Agreed. I would add auto repair places like Firestone. A car in the lot at 0300 will just look like a car left overnight waiting for repairs. I saw a 'homeless' woman do this for years in Austin. She had a nice van and a membership to the gym right there. At night she would sometimes park at the Firestone. She had a good job, but preferred to live this way. She told me she had tons of money because she was saving so much this way. If a winter storm came she just went to a motel for a few days. She just lived simply and was happy. And as a Texan, she was also armed and ready to defend herself.
Walmart,, hotels, have security that 😢😢😮Ran us off. Gyms also are on big lots,,again. GUARDS NOW WILL STICK THEIR HEADS AND CHECK ALL CARS. THEY RAN US OFF 😢
Hospital parking tip. I’m a medical device rep and I spent many nights sleeping in the parking lot. Order a cheap set of scrubs. They are like pajamas so you can sleep in them. In the very rare chance security checks on you, if they see the scrubs they will pass you by.
When I had to sleep in my car from no money or traveling across states. IT was easier to sleep in the day, work or drive at night. Night time people and businesses, police, theives are looking for a car out of place. But during day time it's easy to go to a parking lot in the shade and sleep undisturbed.
I did this for 3 years as a hotel night auditor. The main issue was summer; it is almost impossible to survive in the heat during the daytime. Any solution to effectively overcome the heat makes too much noise and blows your stealth.
Buccee's does NOT allow sleeping in cars/campers. You'd think you could get away with it because their parking lots are massive. Security drives around looking for cars that are parked for an extended period. A 2 hour cat nap ... maybe. Many hotels have Security doing the same. That's why they ask for your vehicle info when you check in. My favorites are anyplace that's open 24/7; primarily for accessibility to a clean bathroom. Just look for signs that say 'no overnight parking".
The truck stop one is tricky. People have caused issues there. I lived out of my car November and December of last year and rotated between 3 truck stops. Things went well the first 2 weeks, but then some people in campers decided to argue at a TA truck stop so the security made ALL of us leave. The guard then told me that, technically, he is supposed to kick people without CDLs off the lot after 4 hours but was not enforcing it until the argument happened. Truck stops are becoming less and less friendly for people without CDLs.
As an ex driver throwing out tired drivers is a big liability issue, what happens if you fall asleep 200 yards down the road. Your next of kin will own them.
Put a smile on my face for the hospital parking lot option! I meet a buddy of mine at a large local hospital near north of us….he parks his car and we head down south about 5 hrs worth of driving to go see another buddy of ours. We do this this every note and then to catch up as a small group of friends. By the time we get back to the hospital…it’s like 15 hrs later….. nobody ever said anything about his car being there as, as we know, there are many cars usually at a hospital and a lot of folks even stay over night with a loved one at the hospital. They have security monitor the parking lots but I would think you could actually keep a vehicle there for at least a week before they might even pay any attention to you. Good spot.
But his car DIDN'T HAVE SOMEONE SLEEPING IN IT. No wonder they didn't bother with it. If you'd been sleeping in it, it would have been a different ballgame.
Consider a YMCA membership and toss a sticker on your car. You can go into any YMCA as a guest member for around $5 and use the facilities…gym, pool, locker rooms and showers.
I used to work at Bucees. It is NOT a truck stop. They do not allow semis. Also if you are going to sleep there in parking lot you need to notify management.
I pulled the best one while traveling. I went to a Sheriffs Department in Arkansas and simply told them that I was too tired to drive, couldn't find a hotel room at 2 am and asked if I could sleep there for a couple of hours. They gladly obliged much to my surprise. No questions asked. 😂
Have a "briefcase" full of your handmade stuff and give them a "sales pitch". Offer them a "1 time" super - duper discount! Because you couldn't find space in the swapmeet parking lot.
The last few times I slept in my car, it was in front of the house or at the office. I was having a gall stone attack (it's removed now so no longer a problem). Nothing was at all comfortable, but the driver's seat in my car was the best I could find.
I slept in the front passenger's seat when I was road tripping. Got to like the semi-reclined position so much I wanted to replicate it when I returned home. Bought an electric recliner armchair - perfect. 😌 And when there's noise around, I put on industrial earmuffs, which you can't do lying down. This has been a lifesaver.
That's why I NEVER buy a car with a trunk. Made that mistake with my very first car in 1991. Get a vehicle that has no trunk, like a hatchback car, any suv, any van or minivan. Pickup trucks are ok, but you'd need a camper shell. You want the most space in your vehicle, which is a 90 degree angle box. Car makers make it streamline, beautiful with curves & lines. This unfortunately removes your needed space. So buy any vehicle where the passenger compartment closely resemble a box. The closer to a box it resembles, the more space you have.
@@michaelgray42 Where I live, one is unlikely to be harassed for sleeping in the driver's seat. Maybe if you are not a local and are parked in some place you should not be. At home, I live in a community of about 30 people in 50 square miles. It is very rare for the sheriff's deputies to drive the mile from the nearest highway to the house. Also, at the office, there are no police and it is patrolled by the sheriff's department. Being a local who is not a trouble maker, the most they would do is just check to make sure I'm okay. Over the years, we have had a small number of people who died from heart attacks sitting in their vehicles.
I lived in a station wagon for three or four years. I had a membership in a gym, but one night I slept in their lot and had someone come out and order me to leave. Truck stops are good usually, industrial areas are good, and rest stops. At one point I had a little camp trailer and parked it in a industrial area that didn't have buildings yet in most of the lots. It is best not to park right in front of an active business. In the LA area there are swap or flea markets that are open every day of the week. People sleep in their vehicles overnight in a line to get an unused space the next morning. I made a living selling at them so it was a natural for me, sellers look after each other, and you could stay in the line and then "change your mind" about a space the next morning.
During tough part in a marriage, I parked near apartment complexes that had parking on the street. Nobody keeps track of who is coming/going, and I would move it a little. This was a minivan with removable seats, and could be kept private with a fake floor situation. Putting clipboards and hard hats on the dashboard would work at hotel parking lots.
Back in the 90s, when I would travel with a shell on the back of a PU. I would park near an apartment complex at about 10 pm. Out of state plates are common at transient apts.
Set up your car so you can run the engine for heat/ac without any exterior lights, always park pointed at the open exit and always sleep with the keys in the ignition... finally have a way to block all the windows so people can't see in...
No camping at rest stops, doesn't state no sleeping or resting. In my past, I've never known a police officer whom would ticket somebody resting or sleeping in their car at a rest stop. However, repetitively sleeping at a rest stop (eg. every night) is a different matter, as the driver is likely not driving to/fro destinations. On the flip, could always explain when questioned, making a long trip to/fro a destination, with no reasonable means of having a hotel/motel room, due to timing, etc. Rest area sleeping gets more common within rural areas, if there's rest areas available. Stay safe while driving, if tired, pull-off at a rest area and get some sleep!
@@rogerxxxxxxx There's usually a time limit at rest stops- often two hours. That's enough time for a fatigued driver to rest enough to safely go on for a while. If you 'get the knock' for overstaying, they'll usually let you move on if you explain that you only intended to catnap and just didn't wake up when your phone alarm clock went off. Apologize nicely and say you're late now and ask them if you can please move on, and they'll usually let you.
@@P_RO_ So it's OK for forcing a tired driver to return to the roadway, because they're traveling to/fro long distances? Until very recently, I do not know of one police officer enforcing such a ridiculous practice. As such, causing a fear from being cited for practicing safe driving habits. I've heard and seen of a two hour rule before at some places, however I now suspect the rule is usually enforced by private property folks with no government authority or experience, for forcing tired drivers back onto the streets. Most of the times, the limits are due to preventing people from camping, or making a home at the rest areas. Funny, you're last sentence there assumes the person is a police officer arresting for humanly sleeping/resting. Reminds me of Mr. Beans, arresting (black) people for "walking all over the place!" Probably the only time people get harassed by police at rest stops, are usually when they're doing something wrong, such as drugs, parked incorrectly, etc... Most times, they're just checking to make sure you're OK, especially more likely nowadays due to Fentanyl drug over dosing. Sometimes the time limit is possibly due to a smaller rest area or past repetitive incidents, only encouraging people to move on and prevent people from loitering and preventing those really tired from resting. I have never been consulted during my many travels during my past 20-30 years, for sleeping at an assigned rest area. Checking one Internet site neighbor.com, seems Pennsylvania is the only State with a two hour rule, likely for more rural rest areas versus rest service areas, but likely often ignored, likely the two hour is en-stated for mitigating elevated/not-monitored increase criminal activity. One or two States have a four to eight hour limits, but most US States have reasonable 8-12/24 hour limits. If a person is abiding by law or innocent, they should be able to get the rest they need/require, and I've never set an alarm clock at rest areas. Sorry for the lengthy reply, just trying to clarify the two hour limit is largely dumb, and people shouldn't have to try sleeping in fear of "getting the knock" at a window, if they're law abiding.
In Florida personal vehicles such as cars, SUVs, and pickup trucks are legally allowed 3 hours a day. Semis can stay 10 hours a day at a rest stop. However that law is not really enforced at a couple i visit. In 8 months i have been told that I can only stay 3 hours once. However I rarely use them a lot.
We slept in a Florida rest area on I-10 a few years ago. Security guard said it was ok. Lighted picnic tables and plenty of empty spaces. Not bad for a quick 5 or 6 hours and get up and brush your teeth, wash your face and explore the panhandle on a quick leg of our road trip.Didnt stick around for the free orange juice we had beaches to see LoL
18 yrs old, 1982. My friends and I did our graduation excursion through a few states and spent most nights sleeping in the car in church parking lots. One night driving through L.A., we put our sleeping bags on the back lawn. The police saw us and checked our I.D.s and said "no problem, just make sure you are gone early in the morning." It was a Saturday night. Unfortunately kids today don't have police so nice as they used to be.
