soma

I'm thinking about getting a plane ticket to Miami, renting a van, driving it to the keys and just live in the van for a few days and relax down there without a hotel. Has anyone tried anything like this?

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Xerxys

Get ready to be robbed!!!!

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JStrider

Several times during college I lived out of my explorer for up to a week and a half on camping trips. I used the internet to find 4x4 trails in the area and in the nearby national/state parks and late evening I would drive a half mile out the trail and sleep out there, and then drive back into the park or into town early the next morning.

was always great fun, and saved a bit of $$ on campsites.

I would be a bit hesitant to do this in an urban environment, especially one that I wasn't familiar with.

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dlish

do it. you only live once.

and if you get killed in the process, you'll always be remebered for being the tightass that slept in the car and got carjacked.

nonetheless and interesting idea..urban camping

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highthief

George Orwell beat you to it a century ago. The vacations that guy used to take ...

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Manic_Skafe

Gas prices are pretty low these days but I'd imagine that you'd save some cash in renting the cheapest compact car you can find rather than a van. Depending upon how far you're driving, the savings could afford you a few nights in a really cheap hotel.

But I'm with Js and Dlish, you only live once. Go for it.

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canuckguy

Not sure how sleeping in van has led to him being carjacked and killed but whatever.

I say do it! Just find places that are remote to park in at night and look for places you can wash up at during the day. Enjoy!

snowy

While the following resource is obviously meant for another purpose, I think you might find it handy should you attempt this and need to find a place to pee, or a more private bathroom where you can give yourself a good sponge bath: safe2pee - mapping gender neutral bathrooms, unisex restrooms, accessible toilets. bathrooms for everyone

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LordEden

I think it's a great idea, but hell, if you in the keys sleep on the beach! I mean, why sleep in a hot and stuffy van when a nice beach is right next to you. I'm some remote locations won't be as watched by cops/security so you could sleep on the beach.

I think you should go for it. The best adventures were the ones that you didn't plan.

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soma

good comments. I guess the possibility of getting car jacked is a bit of a buzz kill but I still like the idea of escaping to the beach with some buddies for a few hundy.

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n0nsensical

Yea I tried sleeping on Miami beach once, bad idea, the wind blows like a motherfucker all night, I think it would literally bruise you after a night if you didn't have any sort of shelter, and it can randomly pour down rain at any time. Why don't you rent a cheaper vehicle, or skip the vehicle altogether if you're only going to the beach and downtown, and stay at a hostel, there are a few in south beach and you can probably get a reservation with no problem if you're not staying on spring break.

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ASU2003

I've never tried this, but I would think a hospital parking lot would be the best place to 'camp' out. And drive to the good part of town to do this.

JStrider

everglades national park and and a national preserve are right there near miami.
at the state park for $10 you can get a 7 day vehicle pass which will let you drive in and out as much as you want for 7 days. At the national preserve there are no entrance fees.

There are several dirt scenic roads in those 2 areas, you could probably just drive out one of those and pull over.

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high_jinx

perfect.... that way if you're shot while being carjacked you won't bleed out!

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Charlatan

Wal*Mart parking lots are supposed to be free for RVs to spend the night. I don't see why a van wouldn't be the same.

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Tully Mars

Last I read something like 90% of Wal-Mart stores allow over nighters. Never heard of them not accepting vans over RV. Heard of them not allowing semi's but mainly if the rig has a refer unit running (makes noise.) Only one on the Keys I can remember is on Marathon, might be one on Big Pine too. Used to be a lot of pull outs and sand roads down toward the beaches. Screw it, I'd go for it. Their are no cheap hotels on the Keys.

BTW- I don't think sleeping in a van is going to lead to being car jacked. You folks watch too many movies. That said I wouldn't leave my Rolex hanging from the rear view mirror either, but then I don't own a Rolex.

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guyy

A friend of mine used to do this. He'd sleep in his van in Manhattan. As you might expect, the hard part is finding a parking spot. He has an RV now, and makes liberal use of Walmart parking lots.

These days there are more and more people sleep in their cars.

ASU2003

I would much rather sleep in a hospital parking lot than Wal-Mart. Nearby a police station would be another idea. Basically, a place where there may be some activity at night at random times, but is unlikely to be a target for crime.

I have camped for free in a national forest before. I can't say I recommend it (no bathrooms or showers), and it was in the middle of nowhere and it was free.

Why are you sleeping anyway? Stay up all night and then take a nap on the beach from 5-9am...