ORLANDO, Fla. – Christmas is upon us, and that means many people will be heading out to see family for the holidays.
However, 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.