That’s crap. I used to protect the homeless and overnighters when I was on the job and most if not all my active duty partners do. There will always be one or two who make it look bad for all of us.
I had a 3 month stint back in 2004 where I had to live in my car and finding a place to park for the night was a bit tricky for sure. I parked at a hotel parking lot for a few nights then a security guard ran me off. I eventually found a couple of apartment complexes and used those pretty much the rest of the time. It sucked though and I hope I never have to go through anything like that again.
So much here isn't quite right, at least east of the Mississippi. Many Walmarts do not allow overnight parking or camping and have signs posted indicating this. Even those without signs may not allow overnighting. Best this to do is go in the store and ask the management; sometimes they'll make an exception and et you stay a night and even if not, they're a local so they might be able to tell you where to go. Walmarts are also not very safe anymore. Also avoid malls even if they've got 24-hour stores as those are often high-crime areas. Many truck stops have a 'no cars or campers' policy, again usually posted on signs so look for those. If you do sleep at one, give thought to the trucks and don't park where you may get in their way and spend some money there so you can show the receipt and not look lime you're bumming. Tops is don't PO any trucker, because if they report you for anything you'll be gone. Many highway rest stops have stay-time limits posted which are enforced. Sometimes these policies are just that one and sometimes state-wide. Again they're not always safe either. The better hotels usually have a security guard onsite or someone in management watching the lot comparing license plate numbers to their registered guest list, and this is very common in tourist areas where hotel room prices are overpriced. If you do a hotel lot, don't park within sight of the office or close enough to the dumpster for employees to discover you. BLM/ National Forests may have numerous kinds of restrictions involved or almost none. Usually it relates to where you're allowed to 'camp' and if they have a designated campground you're usually restricted to that which will be booked full months ahead of time in good-weather seasons. Especially out west, be sure if there are any restrictions on fires, as the fine for screwing up with that will be big. Best to ask at the Ranger station as thus is Federal court stuff if it goes that far. Pretty much the whole state of California is off-limits to this except in the more remote locations, and the places where this is enforced will haul you off to jail instead of asking you to move on. Same thing near Vegas and Reno or any high-tourist areas, and most big cities with homeless problems too. In those places you'd better have a site where you're allowed and welcome even if you have to pay for it. Top tip is to look and be respectful and friendly to whoever controls things, because in many places you're actually trespassing to stay overnight uninvited. That can get you hauled off to jail and your car impounded too- you ain't saving diddly if that happens. You need to know what will make you stand out and what will get you caught quickly if you do free overnighting in random places; you've got to 'fly under the radar' or do the 'gray-man' thing and not be noticed at all. That requires a deeper understanding of the situation than most people have as the people who will be looking for you (including criminals) know how to spot anyone who doesn't belong. There is much better advice than is given here on YT if you know which channels to watch, but you'll have to find them on your own. Sorry if that offends you but once a method becomes widely known and used it gets looked for and banned and then both you and these people who are actually living that life lose out. If you're truly that interested in this then you'll do your own research and find the best ways to succeed. It can be done.
If I put up a tent in Commifornia I couldn't sleep anyway because there are vagabonds, thieves, and rapists that would break-in. Not safe. There's nowhere to go. And it's a matter of time before security notices
@@IbelongtoJesus. Sorry to hear that. At least you realize it’s Commifornia. You’re welcome to join us in the free state of Ohio. I live in a rural area that does not even have police. Been here 60 years only complaint would be winters can be rough. Oh yeah, the cost of living has to be half of what you are paying.
@@ARedMotorcycle Some fool will take you up on that dare, and if you were there illegally you may find yourself in the deepest poop you can imagine. I'm not saying don't be ready to protect yourself, just don't have that kind of attitude because if things go sour the teeth you will feel biting you in your butt will be your own.
My pickup has an insulated shell and a bed and shelving that I built out for very cozy sleeping. I use it extensively for solo fly-fishing trips in the mountains, but I have used it for several cross-country trips to visit family. I don’t like to stay in Walmart parking lots that others like, but I have stayed in hotel parking lots occasionally and truck stops primarily. Problem with truck stops is that they are very bright and noisy, but convenient because of 24hr restaurants and showers as you mentioned.
Thanks for the video. I haven't seen a Walmart open 24 hours in several years. If I found one, I'd agree that parking there all night would be a good idea. I've slept at truck stops a bit on long trips. Often, I try to set my schedule so that I'm stopping at five or six in the morning and sleeping for just five or six hours. That makes me look like a tired driver catching a nap and not someone trying to find a camping spot for free. I always try to buy stuff in the truck stop before I go. Right now, I'm wearing a T-shirt that I bought in a truck stop after napping for a bit. I understand that rest areas can be a riskier choice. I've never been bothered at a rest area, but I know that some of them are dangerous. I generally try to keep my rest area naps to an hour or two, and I often try to take those naps during the day. I live next to BLM land, and I feel pretty safe here. I'm less confident about advising people to camp on just any BLM land. The likelihood is very high that no one will even notice that one is camping on BLM land. The problem is that if the wrong person notices, then help will never arrive.
I've stayed a many Walmart parking lots and have had no problem. They usually have security personnel driving around the lot at night if they are NOT "24 hours". Of course you have to call them before you do just to check if they allow over night parking. Many Walmarts do not!
@@badguy1481 Walmart in Calif will get those vacuum trucks cleaning the parking lots and they have a great time revving up their trucks as they pass around you at 0300 in the morning.
Those who are looking for it know how to spot vans, box trucks, and trailers being used as campers. They only go unnoticed by the average person who doesn't care anyway.
Well, I don't know where you're getting the idea that it's a young person's game. Over the last 10 years there's been a rise on senior citizens having to move into their vehicles and trying to go to warmer climates to survive. We're going to have a depression. You're going to see a whole lot more people living in their cars.
Years ago I had problems with overnight sleeping in my camper van, so I parked close to the PD HQ parking lot. I got hassled a lot by the Sunnyvale PD so I figured out what cops do when they report in for work. They park their private car in the parking lot and then they fan out to their assigned areas and always away from the HQ area.
Went to Houston to pick my sons up at the airport. I stopped in a parking lot hotel to google map the airport and security rolled up on a golf cart asked if I was a guest, told them no I was checking my GPS, was told only guests were allowed and had to leave. Be aware of your surroundings always
If security at a Hotel checks on you - tell them you are visiting a "friend". When they ask what room? - Tell them it's "ILLEGAL" to give out ANY personal info! Worth a try.
@@davesanders9203 I would strongly advise against that. Never go out of your way to be confrontational since a Rent a Cop is merely doing their job. Invite the Security person to help you since you are new in town and lost.
@@StinkyGringo All our trips are scheduled days in advance. We don't schedule last minute. We sometimes have several hours in between trips or if we're doing a Wine or Brewery Tour or some type of medical appointment, we're on the clock waiting for several hours and we can pretty much do whatever we want. If nothing is scheduled, then yes, I get paid to sit around. Took people to a ballgame recently and we parked in the garage and I bought a ticket and I got paid quite well to watch a ballgame.
@@davesanders9203I'd worry more about protecting myself than someone else who doesn't care about me. Those rules are made up by people who could care less.
I have a van and I've parked at hundreds of rest stops across this great country for over the past 60 years and never once did I have a bad encounter. I have found out that Americans are the friendliest people in the world and 99% of them, cops included, are willing to help a fellow traveller. Here's the irony: the more upscale a neighborhood is, the more unfriendly it is, as a rule.
My favorites have maybe 2 or 3 other vehicles there most of the night. Usually just a couple trucks on the other side of the area. Sometimes we are the only ones there. Almost like a private park. LoL
Except in Miami, FL. They know people park there, catch their free shuttle bus to the dock for the cruise ship. So either you pay a fee or be a guest there, which they then give you a parking pass to display on your dash. No pass, your car gets towed.
Great vid Jason! Got the brain fluid moving! Had actually USED a couple of those. Yes, here on the East Coast we have National Forests all over. KEEP EM COMING!!! m
@@bearcubdaycare - It's not Walmart. The "No overnight parking" ordinance was most likely sponsored and pushed by a local RV park to FORCE business their way. Walmart doesn't care unless you appear to be homesteading (putting out slides, awnings, BBQ, etc.).
Couldn't get a room one night and we slept in the car. Found a place by a boat ramp in Munising Michigan by Lake Superior. Woke up to a beautiful sunrise on the lake. Had a clean restroom close to the car. Always have a cooler and snacks in the car. No bedbugs or high dollar motel fee. Became a habit after that. A few rest areas and once by the sleeping bear dune climb in Michigan make for cheap 3 or 4 day road trips. Free showers at a couple beaches. After a few trips we figured out where to go.
When i was a college kid traveling in the early 1980's...i used to plan my long travel trips from state to state...to run into state colleges....where i could bed down in the student housing recreation -TV quarters sofa on the quietest building and floor i could find...and take showers in the communal bathrooms...then onto the next free college student building. When you're a young good-looking guy...nobody questions if you belong there. It was fun scoping out all the student buildings and which floor i liked best...i even made some friends...felt at home. I imagine you cannot do that today...they lock all the student doors now w/ access cards. Years ago, college buildings were free hotels for young people traveling.
Very tough to park overnight anywhere in PA. Lived in my car over a year after Covid because apartments were impossible to find. Had a regular spot until the neighbors figured out I was there behind a rarely used home.
