ORLANDO, Fla. – With hundreds of miles of highways spanning the Sunshine State, it can be a long drive for those traveling by car.
And with over 60 rest areas across the state — accompanied by eight Turnpike plazas and four welcome centers — it may be tempting to catch a few winks on longer routes.
But the big question is: are you actually allowed to do that?
WHAT THE LAW SAYS
Nearly every rest area in Florida is open 24 hours a day, making them a great spot to take a nap.
However, Florida Administrative Code only allows drivers to park for up to three hours. As such, drivers might be able to take a short snooze, but it’s no substitute for a full night’s sleep.
For commercial drivers, though, that figure is hiked up to 10 hours, which can help with their often longer drives.
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Either way, FDOT officials assure residents that Florida’s rest areas feature overnight security, so drivers can feel safer if they decide to use these spots to drift off for a bit.
That being said, picnic areas at these rest stops are not open at night, so you’ll be limited to other activities during this time.