I quit my job to travel and live in my car – you need to remember a key rule if you want to park up and sleep for free
AFTER quitting her job and leaving California, a woman set out to pursue a lifetime of adventure and travel.
Allison Sharpe learned some lessons about the nomadic lifestyle while exploring North America in her Chevy Express.
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The travel influencer has shared her experiences of trying new dishes and visiting incredible sights, leaving her followers with tons of advice on all things travel.
In a video, Sharpe spoke about one of the most important elements of her daily life: sleeping.
In order to enjoy a good night’s sleep, the traveler needs to find a safe and free place to park their car overnight.
Her best advice for people in her position is to think about how long you’ll have to park.
“If you’re parking at night, it takes about six to 10 hours to park in one spot, depending on how long it takes you to set up, sleep, and drive in the morning,” she says.
Sharpe says different locations are better for different parking durations.
She points out that public property like national forest land can be a safe place to camp in a car for hours.
“BLM, or National Forest Land, these are places where you can park for free,” she suggests.
Hotels have also become a favorite parking spot for Sharpe.
“It’s convenient, easy to find, and usually plentiful,” she notes.
Sharpe likes to do a quick Google search for hotels with free parking near them, and usually picks lower-to-mid-range hotels where there’s less security.
Another option Sharpe has explored is neighborhood parking.
“Neighborhoods are a hit…” she cheered.
However, there are a few caveats. She warns people to look out for private property signs.
“Make sure you never park in the driveway or directly in front of someone else’s home. It just means someone is calling the police.”
Sharpe also advises against parking at Walmart, since many department stores are now overcrowded with other overnight guests.
“Too many idiots ruined it for the rest of us. There’s so many people parking in the Walmart lots dropping all their junk, they’re loud, they’re gonna smoke out there.”
She recommends calling ahead to see if people are allowed to park overnight.
Gyms, carpool parking lots, churches and hospitals were also named in the race for parking.