Good opportunity to meet the neighbors and let them in on your plight. You could volunteer as a neighborhood watch person while there. Just let them know you are friendly, on hard times, and willing to help out in any way you can to make their hood safer.
@@murrayhill9000 actually one of the reasons I was noticed is because I let someone I knew in the neighborhood know that raccoons were living in their friends shed. That had a really big problem in the alley where they left their trash for pickup. I thoroughly enjoyed the nightly animals and I hid and camouflaged just like they did.
I agree with 9 of your recommendations. Number 7 (WalMart) seems sketchy to me. I've been to WalMart's after midnight and it's an entirely different class of clientele.
Airport long term parking isn't bad. A friend of mine slept in do-it-yourself carwashes. They, usually, have big garage doors to close, and no one comes around in the middle of the night.
@@IbelongtoJesus. I've known too many women living on the run, and they all did the best they could, with the situations they were in. And, the same terrible things that can happen to women, can happen to men, just as easily. When your life takes a dark turn, you live how you have to, and deal with the bad as best you can. I sincerely hope you never have to live on the run, it's not a good time, but if you do, "cannot" is not a word that should be in your vocabulary. You'd be surprised by what you CAN do, when life let's you down. BTW, even for a man, being on your own, in an inhospitable place, is terrifying. Being "brave" is just accepting the situation you are in, and dealing with it, until you can find a way out of it. Trust me, it's very frightening. But, where there's life, there's hope. Take care!
The 24/7 gym membership is a great tip. I came up with that solution a few years ago; really makes a difference when you're free camping, to have that access to showers etc. And I could keep my training up! Some had lots which were suitable to park in, but many were too small & too busy - people coming in up until around midnite and then starting again around 5am, means you don't have much of a sleeping window.
@@danielploy9143 The gym chain I use has private showers at all their branches, and usually several private full bathrooms. I've never been to a gym where the showers are open. But that is common at swimming pools, which is my other tip for a place to get an affordable shower in a pinch. 😉
@@danielploy9143 Private showers, often full private bathrooms - you can get some personal grooming done. 😁 Though I would aim to do that outside of busy hours, and usually just one thing a time; like shave one day, clipper my head another day, etc. I've only seen open showers at public swimming pools. Which is another place you can get a shower in a pinch. 😉
The church parking lot suggestion reminded me of an incident that happened to me back in my late teens. One night my headlights suddenly went out so I pulled into an empty parking lot, did a u-turn to face the road so I could use the streetlight to look for the issue. After fiddling with the wires under the dash behind the light switch, the headlights came back on in just a couple minutes so I continued my 7 mile drive to get home. The moment I arrived, cop cars seemingly came out of nowhere to surround me. They cuffed me, searched my car, dragged me into my house, searched the house, impounded my car, then took me to jail for interrogation. I had no idea what was happening. Turns out the parking lot I pulled into was a church and the police claimed a witness stated I stole a battery charger. Well I was innocent but the cops kept me for a couple days anyway and before I was let out, the detective said he knew I did it and vowed to get me, even though my record was clean. That ordeal cost me my job for not showing up, caused the worst case of some sort of foot fungus I’ve ever seen because I was forced to go barefoot in the cell, and the impound yard got to keep my vehicle because I didn’t have the money to get it out. Perhaps I would have fared better had I just been caught sleeping in the lot.
Spent a lot of nights sleeping in my car after my divorce. I was working five jobs and had been evicted from my home by my ex. It was so frequent that the local PD in the city I would use as my parking lot all got to know me by name and eventually left me alone once they knew I wasn't some drunk passed out in the driver's seat. Those were some rough days. I later got a job for a law enforcement agency there, and they would reminisce with me of the days I would be passed out in an abandoned gas station parking lot. Haha.
I would assume that you would show some empathy for others who have hit on hard times. Would you be able to advise an "overnighter" on where they could go to be safe and unobtrusive as possible?
The best place to spend the night for safety is a cemetery parking lot for obvious reasons. Violent people don't like being near the cemetery because they know their time is ending.
Not all Walmarts permit it, because of municipal regulations, some cannot accept RVs or overnight cars, but there is always one Walmart about 15-20 minutes away that accomdates. Usually if you see Rvs, you know that you can park there.
@@paulc4209 I've been run out of the WalMarts in Las Vegas twice. Starting about 10 years ago, but Las Vegas only appreciates to high-rollers. They didn't bother the people next to me in the quarter-million dollar RV's.
I used to work security for a Las Vegas strip hotel. It’s either going to be too hot or too cold to sleep without the engine running. We had bicycle patrols that would spot you fairly quickly. The policy was no sleeping in cars. If you appeared sober we would tell you to either go inside or leave. If you didn’t appear sober we would tell you to go inside and walk around for a while. Maybe get something to eat. Either way it’s not a good place because you’re not going to get any rest.
Who has time to sleep when you are in SinCity. 😂😂😂😂😂 Last time I was in Vagas I noticed signs in the casinos that sleeping and loitering was not permitted .
If staying overnight in Utah, be sure you are not ina FLDS town... Women disappear and are later rescued from Short Creek ,married to a Bishop with 16 other wives.
*You can also camp in ANY Cracker Barrel parking lot in the entire USA as they welcome campers. I run a multi state vending route and am on the road for weeks at a time and this is where I’ve found the cleanest, safest, and quietest areas to sleep in.*
You forgot to put down hospitals if you can find a safe hospital to park in where they always have security and law-enforcement come in and going out that’s where you want to stop. That’s where you want to lay down and sleep.
Don't know where you are but here in Commifornia the security at the hospital parking are there to keep us out, anyone who is trying to park and sleep overnight.
From past experience. If you want to overnight at a rest area or truck stop you have to "check in" early. The popular ones on the main highways (I10 or I40) are "all booked up" by 4 PM local time.
I just don't want to be the only car there. I like big apartment complexes in nice areas. Park on the outside rim, in the middle of the complex if you can. Lots of cars, and no one knows you're there and on the outside rim, nobody passes by.
@@IbelongtoJesus. Most people don't consider my nearly 40-year-old VW Van a "nice car" either, in fact it's a "cop magnet", but I try to do the best I can with what I've got. I've been rousted out so many times that I consider myself very well versed in the subject! 😂
Okay Truck stops are dangerous for a woman by herself, and I'm in Commifornia. Most of the places here you mention to park are not okay. The police check everywhere, and my car looks homeless.
I was going to post that also. That would be my last choice. Lots of women get picked up there and do not return. There are a lot of truck driver murderers. 😢
@@CroisMoi… I doubt there are ‘a lot’ of trucker\murderers, but admit it can be dangerous for a woman traveling solo these days if she doesn’t practice situational awareness. Side point: There are numerous woman who are truckers and many others are veterans. My son in law is a trucker owner\operator and a retired US Marine. He travels with a small puppy. 😂
Jason, with your primary residence locked up tight/secured would you do a video on how you handle an emergency escape, e.g. fire. I tend to be security conscious so I have multiple locks on my doors, windows locked with a brace in the window frame. I've wondered, what if.... then I thought, I wonder how Jason handles/plans for that.
The rule of thumb for camping spots is you either want a lot of people around or no-one around. Probably most applicable to BLM land or rest stops. You either want a lot of people around - aka witnesses who deter unwanted behaviors towards you, or you want to be where no-one else will ever know you were there.
A lot of rest stops in Florida have armed security at night. If you are not a nuisance they tend not to bother you. However I wouldn't stay at one more than one or two days a week
@@MrWelfarehaterOne night was all we needed and the security guard would talk for the whole night if you let him. Nice guy but I rather sleep that half hour and be on my way sooner. LoL
My Walmarts aren't open 24 hours. Other videos claim that Walmart doesn't allow overnighting anymore. Some stealth car campers still try it in their videos.
I was gonna type "Hospital Parking Lots" but you beat me to the punch. Also, unless I missed it, Cracker Barrel restaurant lots. Be sure to ask first because some may have city restrictions placed on them forbidding overnights. Same for Walmart Parking lots and/or Home Depots. Always ask first. On trips I use my "Harvest Host" membership to schedule one nighters at winneries, brewries, churches, watever. They require you buy something for 20$'s. There is also a membership they offer which allows one to stay in a private home's driveway...for free. Both these memberships required one to contact the owners first, via internet, and await a response and confirmation.
Times must have changed, when I was homeless forty years ago and tried sleeping in my car in a hospital parking lot I would always get rousted by security or the police.
One time while driving through Nevada at night I decided I needed to stop. There was only 1 town, and the hotel was full. It was just too bright in town, so I drove out of town and found a gravel road. Drove down that for 20 minutes and slept there. Nice and dark in the middle of nowhere. The only bad part was in the the morning I had to go #2. I won't get into that.
I’m a photographer who travels on multi-week roadtrips and camps out in my 4Runner most nights. Many of the places you listed are non-starters. Walmart is not friendly for overnight parking anymore in most of the US. Too many RVer’s trashed the lots, so Walmart nixed that. Hotel lots will get you busted in most places. A few states allow overnight parking in rest areas, but most don’t and they do enforce the rules. Sometimes Planet Fitness type places can work, but if they share a parking lot with other businesses, there will be security and they will run you off. Parking garages are good with caveats. Never stay in an underground lot. Poor ventilation will make you miserable. Regardless of where you plan to try this, you need blackout shades so no one knows you’re in there.
Many local city ordinances prompted by the Hotels and Chambers of Commerce groups push the city to enact ordinances that restrict overnight parking, esp. Walmart parking lots.
