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The RVer's Open Forum / GENERAL RV DISCUSSIONS / Rest stops??

Den
User ID: 9663323 Jul 21st 9:29 PM
Guys. Can we take our rigs into a rest stop on the Free-ways and sleep for the night, and where might we find a list of them in,CA,NV,UT.Thees states are in the planed trip.
Cheers Den.

donna w
User ID: 9732463 Jul 22nd 6:06 AM
I picked up a book at Flying J. It tells what is at each exit in the US. It is really nice to have and was just about $10.
It is in the truck but I think it is called the next exit or something like that.
You can also get the book at other places.

Mike
Administrator Jul 22nd 6:33 AM
The book is indeed titled 'The Next Exit' and is available online at
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/external-search/002-1870998-7552802?tag=rvsafety&keyword=The+Next+Exit
as well as through other sources.

Mike

Lou
User ID: 0554384 Jul 22nd 2:09 PM
I find it very strange when the truckers can sleep in rest areas and they will not allow RVs to do the same.

Butch
User ID: 2727884 Jul 22nd 11:12 PM
Quote: "what can we all do on a long trip?"

I pull into a rest stop and get some rest... if one is readily available. No group of citizens has any more rights over the use of rest stops than any other group. Regardless of who or what they think they are... I have even done, for a very short while, some exit camping that is so prevailant in the lower 48...

Happy Motoring, Butch

Nancy Lake, Alaska

Mike
Administrator Jul 23rd 12:06 PM
CALIFORNIA CODES
STREETS AND HIGHWAYS CODE
220. In designing safety roadside rests, the department shall design only those safety roadside rests which are reasonably economical and which will provide the motorist a place where he may
stop for a short time during daytime and nighttime hours.
Such safety roadside rests shall not contain camping or recreational facilities.

225.5 (c) When requested by a uniformed member of the Department of the California Highway Patrol, or other peace officer, any person or persons and any property may be relocated to a
specified area of a vista point or rest area, or may be required to quit the premises, as directed by that officer, if, in the opinion of the officer, the person's presence or activity or the presence of the property, creates, or may reasonably be expected to create, a safety problem, hazard, or nuisance, either on or near the vista point or safety roadside rest area.

CALIFORNIA CODES
VEHICLE CODE
22520.6. (a) No person shall engage in any activity within a highway roadside rest area or vista point prohibited by rules and regulations adopted pursuant to Section 225 of the Streets and Highways Code.
(b) A violation of this section is an infraction. A second or subsequent conviction of a violation of this section is a misdemeanor.

22651. Any peace officer, as defined in Chapter 4.5 (commencing with Section 830) of Title 3 of Part 2 of the Penal Code, or any regularly employed and salaried employee, who is engaged in directing traffic or enforcing parking laws and regulations, of a city, county, or jurisdiction of a state agency in which a vehicle is located, may remove a vehicle located within the territorial limits in which the officer or employee may act, under any of the following circumstances:
(s) (1) When any vehicle, except highway maintenance or construction equipment, an authorized emergency vehicle, or a vehicle which is properly permitted or otherwise authorized by the Department of Transportation, is stopped, parked, or left standing for more than eight hours within a roadside rest area or viewpoint.

(More to follow as time permits.)

Mike
Administrator Jul 23rd 1:51 PM
Okay, ladies and gentlemen, here’s the word . . . thus far.

The laws I’ve quoted (above) are the only laws which regulate ‘roadside safety rest areas’ in the state of California. There is no law which says one (anyone) may not sleep in a ‘roadside safety rest area’ for some short period of time, not to exceed eight hours.

There is also no law which says that any vehicle or operator type (are you listening professional commercial long haul truck drivers) has any more right to be in or use a roadside rest area than another vehicle or operator type.

The law does state, however, that you may not ‘camp’ at a roadside rest area. (Are you listening RVers?) No outside chairs, awnings, barbecues, fires, lounging (other than at the provided picnic tables), etc.

A law enforcement officer does have the right (and obligation) to have you move on if he/she perceives that there is a safety concern with you or your vehicle being there ~ BUT ~ may not allow one type of vehicle/operator to remain while discriminating against any other.

Sources for the above include:
My research in the California Vehicle Code, California Streets and Highway Code and conversations this morning with the California Highway Patrol; Headquarters, Training Academy and Commercial Division.

The only additional source I could contact is CalTrans but expect no different information than I have gathered thus far.

