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Park and Sleep: Your Guide to Free RV Parking (2024)

Living on the road often means sleeping in unfamiliar places. These might be roadside stop-offs breaking up a long drive, or wild park-ups in the middle of nowhere. Deciding where to park and sleep means evaluating safety, legality, amenities, and the tolerance of locals. This article gets into the legality of sleeping in your vehicle and how it's tolerated in practice in different parts of the world. We'll give tips on finding spots, discuss best practices, and recommend some apps you can use to streamline your search.


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Shane, the founder of The Van Conversion, is a campervan professional dedicated to helping people transform ordinary vans into homes on wheels. He has authored Roaming Home, and teaches The Van Conversion Course, guiding many people through their van builds. Shane also writes The Van Conversion Newsletter, where he shares practical tips and insights. After completing two van builds and living on the road full-time since 2020, he is passionate about sharing his expertise with others.


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Understanding ‘Park and Sleep’ and (Wild) Camping

The terms 'park and sleep' and 'wild camping' refer to two different situations when you're out on the road. Park and sleep generally means sleeping in your camper for one night in a place normally reserved for parking. This is usually a short stop that breaks up a long journey, and might involve sleeping in highway rest stops or motorway services, car parks, or city streets.


Wild camping or 'boondocking' refers to sleeping in natural and rural spots away from human development. Wild camping is itself differentiated from camping at a designated RV campground.


Parking and sleeping and wild camping vary in their legality and how they're tolerated, depending on country, state, and environment.


Park and Sleep Legality in the US

The legality and tolerance towards park and sleep overnighting varies depending on state and location.


Parking Lots - Can you Park and Sleep at Walmart?

Private parking lots have their own rules which are enforced by staff and security personnel. Walmart and other big chain stores like the affiliated Sam's Club are known for being accommodating to RV users spending the night. Other such businesses include Cracker Barrel restaurants, outdoor stores like Cabela's, Bass Pro Shops, and Camping World, and large home improvement stores like Home Depot, Lowe's, and Menards. Other businesses might be less accommodating and signage explicitly prohibiting overnight stays isn't uncommon.


Tolerance towards overnight stays in parking lots varies by location and local ordinances. In all cases, it's common practice to ask permission from management before staying the night. Along with this, be considerate by not setting up camp, making noise or a mess, and not staying too long. Asking permission and being discreet reduces the likelihood that you'll be asked to move on and upholds the reputation of RV users and vanlifers.


Can you Park and Sleep at a Rest Stop?

Highway rest stops are public facilites operated by the state government, so rules vary by state. In general, rest stops are reserved for short stops rather than camping. Some states allow overnight stays of up to 8 hours, whilst others limit stays to less than this. However, discreet and respectful campers are generally left alone as long as they don't overstay their welcome.


Can you Park and Sleep at Truck Stops?

Truck stops are commercial facilites which cater specifically to overnight stopovers without strict time limits. This makes them some of the best places to park and sleep overnight. They usually have plenty of places where you can park and sleep for free, though there might be a fee for reserved spots and longer stays.


RVs are generally accommodated, and many truck stops provide specific RV parking areas with free water refill and dump stations, as well as paid facilities like showers and laundry.


Make sure you use the designated RV parking spots (if provided) rather than truck spots. Taking up a truck spot might get you moved on and isn't looked upon kindly by long-haul truckers.


Street Parking

The legality of sleeping in your vehicle on the street varies widely between cities and neighborhoods. On-street parking is already frequently regulated by time limits and specific limitations on overnight parking. On top of this, sleeping in your vehicle might be prohibited and enforced by ticketing and citations.


In practice, this varies by location and van-living is common in some cities. There's a big difference in the enforcement of overnight parking and sleeping rules between quiet back streets, waterfronts, and industrial or commercial areas compared to busy streets and residential neighborhoods. Residential neighborhoods are generally intolerant of people sleeping in vehicles and are best avoided. A quiet back street or waterfront in a non-residential part of town is a safer bet, where discreet overnight stays are unlikely to attract attention.


Wild Camping Legality in the US

Parking and sleeping in rural and wilderness areas is generally referred to as wild camping or boondocking, and legality and tolerance again depend on the type of land.


