The Legality of Car Sleeping in Kansas: What You Need to Know

Rest Areas: The Kansas Department of Transportation allows motorists to sleep in their vehicles at state-run rest areas for up to 24 hours, and overnight stays are specifically permitted. Camping for a single night is allowed, but you cannot set up tents or block others from using rest area facilities.

Highways and Roadsides: Some overnight rest is tolerable at rest stops or pull-offs, but parking for sleeping on the shoulder of active highways or ramps may trigger safety checks or assistance visits from authorities.

Public Streets: As long as you are legally parked, not intoxicated, and not overtly “living” in your car, police are unlikely to disturb you. Issues may arise, however, if neighbors or property owners complain, or if you violate local parking regulations.

Private Property: Staying overnight in retail or apartment complex parking lots is only legal with explicit permission from the property owner. Unauthorized overnight stays may result in trespassing charges or your vehicle being towed.

Public Parking Lots: Many cities and counties have ordinances that prohibit loitering or overnight stays in certain public lots or residential streets. The University of Kansas, for example, bans overnight parking in specific campus lots (like Lot 50) from 11pm to 7am, effective from 2025.

State Parks: If you wish to sleep in your car at a Kansas state park, you must pay for a camping permit, just as you would for pitching a tent or staying in a cabin.

Local Ordinances: Some Kansas cities may enact stricter sleeping and parking rules than the state guidelines. These can include time limits, restrictions in certain neighborhoods, and increased enforcement in areas near universities or tourist zones.

DUI Caution: If you are intoxicated and use your car for sleep with the keys in the ignition, Kansas law may view this as “attempting to operate” a vehicle, possibly leading to DUI charges—even if the vehicle is not in motion.

Safety & Hassles: If you park somewhere that draws attention (such as residential streets or isolated lots), well-intentioned passersby or the police might check in on you. If you are not breaking any laws, this usually results in a polite safety check.

Avoid private property unless you have the owner’s written or verbal consent.

At rest areas, obey posted time limits and never block others’ access to facilities.

On public property, make sure you’re legally parked and comply with any posted signs or meter requirements.

Have your driver’s license and registration handy, as officers can request them during checks.

If you’re tired, don’t risk driving. Pulling into a designated rest area is your safest and most legal bet.