If you’re ever denied the right to get a few hours sleep, day or night, in a California safety roadside rest area, the CHP suggests that you ‘politely’ explain to the officer that you’re too tired to safely drive and need a few hours of rest/sleep before proceeding. Should the officer demand that you move on, while allowing any other vehicle/operator to remain, you may politely ask for his/her name and division and then later report the conduct to his/her superiors. Even making a note of the patrol vehicle number will help should you fear a confrontation (which you DON’T want) with the officer.

Remember, attitude is important. Don’t get one! ;-)

Den
User ID: 9663323 Jul 23rd 8:57 PM
Mike. Thank you very much I think you covered this topic well,Bev and I are of to Provo UT form LA,at the end of this month, to welcome our brand new grandchild into the world.
Cheers, Den.

Alan
User ID: 1836024 Jul 25th 10:44 PM
Ditto Mike, we just got back from a week of travel and stayed in roadside rest areas several nights of the trip. I did notice a sign that said camping was prohibited, but just pulling up with a motorhome and sleeping for the night is not camping, ie rolling out the awning, grilling, chairs, etc. We had no trouble at all staying at any of the roadside stands at all. How could they make you move on if you told them you were too sleepy to drive safely. As you said, attitude is everything. Al

Larry
User ID: 9279843 Jul 26th 10:16 PM
Mike...your research and delicate yet "straight on" input to this issue is a thing of admiration. Your administration of this forum contributes much to it's success...This instance is just one of many similar instances I have read on this screen. Your work adds to the esteem of this site. Thank you.

Big Eddy
User ID: 9084913 Aug 13th 9:49 PM
I think that the no camping is basically for the tent crowd who will put up tents in the picnic areas. I have just gotten back from a trip from Michigan to N. California and looped up the Oregon coast to the Washington border and then east back to Michigan. I found that most of the rest areas had very good dump stations and there was plenty of spaces for everybody to stay all night. Their are lots of places in this part of Cal. to just pull off the road and stay as long as you want with very good scenery. The same for going to Fla. but you may have to use truck stops for free parking much more often. Look for Federal parks as the fee is very low.

dmartin
User ID: 8583623 Sep 28th 9:03 PM
Iowa's Interstate rest areas have posted regulations which say (I paraphrase):
...
2. No overnight camping.
3. No stopping for more than 24 hours except for extrordinary circumstances like: "too sleepy to drive" or inclement weather.
...

I think this a good example of fairly indicating the state's intent. First they make it clear you can't set up camp. Then they tell you that you can hang around for a day & even tell you what to say if you want to stay a little longer!

Maybe I'm lucky, but I've never been rousted while sleeping at night in rest stops, even those which say something like "no overnight stopping"; e.g, NY, FL, etc...

Tim
User ID: 8590713 Sep 30th 6:58 PM
I wouldn't think you would have a problem stopping for a while at interstate rest areas provided a little common sense is used. If you put the slides out, set up the awning, lawn chairs and bbq grill I would think you would have a problem. On the other hand if you pull in, crawl into the camper and just sleep for a while you probably won't get a second look.

Mike
Administrator Oct 1st 11:54 AM
There are now approx. 7.2 MILLION RVs in the US.
http://www.rvia.com/Media/fastfacts.htm

Mike

Don
User ID: 8241803 Mar 9th 5:41 AM
I have never heard of an RVer being rousted from a rest area in Califonia when the stop is for only 8-10 hours. I usually pick an end parking spot so I can expand one of my slide-outs.

On the other hand -- The rest areas on I-5 north of Oceanside are sometimes used by folks who try to use the RA as a vacation spot. They move daily, one night southbound, the next night northbound. Those folks will be invited to leave.

Bottom line - it you're traveling and need to stop to sleep nobody will bother you. If you set-up camp for an extended stay you will be invited to leave.

BillW
User ID: 8882983 Jul 15th 9:14 PM
Den, in the new Trailer Life Directory, if you have it, there is a complete breakdown on staying and for how long at State and Canadian rest areas. It also includes a lot of other info on State and Providence rules of the road. Pages 22 and 23. If you don't have one, go to a book store and look it up.

GERRY
User ID: 7803273 Sep 6th 8:53 PM
I would like to commend our neighbours in the USA for the excellent system of rest stops. I know of only one similar to the ones I have seen in Michigan and Wisconsin in our corner of South West Ontario, and it is not on a major 4 lane route. Our major routes have only commercial stops, and they are few and far between. I think a stop to catch a few winks would be permitted, but it would be a last resort for me.

