Ideas for cheap lodging....

[Midwest Michael]

The problem with your rest area theory is that even though you haven't been a victim of crime at a rest area, there is a documented record of it happening. People have been killed or seriously injured as victims of crime doing exactly the sort of thing that you are promoting. Just because you haven't been a victim (yet?) doesn't mean a problem doesn't exist.

Ironically, your premise that sleeping at a rest area is ok because you haven't been hassled by cops is exactly one of the reasons why they are not a safe spot to sleep. Rest Areas don't usually see a lot of patrol car traffic and they usually are in relatively remote locations which is why they can be a prime spot for a criminal to take advantage of an opportunity.

Again, no one is saying that sleeping in a car isn't possible or that it won't save money, but there are ways to do it that are much safer than stoping at a highway rest stop.

About cooking on a coleman stove. This can be done out of your car. You use the car doors as wind breaks and sit in your seat as you cook.

This is another idea that I simply would not recommend. There is a reason Coleman puts for outdoor use only warning labels on camping stoves. A car seat just isn't the most stable place to put a burner element, thus creating a significant fire danger. There is also the real danger of Carbon Monoxide and other gases created by burning propane in a small, confined space like a car.

[Midwest Michael]

If you want to "suck up the dangers", no one here is telling you that you can not take risks and/or break the law. If you so choose, you certainly can take unnecessary risks in pursuit of your adventure, but there is a difference when you start recommending that people do things that carry significant and substantial risks and then tell them that they are safe because you haven't had any problems yet.

Overnight Parking is perfectly legal at a truck stops and other private parking lots, if you get permission from the management. You just need to ask first, its really that simple, and if it isn't allowed for some reason, then you will know that too. These are much safer places to sleep because there is always someone working and more people moving around to detract potential criminals. A place like a truck stop needs people to be safe at all hours of the night because they have a financial stake (criminals attacking customers doesn't make for good business, and opens the door for lawsuits), thus they are better lit and often will have security on hand to make sure customers are safe. They are also usually located closer to a populated area, with easier access to emergency services should there be a problem. There are more first hand details earlier in this thread and in the links that have already been provided.

National Forest Lands often offer the same free dispersed camping options that BLM lands do. However, as with BLM lands, you need to make sure that camping is allowed in those areas (dispersed camping is not universally allowed everywhere in either NF or BLM lands) and what the rules are for camping in the particular area.

[Midwest Michael]

I looked up the national forest sites but all the camp sites seemed to be 10-20$$$ a piece.

If you are staying in an established campground in a National Forest, then, yes, you will likely pay a small fee. However, the same is true about campgrounds in BLM lands. Not all BLM land is available for camping, and not all camping in BLM lands is free. BLM has campsites that charge a fee, just like other public entities.

What I am talking about is dispersed camping, in other words, camping away from established campgrounds. Sometimes there will be free sites available, but often times you will only have what you bring with you. This is where finding out what is allowed and where is key to making this kind of camping a success.

[Mark Sedenquist]

There is another free lodging option -- generally this applies to RVing, but a car works too and these days, you often see car boondocking.... (it used to be called car camping). Anyway, here is an overview.

Mark

[Midwest Michael]

First of all, the Sam Walton's last request thing is a myth that simply isn't true. Wal-Marts in many locations will allow customers to park overnight, but some will not. As was stated in the article that Mark linked to, some towns have even outlawed the walmart camping practice. Again, as has been stated, you need to check with management before just parking overnight at any private parking lot, be it a walmart, a truck stop, or some other similar location.

So what you are saying is to just find some BLM land and just go out and set up camp out there?

I'm going to repeat this one last time, because somewhere you are badly misreading what I am writing. You absolutely can not just find some BLM or National Forest land and set up camp. In many cases, camping will be legal and allowed on these public lands, but that is not universal. This is why talking to the ranger station that oversees the land is important. They can tell you where you can or can not camp, and where you can park your car.

[MrsPete]

Thinking of hostels, at which I stay frequently when travelling in North America, check out this site.

Hostels are great, but they aren't plentiful. When I was in high school and college I had some great inexpensive trips staying in hostels -- they're less useful now that I have a family of four. When you're paying for four people, you can usually find a "real hotel" for less money than a hostel x 4.

If you want to "suck up the dangers", no one here is telling you that you can not take risks and/or break the law. If you so choose, you certainly can take unnecessary risks in pursuit of your adventure, but there is a difference when you start recommending that people do things that carry significant and substantial risks and then tell them that they are safe because you haven't had any problems yet.

Everyone does have a different risk-acceptance level, but sleeping in a safe location is pretty high on my priority list. I mean, you're going to be unconscious and completely veneruable. Sleeping just any old place just isn't safe.

Personally, I'd rather skimp at home in order to have more money to spend on my vacations (so I don't have to make dangerous choices). For example, we've stopped going out to lunch on Sundays after church -- instead, every meal we don't eat out deposits $$ into our trip fund.

First of all, the Sam Walton's last request thing is a myth that simply isn't true. Wal-Marts in many locations will allow customers to park overnight, but some will not.

I don't know whether my local Walmart allows people to overnight there, but I do know that that parking lot is the site of multiple car-jackings every month. I won't go there after dark. Ever. It's in a safe place, near good neighborhoods, etc. -- but it's set-up is perfect for thieves: it's a short driveway, which opens up onto a two-lane highway that's straight as an arrow in both directions. With nothing to block their view, thieves can pull out even if the light's red, and they can be across the county line in minutes. It's a fine place to be in daylight, but no one goes there after dark.