I Sleep at Truck Stops. Every Single Time

I write about what actually works out on the road...not Instagram posts, but real life.

A note before we dive in:

If you’re new here — welcome. This space is for people living the stealth life. Car campers, van dwellers, solo travelers stretching every dollar and every mile. I write about what actually works out on the road — not the Instagram version, the real version. The kind where you figure out where to safely sleep at 10pm in an unfamiliar town, where you stretch a tank of gas, and where you find peace in the most unexpected places.

This post is about one of those unexpected places. And if you’ve never considered sleeping at a truck stop, I hope by the end of this you’re ready to try it.

Why I Always Stop at Love’s

I’ve wondered more than once how Love’s Travel Stops got its name.

Maybe Love is the founder’s last name. Maybe it’s just a clever slogan designed to stick in your head. Honestly, I’m not sure — but whatever the reason, it works. The name is easy to remember, and the stops seem to be everywhere you look.

Curious, I did a little digging. Turns out there are 670 Love’s locations across 42 states, with plans to open 20 more stores and add 52,000 truck parking spaces by the end of 2026. When I read that, I just sat back and thought — wow.

A Family Built This

Love’s was founded by Tom and Judy Love in 1964 in Watonga, Oklahoma. Just two people with a vision and the courage to build something from nothing. Tom passed away in 2023, Judy in 2024 — and yet the business carries on, run today by their three children.

Still a family operation. I love that more than I can say.

My Home on the Road

I’ve slept many nights at Love’s while passing through Texas. More often than not, I fill up there too. At this point I’d call myself a dedicated customer — not out of habit, but out of genuine appreciation.

There’s something about Love’s that just feels right. Safe. Familiar. When you’re traveling solo and the sun goes down, that feeling matters more than most people realize. I’d much rather be parked in a well-lit, busy truck stop than tucked into some dark, isolated pull-off on the side of the highway. Visibility is safety. And Love’s gives me both.

Yes, It’s Noisy. No, I Don’t Mind.

Let’s be honest — truck stops are loud. Diesel engines, reefer units humming through the night, big rigs pulling in and out at 2am, 3am, 4am. Bright lights flooding the lot from every direction.

But here’s the thing. None of that bothers me.

I pull my blackout curtains tight. Not a sliver of light gets in — and no one can see in either. Doors locked. Everything secure. The outside world disappears, and it’s just me, quiet, and the kind of deep rest that only comes when your body finally gets to exhale.

The noise of truckers moving through the night? It’s become its own kind of comfort. Like white noise. Like proof that the world is still turning while I sleep.

Want to Try It? Here’s What Works.

Stealth car camping at a truck stop is an art, and Love’s is one of the best places to practice it. Here’s what works for me:

• Arrive late, leave early — blend into the natural flow of traffic

• Keep everything inside — no chairs, no gear outside, nothing that signals you’re staying the night

• Blackout curtains are non-negotiable — light in or out gives you away

• Park on the outer edges — away from the fuel lanes and the heaviest traffic

• Buy something inside — coffee, a snack, fuel. You’re using their lot; support the business

That’s it. No reservation. No fee. Just a safe, bright, busy place to rest your head — and hit the road again in the morning.

Tom and Judy Love built something worth trusting. For those of us living life on the road, that trust means everything.

Best,

Carol