Sleeping in a car overnight in North Dakota is generally permitted, especially at state rest areas, where the North Dakota Department of Transportation (NDDOT) has no specific rules prohibiting sleeping in vehicles. However, signs at rest areas often prohibit “overnight camping,” which is defined more as recreational camping rather than simply resting or sleeping in a vehicle for safety reasons. As long as the purpose is to rest briefly to safely continue driving and no recreational camping occurs, sleeping in cars at rest areas is allowed. Law enforcement may check on vehicles that remain too long or show signs of recreational use.
Local city ordinances vary, so in urban areas such as Fargo or Bismarck, overnight parking and sleeping rules may be stricter. Fargo, for instance, restricts on-street parking during certain overnight hours, and parking violations can result in tickets or towing. However, city-owned surface parking lots typically allow after-hours free parking where sleeping in a vehicle might be tolerated, provided the vehicle is legally parked and not causing hindrance or disturbance.
Outside of rest areas and designated parking, North Dakota generally prohibits parking a vehicle on public streets for more than 48 consecutive hours, which can impact long-term car sleeping. Vehicles left stationary beyond that can be ticketed or towed. It is important to observe local signage and municipal codes, as parking restrictions may prohibit overnight stops in certain areas like downtown districts, safety zones, or near fire stations.
While sleeping in a car overnight is legal in many designated places such as rest areas with some limitations, restrictions exist in populated city zones. Drivers should seek official parking areas, avoid obstructing traffic, follow posted signs, and be prepared for occasional law enforcement inquiries. For safe and legal car sleeping, state rest areas and approved parking lots are the best options in North Dakota.
Sources
(https://www.boondockersbible.com/learn/north-dakota-rest-area-rules/)
(https://fargond.gov/live/parking/overnight-parking)
(https://www.fargoparking.com/parking-basics)
(https://www.wahpeton.com/index.asp?SEC=8F13C422-3192-4FE8-A44F-43997A3B404A&DE=81CF9BC8-1EE1-4A87-999A-0DA045607808)
(https://www.ndsu.edu/parking/parkingregulations)6