I’m sorry to dissolution you but rest areas state rest area are the most dangerous places you can stop at even to use the bathroom at night because you get every single person on the world they’re trying to scan you panhandle you or they’re up to something that is the most dangerous place to stop just to go to the bathroom try to find24 hour a.m. p.m. or a restaurant at Denny’s if not, if there’s in the area where there is an Arizona where there’s casinos or California stop at those places, but I wouldn’t dare stop by the rest area
Agree on the rest stops. One night about 35 years ago, I was traveling across state in a remote area. It was later at night and I didn't want to stop, but I had to go to the bathroom and I was still a ways from my destination and there were no big towns around. So I thought I would go in real quick, do my business and get back on the road. I was the only one there, or so I thought. When I was going to the bathroom this disheveled-looking dude walked in and looked at me. I thought, great, here we go. Fortunately, nothing came of it, but I was glad to get out of there. I don't think he had a car and we were in the middle of nowhere.
I'm retired nowadays, so I enjoy traveling and doing some landscape photography and painting etc... So I spend a lot of time camping in my E350 Van. Places he missed, 24 hour restaurants, Car dealerships, Auto Repair shops, grocery stores, home Depot, Menards, Lowes etc... Strip Malls, Apartments, Casinos, construction sites, hospitals and lastly if you have the guts police parking lots ! Places to never ever park for the night. Playgrounds, schools of any kind, fire Department parking Lots, Residential neighborhoods, anywhere inside a city limit in the U.S.. You can end up towed even with you in the vehicle and they will rape you for money to get your vehicle back from their impound lot !
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Excellent list of places to sleep. Years ago was driving, was gonna stop at a rest area. I had bad gut feelings about it -drove around and found myself sleeping overnight in a hospital parking lot… Is a great idea for somewhere safe. I personally am not a fan of sleeping overnight and rest areas, unless I am in an RV.
4:28 Walmart and Target are not the same thing. Target was one of the first to bow to opening the women’s restroom to whoever decided they were a woman at that time. Now they embrace products sexualizing children. Maybe not in Utah, but corporately. That said, you hit it out of the ballpark on places to stay while living in a car or living in other minimalistic accommodations. Of course the most important thing is to be prepared with the appropriate force for the situation.
I would NEVER sleep in my car at a Rest Stop, ever, patrolled or not. You would be safer pulling over on the side of the road for heavens sake! This is one of the WORST places to pull over and sleep in your car. This was hammered into me by my US Marine dad trucker!
I would also say to travel after hours, the roads are clear a safer. I travel from 9pm to 5am just for the window I'm looking for when I reach my destination.
The challenge with truck stops would be the noise level - hard to sleep at night. The challenge with parking garages would be gas fumes. Some are not well ventilated. Otherwise another great video.
Great suggestions if you live in a chill area. Here in the Boston area 1/2 of your suggestions would certainly catch the attention of the local police. Whether they would let you stay would be a coin toss. Even the Walmarts up here don't allow overnighting.
Buckees does not allow overnight parking. No overnight RVs or cars. Semi trucks, non corporate buses, etc are completely prohibited from their property at all hours Walmarts are no longer open 24 hours. The employees know whose car does not belong. It is also sometimes illegal to overnight in [a growing number of] many cities. Fines are levied against the property owner, so if they know you are sleeping in their parking lot they trespass you.
Buckeyes are great gas stations, with top quality food, etc. but the ones I've been to strangely do not have large gas pump lineups, or allow big rigs (signs up saying they are not allowed) in the couple I have gone to. Doesn't make sense to me, but must be a reason.
Police patrol reststops and tell travelers to move along. They do not want overnighters. Hard to tell where BLM land is. In Wyoming. Hunters and hikers trespass all the time because it is difficult to tell where in the patchwork the public land is. Plus you need a forestry map to find any of it. Many Walmarts no longer allow overnight parking. Check with the management before parking for the night.
I live in the Northern Rockies and am surrounded by National Forest land and it's the same here: you never know whether you're on public land or not because it's such a checkerboard mess.
Agreed. I would add auto repair places like Firestone. A car in the lot at 0300 will just look like a car left overnight waiting for repairs. I saw a 'homeless' woman do this for years in Austin. She had a nice van and a membership to the gym right there. At night she would sometimes park at the Firestone. She had a good job, but preferred to live this way. She told me she had tons of money because she was saving so much this way. If a winter storm came she just went to a motel for a few days. She just lived simply and was happy. And as a Texan, she was also armed and ready to defend herself.
smart. but would be smarter if she just found a good man to marry. bonus would be she would have children and grandkids.
What was her occupation?
Commifornia isn't same as Texas.
@@cagneybillingsley2165🤮🤮🤮
Walmart,, hotels, have security that 😢😢😮Ran us off. Gyms also are on big lots,,again. GUARDS NOW WILL STICK THEIR HEADS AND CHECK ALL CARS. THEY RAN US OFF 😢
Hospital parking tip. I’m a medical device rep and I spent many nights sleeping in the parking lot. Order a cheap set of scrubs. They are like pajamas so you can sleep in them. In the very rare chance security checks on you, if they see the scrubs they will pass you by.
@@Medevicerep brilliant!
1. Hotel Parking Lots
2. 24-hour Gyms
3. Church Parking Lots
4. Truck Stops (nicer and larger)
5. Rest Stops
6. BLM Land
7. Walmart Parking Lot
8. Renting a Spot
9. Parking Garage
10. Hospital Parking Lots
When I had to sleep in my car from no money or traveling across states. IT was easier to sleep in the day, work or drive at night. Night time people and businesses, police, theives are looking for a car out of place. But during day time it's easy to go to a parking lot in the shade and sleep undisturbed.
this is next level smart... also I will add that travelling at night is so much better with no traffic
Good point. I've used that same idea several times. Also the driving is much easier, fewer cars on the road, although a lot of trucks.
GREAT IDEA
@@jamesbarrick3403 More drunks on the road at night.
I did this for 3 years as a hotel night auditor. The main issue was summer; it is almost impossible to survive in the heat during the daytime. Any solution to effectively overcome the heat makes too much noise and blows your stealth.
Buccee's does NOT allow sleeping in cars/campers. You'd think you could get away with it because their parking lots are massive. Security drives around looking for cars that are parked for an extended period. A 2 hour cat nap ... maybe.
Many hotels have Security doing the same. That's why they ask for your vehicle info when you check in.
My favorites are anyplace that's open 24/7; primarily for accessibility to a clean bathroom. Just look for signs that say 'no overnight parking".
And they also do not ever allow trucks, buckies hates trucks.
Did 2 hours at several Buckees.
The truck stop one is tricky. People have caused issues there. I lived out of my car November and December of last year and rotated between 3 truck stops. Things went well the first 2 weeks, but then some people in campers decided to argue at a TA truck stop so the security made ALL of us leave. The guard then told me that, technically, he is supposed to kick people without CDLs off the lot after 4 hours but was not enforcing it until the argument happened. Truck stops are becoming less and less friendly for people without CDLs.
A few people ruin it for others.
Trucks are noisy af anyway.
@@BWater-yq3jx Headphone & earplugs???
As an ex driver throwing out tired drivers is a big liability issue, what happens if you fall asleep 200 yards down the road. Your next of kin will own them.
Not Bucc-ee’s. They don’t permit this.
Put a smile on my face for the hospital parking lot option! I meet a buddy of mine at a large local hospital near north of us….he parks his car and we head down south about 5 hrs worth of driving to go see another buddy of ours. We do this this every note and then to catch up as a small group of friends. By the time we get back to the hospital…it’s like 15 hrs later….. nobody ever said anything about his car being there as, as we know, there are many cars usually at a hospital and a lot of folks even stay over night with a loved one at the hospital. They have security monitor the parking lots but I would think you could actually keep a vehicle there for at least a week before they might even pay any attention to you. Good spot.
caution hospitals often charge parking these days, especially in cities. as a RN we pay parking to go-to work!
But his car DIDN'T HAVE SOMEONE SLEEPING IN IT. No wonder they didn't bother with it. If you'd been sleeping in it, it would have been a different ballgame.
Consider a YMCA membership and toss a sticker on your car. You can go into any YMCA as a guest member for around $5 and use the facilities…gym, pool, locker rooms and showers.
Where do you live that YMCA is so cheap? Last I checked ymca was way over $100.
@@jpjp9111 The guest pass for visitors outside their home YMCA is $5-10. Yes, the monthly fee is around $70.
YMCA's have hours, 24 hour gyms let you pee at 3am.
You can get anything there, that a man would want-----LOL.
@@jpjp9111 Yeah, when I was a kid we had a family membership. As an adult with kids I looked into it and said no way at those prices!
I used to work at Bucees. It is NOT a truck stop. They do not allow semis. Also if you are going to sleep there in parking lot you need to notify management.
Not in Commifornia
I pulled the best one while traveling. I went to a Sheriffs Department in Arkansas and simply told them that I was too tired to drive, couldn't find a hotel room at 2 am and asked if I could sleep there for a couple of hours. They gladly obliged much to my surprise. No questions asked. 😂
Your lucky. If they were bored, they would have investigated you and if you didn't like it, they would have charged you with a crime.
@@NotAffiliated In Arkansas, they leave Louisiana boys alone. 😂
sad thing is, society is getting more and MORE NOSEY. not because they're concerned for your "Safety", they must Know your Buisness😒
ikr, I have a real dislike of people minding my business.
In fact I'll often challenge them directly, it pisses me off that much.
🤬
Ask them if they know that to you they are as interesting as a pail of spit.
Especially Karens they stick their witch noses everywhere
Have a "briefcase" full of your handmade stuff and give them a "sales pitch".
