Guide · rules
Overnight truck parking rules by state
A roundup of rest-area and overnight rules for the 29 states where a Lot List city or corridor page cites an official rule. Each row names the rule, links the same official source the page uses, and links to the Lot List pages for that state.
As of 26 Sep 2026. Rules change — check posted signs and the state DOT. Not legal advice. Not live occupancy. Not a reservation system.
Quick answer: there is no national rest-area overnight rule. Of the states below, Texas allows stays up to 24 hours; Florida, Minnesota, Idaho (interstate), and Nebraska top out at 10 hours; California allows 8 hours in 24; Tennessee, Virginia, Maryland, and North Carolina prohibit overnight parking. Where the duration is unclear, prefer a private lot — see rest areas vs private lots.
Rest-area overnight rules by state (as of 26 Sep 2026)
Listed alphabetically. The rule column summarizes the text on the linked Lot List pages; the source column is the official citation those pages use. Posted signs at each site still win.
| State | Rule | Official source | Lot List pages |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | ALDOT frames rest areas and welcome centers as intermittent, short-duration safety stops. No numeric statewide hour cap is published; some sites post “No Overnight Parking.” | ALDOT Guidelines for Operation §1-33 (PDF) Ala. Admin. Code 450-3-1 |
I-10 / I-12 Louisiana–Mississippi–Alabama · I-20 Mississippi–Alabama–Georgia · I-59 Louisiana–Mississippi–Alabama · I-65 Alabama · I-85 Carolinas Georgia · Birmingham, AL · Mobile, AL |
| Arizona | Camping and campfires are prohibited at rest areas. ADOT’s rules state no statewide maximum stay — posted signs and local enforcement control. | ADOT Rest Area Rules | I-10 Arizona–New Mexico · I-40 New Mexico–Arizona · I-8 California–Arizona · Phoenix, AZ · Tucson, AZ |
| California | Safety roadside rest areas and vista points: no parking or remaining more than 8 hours in any 24-hour period; designated spaces only. Violations are an infraction under VEH § 22520.6. | 21 CCR § 2205 VEH § 22520.6 |
I-10 California · I-15 Southern California Nevada · I-5 Central / Northern California · I-5 Southern California · I-8 California–Arizona · Bakersfield, CA · Fresno, CA · Inland Empire, CA · Sacramento, CA · Stockton / Tracy, CA |
| Florida | Camping is prohibited. Parking is limited to 3 hours generally and up to 10 hours for commercial motor vehicle operators subject to hours-of-service rules. | Fla. Admin. Code R. 14-28.002 FDOT rest-area Q&A |
I-10 Florida · I-75 Florida · I-95 Florida–Carolinas · Jacksonville, FL |
| Georgia | Camping on GDOT property is unlawful, but normal, customary, and temporary resting and sleeping at rest areas and welcome centers is allowed. No statewide hour cap was located; welcome centers may post no overnight parking. | O.C.G.A. § 32-6-6 GDOT rest areas & welcome centers |
I-16 / I-95 Georgia · I-20 Mississippi–Alabama–Georgia · I-75 Georgia · I-85 Carolinas Georgia · I-95 Florida–Carolinas · Atlanta, GA · Savannah, GA |
| Idaho | Up to 10 consecutive hours at interstate rest areas and up to 16 at US / state highway rest areas. No camping. | ITD rest areas FAQ IDAPA 39.03.50.300 |
I-15 Utah–Idaho · I-84 Idaho–Oregon · Boise, ID · Spokane, WA |
| Illinois | Rest-area stops may not exceed 3 hours; sleeping overnight on the grounds, benches, or in the building and camping are prohibited. IDOT has said publicly that trucks are generally allowed to rest overnight in the vehicle. | 92 Ill. Adm. Code 533 | I-39 Illinois · I-55 Illinois–Missouri · I-57 Illinois · I-70 Illinois–Indiana–Ohio · I-80 Illinois–Indiana · I-90 I-94 Wisconsin Illinois · Chicago, IL · St. Louis, MO |
| Indiana | No statewide rest-area hour cap is published. INDOT sets overnight parking facility by facility on its official rest-area pages (for example, the Greenfield and Plainfield westbound rest areas on I-70 list Overnight Parking: No). Stopping, standing, or parking on Indiana interstates and ramps is prohibited except in designated rest areas. | 105 IAC 9-1-1 (Indiana Administrative Code) INDOT Welcome Centers & Rest Areas INDOT Greenfield Rest Area WB |
I-65 Indiana Kentucky Tennessee · I-69 Indiana · I-70 Illinois–Indiana–Ohio · I-80 / I-90 Indiana–Ohio · I-80 Illinois–Indiana · Indianapolis, IN |
| Kansas | Overnight camping at KDOT roadside facilities is permitted for one night only; parking more than 24 hours is prohibited; trucks use temporary parking areas marked for them. | K.A.R. 36-32-2 | I-35 Oklahoma–Kansas · I-70 Colorado Kansas · Kansas City, MO · Wichita, KS |
