Open Parking Lots To Practice Driving Near Me
Empty Parking Lots Near Me To Practice Driving
The best place for teens to practice driving is a wide open parking lot with limited foot traffic like a school on weekends, industrial park, or grocery store at nighttime. These big, open driving spaces ensure they don’t pose any danger to life or limb!
However, it totally depends on their skill level, confidence, and goals while practicing driving. There may even be legal considerations for you practicing driving in certain areas.
Here are the 7 best places to practice your driving skills safely with minimal risk of getting caught, causing an accident, or damaging your car!
We’ve even included some tips for safe driving, legal considerations, and which places are best for training different driving skills.
Top 10 Good Places To Practice Driving Near Me (For Teens)
Community College Campuses
Community college campuses are the perfect place for beginner drivers to practice because they’re less crowded, have tons of parking, and nobody cares if you drive there.
Some businesses like grocery stores or shopping malls might get angry if they see your teen practicing parallel parking while their customers try to do their shopping. But at a college campus, nobody is really paying attention.
They’re especially great for practicing driving during the summer when everyone is on vacation.
Our favorite thing about them for training driving skills is how diverse the road types are. There are huge parking lots, small residential neighborhoods, parking garages, main roads, and even rotaries - it’s like driving around a mini city.
Tip For Finding Empty College Parking Lots: Check the school’s schedule and try to go during breaks, so the lots are less crowded. Winter, Spring, or Summer break are ideal. And try to find smaller, satellite locations - they’re less crowded!
Open Parking Areas At Grocery Stores
Grocery store parking lots are a great place for teen drivers to practice for the following reasons:
- There are tons of parking spaces with real cars
- They’re a real-world driving experience complete with pedestrians, stop signs, crosswalks, and turns
- They’ll learn to watch out for foot traffic as well as other road obstacles like shopping carts while driving
That, and grocery stores are everywhere, so they’re easy to find and drive to.
Grocery stores are the ideal place to learn a variety of driving skills while at the same time getting some real-world vehicle operating experience.
Just be sure to go in the afternoons to avoid the rush or go late at night after the grocery store closes.
And remember, parking lots are private property, and many grocery stores have security who might want to know what you’re doing there. You shouldn’t get in any trouble, just be sure to have your learner’s permit, and explain what you’re doing.
NOTE: We don’t recommend busy parking lots for first-time drivers. There’s too much of a risk with all of those pedestrians walking around! It’s best to start in a completely empty parking lot, so they can gain confidence first.
Public High Schools
Public high school parking lots are the best place for new teen drivers to practice basic driving skills like parking, backing up, turning, braking, and using the turn signals.
Pretty much everyone learns to drive at their high school, don’t they?
They provide a wide open space with no obstacles or distractions for your teen to get used to accelerating, decelerating, turning, and parking with little to no risk to others.
Just make sure you go on weekends, holidays, or off-hours. They can be too busy to practice during the day. And since it’s public property during off-hours, we doubt anyone will bother you.
Retail Store Parking Lots (Wal-Mart)
Large retail outlets like Wal-Mart, Home Depot, or Big Lots are a great place to practice operating a vehicle because they’re HUGE, full of parking, and usually located in the middle of nowhere.
If you live in a suburban area, chances are there’s a Wal-Mart near you with a ton of open space for parking, maneuvering, and driving in a straight line.
Try going late at night, so there’s no foot traffic and fewer cars.
Business Parks or Industrial Zones
Business parks or industrial zones are a great place to practice for teen drivers, especially on weekends or holidays.
These industrial zones provide a real-world driving environment with crosswalks, stop signs, speed bumps, rotaries, and even main roads with traffic lights. But since they’re usually far outside of town and only for business, the foot and car traffic will be way less.
The only thing you need to worry about when driving are trucks and other industrial vehicles.
But will you get in any trouble for doing driving drills on a private company’s property? The answer is, probably not. In the end, it’s up to the company whether they’re OK with it. If it’s on the weekend, we doubt they’ll care. Just be sure to ask the security if it’s OK or not.
Church Parking Lots
Church parking lots are a great place to hone your driving skills on weekdays, because they’re one of the few places that are empty during normal business hours.
Most churches are busy on weekends or late in the evenings for community events. But during the mornings and afternoons on weekends, they should be perfectly fine for practicing.
That, and churches usually like helping others, so we doubt they’ll kick you out for practicing driving in their lot!
Rural Roads
Rural roads are ideal for new drivers because they offer real driving experience on actual roads but without the high speeds, heavy traffic, and other dangers of a normal highway.
For example, a rural highway far from town might have light traffic, moderate speeds, natural twists and turns, and even varied road conditions like wet spots or potholes. All of that is great for a teen driver to learn the basics of driving and paying attention to the road. But you get that without the craziness of a real highway or dangers of a heavily trafficked road.
If you live in a big city, consider getting out and exploring some small towns nearby with less crowded roads. The further you are from the craziness of the city when learning to drive, the better.
Sport Stadiums on Non-Event Days
Sports stadium parking lots are massive and usually have a ton of parking. But the best part is that they’re totally empty on off days or during the day.
This is a great place to learn steering the vehicle and parking, as well as following lot lines and paying attention to pedestrians and other parked objects.
The only downside here is that you have to be in a city large enough to have a stadium, and there are usually a lot of eyes on the lot. By that, we mean security.