Offer them a "1 time" super - duper discount! Because you couldn't find space in the swapmeet parking lot.
Keep JW material handy, and practice your spiel. 😅
The last few times I slept in my car, it was in front of the house or at the office.
I was having a gall stone attack (it's removed now so no longer a problem). Nothing was at all comfortable, but the driver's seat in my car was the best I could find.
I slept in the front passenger's seat when I was road tripping.
Got to like the semi-reclined position so much I wanted to replicate it when I returned home.
Bought an electric recliner armchair - perfect. 😌
And when there's noise around, I put on industrial earmuffs, which you can't do lying down.
This has been a lifesaver.
That's why I NEVER buy a car with a trunk. Made that mistake with my very first car in 1991. Get a vehicle that has no trunk, like a hatchback car, any suv, any van or minivan. Pickup trucks are ok, but you'd need a camper shell. You want the most space in your vehicle, which is a 90 degree angle box. Car makers make it streamline, beautiful with curves & lines. This unfortunately removes your needed space. So buy any vehicle where the passenger compartment closely resemble a box. The closer to a box it resembles, the more space you have.
Don't sleep in driver's seat. Many states consider that being in control of vehicle. Good way to get harassed by Police.
@@michaelgray42 Where I live, one is unlikely to be harassed for sleeping in the driver's seat. Maybe if you are not a local and are parked in some place you should not be.
At home, I live in a community of about 30 people in 50 square miles. It is very rare for the sheriff's deputies to drive the mile from the nearest highway to the house.
Also, at the office, there are no police and it is patrolled by the sheriff's department. Being a local who is not a trouble maker, the most they would do is just check to make sure I'm okay. Over the years, we have had a small number of people who died from heart attacks sitting in their vehicles.
@@DecrepitBiden
Literally room to breathe.
Lived on a boat for years, a gym is good for showers like you said, it's good for working out and it's good for information from locals.
I lived in a station wagon for three or four years. I had a membership in a gym, but one night I slept in their lot and had someone come out and order me to leave. Truck stops are good usually, industrial areas are good, and rest stops. At one point I had a little camp trailer and parked it in a industrial area that didn't have buildings yet in most of the lots. It is best not to park right in front of an active business. In the LA area there are swap or flea markets that are open every day of the week. People sleep in their vehicles overnight in a line to get an unused space the next morning. I made a living selling at them so it was a natural for me, sellers look after each other, and you could stay in the line and then "change your mind" about a space the next morning.
During tough part in a marriage, I parked near apartment complexes that had parking on the street. Nobody keeps track of who is coming/going, and I would move it a little. This was a minivan with removable seats, and could be kept private with a fake floor situation. Putting clipboards and hard hats on the dashboard would work at hotel parking lots.
Back in the 90s, when I would travel with a shell on the back of a PU. I would park near an apartment complex at about 10 pm. Out of state plates are common at transient apts.
There is no safe place to sleep in your vehicle. There is always a risk.
I agree. Especially now that so many illegals have come in and criminals.
There is always a risk no matter how you live. Someone can break into a house, apartment, etc.
Especially from the police.
More and more seniors are living in their vehicles now because cost of living is so high,hard to keep up on social security.
very true. The state parks, national forests have volunteer positions for seniors who want to be camp hosts in exchange for free camp site
@@cindylong624 thanks,thats good to know
I think I speak for everyone when I say you should trim up that foam between the doors 😄
😊😊😊😊
What's up with that? 😮
@@valeriekehrt7566 some cia secret squirel foam
It's probably some sort of booby trap for intruders!
Cabela's allows travels to overnight in their parking lots, and so does Cracker Barrel.
not all Cabela's do
Not one near me
Same as Walmarts; each location varies so look for signs or ask store management.
@@P_RO_ Not in Commifornia
Grow up@@IbelongtoJesus.
Set up your car so you can run the engine for heat/ac without any exterior lights, always park pointed at the open exit and always sleep with the keys in the ignition... finally have a way to block all the windows so people can't see in...
Well said
Be careful with rest stops, many have signs no camping or staying overnight. Yes I've seen some iffy ones myself.
No camping at rest stops, doesn't state no sleeping or resting. In my past, I've never known a police officer whom would ticket somebody resting or sleeping in their car at a rest stop. However, repetitively sleeping at a rest stop (eg. every night) is a different matter, as the driver is likely not driving to/fro destinations. On the flip, could always explain when questioned, making a long trip to/fro a destination, with no reasonable means of having a hotel/motel room, due to timing, etc. Rest area sleeping gets more common within rural areas, if there's rest areas available. Stay safe while driving, if tired, pull-off at a rest area and get some sleep!
@@rogerxxxxxxx There's usually a time limit at rest stops- often two hours. That's enough time for a fatigued driver to rest enough to safely go on for a while. If you 'get the knock' for overstaying, they'll usually let you move on if you explain that you only intended to catnap and just didn't wake up when your phone alarm clock went off. Apologize nicely and say you're late now and ask them if you can please move on, and they'll usually let you.
@@P_RO_ So it's OK for forcing a tired driver to return to the roadway, because they're traveling to/fro long distances? Until very recently, I do not know of one police officer enforcing such a ridiculous practice. As such, causing a fear from being cited for practicing safe driving habits. I've heard and seen of a two hour rule before at some places, however I now suspect the rule is usually enforced by private property folks with no government authority or experience, for forcing tired drivers back onto the streets. Most of the times, the limits are due to preventing people from camping, or making a home at the rest areas. Funny, you're last sentence there assumes the person is a police officer arresting for humanly sleeping/resting. Reminds me of Mr. Beans, arresting (black) people for "walking all over the place!" Probably the only time people get harassed by police at rest stops, are usually when they're doing something wrong, such as drugs, parked incorrectly, etc... Most times, they're just checking to make sure you're OK, especially more likely nowadays due to Fentanyl drug over dosing. Sometimes the time limit is possibly due to a smaller rest area or past repetitive incidents, only encouraging people to move on and prevent people from loitering and preventing those really tired from resting. I have never been consulted during my many travels during my past 20-30 years, for sleeping at an assigned rest area. Checking one Internet site neighbor.com, seems Pennsylvania is the only State with a two hour rule, likely for more rural rest areas versus rest service areas, but likely often ignored, likely the two hour is en-stated for mitigating elevated/not-monitored increase criminal activity. One or two States have a four to eight hour limits, but most US States have reasonable 8-12/24 hour limits. If a person is abiding by law or innocent, they should be able to get the rest they need/require, and I've never set an alarm clock at rest areas. Sorry for the lengthy reply, just trying to clarify the two hour limit is largely dumb, and people shouldn't have to try sleeping in fear of "getting the knock" at a window, if they're law abiding.
In Florida personal vehicles such as cars, SUVs, and pickup trucks are legally allowed 3 hours a day. Semis can stay 10 hours a day at a rest stop. However that law is not really enforced at a couple i visit. In 8 months i have been told that I can only stay 3 hours once. However I rarely use them a lot.
We slept in a Florida rest area on I-10 a few years ago. Security guard said it was ok. Lighted picnic tables and plenty of empty spaces. Not bad for a quick 5 or 6 hours and get up and brush your teeth, wash your face and explore the panhandle on a quick leg of our road trip.Didnt stick around for the free orange juice we had beaches to see LoL
18 yrs old, 1982. My friends and I did our graduation excursion through a few states and spent most nights sleeping in the car in church parking lots. One night driving through L.A., we put our sleeping bags on the back lawn. The police saw us and checked our I.D.s and said "no problem, just make sure you are gone early in the morning." It was a Saturday night. Unfortunately kids today don't have police so nice as they used to be.
That’s crap. I used to protect the homeless and overnighters when I was on the job and most if not all my active duty partners do. There will always be one or two who make it look bad for all of us.
@@OFCbigduke613one or two? Lmao. Spend a few hours on CZcams.
kids today aren't as respectful as kids in the 80s
I had a 3 month stint back in 2004 where I had to live in my car and finding a place to park for the night was a bit tricky for sure. I parked at a hotel parking lot for a few nights then a security guard ran me off. I eventually found a couple of apartment complexes and used those pretty much the rest of the time. It sucked though and I hope I never have to go through anything like that again.
So much here isn't quite right, at least east of the Mississippi. Many Walmarts do not allow overnight parking or camping and have signs posted indicating this. Even those without signs may not allow overnighting. Best this to do is go in the store and ask the management; sometimes they'll make an exception and et you stay a night and even if not, they're a local so they might be able to tell you where to go. Walmarts are also not very safe anymore. Also avoid malls even if they've got 24-hour stores as those are often high-crime areas.
Many truck stops have a 'no cars or campers' policy, again usually posted on signs so look for those. If you do sleep at one, give thought to the trucks and don't park where you may get in their way and spend some money there so you can show the receipt and not look lime you're bumming. Tops is don't PO any trucker, because if they report you for anything you'll be gone.
Many highway rest stops have stay-time limits posted which are enforced. Sometimes these policies are just that one and sometimes state-wide. Again they're not always safe either.
The better hotels usually have a security guard onsite or someone in management watching the lot comparing license plate numbers to their registered guest list, and this is very common in tourist areas where hotel room prices are overpriced. If you do a hotel lot, don't park within sight of the office or close enough to the dumpster for employees to discover you.
