I followed two Campers on Y-Tube they recently completed a nine month tour of the USA, they're back in Britain now and wish to return to the USA but can't obtain another Visa.

They never experienced any problems, stayed over-night in a number of Wal-Mart carparks, they lived the good life and filmed their epic adventure.

I’ve never been scared and always had a blast when at camp grounds and parks in mine

My recommendation would be to not do that in the deep south. It's poor, nasty, impoverished, inbreed, and things like the squeal scene from the movie Deliverance happen down there. In my experience I've always thought the northwest had some of the most scenic places I've visited.

Red states are pretty safe

Well, yes and no.

It's sort of like saying is being homeless safe all around the USA.

It can be done? Safely? Maybe.

I've had people break into my Van and steal things. Lost a guitar that way. That I had for over twenty years. Had it all over the USA. Even when I was homeless.

I don't know about a camper van's but there's a guy called Ryan Twomey who has crisscrossed The US north to south, east to west in a van.

Some of the places he camped in were really quite desolate and he was safe.

https://www.youtube.com/@Ryantwomeyy

Sure, it's dangerous... but, so is everything you do. It's all about taking a calculated risk.

If you go out camping in a tent... what stops someone opening that zipper and taking whatever they want???

If you drive to work in the morning... what stops you from getting car jacked before you get there???

If you go to sleep tonight... what says you'll wake up in the morning???

We all roll those dice and take that risk every day of our lives. Assuming you put the time in and research, research, research you can limit those risks as much as possible - but they'll never be zero.

There’s a killer on the road.

Perfectly safe. Even the "Deep South", though there are far more scenic places to see. Just stay away from the large inner city slums, and don''t park it on private property or an Indian reservation without permission.

Broadly, from what I've seen. There are sites and resources online that give you more specific information about places to stop and others to avoid.

https://campendium.com/

https://nativecampervans.com/blog/travel-safe-safety-tips-for-a-campervan-road-trip/