Last Updated on March 7, 2024

If you are a regular RVer and have been across the country, chances are you have needed to find a place to rest or sleep. If you need to find a place to stop for the night, it helps to know the price and if there are any overnight parking rules.

Some RV parks can be $30 or $40 or night, but if you are just stopping and heading out early, this may be too much to pay. There is also the option to stay at a rest stop. Rest stops are different all across the country. Some allow RVers to stay as long as they need and others have time limits. Every rest stop also varies when it comes to how strictly these limits are enforced.

Rest stops do not allow camping, but sleeping in your RV is not considered camping. This means, there are many rest areas where you can pull the RV over and sleep for a night. Some rest stops may even provide access to national parks. When planning out your trip, look for rest areas that allow overnight RV parking. Some will have small fees, so you need to be prepared. The DOT can help with any questions you may have about rest areas and RVing. I’ve stayed in some amazing rest areas like the Bear Lake Rest Area in Utah on Route 89 with beautiful lake views and hiking trail but there are Rest Stops like the Iowa 80 truck stop which is the largest truck stop in the country with a movie theater, restaurants, and even a trucking museum.

See Rest Area Overnight Rules By State

Is It Overnight Parking Or Camping?

Camping is categorized as a recreational activity and pitching a tent and campsite. This is not allowed in rest areas anywhere across the country. Rest areas are designed to give tired drivers a break, and this includes RV drivers. Long-distance truck drivers have cabs to sleep in and RVers have their own beds. No tents or sites are set up, so it is not camping. The rest area is being used for resting, not recreation.

Where things get confusing, is that many rest areas have established facilities in the area that are consistent with recreation. There are often grills, tables, play areas, bathrooms, access to trails and viewing areas, and some even have museums or exhibits. These encourage visitors to stick around and have fun, but yet, camping is discouraged. And, not allowed.

Activities at rest areas are to be finished by the time the sun goes down. Most states consider any nighttime activity recreational and camping. They do not want tents posted or fires burning all night. RVers can enjoy these facilities during the day, so long as they are all packed up into the RV at night. The expectation is that you will get your rest and then be on your way the next morning.

What are Rest Areas?

You can usually find a rest area every hour or so along major highways. These were constructed for road safety as part of the Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1956. The idea was to give drivers rest to prevent them from having accidents as a result of being tired. The highways in the country pass through all places, many of which end up in very isolated spots. Hence, some facilities are also in place to better facilitate those who stop.

With the addition of these facilities, a new policy was created by the American Association of State Highway Officials. This set guidelines for the rest areas including when you can stay overnight with an RV. Sleeping in an RV at a rest stop depends on the state you are in and the rest stop.

Rest areas are designed to keep the roads safe by giving sleepy drivers a place to rest. RVers that are doing more than this, may be asked to leave, depending on the state and rest stop.

Most states prohibit camping at rest stops and specify that resting is not camping. The length of time you “rest” is important to whether you are camping or not. RVers can pull in to rest stops, park, and sleep, but they cannot open a pull-out.

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How Safe Are Rest Areas?

Unfortunately, most rest areas are poorly lit and can be prone to crime. Many states have banned sleeping at rest stops due to increased crime, and many others have put up signs that discourage it. You probably heard some horror stories that happened in rest areas. There have been robberies, solicitations, and even murders. The chance of serious crime happening is generally low. You have to use common sense like anywhere and if you are alone, don’t attract too much attention. The most common trick is a stranger knocking on your door asking for money or trying to lure you away with a story to rob your rig. You should be suspicious of any stranger knocking on your RV door and DO NOT open the door if you have any doubts about the person’s intentions. Talk to any strangers through the window or door, and if you feel threatened, drive away. Have some security systems set up (see my article about The Best RV Security Systems). Use security cameras, alarms and have your cellphone nearby. What else should you do?

Choose Well-Lit Areas

Well-lit areas discourage crime at rest areas. While crime can occur at any time of day, a rest area is most dangerous after the sun goes down. During the night, avoid peripheral parts like wooded areas, picnic areas where illegal activity sometimes occurs. Try to choose rest areas where there is a security guard and try not to go to the bathroom alone.

Park Near Other Cars

When you decide to stay in a rest area, avoid the ones that are deserted and you are the only one. Whenever it is possible, park near other cars, trucks or RVs but don’t block your view of seeing your surroundings. Thieves don’t like to target you if they believe help might be close.

Carry Protective Devices

Alarms, lights, pepper spray can be all-important prevention. Most RVers do carry a gun. Regardless of the protection you choose, make sure you know how to use it. If you carry a firearm, ensure you have the proper permits for it. See my blog post about guns in my RV Personal Protection blog post.

Choose Pull-Through Parking

If you do run into trouble, you need to be able to leave quickly. Pull-through parking helps reduce the time you need to pull out of the rest area. If you cannot locate this type of parking area, back into an area that will allow you to pull out easily.

Avoid Rest Areas Close To Big Cities

Criminals are usually lazy and won’t drive to the middle of nowhere to commit crimes. There is undeniably more crime near large cities. Just be aware if you are close to a big city that might be less safe.

Time Limits on How Long You Can Stay

Most rest stops in the country have developed maximum time limits for staying. They can range from as low as two hours to as long as twenty-four hours. Some have no limits at all and in many cases, Highway Patrol does not enforce the limits strictly. States want the roads to be safe and have places for drowsy drivers to rest. Law enforcement only gets involved, if someone stays at a rest area for too long.

Parking Overnight at a Rest Area Without Getting into Trouble

You can stay in a rest area as long as you are tired. As long as you are not setting up camp and spend most of your time inside the RV, it should be fine. If it looks like you are just resting for the night, law enforcement will not bother you.

