![]() There is very little green area to support any kind of camping activities. They are largely oversized service stations with fuel pumps, convenience stores, and even repair shops. Even though the PTA does not have a rule specifically prohibiting camping, its service plazas are not conducive for outdoor recreation. With respect to service plazas, camping is generally not tolerated. If you hope to remain at a rest area or welcome center overnight, it’s best to remain inside your vehicle and try to behave like someone who is too tired to do much of anything. They just don’t want visitors doing so for too much time. It appears that PennDOT welcomes its visitors to enjoy rest area facilities for some degree of recreation. These include picnic tables, cooking grills, hiking trails, pet areas, historical displays, etc. Note that all rest areas and welcome centers have facilities that are consistent with camping. They specifically prohibit sleeping anywhere at a rest area except for inside your vehicle. ![]() They also prohibit erecting tents or other shelters. PennDOT has a rule specifically prohibiting camping. Is Camping Allowed at Pennsylvania Rest Areas or Service Plazas? They have a rule that permits you to sleep in your vehicle. Both expect drowsy drivers to pull into a rest area or service plaza and get some sleep before continuing driving. Neither PennDOT nor PTA have adopted rules prohibiting sleeping in vehicles. Can You Sleep in Your Car at a Rest Area or Service Plaza? Their only rule regarding service plazas is that you cannot stay longer than 24-hours. With respect to Service Plazas, the PTA has not adopted any rules prohibiting overnight parking. This rule would only apply to smaller roadside picnic areas, viewing areas, or other shoulder-based parking. However, at this time, PennDOT does not operate any such rest areas. Note that PennDOT also has a rule stating that rest areas not located along Interstates are closed for parking during night time hours. Still, many people have left reviews of these rest areas stating they were able to stay more than 2-hours without incident. However, keep in mind that they limit parking to just 2-hours. They have not posted any signs prohibiting the same. PennDOT has not adopted any rules prohibiting overnight parking at its rest areas and welcome centers. Is Overnight Parking Allowed at Pennsylvania Rest Areas and Service Plazas? Service plazas have a twenty-four (24) hour time limit. The rule does not clarify if this limit applies to all rest areas you visit in a 24-hour period, or if that limit resets at each rest area. Rest areas and welcome centers are limited to two (2) hours in a twenty-four (24) hour period. How Long Can You Stay at a Pennsylvania Rest Area or Service Plaza? To read the full text of these rules, word-for-word, visit, “ Rules for Using Turnpike Service Plazas in Pennsylvania“. Vehicles parked longer than 24 hours will be considered abandoned and will be towed away.Vehicles cannot be parked longer than 24 hours anywhere along the Turnpike, including service plazas.To read the full set of rules, word-for-word, visit, “ Rules for Using Rest Areas in Pennsylvania“. Using rest areas for bathing or washing clothes is prohibited.Discharging firearms or bows and arrows is prohibited.Consumption of alcoholic beverages is prohibited.Camping overnight, or setting up a tent, or sleeping anywhere except for inside your vehicle, is prohibited.Fires are prohibited except in cooking grills provided for that purpose. ![]() Parking at a rest area that is not located along an Interstate is prohibited from dusk until dawn.Vehicles remaining more than 24 hours will be considered abandoned and will be towed away.Maximum stay of two (2) hours in a twenty-four (24) hour period.Below are synopses of these rules… Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) PennDOT oversees all rest areas and welcome centers. How long can you stay at a Pennsylvania rest area? Is overnight parking allowed at rest areas in Pennsylvania? Can you sleep in your car? Is camping allowed? What are the full Pennsylvania rest area rules? Rest Area in Pennsylvania Pennsylvania Rest Area Rulesīoth the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) and the Pennsylvania Turnpike Authority (PTA) have adopted administrative codes regarding use of highway rest areas, welcome centers, and turnpike service plazas. ![]()
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