LANSING, Mich. (Michigan News Source) – For drivers grinding through long stretches of Michigan highway, the state’s rest areas have long served as a safe harbor — a place to stretch, refuel and catch a few hours of sleep before getting back on the road.

But that familiar roadside refuge could soon come with a clock.

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Michigan boasts 61 rest areas scattered along its highways, and drowsy drivers are still encouraged to use them rather than push on while fatigued. That won’t change. What may change is how long someone can stay.

In June 2025, the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) proposed a new set of safety rules governing rest areas, roadside parks, carpool lots, scenic turnouts and welcome centers. The draft rules are wide-ranging, covering everything from camping and pets to parking limits and basic safety and sanitation standards.

For now, those rules exist only on paper. They are not enforceable, and MDOT officials are still sorting through public feedback. As of December, a department official said they’d received about 2,000 public comments to review. New rules expected to become official in spring 2026.

One of the most talked-about proposals would cap stays at rest areas to 48 hours — a limit aimed at balancing safety, access and maintenance concerns. Even with that cap, MDOT stresses that rest areas will remain available for their primary purpose: giving drivers a safe place to stop when they’re tired.

Until the rules are finalized, rest areas remain business as usual. Once they take effect, officials say the message to motorists won’t change: when fatigue sets in, pulling over is still the safest move — just don’t plan on staying for days.