Public Lands

One of the US's greatest boons is its enormous expanse of public wilderness land where boondocking (or 'dispersed camping') is fully authorised and encouraged. This land is managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM land) and the US Forest Service (National and State Forests and Grasslands). On these lands, wild camping is allowed as long as it doesn't block access roads or disturb natural resources. Make sure you park at least 100ft away from water sources and respect the limit on staying in one spot, which is usually 14 days.


The rules can be different in certain types of public land like Wilderness Areas and Wilderness Study Areas. The BLM and US Forest Service websites provide maps and information on their websites about these areas.


National Parks, State Parks, and County Parks

Wild camping is not allowed in parks, and boondocking is restricted to designated RV camp sites. Rangers regularly patrol roads and fine people for overnighting outside of a RV campground, especially in popular areas.


However, parks are usually bordered by public land, meaning it's easy to hop over the park boundary for legal overnight stays.


National Wildlife Refuges, Army Corps of Engineers (COE lands), and State Trust Lands

These are smaller and less widespread natural areas in which wild camping is also prohibited. However, some wildlife refuges and state trust lands offer a cheap permit system for boondocking, whilst the COE operates RV camp sites which are either free or much cheaper than those found in parks.


Roadsides, Dirt Tracks, and Countryside Parking

The legality of parking on the roadside and along dirt tracks depends on whether the bordering land is public or private. If no obvious signage is present, it can be hard to know who owns the land. If you find a pull-off in a low-traffic area, you're unlikely to encounter any trouble as long as you're discreet and respectful. Generally, the worst that will happen is that you'll be asked to move on by the landowner.


By contrast, pull-offs near popular natural attractions or busy rural roads are likely to attract more attention.


Parking Lots at Trailheads and Mountain Passes

Parking lots generally follow the rules of the kind of land they're in, with lots in public land allowing overnight stays and lots in parks forbidding them. However, rules at parking lots might be different to rules in the surrounding land, so check signage and when in doubt, be stealthy.


Park and Sleep Legality in the UK

The UK is generally a lot more strict than the US regarding overnight parking and sleeping in your vehicle.


Car Parks

Supermarket and large shop car parks usually have time limits on parking and specifc no-overnight policies. Public car parks in towns and cities are often the same, with specific overnight park and sleep restrictions becoming more common as the country clamps down on the vanlife trend. These car parks are often controlled by electronic gates and number plate recognition systems and patrolled by private security personnel.


It's still possible to find car parks without overnight rules or strict enforcement in quiet areas and small towns and villages. Stays in these should always be as stealthy as possible. Equally, car parks serving tourist attractions and natural sites are increasingly offering overnight campervan parking for a fee.


Motorway Service Stations

Motorway services are usually a safe bet as places where you can park and sleep overnight. Many have designated overnight parking spots, though a fee may apply depending on the company running the services. Many motorway services also provide amenities like toilets, showers, water refills, and dump stations. Increasingly, the European 'aire de service' is being imported to the UK. Going by the name of rest areas or motorhome services, these are service stations which cater specifically to campervans. They generally have quieter parking areas away from the motorway and truck parking, and provide dump stations and water refills.


Laybys and Pullovers

Laybys are commonly used places to park and sleep. Increasingly however, 'no overnight parking' signs are popping up at laybys in popular areas as well. Overall, enforcement is light in rural and less-travelled areas, and at laybys which aren't overused by campers.


Pullovers on country lanes and farm entrances are often a safe bet as long as you're considerate and don't block access. In all cases, you can help yourself and the UK vanlife community at large by being as discreet as possible and not hanging around the same spot for multiple nights.


Street Parking

Public streets frequently have restrictions on parking in general, with no-overnight policies proliferating as public distrust of vanlifers increases. High-traffic areas and residential streets are often problematic and best avoided even if specific signage is absent. Quieter and out-of-the-way areas are safer, such as industrial areas, backstreets, and quiet waterfronts.


There is growing tension between vanlifers and residents as the UK's NIMBY culture intersects with the growing number of vanlifers and domestic tourists using campervans. It's therefore best to stick to quiet areas and places where overnighting in campervans is clearly an established practice.


Always be respectful and discreet, and help yourself by being as stealthy as you can if you're unsure about a spot. Remember, nobody will bother you if they don't know you're there.