Rest areas are only for resting. Don’t ruin it for everyone. When you decide to stay in one, stay inside the RV and do not open up the awning. Do not play music and set up chairs or a grill. Keep the lights low to keep up the appearance that you are resting. Try not to draw attention to yourself and you will not be bothered. You can rest as long as you need to, even if it does go beyond the specified limit. Then just leave the next morning.

Interstate Rest Areas Overnight RV Parking Rules By State

(Local DOT phone numbers and websites)

Alabama

334-353-6554
https://www.dot.state.al.us/
You can unless it is posted otherwise

Alaska

907-465-3900
www.dot.state.ak.us
Unless it is specifically posted otherwise, you can stay overnight in your RV, without a problem.

Arizona

602-712-7355
http://www.dot.state.ak.us/
You can stay in rest areas overnight

California

916-654-2852
https://dot.ca.gov/
8-hour limit to stay

Colorado

303-757-9011
https://www.codot.gov/
Overnight parking is not allowed

Connecticut

860-594-2000
http://www.ct.gov/dot
No rules against staying overnight

Delaware

302-760-2080
https://deldot.gov/
The Smyrna Rest Area has max 8 Hour Parking Limit
The I-95 Welcome Center allows overnight stays

Florida

850-414-4100
https://www.fdot.gov/
3-hour stay limit, no overnight

Georgia

404-631-1990
http://www.dot.ga.gov/
Yes unless otherwise posted
Visitor areas don’t allow overnight stays

Hawaii

808-587-2160
hidot.hawaii.gov
No overnight parking

Idaho

208-334-8000
itd.idaho.gov
10-hour stay limit

Illinois

217-782-7820
https://idot.illinois.gov/
3-hour stay limit, no overnight parking

Indiana

855-463-6848
https://www.in.gov/indot/
You may sleep in your RV if you are discreet

Iowa

515-239-1101
https://iowadot.gov/
You can park for less than 24 hours

Kansas

785-296-3566
http://www.ksdot.org/
You can stay one night only

Kentucky

502-564-4890
https://transportation.ky.gov
4-hour time limit

Louisiana

877-452-3683
http://wwwsp.dotd.la.gov
Can stay to rest, let the security guard know, but officially no overnight parking

Maine

207-624-3000
https://www.maine.gov/mdot/
It’s ok if you are discreet

Maryland

410-865-1000
https://www.mdot.maryland.gov
3-hour stay limit, no overnight

Massachusetts

877-623-6846
https://www.mass.gov/orgs/massachusetts-department-of-transportation
Yes, unless posted otherwise.
You cannot leave vehicles for more than 30 unattended

Michigan

517-373-2090
https://www.michigan.gov/mdot
There are no rules. So unless it is posted differently, you can.

Minnesota

651-296-3000
http://www.dot.state.mn.us/
Yes if you are discreet. No more than 4 hours if you don’t remain in the vehicle

Mississippi

601-359-7001
https://mdot.ms.gov/
Overnight parking is permitted, but don’t stay longer than necessary

Missouri

888-275-6636
https://www.modot.org/
Overnight parking permitted

Montana

406-444-6201
https://www.mdt.mt.gov/
Overnight parking permitted

Nebraska

402-471-4567
https://dot.nebraska.gov/
10-hour stay limit

Nevada

775-888-7000
https://www.dot.nv.gov/
18-hour stay limit

New Hampshire

603-271-3734
https://www.dot.nh.gov/
Yes unless otherwise posted

New Jersey

609-530-200
https://nj.gov/transportation/
Overnight parking is permitted unless otherwise posted

New Mexico

505-827-5100
https://dot.state.nm.us/
24-hour stay limit

New York

518-457-6195
https://www.dot.ny.gov/index
3-hour limit, or 4 hours on Thruhways

North Carolina

877-368-4968
https://www.ncdot.gov
Overnight staying is not allowed

North Dakota

701-328-2500
https://www.dot.nd.gov/
Overnight parking is allowed

Ohio

614-466-7170
https://www.transportation.ohio.gov
There are no rules against overnight parking

Oklahoma

405-521-2557
https://www.odot.org/
Overnight parking is ok

Oregon

888-275-6368
https://www.oregon.gov/odot
12-hour stay limit

Pennsylvania

717-214-4035
https://www.penndot.gov
2 hours stay limit unless otherwise posted

Rhode Island

401-222-2450
http://www.dot.ri.gov
Overnight parking is allowed

South Carolina

855-467-2368
https://www.scdot.org/
No overnight parking

South Dakota

605-773-3265
https://dot.sd.gov
You can stay only up to 3 hours

Tennessee

615-741-2848
https://www.tn.gov/tdot.html
2-hour stay limit

Texas

512-463-8588
https://www.txdot.gov/
24 hours stay limit

Utah

801-965-4000
https://www.udot.utah.gov
You can stay as long as you are combating driving fatigue

Vermont

802-828-2657
https://vtrans.vermont.gov/
No overnight parking unless otherwise posted

Virginia

800-367-7623
http://www.virginiadot.org/
In some well-lit rest areas overnight stay might be ok
No clear rules – police may ask you to leave

Washington

360-705-7000
https://wsdot.wa.gov/
8-hour stay limit

West Virginia

304-558-3505
https://transportation.wv.gov/
Overnight parking is allowed

Wisconsin

608-244-5310
https://wisconsindot.gov/
You can rest up to 24 hours

Wyoming

307-777-4375
http://www.dot.state.wy.us
Overnight parking is ok