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Old 08-08-2014, 02:21 PM
 
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I was wondering about the safety of sleeping in your car. Im going to be driving around tallahassee-panama city and from panama city to columbia sc and was wondering what places would rank from safest to least safe among these options: truck stop, national forest(dont know where any are in those areas but ive heard you can sleep in them), free campgrounds(Free Campgrounds for RVs), hotel parking lots, hospital parking lots, wal-mart parking lots
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Old 08-08-2014, 03:42 PM
 
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Police station parking lot might be good. A 24-hour Wall Mart lot, or any place with security cameras sounds pretty safe. A National Forest is usually isolated and often not that well patrolled. I used to sleep in truck stops back in the old days, but I think they're not so safe anymore. Lots of hookers is some of them, also.
I used to do this back in the late 1960's when I was in the service, so I can understand you're concern. Oh, Yah, I knew of one guy who used to sack out in cemeteries, but I don't think I could do that.
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Old 08-08-2014, 04:36 PM
 
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bagster View Post
Police station parking lot might be good. A 24-hour Wall Mart lot, or any place with security cameras sounds pretty safe. A National Forest is usually isolated and often not that well patrolled. I used to sleep in truck stops back in the old days, but I think they're not so safe anymore. Lots of hookers is some of them, also.
I used to do this back in the late 1960's when I was in the service, so I can understand you're concern. Oh, Yah, I knew of one guy who used to sack out in cemeteries, but I don't think I could do that.
Ive heard people say walmart parking lots are good but to me they seem like they could easily be kind of dangerous at night and a lot of the parking spots arent well lit and theres always random people going in and out and hanging outside of them.

I agree with you on truck stops. People say theyre safe cus theyre well lit and busy all the time but ive also heard of car jackings and shootings at gas stations a lot and I dont know why a truck stop would be that different.

What about a camping area that would just let you park in it and sleep for a few hours? would that be safe and cheap (under $12). What about a hospital parking lot? seems safe to me but I dont know what goes on in them.

really a cemetary? How would you park there lol. Nobody else drives by them at night?
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Old 08-08-2014, 09:36 PM
 
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What about airport parking? does anyone know about that. I read that its $10 to park for 0-8 hours and 11 daily maximum
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Old 08-09-2014, 02:12 AM
 
Location: We_tside PNW (Columbia Gorge) / CO / SA TX / Thailand
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I use Hospital parking lots as sleeping space.
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Old 08-13-2014, 04:43 PM
 
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That's a total of 10 hours drive time. Why do you need to sleep?

PS--Many hospital parking lots are pay lots or have security that aren't going to let you sleep there. I live in a suburb, and while parking is free, the security people are definitely going to be on top of someone sleeping in the car and move them along.

WalMart is a better option, although some of those are in bad areas.
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Old 08-13-2014, 04:45 PM
 
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Originally Posted by FLA17 View Post
What about airport parking? does anyone know about that. I read that its $10 to park for 0-8 hours and 11 daily maximum
Not sure where you got that from. Most airports are $2-3 per hour with a $24-30 daily max.

If you don't think you can do a nine hour drive, Priceline a hotel room someplace along the way before you leave for $28 for the night and get a free breakfast out of it as well.
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Old 08-13-2014, 05:39 PM
 
Location: Eureka CA
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Excellent advice from Annerk. There is no such thing as sleeping in your car safely.
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Old 08-13-2014, 07:29 PM
 
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In a garage. At your house.
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Old 08-13-2014, 07:36 PM
 
Location: MMU->ABE->ATL->ASH
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Why are you stopping, its 9-10hr drive?

Safest place to sleep,, In a bed at your destination.
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