Farm Stays and Pub Car Parks

Counter to the growing hostility towards vanlifers, increasing numbers of country pubs and farms are welcoming campervans to stay overnight. The signage for this service is generally explicit and advertised, but there's no harm in asking pub owners for permission to stay overnight in their car park. Don't stay overnight without asking permission, and support the practice by buying a meal or a few pints at the pub.



Wild Camping Legality in the UK

Wild camping in the countryside and natural areas is much stricter in England and Wales than in Scotland and the rest of Europe. All land in the UK is owned by someone, and technically any overnight stay is only legal with the landowner's permission.


In practice, the enforcement of these laws varies depending on location and the type of spot.


National Parks, Nature Reserves, and Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs) in England and Wales

Wild camping in a vehicle is illegal in national parks and the like, with authorities and landowners instead providing designated campsites. However, much like wild camping in a tent, it's somewhat of a grey area and possible if you're discreet.


You'll have less trouble parking in out-of-the-way spots, particularly in the off-season. Trying to sleep in your van in the Llanberis Pass or around Windermere during summer is certain to get you moved on or fined. By contrast, hanging out at a car park that's hidden from the main road or far up a single lane track is less likely to be an issue.


In all cases, being discreet and respectful will help you avoid trouble and serves the vanlife community.


Forestry England Land in England and Wales

Like national parks described above, wild camping isn't allowed in Forestry England land and travellers are expected to use campsites. At the same time, enforcement is less strict in quieter areas and in the off-season.


National Trust and English Heritage Land

National Trust and English Heritage strictly control their land, with comprehensive signage prohibitting overnight parking and rangers patrolling car parks. For this reason, it's best avoided.


Coastal Areas, Mountain Passes, and Rural Car Parks in England and Wales

The same rules of thumb discussed above apply to these kinds of areas. Signage specifically prohibiting overnight parking is becoming more common, counterbalanced by paid overnight parking for campervans popping up in some places. More remote areas are safer bets, as is the off-season. Once again, nobody will bother you if they don't know you're there.


Scotland

Scotland is a wonderfully refreshing exception to the sorry state of public land access in England and Wales. Their laws more closely mirror those of the Nordic countries, enshrining the public's right to enjoy the natural landscape.


Wild camping in your vehicle is allowed in Scotland, except for in specific areas which are popular or sensitive, like Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park. These specific areas may require a permit or else might ban park and sleep overnights altogether.


In general, Scotland is an excellent place where you can park and sleep overnight, with vast areas of remote and unpopulated natural landscape.


What About Europe?

Europe is generally much more permissive of park and sleep overnighting and wild camping than England and Wales, with some exceptions.


In general, the Nordic and Baltic countries, France, Spain, Portugal, and Eastern Europe are very permissive of overnight camping. Germany and Austria are more controlled, but still generally tolerate overnight stays in laybys and the like. There's a lot more space in Europe than in England and Wales, making it much easier to find a secluded spot where you're unlikely to attract attention. Additionally, most European countries operate wide networks of motorhome rest stops. These are found along motorways as well as in towns and villages and are usually free or else very cheap. We'll discuss these more later.


Some countries are about as strict as England and Wales, like the densely-populated Netherlands, Belgium, and Denmark. Switzerland is also comparatively strict in populated areas, but this is counterbalanced by vast areas of the Swiss Alps where finding secluded car parks and mountain tracks presents no problem.


This general lenience doesn't usually extend to cities and urban areas, where the same guidelines for stealth and discretion discussed in the UK and US sections apply. It's worth mentioning that, like in the UK, some countries and areas are increasingly cracking down on campervan users. It's a good idea in general to be discreet and respectful, obeying signage and not making a niusance of yourself.


8 Tips for Choosing the Best Park and Sleep Sites and Campgrounds

  1. In busy and urban areas, prioritise spots where overnighting is specifically allowed, like car parks where management have given permission and motorhome rest stops.

  2. If this isn't feasible, look for out-of-the-way areas away from busy and residential streets.

  3. In rural and natural areas, prioritise spots without signage specifically banning overnight stays and look for out-of-the-way locations. Stay away from well-used roads and car parks, and look for spots where other caravanners are already parked up.

  4. Remember that outside of paid campgrounds, truck stops and highway rest stops/motorway services offer the best amenities for campervan users.

