My partner and I did this for about 9 months, with a petsitting gig and a month-long stay with a friend to break up a couple of harsher winter conditions. We used my Subaru Forester though, not a camper or camper van. When I initially traveled across country by myself, I'd slept in my car at a Love's truck stop in one state and then showered at a YMCA in another. Not all YMCAs are the same, but if you call ahead of time to inquire about their policies, there may still be a few that you can pay a minimal fee to use their shower facilities. Some are better than others with their shower accommodations, and some also have lockers available for you to use (some with a keypad installed and some that you would need to bring your own lock). A nationwide gym membership also helps with the shower, but again, being selective with this is important too, regardless of perceived desperation. We'd toured a few gyms that were too sketchy to want to use their facilities, and that's saying something if you don't have a shower regularly available. But this gym option works well too for those who may also want to use a gym, so you could workout and then use their shower and be ready to jump back in the saddle, or maybe even network while you're there and find some other local opportunities, fellow nomads, etc.
Walmarts can be hit or miss, as you mentioned, but if there are ones still open late, it's nice that you have the option of using the bathroom. Some states have pretty nice rest areas, but some states will permit you to use a location for 12hrs within a 24hr period while others only permit 8hrs/24hr window. Having consideration and some courtesy for the place to overnight park is a big one though, no matter where it is. We did run into a couple of situations with having the cops knock on the window, despite having talked to the shop owner prior to setting up "camp" for a night (and our car was pretty tidy and well-maintained; the car didn't look like shit or half-abandoned). It is a bit terrifying to be woken up in that way and then having to pull yourself together (mentally more than anything) and shimmy out of the vehicle to explain yourself. After two experiences of that though, we moved on elsewhere. The campgrounds in that particular area (Marin Co, CA) weren't affordable either, as they were charging over $125/nt in Jan/Feb to stay back in 2018 and we didn't have hook-ups, dumping or anything like that.
We also used a couple of side streets when possible, and when it got too crowded or concerning, we would find a different location. One hotel let us use their parking lot for about 2 months, but we had spoken with hotel management about it before hand, parked in the same inconspicuous place for the most part, never left any evidence of having been there, and made sure we were only there between 10P - 5:30A so that most of their other guests wouldn't know otherwise. That was super helpful since it allowed me to start a new job so we didn't have to keep sleeping in the car.
That was all pre-2020 though; post 2020 is a different ball game.
Part of the issue may be that cities and towns have a difficult time determining who is houseless and choosing to live in their vehicle, and who is homeless and has to live in their vehicle. Or possibly they don't have the manpower to adequately enforce, not enforce any kind of rules for their community. So the answer unfortunately is to make it illegal all together. There's always going to be people who choose to live in their vehicle but think the rules don't apply to them, and people who have to live in their vehicle who obey all the rules and are good stewards in the community that they are staying. Sadly, I think it's only going to get worse given the state of the economy, housing availability and cost, and so many other factors. There are no easy answers and if you are choosing to be houseless be aware of the laws in each community, and maybe even if you have the means lend a hand to the others less fortunate than you.
Great article, James!! I have also read of several Walmarts discontinuing overnight stays because people abused the privilege. Some because homeless encampments were popping up, and some because people were literally setting up camp, chairs, awning, and having barbecues. So, unfortunately legitimate travelers pay the price. I think I am thankful for places like Loves and Pilot.
The bit about Tennessee making a felony arrest for an overnight stay is a bit misleading. There are specific requirements before that will happen, the most relevant is 24-hour notice to the camper.
I lived for four years in my Prius and never had a negative experience with law enforcement. Most of my stays were 14-days at a time in Forest Service dispersed camping areas; on occasion I had to pay for camping at a KOA or other privately owned campground, whilst on my way to a destination.
As always, knowing the rules before one stays anywhere is essential for safe, legal parking.
My partner and I did this for about 9 months, with a petsitting gig and a month-long stay with a friend to break up a couple of harsher winter conditions. We used my Subaru Forester though, not a camper or camper van. When I initially traveled across country by myself, I'd slept in my car at a Love's truck stop in one state and then showered at a YMCA in another. Not all YMCAs are the same, but if you call ahead of time to inquire about their policies, there may still be a few that you can pay a minimal fee to use their shower facilities. Some are better than others with their shower accommodations, and some also have lockers available for you to use (some with a keypad installed and some that you would need to bring your own lock). A nationwide gym membership also helps with the shower, but again, being selective with this is important too, regardless of perceived desperation. We'd toured a few gyms that were too sketchy to want to use their facilities, and that's saying something if you don't have a shower regularly available. But this gym option works well too for those who may also want to use a gym, so you could workout and then use their shower and be ready to jump back in the saddle, or maybe even network while you're there and find some other local opportunities, fellow nomads, etc.
Walmarts can be hit or miss, as you mentioned, but if there are ones still open late, it's nice that you have the option of using the bathroom. Some states have pretty nice rest areas, but some states will permit you to use a location for 12hrs within a 24hr period while others only permit 8hrs/24hr window. Having consideration and some courtesy for the place to overnight park is a big one though, no matter where it is. We did run into a couple of situations with having the cops knock on the window, despite having talked to the shop owner prior to setting up "camp" for a night (and our car was pretty tidy and well-maintained; the car didn't look like shit or half-abandoned). It is a bit terrifying to be woken up in that way and then having to pull yourself together (mentally more than anything) and shimmy out of the vehicle to explain yourself. After two experiences of that though, we moved on elsewhere. The campgrounds in that particular area (Marin Co, CA) weren't affordable either, as they were charging over $125/nt in Jan/Feb to stay back in 2018 and we didn't have hook-ups, dumping or anything like that.
We also used a couple of side streets when possible, and when it got too crowded or concerning, we would find a different location. One hotel let us use their parking lot for about 2 months, but we had spoken with hotel management about it before hand, parked in the same inconspicuous place for the most part, never left any evidence of having been there, and made sure we were only there between 10P - 5:30A so that most of their other guests wouldn't know otherwise. That was super helpful since it allowed me to start a new job so we didn't have to keep sleeping in the car.
That was all pre-2020 though; post 2020 is a different ball game.
Part of the issue may be that cities and towns have a difficult time determining who is houseless and choosing to live in their vehicle, and who is homeless and has to live in their vehicle. Or possibly they don't have the manpower to adequately enforce, not enforce any kind of rules for their community. So the answer unfortunately is to make it illegal all together. There's always going to be people who choose to live in their vehicle but think the rules don't apply to them, and people who have to live in their vehicle who obey all the rules and are good stewards in the community that they are staying. Sadly, I think it's only going to get worse given the state of the economy, housing availability and cost, and so many other factors. There are no easy answers and if you are choosing to be houseless be aware of the laws in each community, and maybe even if you have the means lend a hand to the others less fortunate than you.
Great article, James!! I have also read of several Walmarts discontinuing overnight stays because people abused the privilege. Some because homeless encampments were popping up, and some because people were literally setting up camp, chairs, awning, and having barbecues. So, unfortunately legitimate travelers pay the price. I think I am thankful for places like Loves and Pilot.
The bit about Tennessee making a felony arrest for an overnight stay is a bit misleading. There are specific requirements before that will happen, the most relevant is 24-hour notice to the camper.
I lived for four years in my Prius and never had a negative experience with law enforcement. Most of my stays were 14-days at a time in Forest Service dispersed camping areas; on occasion I had to pay for camping at a KOA or other privately owned campground, whilst on my way to a destination.
As always, knowing the rules before one stays anywhere is essential for safe, legal parking.