related Articles
  • Is it Legal to Open RV Slide Outs at a Rest Area?
  • Is it Legal to Sleep in a Rooftop Tent While at a Rest Area?
  • Can You Sleep in a Church Parking Lot Overnight?
  • Map of New York Thruway Service Areas
  • Is it Legal to Camp Overnight at an Abandoned Building?
  • Can You Cook Food Outdoors at a Rest Area?

Didn't find your answer? Contact Us

4 thoughts on “Michigan Rest Area Rules”
  • Darlene says:
    Reply

    This is not true. There are signs at Michigan rest stops stating “no camping or overnight parking”

    September 21, 2021 at 8:30 am
  • Pam says:
    Reply

    i pulled into a roadside park and fell asleep. i was woke by a cop pounding on my window, HE TOLD ME i could not sleep and needed to go to a hotel/motel if i wanted to sleep. of course there were none nearby – so i had to force myself awake enough to continue driving.

    February 9, 2022 at 2:58 pm
  • Dawn says:
    Reply

    My husband and I have stopped at many rest areas heading to the UP and never had an issue. We usually stop at the larger areas if we need to sleep and only use the roadside parks to eat, have bathroom break, and stretch our legs.

    February 12, 2022 at 9:27 am
  • Dawn D. says:
    Reply

    If there is a sign that specifically States no overnight parking or camping, then don’t do it because you will get a cop at your window. You need to make sure to check the entire area to see if there’s one sign in the entire area that says no overnight parking. There’s been times where I’ve seen just one in the entire huge lot, but that pertains to the entire place. If it’s a place where you see trucks stopping and resting, you are more apt to be able to do that with your camper as well. The people who have left responses above did not indicate where these places were, or if there were no signs posted.

    February 13, 2023 at 11:02 am
Leave A Comment Cancel reply

Overnight Parking
  • Michigan Rest Area Rules
  • Can You Sleep Overnight at Camping World?
  • Can You Park at Costco Overnight?
  • Is Stealth Camping Illegal?
  • Can You Park an RV Overnight at Home Depot?
  • Can You Sleep In Your Car at Walmart?
View All 92  
Popular Articles
  • Is it Illegal to Live in a Tent in Your Backyard?
  • What Do the Different Colors Mean on Google Maps?
  • How Many Solar Panels Do I Need for Boondocking?
  • Can I Run My RV Air Conditioner on Battery Power?
  • Camping on Arizona State Trust Lands
KB Categories
  • Boondocking Water and Sewage
  • Kansas
  • Overnight Parking
  • California
  • Getting Started With Boondocking
  • Boondocking Electrical
  • Arkansas
  • Costs
  • Boondocking Tips
  • Montana
  • How to Find Boondocking Sites
  • Army Corps of Engineers
  • Colorado
  • Outfitting Your RV
  • Idaho Department of Transportation
  • Idaho
  • Boondocking Safety
  • Oregon
  • Boondocking Myths
  • Where to Find Boondocking
  • New Mexico
  • Boondocking in National Forests
  • Utah
  • Boondocking in National Parks
  • New York
  • Tennessee
  • Boondocking Etiquette
  • Washington
  • Connecticut
  • Boondocking Rules
  • Alabama
  • Delaware
  • Boondocking on BLM Land
  • Alaska
  • Florida
  • Boondocking on National Wildlife Refuges
  • Arizona
  • Georgia
  • Boondocking on Bureau of Reclamation Lands
  • Michigan
  • Boondocking and Off-Road Vehicles
  • Massachusetts

boondocking trailers

  Illinois Rest Area Rules

Louisiana Rest Area Rules  

boondockers bible logo

We answer your questions about Boondocking, Free Camping, and Overnight Parking using facts and actual experiences. Dispell the myths of boondocking and arm yourself with the laws and truths. Elevate your RVing and car-camping and become a boondocker!

Useful Help Links
  • Weekly Boondocking Series
  • About Us
  • Ask a Question
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • © 2019-2022 Too Much Tina. All Rights Reserved.

Popular Search:Solar Panels, Battery Banks, Joshua Tree