Den User ID: 9663323	Jul 21st 9:29 PM Guys. Can we take our rigs into a rest stop on the Free-ways and sleep for the night, and where might we find a list of them in,CA,NV,UT.Thees states are in the planed trip. Cheers Den.
donna w User ID: 9732463	Jul 22nd 6:06 AM I picked up a book at Flying J. It tells what is at each exit in the US. It is really nice to have and was just about $10. It is in the truck but I think it is called the next exit or something like that. You can also get the book at other places.
Mike Administrator	Jul 22nd 6:33 AM The book is indeed titled 'The Next Exit' and is available online at http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/external-search/002-1870998-7552802?tag=rvsafety&keyword=The+Next+Exit as well as through other sources. Mike
Lou User ID: 0554384	Jul 22nd 2:09 PM I find it very strange when the truckers can sleep in rest areas and they will not allow RVs to do the same.
Butch User ID: 2727884	Jul 22nd 11:12 PM Quote: "what can we all do on a long trip?" I pull into a rest stop and get some rest... if one is readily available. No group of citizens has any more rights over the use of rest stops than any other group. Regardless of who or what they think they are... I have even done, for a very short while, some exit camping that is so prevailant in the lower 48... Happy Motoring, Butch Nancy Lake, Alaska
Mike Administrator	Jul 23rd 12:06 PM CALIFORNIA CODES STREETS AND HIGHWAYS CODE 220. In designing safety roadside rests, the department shall design only those safety roadside rests which are reasonably economical and which will provide the motorist a place where he may stop for a short time during daytime and nighttime hours. Such safety roadside rests shall not contain camping or recreational facilities. 225.5 (c) When requested by a uniformed member of the Department of the California Highway Patrol, or other peace officer, any person or persons and any property may be relocated to a specified area of a vista point or rest area, or may be required to quit the premises, as directed by that officer, if, in the opinion of the officer, the person's presence or activity or the presence of the property, creates, or may reasonably be expected to create, a safety problem, hazard, or nuisance, either on or near the vista point or safety roadside rest area. CALIFORNIA CODES VEHICLE CODE 22520.6. (a) No person shall engage in any activity within a highway roadside rest area or vista point prohibited by rules and regulations adopted pursuant to Section 225 of the Streets and Highways Code. (b) A violation of this section is an infraction. A second or subsequent conviction of a violation of this section is a misdemeanor. 22651. Any peace officer, as defined in Chapter 4.5 (commencing with Section 830) of Title 3 of Part 2 of the Penal Code, or any regularly employed and salaried employee, who is engaged in directing traffic or enforcing parking laws and regulations, of a city, county, or jurisdiction of a state agency in which a vehicle is located, may remove a vehicle located within the territorial limits in which the officer or employee may act, under any of the following circumstances: (s) (1) When any vehicle, except highway maintenance or construction equipment, an authorized emergency vehicle, or a vehicle which is properly permitted or otherwise authorized by the Department of Transportation, is stopped, parked, or left standing for more than eight hours within a roadside rest area or viewpoint. (More to follow as time permits.)
Mike Administrator	Jul 23rd 1:51 PM Okay, ladies and gentlemen, here’s the word . . . thus far. The laws I’ve quoted (above) are the only laws which regulate ‘roadside safety rest areas’ in the state of California. There is no law which says one (anyone) may not sleep in a ‘roadside safety rest area’ for some short period of time, not to exceed eight hours. There is also no law which says that any vehicle or operator type (are you listening professional commercial long haul truck drivers) has any more right to be in or use a roadside rest area than another vehicle or operator type. The law does state, however, that you may not ‘camp’ at a roadside rest area. (Are you listening RVers?) No outside chairs, awnings, barbecues, fires, lounging (other than at the provided picnic tables), etc. A law enforcement officer does have the right (and obligation) to have you move on if he/she perceives that there is a safety concern with you or your vehicle being there ~ BUT ~ may not allow one type of vehicle/operator to remain while discriminating against any other. Sources for the above include: My research in the California Vehicle Code, California Streets and Highway Code and conversations this morning with the California Highway Patrol; Headquarters, Training Academy and Commercial Division. The only additional source I could contact is CalTrans but expect no different information than I have gathered thus far. If you’re ever denied the right to get a few hours sleep, day or night, in a California safety roadside rest area, the CHP suggests that you ‘politely’ explain to the officer that you’re too tired to safely drive and need a few hours of rest/sleep before proceeding. Should the officer demand that you move on, while allowing any other vehicle/operator to remain, you may politely ask for his/her name and division and then later report the conduct to his/her superiors. Even making a note of the patrol vehicle number will help should you fear a confrontation (which you DON’T want) with the officer. Remember, attitude is important. Don’t get one! ;-)