| Kentucky | Safety rest areas on limited-access highways: maximum 4 hours in any 24-hour period. No trailer relay or uncoupling. | 603 KAR 5:040 | I-24 Kentucky–Tennessee · I-64 Appalachian · I-65 Indiana Kentucky Tennessee · I-75 Tennessee–Kentucky–Ohio · Cincinnati, OH · Louisville, KY |
| Maryland | Camping and overnight parking are prohibited at SHA rest areas. No use over 3 hours without a permit; vehicles unattended more than 3 hours may be towed. | COMAR 11.04.07.11 COMAR 11.04.07.07 COMAR 11.04.07.09 |
I-95 Mid-Atlantic · Baltimore, MD |
| Michigan | MDOT rules prohibit parking or storing vehicles more than 48 hours at highway motorist service areas, and camping is prohibited. Rest areas are normally open 24 hours. The rules’ effective date was not confirmed on every Lot List check — follow posted signs. | MDOT administrative rules (PDF) | I-75 Michigan · I-94 Michigan · Detroit, MI · Grand Rapids, MI |
| Minnesota | Commercial vehicle operators under hours-of-service may park up to 10 hours at MnDOT rest areas and travel information centers with CMV stalls; other motorists are generally limited to 4 hours where posted. | MnDOT rest-area policy MN Stat. § 160.2721 |
I-35 Iowa–Minnesota · I-90 South Dakota–Minnesota · I-94 Minnesota–Wisconsin · I-94 Montana–North Dakota–Minnesota · Minneapolis, MN |
| Nebraska | Overnight camping or parking is prohibited; maximum length of stay is 10 hours. | NDOT rest-area rules (PDF) | I-29 Kansas City Omaha · I-80 Nebraska · Omaha, NE |
| Nevada | Parking, camping, or occupancy at a roadside park or safety rest area is limited to 18 hours in any 2-week period. Commercial vehicles park only in designated areas; no unloading or cargo changes. | NAC 408.595 NAC 408.615 |
I-15 Southern California Nevada · I-80 Utah–Nevada · Las Vegas, NV · Reno, NV |
| New Jersey | NJ Turnpike roadway: no stopping or standing more than 2 continuous hours, but trucks may use designated truck spaces at designated truck parking facilities for up to 10 consecutive hours. NJDOT rest areas follow location-specific orders. | N.J.A.C. 19:9-1.6 | I-80 Pennsylvania–New Jersey · Newark, NJ · Philadelphia, PA |
| New Mexico | No one may remain more than 24 hours in any 3-day period at publicly owned highway rest, recreation, or tourist information facilities (misdemeanor, fine up to $100). | NMSA 1978 § 67-8-22 | I-10 Arizona–New Mexico · I-25 New Mexico–Colorado · I-40 New Mexico–Arizona · Albuquerque, NM |
| New York | NYSDOT rest / parking areas: no parking more than 3 hours during darkness, except a CMV may stay up to 10 hours with the driver present for off-duty or sleeper-berth time under hours-of-service. No vehicle more than 24 hours. Thruway service areas: unattended vehicles over 4 hours are subject to tow. | 17 NYCRR 156.3 Thruway service areas |
I-81 Pennsylvania–New York · I-90 Ohio–Pennsylvania–New York · Albany, NY · Buffalo, NY |
| North Carolina | NCDOT’s rest-area brochure says staying overnight is prohibited at North Carolina rest areas; erecting tents or structures for camping is unlawful. | NCDOT rest-area brochure (PDF) 19A NCAC 02E .0407 |
I-40 North Carolina · I-77 Carolinas Virginia · I-85 Carolinas Georgia · I-95 Florida–Carolinas · Charlotte, NC · Greensboro, NC · Raleigh, NC |
| Ohio | Camping is prohibited at ODOT rest areas and roadside parks; a vehicle left unattended 3 hours may be towed. No statewide attended overnight duration rule was located. | OAC 5501:2-4-01 | I-70 Illinois–Indiana–Ohio · I-75 Tennessee–Kentucky–Ohio · I-80 / I-90 Indiana–Ohio · I-90 Ohio–Pennsylvania–New York · Cincinnati, OH · Cleveland, OH · Columbus, OH · Toledo, OH |
| Oregon | Camping or remaining in a rest area more than 12 hours within any 24-hour period is prohibited. | OAR 734-030-0010 | I-5 Oregon–Washington · I-84 Idaho–Oregon · Portland, OR |
| Pennsylvania | PennDOT roadside rest areas: parking or standing limited to 2 hours in a 24-hour period; overnight camping prohibited. On the PA Turnpike, no vehicle may remain longer than 24 hours. | 67 Pa. Code Ch. 443 67 Pa. Code § 601.6 |
I-80 Pennsylvania–New Jersey · I-81 Pennsylvania–New York · I-81 Virginia–Pennsylvania · I-90 Ohio–Pennsylvania–New York · Allentown, PA · Harrisburg, PA · Philadelphia, PA · Pittsburgh, PA |
| Tennessee | No overnight parking at TDOT Welcome Centers and rest areas; two-hour parking limit. Welcome Center #23 (I-40 East, Memphis) closes each evening. | TDOT Welcome Centers & Rest Areas | I-24 Kentucky–Tennessee · I-40 Amarillo to Memphis · I-40 Tennessee · I-65 Indiana Kentucky Tennessee · I-75 Tennessee–Kentucky–Ohio · Chattanooga, TN · Knoxville, TN · Memphis, TN · Nashville, TN |
| Texas | Safety rest areas may be used to rest, including sleeping in the vehicle, for up to 24 hours. No tents or structures and no stays longer than 24 hours. | Tex. Transp. Code § 545.411 TxDOT safety rest areas |