Local And State Parks
No, we don’t mean you should practice driving on park trails.
Local and state parks are great places to practice, because they often have access roads with limited traffic, empty parking lots on weekdays, and are in the middle of nature, so the roads around them will be easy to navigate as well.
Just make sure to go during the week when they are less busy!
Private Property
The best place to teach your child to drive is actually on private property. If a friend or family member has a farm, large plot of land, or house far from the road with a long access road, that’s an ideal place to show your kid the ropes of being behind the wheel.
What Driving Skills Can I Work On With My Teen In An Empty Parking Lot?
Teaching your teen to drive can be nerve-wracking, but we’ve found that parking lots are awesome for practice. They're safe and give your teen plenty of space to build confidence. Here are some tips to try out with your teen in a parking lot:
| Driving Skill | Description |
|---|---|
| Steering Control | Practice steering at different speeds, keeping hands at "10 and 2.". Make small and large turns. |
| Braking and Accelerating | Practice smooth, gradual braking and accelerating without jerking the car. |
| Parking | Practice parallel parking and backing into spaces. Use turn signals, check mirrors, and park within lines. |
| Scanning and Situational Awareness | Scan surroundings for vehicles and pedestrians. Check mirrors and blind spots. |
| Basic Traffic Rules | Obey stop signs, yield signs, and speed limits. Practice navigating intersections and making turns. |
Is it Legal For a Teen to Practice Driving in an Empty Parking Lot?
Yes, it is totally fine for a teen to practice driving in an empty parking lot or rural area, so long as they adhere to the laws in your particular state.
For example, most states require you to have a driver’s permit in order to operate a motor vehicle ANYWHERE. You must also have a licensed adult 21 years of age or older with you in the car.
Assuming you meet these criteria, then yes it’s fine to practice anywhere. Some private lots at grocery stores, shopping malls, or business parks might take issue with you driving around their property. But we doubt they’ll make a big fuss.
Also, make sure the vehicle is in good condition. Check the brakes, lights, and tires before each practice session. It’s no fun to have a flat tire during a lesson! Following these tips will make your driving practice sessions safe and legal.
Safety Tips For Teen Drivers Practicing in Parking Lots
Do's
- Do Wear Your Seatbelt: Always buckle up before starting the car. Safety first!
- Do Check Mirrors and Blind Spots: Regularly check your mirrors and blind spots while maneuvering in the lot.
- Do Use Turn Signals: Signal your intentions, even in a parking lot, to communicate with other drivers.
- Do Practice Different Parking Maneuvers: Spend time on parallel parking, backing into spaces, and pulling through spots.
- Do Choose Off-Peak Times: Practice when the lot is less busy, like early mornings or late evenings, to reduce stress and distractions.
Don'ts
- Don’t Use Your Phone: Avoid using your phone or other electronic devices while practicing.
- Don’t Speed: Stick to the parking lot speed limit, usually around 5-10 mph.
- Don’t Ignore Markings: Pay attention to parking lines, arrows, and any signs in the lot.
- Don’t Tailgate: Maintain a safe distance from other parked or moving vehicles to avoid accidents.
- Don’t Get Distracted: Keep distractions to a minimum and focus on your parking maneuvers.
What Parents Can Do To Protect Their Teen Drivers – GPS Tracking
Learn how SpaceHawk GPS can keep your teen driver safe:
https://gpstrackershop.com/products/spacehawk-gps-tracker
Once your teen passes driver’s ed and gets their license, they’ll be able to drive anywhere at any time without supervision.
You can imagine the headaches that could cause!
They could get caught speeding, drive illegally with their friends in the car, or stay out late past curfew.
GPS tracking devices help parents of teen drivers protect their children and their own peace of mind by letting you know where they are at all times. It even lets you know how fast they’re going, if they brake too hard, where they’ve been recently, and a ton more. Whenever they break a rule, you’ll be alerted.
We understand that you don’t want to infringe on their freedom too much. That’s important. But you also need to make sure they stay safe. A GPS tracker is the best way to do it discreetly and easily.
FAQs
Is It Okay To Practice Driving In A Parking Lot?
Absolutely! An empty lot is a great location for teen drivers or adult drivers to work on their driving skills! Having space to practice will help novice drivers feel comfortable driving doing things such as parking, turning, and understanding how a vehicle operates.
Why Are GPS Tracking Apps Not The Best For Safe Teen Driving?
As a concerned parent, you may be tempted to purchase a GPS tracking app to monitor your teen’s driving habits. However, it’s important to recognize that simply installing an app on their phone may not be the most effective solution. Teens are often glued to their phones and may find ways to outsmart the app by leaving their phone behind, claiming the battery died, or simply turning it off. If you’re serious about monitoring your teen’s driving habits, it may be better to invest in a more dynamic piece of vehicle tracking hardware.
How Are Teens Out-Smarting Parental Safety Measures Like GPS Tracking Apps?
Many parents invest in the latest technology, such as GPS tracking apps, to ensure the safety and monitor the activities of their teenage children. This stems from the common belief that teenagers can sometimes be irresponsible or make poor decisions. However, teens, being tech-savvy and resourceful, often find ways to bypass or outsmart these tracking measures. Some might turn off the GPS functionality on their devices, use alternate devices, or even employ other apps to spoof their location. It’s a constant game of adaptation between parents seeking to use technology for safety and teens navigating their growing desire for privacy and autonomy.
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