Sleeping in Your Car 101

Recently I made a trip to see some of my closest friends, but unexpectedly my plans to stay at a friends house fell through. With little to no money for a hotel room, and the estimated time of arrival being around midnight my options were limited. So after driving around with absolutely no idea where to stay, I parked near the closest gas station/truck stop that I could find and set up camp in my car for the night. Luckily I had a few blankets in my car and a pillow, so I was pretty comfortable. Although I had been driving all night after a long hard day of school, I was wide awake terrified of the night to come. I had never slept in my car before, and since I am a woman, I didn't believe the odds of having a sound night were in my favor. Eventually I calmed down, and for a few hours was in and out of sleep until it started pouring rain and I finally felt safe enough to sleep soundly through the rest of the night. When I woke up I was happy to find I had been untouched and well rested. Although  I only slept in my car one night, I learned a few things of what to do and not to do if I ever find myself in that situation again. And I'm going to share this advice with you whether or not you plan on staying in your car or not. So without further adieu...


Sleeping In Your Car 101

1. Pick a spot where there are other cars around, or pick a spot where it would be SUPER rare for somebody to stumble upon your car.
1. Two reasons for this. Number one; if your car is surrounded by other cars or near a public place that is being used at all hours of the night, it's less likely for someone to either try to break in or bother you in any way. Number Two: If you park where nobody is likely to go (a super far out dirt road that doesn't look like it is used often), most likely people aren't wandering around looking for cars in a place they have never been. But do not stop on private property!!! 
2. You can also stop on the side of the interstate, but it's not my first recommendation. If you do make sure there are no lights on in your car and its way out of the way of the road. I'm not actually sure if a cop would stop to check you out, but I wouldn't risk it. I would only do this if I was sure I couldn't keep my eyes open another second. Like I said earlier, I stopped at a gas station/truck stop where there were other cars and RVs and a 24 hour diner. I also parked near a light to help keep away potential bothers. I also recommend parking lots of places that are open 24/7 and are somewhat busy during all hours.
2. Bring blankets, pillows, water, snacks...etc.
1. This tip kinda sounds like a survival tip, but it's mostly to ensure comfort. It's going to get cold and night so the more blankets the better. I recommend snack and water in case you wake up in the middle of the night and there is no store right next to you. Even if there is a store I don't recommend going out. Although there isn't harm in leaving your car, I rather be safe than sorry. You never know if somebody is watching. 
3. Roll your window down just a little. 
1. This helps keep air flow. Don't roll down enough where people could stick anything into your car, just enough to get some air. During my overnight stay a massive thunderstorm hit and I had to roll up my windows. Although this made me nervous, it was only for a few hours and I felt fine afterwards. (Gas can build up in your car and kill you...hence the window being rolled down.)  
4. Let somebody know where you are at! Even if it's one in the morning, send somebody a quick text or voice message telling where you are and what you are doing. Even if they don't reply right away, if anything happens to you, somebody knows where you are. 
5. Have some sort of protection near you. I slept with my pepper spray next to me. Although you will most likely be woken up by anybody trying to get into your car, it's never wrong to take extra caution. 
6. Stay relaxed. It's rare somebody is going to disturb a car they see somebody in, (unless that person is a cop). Trust yourself and use common sense, and I'm sure you will be fine. Although it was a new experience for me, I would do it again if needed. 

These are just a few of my tips, and they do not ensure safety or a good nights sleep. Please do more research and see what other people have experienced. I wish you all happy adventuring and safe travels. Peace.