I-10 Texas · I-20 Texas Louisiana · I-30 Texas–Arkansas · I-35 Texas · I-40 Amarillo to Memphis · I-45 Texas · Austin, TX · El Paso, TX · Fort Worth, TX · Houston, TX · Laredo, TX · San Antonio, TX |
| Utah | UDOT: all rest areas are posted for no overnight camping, but extended stays are permitted and monitored by on-site staff and the Highway Patrol. | UDOT Rest Areas | I-15 Utah–Idaho · I-80 Utah–Nevada · Salt Lake City, UT |
| Virginia | No overnight parking at VDOT safety rest areas and welcome centers; unattended vehicles may be towed. | 24VAC30-51-30 VDOT rest areas |
I-64 Appalachian · I-77 Carolinas Virginia · I-81 Virginia–Pennsylvania · I-85 Carolinas Georgia · I-95 Mid-Atlantic · Richmond, VA |
| Washington | Parking more than 8 hours within 24 hours at a safety rest area is unlawful unless authorized; commercial vehicles may park up to an hour beyond federally mandated rest periods. No camping. | RCW 47.38.020 | I-5 Oregon–Washington · I-90 Washington · Seattle, WA · Spokane, WA |
| Wisconsin | Camping is prohibited. Long-term parking is not allowed — WisDOT defines long-term as 24 continuous hours or the posted limit, whichever is shorter. | WisDOT rest-area guidelines Wis. Stat. § 86.025 |
I-90 I-94 Wisconsin Illinois · I-94 Minnesota–Wisconsin · Milwaukee, WI · Minneapolis, MN |
| Wyoming | Camping is prohibited at rest areas, but drivers who need rest may sleep in their vehicles in the parking lots. No statewide hourly cap was located. | WYDOT rest areas brochure (PDF) | I-80 Wyoming |
What this list covers
- States Lot List has checked. Only states where a Lot List city or corridor page cites an official statute, regulation, or state DOT page are listed. States where no official statewide rule was located on Lot List’s check are left out — their city or corridor pages say so.
- State rest areas only. These rules cover state rest areas, welcome centers, and similar facilities — not private travel centers, which publish their own overnight products on each Lot List card.
- Rules change. As of 26 Sep 2026. Check posted signs, the state DOT, and 511 before you route. Closures are called out on each corridor page.
- Planning only. Lot List does not show live occupancy and does not take bookings — see planning vs occupancy vs booking.
FAQ
Can truck drivers sleep overnight at rest areas?
It depends on the state. Among the states Lot List has checked (as of 26 Sep 2026): Texas allows rest, including sleeping in the vehicle, up to 24 hours; Florida and Minnesota allow commercial drivers up to 10 hours; Idaho interstate rest areas and Nebraska cap stays at 10 hours; California caps stays at 8 hours in 24; Tennessee, Virginia, Maryland, and North Carolina prohibit overnight parking; Pennsylvania roadside rest areas allow 2 hours. Rules change — check posted signs and the state DOT.
Which states prohibit overnight parking at rest areas?
Of the states in this roundup, Maryland (COMAR 11.04.07.11), North Carolina (NCDOT brochure), Tennessee (TDOT), Virginia (24VAC30-51-30), and Nebraska (NDOT rules; 10-hour maximum stay) prohibit overnight parking at state rest areas. Pennsylvania roadside rest areas limit parking to 2 hours in 24. As of 26 Sep 2026 — rules change, so check posted signs and the state DOT.
Where can a truck driver stay longest at a rest area?
In this roundup, Texas allows up to 24 hours (Tex. Transp. Code § 545.411), Kansas allows one night and no more than 24 hours (K.A.R. 36-32-2), New Mexico allows up to 24 hours in any 3-day period (NMSA § 67-8-22), and Wisconsin treats 24 continuous hours as long-term parking. Where a rule or posted sign is unclear, Lot List’s rest-areas guide suggests preferring a private lot. As of 26 Sep 2026.
Why is my state not in the table?
The table only lists states where a Lot List city or corridor page cites an official rule. Where Lot List’s check found no official statewide rule, the state is left out, and the city or corridor page says so. In those states, follow posted signs and check the state DOT.
Is this legal advice?
No. This is a planning roundup of rules as cited on Lot List pages, as of 26 Sep 2026. Posted signs and local enforcement control. Lot List is a planning directory — not live occupancy and not a booking service. Call the operator of any private lot to confirm space.
Sources and limits
Every rule above is summarized from a live Lot List city or corridor page and cites the official source that page links. Lot List does not add rules that are not on those pages. As of 26 Sep 2026. Posted signs and local enforcement control. Corrections: partners@getlotlist.com.
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