Sleeping at Truck Stops

In this video I talk about sleeping at truck stops. If you are living in a car, car camping, or traveling and want to save money by sleeping in a car, it is important to know the rules for sleeping at a truck stop. I have stayed at a lot of truck stops that include Pilot truck stops, Travel America truck stops (or simply TA truck stops), Flying J truck stops, and Love’s truck stops. Different truck stops have different rules, so it is important to know the rules for sleeping in parking lots and the laws for sleeping in a car. It is also important to know safety tips for car camping and how to sleep safely in a car. I have been living in my car for several years, and I stay safe while sleeping in my car by knowing how to live in a car and sleep in a car in a safe way. That includes tools for car living, which includes blackout panels, a car security system with a car camera system, and hiding from view while sleeping in a car. These are important, if you are sleeping at a truck stop, sleeping at a Walmart, sleeping at a rest area, or sleeping in a car on the street. Safe travels!

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[pawsinn]

Heres a strong suggestion. Never psrk in the back with us truckers. . Because after dark, it's difficult enough to find a parking spot. But it's extremely rude to park your tiny vehicle in a spot for trucks and large vehicles. Thst includes rest areas etc.. just some friendly advice from a trucker and rvlife and vehicle camping guy

[mbrown]

I always go in, buy something or get gas, then ask if it's OK to stay and where I should park my minivan. Never have an issue using this method.

[richardjohnson]

Were I a minimum-wage clerk, I would NOT be paid enough to confront a sleeper who may be armed or angry at being woken up. Unless they enter the store with drawn handgun to rob me, I will not get involved.
If they are bothering customers by panhandling or such, that is why the police/sheriff exist, to deal with those people.

[jackkunkel]

I'm a van nomad, and I routinely park in truck stops when on the way to a destination. They're quite convenient although noisy. Usually back on the road by dawn or sooner. Never had any problems. Just don't park anywhere where you're taking up semi truck space.

[martinrhoads]

When I was younger and traveling in my car looking for jobs, I always sought out a hospital, especially with an ER attached. Always keep under the radar. If I got there early enough, sometimes there would be a waiting room near the ICU's for families. Tvs, big lounge chairs, blankets. Always pretended to be asleep. Never was questioned. Helps to cry if security trys to talk to you. Kidding. Never once did security come buy. Cafeteria opens up early, and pretty cheap.

[frankd]

I ALWAYS sleep at Love's. They encourage it. I stay all night, NEVER had a problem.

[JohnMolloy-vo]

Plus you can score a shower for 15 bucks or so at the major chains. Even less if you stay at one of the "mom n pop" places. As the video says, activity is safety. People = eyes. Eyes = safety.. As another poster said, please don't park on the truck side. We are governed by hours of service rules, and we need those spots when we run out of time for the day.

[jeaninehefflin]

Best info I've yet. You should back in to the spot for easy leaving.

[fenraven]

I remember driving from Florida to western Wisconsin one winter, and by the time I hit Eau Claire, I was so tired, I couldn't see straight. I pulled into some fast food lot, parked in an out-of-the-way spot, and napped for a couple of hours. No one bothered me, despite my windows not being tinted or blocked. Each time you have to stop (for whatever reason), an assessment needs to be made. I've heard ER lots are great, especially if you park farther away from the entrance. I've also parked overnight in a highway rest stop. Only stayed a few hours, but that was enough. Due to the current astronomical rents in this country, I may soon be living in my car, also a Prius, so I appreciate these vids.

[RetiredFreeBird]

i stay at ❤Loves. The ❤is like a welcome home sign to me. Never been turned away. And beats all rest areas.

[delstanley]

I started sleeping at trucks and rest stops in 1985. If available, I ALWAYS sleep in the most unlit spot I can find, and hopefully it's at the end of the parking rows where only one other car can park next to me. In the almost 40 years of doing this only one time did someone ever approach me. That was in New York at a rest stop near the Canadian border. A guy pulls up and asks "well what do you want to do?" I was a little puzzled, and then said "I want to get some f***ing sleep?" He seemed angry and drove off. In this case I was the ONLY ONE at the rest stop, lights and where I parked had nothing to do with it. Each parking spot had enough of its own light, much to my disliking. I can't sleep with a lot of glaring light. Sleeping under those lights is much worse than worrying about the Kracken you're hiding from. At the travel truck stops, I don't even look at the signs, If I need to sleep, I sleep. I figure if they want you off the lot they will approach you first before they start dropping tow chains. I've never stayed beyond the next day and I figure that's really what worries them are long termers. I take the passive approach at truck travel stops, Never go looking for permission if you're tired and want to stop, let them take the initiative and come and run you off. Then just go, that's all. The meek have already been run off. Again, I seriously doubt if the travel and truck places' managers, and the police, and tow drivers want a lot of confrontation with people there under 24 hours, or staying only one night over regardless of what the sign says. I doubt if a sheriff is going to force some sleepy driver at 2 AM to get back on the road in a sleepy condition because the STATE says no overnight stay on a federally funded highway. Stay another night, well you got a problem. I remember the 60s (or 70s) song called signs, everywhere a sign... do this, do that, can't you read the sign."

