Reply to Safe Parking

I wanted to see if I could answer this for myself by reading the materials on this site but I confess I have not reviewed everything yet. I hope to do the round trip Smyrna to Anniston and back this March. I have never been there but I see there is a small parking lot at the trailhead in Smyrna. I am slow and expect it to take me 4 days to do the trail so my truck will be in a parking lot for 4 days and 3 nights.

I have some questions I hope someone can help with.

1. Since the trail closes at sunset, does the parking lot also close?

2. If I can keep my vehicle there overnight, is it reasonably safe? Of course there are no guarantees but I guess I am asking whether it is known to be unsafe. It seems to me a solitary vehicle there multiple days overnight will be an obvious target.

3. Is there a particular hotel/motel where they will let me keep the truck there for multiple days if I stay one night, and that is close enough to the trail for me to ride my bike to the trail on somewhat safe roadways?

4. I could start and end somewhere other than the GA trailhead. Is there secure parking (e.g., public, paid for parking in a secure lot) somewhere else along the trail?

Thank you for any assistance.

There is a place to park your bike overnight at the rear of the Weaver Police Department(WPD), which is monitored by camera. Parking is availabe over night also if desired. Motel is about two miles from the WPD.

Thank you very much Sir.

I would park at the Paulding County Government Parking lot.
Address: 240 Constitution Blvd., Dallas , Ga.
It has lights, cameras, and Sheriff patrols.
This lot is in Dallas and you access the SCT by bike trail East on 278 to Tara Drummond Park.