BLM/ National Forests may have numerous kinds of restrictions involved or almost none. Usually it relates to where you're allowed to 'camp' and if they have a designated campground you're usually restricted to that which will be booked full months ahead of time in good-weather seasons. Especially out west, be sure if there are any restrictions on fires, as the fine for screwing up with that will be big. Best to ask at the Ranger station as thus is Federal court stuff if it goes that far. Pretty much the whole state of California is off-limits to this except in the more remote locations, and the places where this is enforced will haul you off to jail instead of asking you to move on. Same thing near Vegas and Reno or any high-tourist areas, and most big cities with homeless problems too. In those places you'd better have a site where you're allowed and welcome even if you have to pay for it.
Top tip is to look and be respectful and friendly to whoever controls things, because in many places you're actually trespassing to stay overnight uninvited. That can get you hauled off to jail and your car impounded too- you ain't saving diddly if that happens. You need to know what will make you stand out and what will get you caught quickly if you do free overnighting in random places; you've got to 'fly under the radar' or do the 'gray-man' thing and not be noticed at all. That requires a deeper understanding of the situation than most people have as the people who will be looking for you (including criminals) know how to spot anyone who doesn't belong. There is much better advice than is given here on YT if you know which channels to watch, but you'll have to find them on your own. Sorry if that offends you but once a method becomes widely known and used it gets looked for and banned and then both you and these people who are actually living that life lose out. If you're truly that interested in this then you'll do your own research and find the best ways to succeed. It can be done.
In my younger years I kept a plastic tarp in my trunk. It turns any picnic table into a tent.
If I put up a tent in Commifornia I couldn't sleep anyway because there are vagabonds, thieves, and rapists that would break-in.
Not safe. There's nowhere to go. And it's a matter of time before security notices
@IbelongtoJesus. I wouldn't be able to sleep, but I'd rest with my piece ready to go. I dare someone to try.
@@IbelongtoJesus. Sorry to hear that. At least you realize it’s Commifornia. You’re welcome to join us in the free state of Ohio. I live in a rural area that does not even have police. Been here 60 years only complaint would be winters can be rough. Oh yeah, the cost of living has to be half of what you are paying.
@@ARedMotorcycle Some fool will take you up on that dare, and if you were there illegally you may find yourself in the deepest poop you can imagine. I'm not saying don't be ready to protect yourself, just don't have that kind of attitude because if things go sour the teeth you will feel biting you in your butt will be your own.
My pickup has an insulated shell and a bed and shelving that I built out for very cozy sleeping. I use it extensively for solo fly-fishing trips in the mountains, but I have used it for several cross-country trips to visit family. I don’t like to stay in Walmart parking lots that others like, but I have stayed in hotel parking lots occasionally and truck stops primarily. Problem with truck stops is that they are very bright and noisy, but convenient because of 24hr restaurants and showers as you mentioned.
Some trucks leave their engines on and if there's little wind, you will get a good dose of diesel fumes.
Thanks for the video.
I haven't seen a Walmart open 24 hours in several years. If I found one, I'd agree that parking there all night would be a good idea.
I've slept at truck stops a bit on long trips. Often, I try to set my schedule so that I'm stopping at five or six in the morning and sleeping for just five or six hours. That makes me look like a tired driver catching a nap and not someone trying to find a camping spot for free. I always try to buy stuff in the truck stop before I go. Right now, I'm wearing a T-shirt that I bought in a truck stop after napping for a bit.
I understand that rest areas can be a riskier choice. I've never been bothered at a rest area, but I know that some of them are dangerous. I generally try to keep my rest area naps to an hour or two, and I often try to take those naps during the day.
I live next to BLM land, and I feel pretty safe here. I'm less confident about advising people to camp on just any BLM land. The likelihood is very high that no one will even notice that one is camping on BLM land. The problem is that if the wrong person notices, then help will never arrive.
I'm white and a female. Doubt that would work for me
@@IbelongtoJesus. I'm saddened that we live in a world where that's a problem for you.
I've stayed a many Walmart parking lots and have had no problem. They usually have security personnel driving around the lot at night if they are NOT "24 hours". Of course you have to call them before you do just to check if they allow over night parking. Many Walmarts do not!
@@badguy1481 Walmart in Calif will get those vacuum trucks cleaning the parking lots and they have a great time revving up their trucks as they pass around you at 0300 in the morning.
There are cool videos of folks converting box trucks into covert campers.
Those who are looking for it know how to spot vans, box trucks, and trailers being used as campers. They only go unnoticed by the average person who doesn't care anyway.
Well, I don't know where you're getting the idea that it's a young person's game. Over the last 10 years there's been a rise on senior citizens having to move into their vehicles and trying to go to warmer climates to survive. We're going to have a depression. You're going to see a whole lot more people living in their cars.
He's speaking generally.
I also park on the street near a law enforcement station.
Years ago I had problems with overnight sleeping in my camper van, so I parked close to the PD HQ parking lot. I got hassled a lot by the Sunnyvale PD so I figured out what cops do when they report in for work. They park their private car in the parking lot and then they fan out to their assigned areas and always away from the HQ area.
slight detail: Buc-ee's doesn't allow Big Trucks (Semis), only cars. Not officially a 'truck stop'.
My favorites used to be Pilot/Flying J
The other truck stops are Petro, Love's & T/A.
@@DecrepitBidenTits & Ass?
Went to Houston to pick my sons up at the airport. I stopped in a parking lot hotel to google map the airport and security rolled up on a golf cart asked if I was a guest, told them no I was checking my GPS, was told only guests were allowed and had to leave. Be aware of your surroundings always
If security at a Hotel checks on you - tell them you are visiting a "friend". When they ask what room? - Tell them it's "ILLEGAL" to give out ANY personal info! Worth a try.
@@davesanders9203 I would strongly advise against that. Never go out of your way to be confrontational since a Rent a Cop is merely doing their job. Invite the Security person to help you since you are new in town and lost.
Good to know. I work for a limo company and I have a lot of early days, so I'm always looking for a safe space to take a nap.
You mean you sleep on the job, effectively stealing your pay. Unbelievable that you have no shame about this.
@@StinkyGringouh,,,, they get breaks you know
@@StinkyGringo All our trips are scheduled days in advance. We don't schedule last minute. We sometimes have several hours in between trips or if we're doing a Wine or Brewery Tour or some type of medical appointment, we're on the clock waiting for several hours and we can pretty much do whatever we want. If nothing is scheduled, then yes, I get paid to sit around. Took people to a ballgame recently and we parked in the garage and I bought a ticket and I got paid quite well to watch a ballgame.
@StinkyGringo unbelievable you have no shame about your false comment.
@@jamesengland7461 - Not a false comment, he just dumb.
Arming yourself will up your safety factor wherever you are.
Or get you arrested in the wrong city. Know the laws.
I would'nt reccomend this in Cali or other "Commie' state.
Pepper spray or bear spray might be better.
@@elund408 SO! If you get to live so what! even if it is in a commie state!
@@davesanders9203I'd worry more about protecting myself than someone else who doesn't care about me. Those rules are made up by people who could care less.
1️⃣ hotel 🏨
2️⃣ hospital 🏥
3️⃣ churches ⛪
4️⃣ leaving from California to either Texas, Utah, Florida . Thanks, Mr Jason great YT👨💻
I disagree whole heartedly with sleeping at a rest stop. You can find the nicest one around. There will be multiple seedy creepers there.
Especially for a woman by herself
Many of them wearing badges
I have a van and I've parked at hundreds of rest stops across this great country for over the past 60 years and never once did I have a bad encounter. I have found out that Americans are the friendliest people in the world and 99% of them, cops included, are willing to help a fellow traveller. Here's the irony: the more upscale a neighborhood is, the more unfriendly it is, as a rule.
@@murrayhill9000Yes, true. They don't want you parking on their public streets, and they don't want you visiting their public parks!
My favorites have maybe 2 or 3 other vehicles there most of the night. Usually just a couple trucks on the other side of the area. Sometimes we are the only ones there. Almost like a private park. LoL
once again, good info. And I always use a hotel lot, before a rest area.
Except in Miami, FL. They know people park there, catch their free shuttle bus to the dock for the cruise ship. So either you pay a fee or be a guest there, which they then give you a parking pass to display on your dash. No pass, your car gets towed.
@@DecrepitBiden - Yeah, hotel parking in a big city can cost as much as a campsite.
Walmart and Target are definitely NOT the same thing. Your wife is right on this one.
Great vid Jason! Got the brain fluid moving! Had actually USED a couple of those. Yes, here on the East Coast we have National Forests all over. KEEP EM COMING!!! m
Not in Commifornia
Hospital parking garages are great 👍
As long they don't have security guard casing 24.7
@@OutWestRedDirt No problem. "My kid's up there. He's sleeping so I am taking a quick break to get some sleep myself"
Some great hospitals are unfortunately located in very sketchy areas.
@@brucesmith9144 I’m in Dallas and we have tons of hospitals in great parts of town. Many in the suburbs
@@katherineb.3140 that’s good. Check out where good hospitals like Temple University in Philadelphia are located. Not a particularly good area.
Since 2020 things have changed and many Walmarts don't allow overnight parking and will have you towed.
The one in my small city doesn't allow it; a city ordinance forbids it. There may be such ordinances other places.
@@bearcubdaycare - It's not Walmart. The "No overnight parking" ordinance was most likely sponsored and pushed by a local RV park to FORCE business their way. Walmart doesn't care unless you appear to be homesteading (putting out slides, awnings, BBQ, etc.).
Right. They now have a pesky security car with irritating flashing lights all night., and they ticket your car,for knock on your window
As they should. Walmart parking lots should not be used as campgrounds.
My walmart closes fron midnight to 6 am
Thankfully never had to do that but have slept in a motel & it had bed bugs 😢 🐞
Couldn't get a room one night and we slept in the car. Found a place by a boat ramp in Munising Michigan by Lake Superior. Woke up to a beautiful sunrise on the lake. Had a clean restroom close to the car. Always have a cooler and snacks in the car. No bedbugs or high dollar motel fee.
