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Where can you legally sleep in your car?
I’m going on a three-month road trip across the U.S., and I’m pretty excited about it. After doing the math, I figured I could cut down on costs if I slept in my car part of the time. I’m just not sure where I can legally do so. Where can I sleep without getting hassled by Johnny Law or business owners?
Eric Schad · Updated on
Reviewed by Shannon Martin, Licensed Insurance Agent.
As far as state laws go, you can legally sleep in your car anywhere, provided it’s not on private property or prohibited by signage or local law. This is essentially just legal jargon for saying it’s legal to sleep in your car.
However, every state has different laws regarding sleeping in your car, specifically when and where you can sleep in your car. For example:
- State-by-state: 14 states don’t let you sleep overnight in a rest area.
- Your best option: Some states have designated overnight parking areas.
- An illegal but popular option: Walmart is a famous spot for sleeping in your car. However, it’s technically illegal, as it’s private property (although you’re unlikely to be hassled by employees or management).
- City limitations: Certain cities, counties, and municipalities may ban sleeping in your car within their boundaries. Key West is a notable inclusion on this list.
- Parking limitations: Some states have time limits for how long you can park at a rest stop, ranging from three to 24 hours.
Do your research: Because of the variance of laws, conducting some research on sleeping in your car while you’re planning could save you time, money, and a headache.
Pro tip: Since you’re embarking on a lengthy road trip, do yourself a favor and
pack an emergency kit
. As a fail-safe for worst-case scenarios, you can add roadside assistance or towing and labor coverage to your car insurance policy.View full answer
- Gregory R.
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