Maine Rest Area & Parking Rules

Sleeping overnight in Maine

On the Maine Turnpike (I-95) the concession-area limit is 4 hours, but commercial drivers get up to 12 hours in designated spaces specifically to meet HOS — a rare written federal carve-out (MTA Rules §3-C). Oversize or overweight rigs can't stay overnight (§10). MaineDOT's other rest areas post no length limit. Overstay or park unsafely and you're towed at your expense. This is a reference, not legal advice.

Limits, truck parking, and HOS rest

• Time limit: Maine Turnpike concession areas: 4 hours general, up to 12 hours for commercial vehicles to comply with HOS; MaineDOT rest areas: no posted limit
• MTA service plazas (Kennebunk, Gray, Cumberland, West Gardiner) have truck lots with the 12-hour HOS allowance; MaineDOT rest areas on I-95/I-295/US-1 add more. Spaces are usually findable off-peak, tight near Portland. No real-time state parking board; use New England 511. Jason's Law flags the corridor shortage.
• HOS exception: YES on the Maine Turnpike — MTA Rules §3-C let commercial drivers park up to 12 hours in designated concession-area spaces specifically to comply with hours-of-service (the general limit is 4 hours), one of the few explicit written carve-outs. Oversize/overweight rigs can't park overnight (§10); unsafe or illegal parkers are towed at their expense (§3-D). MaineDOT's non-Turnpike rest areas post no length limit. Weigh stations are not for overnight rest. Dual lens: the Turnpike's posted 4-hour limit carries an explicit 12-hour truck exception, so read the sign.

What overstaying costs

Removal at owner's expense (MTA Rules §3-D)

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