From most used to least used, here they are…
1. Trail Heads- For some reason, I feel very safe at most trail heads. I say most because, every spot no matter where you choose, can have danger. Before I settle down with my most used area to my least used area, I ALWAYS assess the area first! If you get that eerie feeling in your gut, then move! Most trail heads have overnight camping, even though they don’t advertise it. This is because many trails are used for day trips and backpacking trips, so they just think you are camping on the trail. They don’t notice you as long as you are not advertising you are going to sleep there, such as setting up your tent. If you are staying the night here, stay in your car, truck, Jeep, whatever you’ve got.
2. Walmart Parking Lots- I feel pretty safe here as long as it’s in a respectable area. You get a good/bad vibe of the area when searching for a place to sleep. I use Walmart parking lots generally because they are well lit and you can use their bathrooms.
3. Truck Stops- I feel incredibly safe here as long as it’s a big truck stop. Not just a regular gas station, but rather a Flying J’s. It’s well lit, there are bathrooms 24-7, fast-food if you need something quick and easy to eat, and if you are not on a budget, there are showers available, they are some of the best showers to come by!
4. Visitor Centers/ Rest Areas- Here is where your radar needs to go a little higher. Some rest areas are run down and just creepy. But, you also have the other ones that are amazing! Bathrooms open 24-7, a place to refill your water, and well lit. Some even have night time security guards!
5. Apartment Complex’s- People live in apartment complex’s so they are generally safe! Find where the guests park and you shouldn’t be bothered. The downfall to this is you can’t be seen loitering. You need to make this the last stop of your night. Pull in, get in your backseat, sleep, and get out.
6. Hotels- The key to this one is, it’s bright and you need to find somewhere to park where you are not underneath a giant spot light. It gets really annoying, fast! Plus, you need to go to a hotel where they are not likely to check license plates. An easy way to do this is to stay away from the high end ones. Go to a more down to earth, low key hotel such as a Comfort Inn.
7. Bureau of Land Management Land (BLM land)- This is a great escape. To be in the middle of nowhere and to be able to stretch out, have a fire, and maybe cook a good dinner for yourself. It’s great! The down fall is there are no facilities, 99% of the time. There are always exceptions though, most of the time you are all alone, which depending on how you look at it can be a positive or a negative. This is all situational for me. Am I alone as a young woman or am I with people? If I am with people, this ranks more at the top of my list. If I am alone, it’s more at the bottom of my list.
8. Hospital Parking Lots- People are going in and out of hospitals all night long so it is pretty easy to go unnoticed. The parking area is pretty well lit so you feel safe. The con is hospitals are generally only in cities, so if you are not in a city or rarely go to them, this option isn’t quickly available like truck stops are.
9. Residential Areas- For the most part, I have always felt safe in residential areas. People live here. These are their homes. The negative is, finding a place to park, and this is another place where you need to be in and out. You need to be respectful and go unnoticed. It’s difficult in residential areas to go unnoticed. You have to make this the last stop for the night, pull in, hop in your backseat, and go to sleep!
10. Some campgrounds- Very rarely is a campground free but you do find them from time-to-time. When you do it is a breath of fresh air. Bathrooms, a nice picnic bench, a place to refill your water. It’s a rare but an amazing commodity.
Hope you enjoyed this article and learned something new. This list is primarily for when I am solo.
Thank you for reading and have a great day!
Sincerely,
Shelly/Livingonthedirt
Never thought of Walmart parking lot as safe. I feel completely opposite about it. I do, however, agree with you with big brand truck stops.
First time I stayed at a Walmart parking lot, I was nervous but now after 200 plus times. Nothing bad has every happened to me and now I feel completely comfortable.
I think it’s awesome that you are living your dream!! My question is, how do you make money, do you work for food? What about showers and stuff? That is awesome that you are your own boss! Stay safe.
I was traveling for a while full-time. How I did that was I saved. I worked my butt off, saved and then was frugal when I traveled to make it last as long as possible. Now, I am a business owner and I am my own CEO. So I get to make my own schedule. Does this mean I get to travel whenever I want. NO! I have responsibilities for being a business owner. However I do travel somewhere at least once a month. It’s not easy. It’s my goal. So I work my butt off for the 3 weeks I am home, and then I travel once a month. I couldn’t do that at my regular 9-5 so I am blessed I can do this now. This was not easy to reach where I was. I started with nothing and I grew up poor. I worked for everything that I have. But I have shown, with some persistence, hard-work and a dream, you literally can do anything.
That is so awesome!! I pray that you are able to take some time off for good behavior. I’m also glad that things are working out for you! 🙂
Right now we’re in some bad $ times, but I’m working cleaning houses, building up my clientele, etc. I slept in a Wallyworld parking lot in Morgantown last week, it was interesting to say the least! I parked near the end of the lot, there were some RV’s there already, I just parked in the vicinity of them. Even though I was cramped I eventually fell asleep. I did this instead of driving back home so I could save money and wear and tear on the car. It was a nice change of pace! I had a back up plan though, I scouted a good place to fall asleep in the store just in case. I had remembered a youtube video of kids sleeping in wallyworld, I ended up scouting a place near the strollers. I used to work at WW so I knew about their stocking and all, if the merchandise doesn’t move very fast they won’t be stocking as much. My third one was Sammy’s Klub, then the Crakker Barrel. I also scouted out some low budget motels just in case too.
I had a tooth brush and some baking soda (I put a small amount in a paper towel and folded it up in my pocket), the tooth brush was wrapped in paper towel/plastic wrap and I stuck it in my pocket too, then went to the bathroom and brushed my toothies. I could have taken an impromptu “shower” in the handicapped BR stall if I had bought a cat litter pan, a gallon of water, couple of wash towels, then stand in the pan and give your self a bit of a scrub down (just make sure to lock the door, LOL!).