Sleeping in your car in Queensland
General and recreational vehicles (including caravans and motorhomes) can stop at a Queensland rest area for up to 20 hours, unless signed otherwise. Queensland rest areas are not camping sites and are not an accommodation option. The 20-hour stop exists for fatigue management, not for camping.
Find a rest area No vehicle tonight?
Signs override this page. Whatever is signed at the site is the rule that applies, no matter what is written here.
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Two layers of law
The state: at a rest area on the state road network you can stop for up to 20 hours unless a sign says otherwise. They are not camping sites.
Your council: each council makes its own local laws about staying overnight in a vehicle in public places. 5 have been read so far. The rest say unknown, which is not permission.
Quick answers
How long can I stay at a rest area in Queensland?
General and recreational vehicles (including caravans and motorhomes) can stop at a Queensland rest area for up to 20 hours, unless signed otherwise. The same Queensland Government page tells motorists to check with the authority responsible for the relevant rest area, so the 20-hour stop is a general position that a sign or the authority running the site can narrow. Fines can apply to non-commercial vehicles that use heavy vehicle rest areas. These exist so truck drivers can take their legislated rest breaks.
“General and recreational vehicles can stop at a rest area for up to 20 hours unless signed otherwise” — Rest areas, Queensland Government. Retrieved 30 Aug 2026.
“Check with the authority responsible for the relevant rest area for more information.” — Rest areas, Queensland Government. Retrieved 12 Oct 2026.
“These fines are in place to make sure truck drivers get to take their legislated rest breaks” — Rest areas, Queensland Government. Retrieved 30 Aug 2026.
Can I camp at a Queensland rest area?
Queensland rest areas are not camping sites and are not an accommodation option.
“they are not camping sites or an accommodation option” “General and recreational vehicles can stop at a rest area for up to 20 hours unless signed otherwise” — Rest areas, Queensland Government. Retrieved 30 Aug 2026.
How long can a move-on direction keep me away in Queensland?
In Queensland, a move-on direction can require a person to leave a place or a stated part of it, or to move a stated reasonable distance in a stated direction — and in each case not to return for a stated reasonable time of no more than 24 hours.
“(a) leave the regulated place and not return or be within the regulated place within a stated reasonable time of not more than 24 hours; (b) leave a stated part of the regulated place and not return or be within the stated part of the regulated place within a stated reasonable time of not more than 24 hours; (c) move from a particular location at or near the regulated place for a stated reasonable distance, in a stated direction, and not return or be within the stated distance from the place within a stated reasonable time of not more than 24 hours.” — Police Powers and Responsibilities Act 2000, s 48, Queensland Legislation (Office of the Queensland Parliamentary Counsel). Retrieved 30 Aug 2026.
Who can I call in Queensland if I have nowhere to sleep tonight?
In Queensland, the Homeless Hotline is a phone information and referral service on 1800 474 753, open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Calls to it are free.
“Homeless Hotline is a phone information and referral service” “Phone 1800 474 753” “24 hours a day, 7 days a week” “Calls to the Homeless Hotline are free.” — Homeless Hotline, Queensland Government. Retrieved 30 Aug 2026.
Rest areas by council
Where this comes from
- “General and recreational vehicles can stop at a rest area for up to 20 hours unless signed otherwise” — Rest areas, Queensland Government. Retrieved 30 Aug 2026.
- “they are not camping sites or an accommodation option” — Rest areas, Queensland Government. Retrieved 30 Aug 2026.