Especially if you use State roads and not stay on the bigger interstates (70,40, 10, 20, 95, 77, 81). There plenty of sundown towns tucked away that interstates bypass completely. Don’t get fooled.
It just happened to a friend picking her kids up from TX to bring them to DC. She drove across rural Arkansas and Tennessee. Stopping in those truck stops scared her and her childen severely. She consulted us after the trip so I didn’t get to advise here how to stay safe. Almost went completely left. The store clerks at both location only spoke to here because they had to AND told her she needed to hurry and leave for her safety. She filled up grabbed a case of water and broke the fuck out quick.