Sleeping in your car in Rhode Island is generally allowed, especially at state rest areas, where there are no laws or posted regulations prohibiting overnight parking or sleeping inside vehicles. Rhode Island’s rest areas operate 24/7, and drivers are encouraged to use them to rest safely instead of driving while drowsy. Sleeping in a car at these rest areas is legal and commonly accepted, as long as the vehicle is attended and no outdoor camping equipment is set up.
In Providence and other urban areas, overnight street parking is regulated through a permit system. Parking on city streets without a valid overnight parking permit is prohibited between 2:00 AM and 5:00 AM. Permits allow legal overnight parking only in designated streets and districts. Permit holders must also comply with existing parking rules, including restrictions related to snow emergencies or street cleaning. Without a permit, sleeping in a parked car on city streets overnight is not allowed.
Camping or setting up tents and outdoor gear in rest areas or public lands is not permitted and may lead to enforcement actions. Rhode Island distinguishes between sleeping in a vehicle and camping outdoors, encouraging the former for safety reasons but prohibiting the latter.
So, in summary, sleeping inside a car at Rhode Island rest areas is legal and encouraged for safety, while sleeping in a car overnight on city streets requires an overnight parking permit. Outdoor camping and unattended vehicles in rest areas are generally prohibited.
Sources
(https://www.providenceri.gov/public-works/instructions-overnight-parking/)
(https://www.boondockersbible.com/learn/rhode-island-rest-area-rules/)
(https://landline.media/magazine/no-overnight-parking-at-state-rest-areas/)
(https://roadtrippers.com/magazine/overnight-rv-parking-at-rest-stops/)
(https://www.providenceri.gov/public-works/overnight-residential-parking-program/)
