Is It Illegal to Sleep At A South Dakota Rest Stop?

If you're like most people, when you're planning a long road trip you probably think you'll be able to just keep on going no matter what.

But if you're like me, you spend a lot of time planning and not enough time doing. Then you end up with too much to do before you leave, including cleaning the house, doing the dishes, and of course some last-minute laundry too.

Packing took forever and you didn't sleep very well the night before either, so you're already tired.

Good thing there are plenty of rest stops across the state. Right? But how long can you legally sleep at a South Dakota rest stop?

Thanks to a camping website called The Boondocker's Bible, now I know something I didn't know before.

You are allowed to park at South Dakota rest stops for up to 3 hours unless you're driving a commercial vehicle, in which case, you can park for up to 10 hours.

What's the penalty for staying at a South Dakota rest stop for too long? The South Dakota State Code doesn't specifically name a dollar amount or penalty but does indicate the ability to levy a fine.

You are not allowed to camp at South Dakota rest stops either. This is considered to be a petty offense you can be fined for, but again the amount is not mentioned.

READ MORE: Cinco de Mayo Festival Will Delight You!

I guess 3 hours is a pretty good nap. But I imagine if you mind your own business and don't bother anybody at the rest stop, no one will tap on your window and tell you to move on either.