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Can I park overnight at rest areas in New York?
New York's rest area time limit and overnight rule, quoted from New York State Department of Transportation, for the stop you have in mind.
The rule in New York
Rest area stops in New York are limited to 24 hours. After dark, stops are limited to 3 hours. Overnight parking is not allowed.
This rule covers rest areas run by the state DOT, not New York Thruway service areas.
"In no event shall any vehicle be parked or left in a rest or parking area or a scenic overlook for more than 24 hours."
"Parking of vehicles for longer than three hours during the hours of darkness is not permitted in any rest or parking area or scenic overlook"
"Camping is prohibited in rest or parking areas or at scenic overlooks. No tent or shelter shall be erected in any rest or parking area or scenic overlook."
New York State Department of Transportation. 17 NYCRR 156.3, Parking, and 156.4, Camping (Part 156, Use of Rest and Parking Areas and Scenic Overlooks) (Cornell Law School copy), checked November 2026.
How long do you need?
Overnight · New York
Not allowedNo. New York does not allow overnight parking at its rest areas.
Rest area stops in New York are limited to 24 hours. After dark, stops are limited to 3 hours. Overnight parking is not allowed.
This rule covers rest areas run by the state DOT, not New York Thruway service areas.
"In no event shall any vehicle be parked or left in a rest or parking area or a scenic overlook for more than 24 hours."
"Parking of vehicles for longer than three hours during the hours of darkness is not permitted in any rest or parking area or scenic overlook"
Camping
"Camping is prohibited in rest or parking areas or at scenic overlooks. No tent or shelter shall be erected in any rest or parking area or scenic overlook."
More from New York's rule
"a commercial motor vehicle, as defined in section 820.1 of this Title ... may, except as provided otherwise by the Department of Transportation by the posting of signs, remain motionless at such an area for up to ten hours if the commercial vehicle driver is present and is required to use this period as off duty or sleeper berth time"
"Vehicles shall not be left unattended in rest or parking areas or scenic overlooks, unless the owner, operator or a passenger thereof is within the rest or parking area or scenic overlook or is on adjacent land to which access is permitted."
Source: 17 NYCRR 156.3, Parking, and 156.4, Camping (Part 156, Use of Rest and Parking Areas and Scenic Overlooks) (Cornell Law School copy), checked November 2026.
Need a place for the night? RV parks near you
A guide to each state's published rule, not legal advice. Posted signs at each rest area take precedence; the linked page is the authority.
- Each state's own rule, quoted
- Your stop, short or overnight
- RV parks nearest you
Stay the night in New York
33 RV parks listed in New York.
Other states
Rest area rules in other states
- Alaska
- California
- Florida
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Mexico
- North Carolina
- Ohio
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- South Dakota
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
Common questions
Rest area questions
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