Have you slept at Rest Areas (cheap, trip, fishing, cities)

[6 FOOT 3]

Originally Posted by foma

If you've ever seen the movie "There's Something About Mary", then you know never, never ... NEVER stop at rest stops!

lol....no i've never seen the movie....Well clue us in if you want to Foma.....lol...

6/3

[6 FOOT 3]

Originally Posted by foma

I totally know what you're talking about Mike! We took that very same trip earlier this year when moving to PHX. Man, the speed limit is like 85mph headin' to El Paso. The funny thing was, I was so scared we were gonna run out of gas, that I'd stop for gas at every other station. Besides the highway and a few stores/gas stations, it's a pretty barren stretch! We drove during the day ... I probably would've been very uncomfortable d riving at night!

Been on that 550 mile stretch many times and it is a BORING drive. However about every 50 miles or so there are little towns off the Interstate to get gas or munchies etc. Take plenty of music CD's as all i could ever pick up on the radio on that trip was Spanish stations or Classic Country fading in and out on the AM dial....

[NCN]

I took my son to get on a ship at the Navy base in Virginia. It was late when we got there, his commanding officer insisted that my son should spend the night with me for my safety in the motel I rented. I had to get up at about 4 A. M. to get him to his ship on time to leave. When I got back to the motel, it was time to leave. I started driving and caught myself going to sleep. I stopped at a shopping center close to a major store (I can't remember which one) and took a nap. I woke up to a security guard helping someone to their car right beside me. I had spooked someone. This day and time you can't be too careful.

When I got to Greensboro, I started getting sleepy again, so I stopped at the rest stop there, because I saw a security guard on duty and had another short nap. Got home all right.

[foma]

Originally Posted by North Carolina Native

It was late when we got there, his commanding officer insisted that my son should spend the night with me for my safety in the motel I rented.

I don't know why but I just thought that it was really sweet your son's CO let him stay with you. Typically, you think of COs as harda sses!

[foma]

Originally Posted by 6 FOOT 3

lol....no i've never seen the movie....Well clue us in if you want to Foma.....lol...

6/3

lol ... it has been a while since I saw the movie! There's a line in the beginning of the movie that the psychologist says to Ben Stiller's character after Ben talks about taking a nap at a resting stop or something like that. The psych says in a very serious tone, "Resting areas is the modern 20th century's haven for homosexual activity," and Ben's character was like, "So what are you tryiing to say?"

I definitely don't do the scene any justice but your post just reminded me of it for some reason!

[Huckleberry3911948]

Originally Posted by 6 FOOT 3

I may be traveling from Albuquerque to Jacksonville, Florida which is a 2,000 mile trip. I'll be traveling by myself and thought about saving motel/hotel money for the 3 day drive by sleeping at Rest Areas. I have an Ext Cab truck so i can lower the seat back to sleep.

Just curious if anyone has ever done that before with good or bad experiences.

you are ok in a locked vehicle. rest rooms can be dangerous late at night.

[6 FOOT 3]

Originally Posted by foma

"Resting areas is the modern 20th century's haven for homosexual activity,"

Thanks Foma....i guess i'll have to sleep with one eye open .....lol....

Seriously .....i'm tall at 220 lb's and strong so i think i'll be o.k. if i decide to crashout at them. Who knows after reading everyone's responses maybe i'll post a Blog about my adventure going on this trip. God knows who i'll encounter along the way. Anyway give me lots of Coffee and Twisted Sister/Quite Riot Cd's and i'll make it....lol...

Kinda like those Greyhound bus trips back in the 80's when i was in the Navy as i can still remember certain people that i met along the way crammed on those buses with my knees in my face back then...

Talk about scary is the Houston Greyhound Bus Station in downtown Houston at midnight .....

[foma]

twisted sister ..... niiiiiiiiiiice!

you'll have to share blog with us if you post your adventures!!

[115db]

Not really, per say. When I drove truck, sometimes the back of the cab made a cozy little bungalow while my partner went inside for food and supplies. But never really at a rest stop.

[Mattie]

To the OP, just be aware that some states have closed down many of their rest areas due to budget issues. We drove from GA to NJ twice this month, and found barricades across the entrances of a lot of rest stops, especially in VA.