Became a habit after that. A few rest areas and once by the sleeping bear dune climb in Michigan make for cheap 3 or 4 day road trips. Free showers at a couple beaches. After a few trips we figured out where to go.
Excellent video Jason, i was thinking a hospital or walmart lot. God bless you Jason and your family. Stay safe.
When i was a college kid traveling in the early 1980's...i used to plan my long travel trips from state to state...to run into state colleges....where i could bed down in the student housing recreation -TV quarters sofa on the quietest building and floor i could find...and take showers in the communal bathrooms...then onto the next free college student building. When you're a young good-looking guy...nobody questions if you belong there. It was fun scoping out all the student buildings and which floor i liked best...i even made some friends...felt at home. I imagine you cannot do that today...they lock all the student doors now w/ access cards. Years ago, college buildings were free hotels for young people traveling.
most walmarts have not been 24hr since 2021
Exactly- talk about lack of situational awareness, lol!!
Since March 2020.
@@danielschannel5680 right, but at what time lol
" I think every one of my kids thought it was a good idea to be born at 1AM" 🤣 I only have a couple sons but yes I can relate
Where the hell was this video when I needed it 6 years ago?
Not made yet
@@mikerose189 b r i l l i a n t
Very tough to park overnight anywhere in PA. Lived in my car over a year after Covid because apartments were impossible to find. Had a regular spot until the neighbors figured out I was there behind a rarely used home.
Good opportunity to meet the neighbors and let them in on your plight. You could volunteer as a neighborhood watch person while there. Just let them know you are friendly, on hard times, and willing to help out in any way you can to make their hood safer.
@@murrayhill9000 actually one of the reasons I was noticed is because I let someone I knew in the neighborhood know that raccoons were living in their friends shed. That had a really big problem in the alley where they left their trash for pickup. I thoroughly enjoyed the nightly animals and I hid and camouflaged just like they did.
I agree with 9 of your recommendations. Number 7 (WalMart) seems sketchy to me. I've been to WalMart's after midnight and it's an entirely different class of clientele.
Airport long term parking isn't bad. A friend of mine slept in do-it-yourself carwashes. They, usually, have big garage doors to close, and no one comes around in the middle of the night.
Guys can be more brave to be in an isolated area, but as a woman I cannot
@@IbelongtoJesus. I've known too many women living on the run, and they all did the best they could, with the situations they were in.
And, the same terrible things that can happen to women, can happen to men, just as easily. When your life takes a dark turn, you live how you have to, and deal with the bad as best you can. I sincerely hope you never have to live on the run, it's not a good time, but if you do, "cannot" is not a word that should be in your vocabulary. You'd be surprised by what you CAN do, when life let's you down. BTW, even for a man, being on your own, in an inhospitable place, is terrifying. Being "brave" is just accepting the situation you are in, and dealing with it, until you can find a way out of it. Trust me, it's very frightening. But, where there's life, there's hope. Take care!
The 24/7 gym membership is a great tip.
I came up with that solution a few years ago; really makes a difference when you're free camping, to have that access to showers etc. And I could keep my training up!
Some had lots which were suitable to park in, but many were too small & too busy - people coming in up until around midnite and then starting again around 5am, means you don't have much of a sleeping window.
They don't have 24/7 anything now, since covid, not in Commifornia
@@IbelongtoJesus.
Really? Wow.
I'm in Australia, btw.
The gym showers, are they 1 person style or open room style like middle and high school?
@@danielploy9143
The gym chain I use has private showers at all their branches, and usually several private full bathrooms.
I've never been to a gym where the showers are open.
But that is common at swimming pools, which is my other tip for a place to get an affordable shower in a pinch. 😉
@@danielploy9143
Private showers, often full private bathrooms - you can get some personal grooming done. 😁
Though I would aim to do that outside of busy hours, and usually just one thing a time; like shave one day, clipper my head another day, etc.
I've only seen open showers at public swimming pools. Which is another place you can get a shower in a pinch. 😉
The church parking lot suggestion reminded me of an incident that happened to me back in my late teens. One night my headlights suddenly went out so I pulled into an empty parking lot, did a u-turn to face the road so I could use the streetlight to look for the issue. After fiddling with the wires under the dash behind the light switch, the headlights came back on in just a couple minutes so I continued my 7 mile drive to get home. The moment I arrived, cop cars seemingly came out of nowhere to surround me. They cuffed me, searched my car, dragged me into my house, searched the house, impounded my car, then took me to jail for interrogation. I had no idea what was happening. Turns out the parking lot I pulled into was a church and the police claimed a witness stated I stole a battery charger. Well I was innocent but the cops kept me for a couple days anyway and before I was let out, the detective said he knew I did it and vowed to get me, even though my record was clean. That ordeal cost me my job for not showing up, caused the worst case of some sort of foot fungus I’ve ever seen because I was forced to go barefoot in the cell, and the impound yard got to keep my vehicle because I didn’t have the money to get it out. Perhaps I would have fared better had I just been caught sleeping in the lot.
Wow! What horrible luck!!!
Spent a lot of nights sleeping in my car after my divorce. I was working five jobs and had been evicted from my home by my ex. It was so frequent that the local PD in the city I would use as my parking lot all got to know me by name and eventually left me alone once they knew I wasn't some drunk passed out in the driver's seat. Those were some rough days. I later got a job for a law enforcement agency there, and they would reminisce with me of the days I would be passed out in an abandoned gas station parking lot. Haha.
I would assume that you would show some empathy for others who have hit on hard times. Would you be able to advise an "overnighter" on where they could go to be safe and unobtrusive as possible?
The best place to spend the night for safety is a cemetery parking lot for obvious reasons.
Violent people don't like being near the cemetery because they know their time is ending.
That's where hookers take their clients.
Not all Walmarts permit it, because of municipal regulations, some cannot accept RVs or overnight cars, but there is always one Walmart about 15-20 minutes away that accomdates. Usually if you see Rvs, you know that you can park there.
Actually they'll run off cars, but if you're in a $450K RV they won't hassle you.
Not anymore, at least in Commifornia for cars
@@goldfieldgary two years i was able to sleep in my car at Walmarts in Maine.
@@paulc4209 I've been run out of the WalMarts in Las Vegas twice. Starting about 10 years ago, but Las Vegas only appreciates to high-rollers. They didn't bother the people next to me in the quarter-million dollar RV's.
It's also up to the store management; Walmart corporate policy now allows them to decide as long as they're within the local laws.
I am 75 and have been homeless since my 72nd birthday,most of what you say is true but I still prefer to live out of town
Prayers.❤
Thanks for always teaching us skills to stay safe in today's world. 👍🏼
I used to work security for a Las Vegas strip hotel.
It’s either going to be too hot or too cold to sleep without the engine running.
We had bicycle patrols that would spot you fairly quickly.
The policy was no sleeping in cars.
If you appeared sober we would tell you to either go inside or leave.
If you didn’t appear sober we would tell you to go inside and walk around for a while. Maybe get something to eat.
Either way it’s not a good place because you’re not going to get any rest.
Not in las Vegas
Who has time to sleep when you are in SinCity.
😂😂😂😂😂
Last time I was in Vagas I noticed signs in the casinos that sleeping and loitering was not permitted .
If staying overnight in Utah, be sure you are not ina FLDS town... Women disappear and are later rescued from Short Creek ,married to a Bishop with 16 other wives.
What is FLDS?
@@jordanwhite5470 Fundamentalist Latter Day Saints, they still adhere to polygamy.
OMG! Gross😮
*You can also camp in ANY Cracker Barrel parking lot in the entire USA as they welcome campers. I run a multi state vending route and am on the road for weeks at a time and this is where I’ve found the cleanest, safest, and quietest areas to sleep in.*
There’s a homeless shelter next to the Walmart here in Wetaskiwin Alberta where I live and that is a very dangerous place to park overnight
Canadia has homeless people?!?!?!?
You forgot to put down hospitals if you can find a safe hospital to park in where they always have security and law-enforcement come in and going out that’s where you want to stop. That’s where you want to lay down and sleep.
He said it
Literally his 10th one
did you actually bother to watch the video?
Don't know where you are but here in Commifornia the security at the hospital parking are there to keep us out, anyone who is trying to park and sleep overnight.
From past experience. If you want to overnight at a rest area or truck stop you have to "check in" early. The popular ones on the main highways (I10 or I40) are "all booked up" by 4 PM local time.
3:24 "My wife wants to make sure we get mowed down by some semi." You are fricken hilarious Jason!
Glad you enjoyed!
@JasonHanson. Buccee’s don’t have showers. However, your info is great, and I learned a lot.
I just don't want to be the only car there. I like big apartment complexes in nice areas. Park on the outside rim, in the middle of the complex if you can. Lots of cars, and no one knows you're there and on the outside rim, nobody passes by.
That's one of my favorites. Find a nice neighborhood with large apartment complexes, lots of people park along the street and it's easy to blend in.
@@goldfieldgary well, I don't have a nice car with tinted windows, so I don't blend in.
Won't work for me. My car looks too homeless
@@IbelongtoJesus. Most people don't consider my nearly 40-year-old VW Van a "nice car" either, in fact it's a "cop magnet", but I try to do the best I can with what I've got. I've been rousted out so many times that I consider myself very well versed in the subject! 😂
@@goldfieldgary in Commifornia it's a crime to be without a home. They want you to disappear. Only help for illegals or the preferred race.
