Hello.
Can you sleep in the car in these states CA, NV, AZ, NM, TX, UT ?
If yes what kind of places do you recommend for night?
Luk
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Hello.
Can you sleep in the car in these states CA, NV, AZ, NM, TX, UT ?
If yes what kind of places do you recommend for night?
Luk
Hi Luk,Quote:
Originally Posted by Luk
You can sleep in your car in these states as long as you are in a campground.
If you are asking about rest areas, I'm not up on the current states that allow this, but I do not recommend it. It's just not safe.
Utahtea
You also may sleep in your car at a commercial truck stop, with permission.
Welcome to the RTA Forum!
Sleeping in the car itself is not regulated by any state law, where it is safe and legal is another story.
Rest areas are often illegal and always unsafe.
Generally speaking the best place to sleep in your car is a truck stop, where it is well lit and well patroled.
Campgrounds are also a great place to sleep, although they aren't free. But better yet, they are a chance to get out of the car and get a place to sleep where you can actually stretch out and get a good night sleep.
There are people who can sleep in a car, I've done it from time to time, but its not something I would recommend you do more than once in a while when you need a break from the road.
As already mentioned, it is often illegal, and nearly always unsafe. Only sleep in your car in a rest area, if the area is patrolled by guards... such as in FL.
Besides, it can be extremely unwise unless you have proper sleeping facilitities... such the seats removed and a mattress. You simply do not get adequate rest. If it is in an emergency, that's different, but don't plan on doing a roadtrip with sleeping in the car every night. You may live to regret it.
If you have good sleeping facilities in your car, and you are looking for safe places outside of campgrounds, truck stops are your best bet. Most truck stops / travel plazas make room available for RVs, and you just join them. These venues are busy 24 hours a day, and well lit. Let reception know that you will be staying the night. Make sure you return the favour by supporting their business... fill the car, eat in their restaurant, use their showers (fee), etc. If you are trying to cut down on accommodation costs, it is really the only way to go. But, you need to make sure you are comfortable in your vehicle, and get sufficient rest to be alert to face the next day on the road.
To check which truck stops / travel plazas welcome RVs, best invest in this publication.
Lifey
In some cities in California, it is illegal to sleep in the car since you will need to have a special permit to park on the streets, especially between 2 and 6 am. From what I know, you'll need the parking permit if you plan on sleeping in your car in Los Angeles and San Bernardino even in the National Forest areas.
I would never sleep in a car parked on a street anywhere!
When a local car dealership was being built, we started to notice that this same car was parked on our street, night after night. None of our neighbors knew whose car it was, then a few days later, someone noticed that every night, there was a man asleep in the back seat. Evidently, the man was working on the construction site and chose to sleep in his car every evening.
One of the spots he chose to park in, was right in front of a police officer's home. She went out and spoke with him about how that was not very smart, even though our neighborhood is usually safe, all it takes is one crazy person. We noticed after that, he was gone. She later told a neighbor that he said he'd ask to stay with a co-worker. (We also wondered where he was showering! There are no truck stops NEAR here!)
Donna
Over the years, I have traveled over 25k miles, otr, in a car. Over half of these nights, I have slept in my car. Conversion vans to roadsters. My travel vehicle of choice, now, is my Subaru FXP. Tinted glass,comfortable and decent mpgs.
I have never had a problem. I, always, am careful as to where to spend the night. Travel plazas, Super Walmarts are, usually, chosen. I have, briefly, slept at rest areas, as well. I choose well lit, busy
locations.
If I would have had to stay in a motel or pay high camping fees, I wouldn't have been able to make the trip. I call it, "roadtrip on a shoestring". Showers available with hot breakfast. What's not to like? :)
PS Bring a warm sleepingbag, padding, pillow and small cooler.
Thank you very much