Think Twice Before Sleeping In A Parking Lot On Your Next Road Trip
By Jenna Busch
VACATIONS
While on a road trip, some people recommend pulling into a parking lot and sleeping in your car rather than paying for a hotel. However, this is a really big safety risk.
In dark parking lots, you run the risk of being the victim of a crime. This may go without saying, but consider this a reminder not to assume you'll be okay "just for one night."
There are also laws in some states that say you can't sleep in a parking lot. States like Florida, Tennessee, and North and South Carolina have laws against sleeping in your car.
Safer alternatives than sleeping in parking lots include finding an inexpensive hotel, parking at truck stops, and camping on Bureau of Land Management (BLM) lands.