I've also stayed at a lot of PARKING NEXT EXIT places, (mostly in TX) all you do is park, there are no restroom facilities, you just pull over and park. They are in-between rest areas. I've done a few Picnic areas too. I know all this freaks everybody out (except truckers who park anywhere they can), but the Parking strips are my favorite because it so dark and peaceful if a truck diesel isn't too loud. I have my own gallon water jug for relief, but you will sometimes notice a stream on the curb where some drivers had to relieve their bladders. Then again, lots of people sleep on BLM land and that seems more risky than these non facility parking strips, but not many people fear BLM land and they are generally far from the interstate.


If one feels a sense of security about sleeping under lights and where to park at these places, and it allows him to sleep better, then so be it. It is good that they rested well. However, they may think that just because they survived the night that their "rules" for survival is the proper and only way to go, and that is dangerous otherwise, and they are now the on-the-road experts. A bad guy that has targeted someone for some ill happening will do the deed regardless whether the target sleeps under lights or not, or at the entrance, or at a specific place in parking.

Like I said in almost 40 years of doing things the way I do it (sleeping in unlit areas at travel stops and rest stops) I've never had an issue, BUT I understand this freaks everyone else out, after all, Ted Bundy or Jack the Ripper, or a vampire could be lurking if you're aren't careful and sleep in the wrong area in a public place. I mean if one sleeps with a necklace of garlic and they wake up in the morning without any vampire punctures on their neck then the procedure must have worked, by golly. So if it allows one to sleep better, then by all means wear the necklace when you sleep. For others though you may not like the smell of garlic, and I bet Dracula won't get you anyway. The danger is more imagined. And if you don't like sleeping under bright lights at travel stops, psst-psst the darkness is quite cozy! It's fine folks. You don't have to take my word for it if its going to cause a heart attack for you, actually if everybody runs to the light then it means I can always get my spot!

[francisebbecke]

Buying something, even something small, changes the dynamic. If asked just saying you are a little tired and just getting a little rest. It is almost always OK. Police and highway patrol stations are usually fine with this as well. They would rather you get some rest in their parking lot than have to help load you into an ambulance after an accident due to being sleeping.

[juliamarple]

I stayed twice at that Loves truck stop in Green River! Never knew what to do. Coming in late, it was either on the south side with the big trucks or across the street $35 for RV hookups. I just wanted to crash for a few hours in my pickup truck. Didn't need electricity. I am looking fireward to watching the rest of this video.

[skewerz]

most of the urban truck stops that don't allow car parking overnight are due to city laws. It's not the truck stop's fault...it's the municipality.

[andrewhicks]

Good video, and I have subscribed, very glad to find this channel. I car camp in my Prius when traveling. Usually I sleep at interstate rest areas, but sometimes truck stops. I find it much harder to find any places in the northeast, pretty much from Virginia upwards, and will try and reserve a campground space after having some nights when I couldn't find anything. But much better luck in the Midwest (except around Chicago), agree about Love's being less likely to allow parking, also the more rural, the better. I have no experience out west, having never been west of Denver. Again, great channel!

[JulieAiken]

I traveled for about a year and a half -- first in a Class B and then in my Prius -- and truck stops are the best! I always asked, and without fail they said "Sure" and told me where to park. I followed the same rules you do, including buying something there and parking in a high traffic, well-lit area, and I never had a problem. I love the camera set-up you use, and if I ever get back out on the road (that's my plan) I'll definitely do that. Thanks for a great video.

[KARW]

I have done this and had no issues so long as I ask the people inside

[mrjohnklake]

The number one rule of parking anywhere in any vehicle is to not interfere with others where you park. This should be common sense but it is very possible to be in a parking spot and still be in the way. I also agree to PLEASE DO NOT PARK CARS IN TRUCK SPOTS! I get annoyed enough with bobtail trucks parking in full size parking spots.

[mariechance]

Have the Loves app. Saves me 10cents per gal, and shows me all the Loves on my route.

[doloresreynolds]

My town won’t allow overnight parking, at Walmart or any other parking lot. Trying to keep the motels busy, imo, but we are a tourist town so there might be a larger problem than I realize during the season.