Okay Truck stops are dangerous for a woman by herself, and I'm in Commifornia. Most of the places here you mention to park are not okay. The police check everywhere, and my car looks homeless.
😂
I was going to post that also. That would be my last choice. Lots of women get picked up there and do not return. There are a lot of truck driver murderers. 😢
@@CroisMoi… I doubt there are ‘a lot’ of trucker\murderers, but admit it can be dangerous for a woman traveling solo these days if she doesn’t practice situational awareness. Side point: There are numerous woman who are truckers and many others are veterans. My son in law is a trucker owner\operator and a retired US Marine. He travels with a small puppy. 😂
@@wingandhogLook up truck driver serial killers. You will be surprised.
@@hollybarnes842 …. I know there have been a few. No argument. But not ‘all’ or ‘most’ or even ‘a lot’ of truckers fit that category.
Jason, with your primary residence locked up tight/secured would you do a video on how you handle an emergency escape, e.g. fire.
I tend to be security conscious so I have multiple locks on my doors, windows locked with a brace in the window frame. I've wondered, what if.... then I thought, I wonder how Jason handles/plans for that.
Finally, a useful video on CZcams!
The target and Walmart comparison with your wife is so 100% true 👍
That's husband "trade craft " stuff for sure......
The rule of thumb for camping spots is you either want a lot of people around or no-one around. Probably most applicable to BLM land or rest stops. You either want a lot of people around - aka witnesses who deter unwanted behaviors towards you, or you want to be where no-one else will ever know you were there.
A lot of rest stops in Florida have armed security at night. If you are not a nuisance they tend not to bother you. However I wouldn't stay at one more than one or two days a week
@@MrWelfarehaterOne night was all we needed and the security guard would talk for the whole night if you let him. Nice guy but I rather sleep that half hour and be on my way sooner. LoL
My Walmarts aren't open 24 hours. Other videos claim that Walmart doesn't allow overnighting anymore. Some stealth car campers still try it in their videos.
I was gonna type "Hospital Parking Lots" but you beat me to the punch. Also, unless I missed it, Cracker Barrel restaurant lots. Be sure to ask first because some may have city restrictions placed on them forbidding overnights. Same for Walmart Parking lots and/or Home Depots. Always ask first. On trips I use my "Harvest Host" membership to schedule one nighters at winneries, brewries, churches, watever. They require you buy something for 20$'s. There is also a membership they offer which allows one to stay in a private home's driveway...for free. Both these memberships required one to contact the owners first, via internet, and await a response and confirmation.
Times must have changed, when I was homeless forty years ago and tried sleeping in my car in a hospital parking lot I would always get rousted by security or the police.
One time while driving through Nevada at night I decided I needed to stop. There was only 1 town, and the hotel was full. It was just too bright in town, so I drove out of town and found a gravel road. Drove down that for 20 minutes and slept there. Nice and dark in the middle of nowhere. The only bad part was in the the morning I had to go #2. I won't get into that.
I sleep in my Self Driving car while puttimg on the miles.😅 never been questioned
Not funny
I’m a photographer who travels on multi-week roadtrips and camps out in my 4Runner most nights.
Many of the places you listed are non-starters. Walmart is not friendly for overnight parking anymore in most of the US. Too many RVer’s trashed the lots, so Walmart nixed that. Hotel lots will get you busted in most places. A few states allow overnight parking in rest areas, but most don’t and they do enforce the rules. Sometimes Planet Fitness type places can work, but if they share a parking lot with other businesses, there will be security and they will run you off. Parking garages are good with caveats. Never stay in an underground lot. Poor ventilation will make you miserable.
Regardless of where you plan to try this, you need blackout shades so no one knows you’re in there.
Many local city ordinances prompted by the Hotels and Chambers of Commerce groups push the city to enact ordinances that restrict overnight parking, esp. Walmart parking lots.
Jason, can a car’s navigation system be used to track the owner?
I’m sorry to dissolution you but rest areas state rest area are the most dangerous places you can stop at even to use the bathroom at night because you get every single person on the world they’re trying to scan you panhandle you or they’re up to something that is the most dangerous place to stop just to go to the bathroom try to find24 hour a.m. p.m. or a restaurant at Denny’s if not, if there’s in the area where there is an Arizona where there’s casinos or California stop at those places, but I wouldn’t dare stop by the rest area
Agree on the rest stops. One night about 35 years ago, I was traveling across state in a remote area. It was later at night and I didn't want to stop, but I had to go to the bathroom and I was still a ways from my destination and there were no big towns around. So I thought I would go in real quick, do my business and get back on the road. I was the only one there, or so I thought. When I was going to the bathroom this disheveled-looking dude walked in and looked at me. I thought, great, here we go. Fortunately, nothing came of it, but I was glad to get out of there. I don't think he had a car and we were in the middle of nowhere.
@@bryanjones8778 lol it was probably a cruising spot.
@@joshuamontgomery2298 Looking back on it, my guess is that he was probably a homeless drifter.
I htink you meant "disillusion". Better yet just say "inform".
I have spent many nights in rest areas. Never a problem.
I'm retired nowadays, so I enjoy traveling and doing some landscape photography and painting etc... So I spend a lot of time camping in my E350 Van. Places he missed, 24 hour restaurants, Car dealerships, Auto Repair shops, grocery stores, home Depot, Menards, Lowes etc... Strip Malls, Apartments, Casinos, construction sites, hospitals and lastly if you have the guts police parking lots !
Places to never ever park for the night. Playgrounds, schools of any kind, fire Department parking Lots, Residential neighborhoods, anywhere inside a city limit in the U.S.. You can end up towed even with you in the vehicle and they will rape you for money to get your vehicle back from their impound lot !
Bucees is specifically not a truck stop. It’s a travel center and doesn’t allow trucks.
Excellent tips. Thank you.
Ukw bro, saying this as an atheist ⚛️, u make religious people look really wonderful & awesome, I grew up knowing Christians, Jesus believers, all other religious people as scumbags, & lowlifes, who use Jesus as something to hide behind, to to bad shit to people, or to commit crime & be forgiven for it, they also abused of me badly in every way as a child, wch is wht made me atheist ⚛️, but u bro, u really do make religious people shine bro, I am very happy I subscribed to ur company spy & survival, & even bought the app.! Thank u for everything jason ur really a model american!!😀🫡
I’m glad you’re here 🇺🇸
Nobody is ever a "former" CIA agent...
Excellent list of places to sleep. Years ago was driving, was gonna stop at a rest area. I had bad gut feelings about it -drove around and found myself sleeping overnight in a hospital parking lot… Is a great idea for somewhere safe.
I personally am not a fan of sleeping overnight and rest areas, unless I am in an RV.
4:28 Walmart and Target are not the same thing. Target was one of the first to bow to opening the women’s restroom to whoever decided they were a woman at that time. Now they embrace products sexualizing children. Maybe not in Utah, but corporately.
That said, you hit it out of the ballpark on places to stay while living in a car or living in other minimalistic accommodations.
Of course the most important thing is to be prepared with the appropriate force for the situation.
😎 Trucking where ever I may roam is my home 🦅
If you look to the sky just before you die it’s the last time you will😅
I would NEVER sleep in my car at a Rest Stop, ever, patrolled or not. You would be safer pulling over on the side of the road for heavens sake! This is one of the WORST places to pull over and sleep in your car. This was hammered into me by my US Marine dad trucker!
Pilot is an amazing gas station/truck stop…
I would also say to travel after hours, the roads are clear a safer. I travel from 9pm to 5am just for the window I'm looking for when I reach my destination.
I have seen cars in the parking lot of the church that I attend and make sure that all is well with them and may give them some money for their needs
The challenge with truck stops would be the noise level - hard to sleep at night. The challenge with parking garages would be gas fumes. Some are not well ventilated. Otherwise another great video.
The challenge for any of these places for a female in Commifornia is to be safe, not in an isolated area
I slept in truck stops for 15 years, I was an OTR driver. Now it's hard to sleep *without* the noise.
I haven't seen a 24 hour walmart since 2019, the COVID pandemic.
Great suggestions if you live in a chill area. Here in the Boston area 1/2 of your suggestions would certainly catch the attention of the local police. Whether they would let you stay would be a coin toss. Even the Walmarts up here don't allow overnighting.
Same in Commifornia. Your treated like a criminal
Buckees does not allow overnight parking. No overnight RVs or cars. Semi trucks, non corporate buses, etc are completely prohibited from their property at all hours
Walmarts are no longer open 24 hours. The employees know whose car does not belong. It is also sometimes illegal to overnight in [a growing number of] many cities. Fines are levied against the property owner, so if they know you are sleeping in their parking lot they trespass you.
Buckeyes are great gas stations, with top quality food, etc. but the ones I've been to strangely do not have large gas pump lineups, or allow big rigs (signs up saying they are not allowed) in the couple I have gone to. Doesn't make sense to me, but must be a reason.
Police patrol reststops and tell travelers to move along. They do not want overnighters. Hard to tell where BLM land is. In Wyoming. Hunters and hikers trespass all the time because it is difficult to tell where in the patchwork the public land is. Plus you need a forestry map to find any of it. Many Walmarts no longer allow overnight parking. Check with the management before parking for the night.
I live in the Northern Rockies and am surrounded by National Forest land and it's the same here: you never know whether you're on public land or not because it's such a checkerboard mess.
Thanks for the great content Jason. You are crushing it with the good videos!
All are good, but the church parking lots are pretty deserted at night, at least the ones that I am familiar with...the rest of the ideas are good.
Mr. Jack Reacher is pretty accurate in this video, but many Walmarts are not open 24 hours anymore.