Den User ID: 9663323	Jul 23rd 8:57 PM Mike. Thank you very much I think you covered this topic well,Bev and I are of to Provo UT form LA,at the end of this month, to welcome our brand new grandchild into the world. Cheers, Den.
Alan User ID: 1836024	Jul 25th 10:44 PM Ditto Mike, we just got back from a week of travel and stayed in roadside rest areas several nights of the trip. I did notice a sign that said camping was prohibited, but just pulling up with a motorhome and sleeping for the night is not camping, ie rolling out the awning, grilling, chairs, etc. We had no trouble at all staying at any of the roadside stands at all. How could they make you move on if you told them you were too sleepy to drive safely. As you said, attitude is everything. Al
Larry User ID: 9279843	Jul 26th 10:16 PM Mike...your research and delicate yet "straight on" input to this issue is a thing of admiration. Your administration of this forum contributes much to it's success...This instance is just one of many similar instances I have read on this screen. Your work adds to the esteem of this site. Thank you.
Big Eddy User ID: 9084913	Aug 13th 9:49 PM I think that the no camping is basically for the tent crowd who will put up tents in the picnic areas. I have just gotten back from a trip from Michigan to N. California and looped up the Oregon coast to the Washington border and then east back to Michigan. I found that most of the rest areas had very good dump stations and there was plenty of spaces for everybody to stay all night. Their are lots of places in this part of Cal. to just pull off the road and stay as long as you want with very good scenery. The same for going to Fla. but you may have to use truck stops for free parking much more often. Look for Federal parks as the fee is very low.
dmartin User ID: 8583623	Sep 28th 9:03 PM Iowa's Interstate rest areas have posted regulations which say (I paraphrase): ... 2. No overnight camping. 3. No stopping for more than 24 hours except for extrordinary circumstances like: "too sleepy to drive" or inclement weather. ... I think this a good example of fairly indicating the state's intent. First they make it clear you can't set up camp. Then they tell you that you can hang around for a day & even tell you what to say if you want to stay a little longer! Maybe I'm lucky, but I've never been rousted while sleeping at night in rest stops, even those which say something like "no overnight stopping"; e.g, NY, FL, etc...
Tim User ID: 8590713	Sep 30th 6:58 PM I wouldn't think you would have a problem stopping for a while at interstate rest areas provided a little common sense is used. If you put the slides out, set up the awning, lawn chairs and bbq grill I would think you would have a problem. On the other hand if you pull in, crawl into the camper and just sleep for a while you probably won't get a second look.
Mike Administrator	Oct 1st 11:54 AM There are now approx. 7.2 MILLION RVs in the US. http://www.rvia.com/Media/fastfacts.htm Mike
Don User ID: 8241803	Mar 9th 5:41 AM I have never heard of an RVer being rousted from a rest area in Califonia when the stop is for only 8-10 hours. I usually pick an end parking spot so I can expand one of my slide-outs. On the other hand -- The rest areas on I-5 north of Oceanside are sometimes used by folks who try to use the RA as a vacation spot. They move daily, one night southbound, the next night northbound. Those folks will be invited to leave. Bottom line - it you're traveling and need to stop to sleep nobody will bother you. If you set-up camp for an extended stay you will be invited to leave.
BillW User ID: 8882983	Jul 15th 9:14 PM Den, in the new Trailer Life Directory, if you have it, there is a complete breakdown on staying and for how long at State and Canadian rest areas. It also includes a lot of other info on State and Providence rules of the road. Pages 22 and 23. If you don't have one, go to a book store and look it up.
GERRY User ID: 7803273	Sep 6th 8:53 PM I would like to commend our neighbours in the USA for the excellent system of rest stops. I know of only one similar to the ones I have seen in Michigan and Wisconsin in our corner of South West Ontario, and it is not on a major 4 lane route. Our major routes have only commercial stops, and they are few and far between. I think a stop to catch a few winks would be permitted, but it would be a last resort for me.