  5. Don't block access no matter where you choose to park up.

  6. Safety is important - if you're alone, consider whether it's a good idea to spend the night in an unlit industrial area or urban waterfront. Make sure you have good locks on your doors and keep a small light on inside. This indicates that your vehicle is occupied if someone's snooping around without broadcasting your presence for all to see.

  7. Pay attention to your environment - waterside areas with trees for shade are great in summer, whilst areas that get a lot of sun are best for keeping warm and powering your solar panels in winter. Stay away from rockfall areas, trees, and possible landslide slopes during storms, and avoid open areas if there's a chance of lightning.

  8. Speak to the landowner, be it the management of a business with a car park, the pub landlord, or a farmer. Friendly engagement with locals can allow you surprising access to camping spots and might even get you an offer of a water refill or the use of a toilet.


How to Find Good Parking and Camping Sites in the US

In the Wild: Public Land

The Bureau of Land Management website is an excellent tool for exploring BLM land across the US. They provide searchable and downloadable maps for specific states and wilderness areas. These maps are georeferenced, meaning you can import them into GPS mapping software, allowing you to see exactly where you are and whether you're on public land, even offline.


The US Forest Service website offers a similar database of maps for national forests and grasslands.


Any RV parking spot within public land is a safe bet for both park and sleep overnighting and wild camping. Narrow down your search by cross-referencing with boondocking apps (discussed below) to find spots with exceptional views and amenities like toilets and running water.


In the Wild: Rural Parkups Outside of Public Land

If there's no public land nearby, you can still find somewhere to spend the night as long as you exercise prudence.


First and foremost, don't try to wild camp in national, state, or county parks. These areas are strictly monitored and enforced, and you're likely to end up with a fine. Beyond these, you're operating in a grey area. Choose a spot that's out-of-the-way and not near popular recreation destinations or clearly visible from busy roads. Keep a low profile and don't stay too long, and you're unlikely to encounter much hassle.


On the Road: Rest Stops and Truck Stops

Rest stops and truck stops are your safest bet for RV camping sites when you're on the road. Truck stops are more certain than rest stops, but rest stops are generally fine as long as you're unobtrusive and don't overstay your welcome. A quick search along your route on Google Maps or Waze will show you rest stops and truck stops on your way, allowing you to plan your overnight stay ahead of time.


On the Road: Parking Lots

As previously discussed, many businesses are known for being accommodating to RVers wanting to spend the night. The following chains are usually good options:


  • Walmart

  • Sam's Club

  • Cracker Barrel

  • Cabela's

  • Bass Pro Shops

  • Camping World

  • Home Depot

  • Lowe's

  • Menards


Always check with management before spending the night.


On the Road: Street Parking

If you have to spend the night in a town or city, avoid residential areas and busy streets. Think stealth: how many people are going to pass by whilst you're parked up, and what will they see if they do? The fewer people that see you, and the less they see beyond another parked van, the less likely it is that you'll be bothered.


On the Road: Urban Waterfronts

Waterfronts are often good to look out for as they tend to be quieter, unlit, and more out of the way. Avoid residential waterfronts and popular spots, instead driving along a beachfront or riverside road until it's clear you're away from well-used areas.


RV Campgrounds

RV parks and campgrounds are always an option if you can't find anything else. For a fee, you'll have peace of mind and a good night's sleep, as well as a toilet and a shower. Most campgrounds publish their rates and available amenities on Google Maps, and you can use the RV camping apps discussed below to find highly-rated RV campgrounds on your route.


How to Find Good Parking and Camping Sites in the UK and Europe

In the Wild: England and Wales

In England and Wales, you're mostly operating in a legal grey area, so it's all about using common sense and your better judgement to find somewhere you're unlikely to be bothered.


Car parks near popular spots and busy roads are a no-go, especially if there's specific signage prohibiting overnight stays. Car parks in more remote areas, laybys, and farm entrances on quiet country lanes are much less likely to get you moved on. The same goes for dead-end roads and tracks which aren't obviously access lanes.


It's a good idea to only spend one or two nights in one spot, having a collection of park-ups in the area which you cycle through. The longer a van is parked in one place, the more attention it attracts.


Be discreet and respectful, leaving no trace and not dumping waste. Think carefully about opening pop-tops and awnings, only doing this if you're somewhere quiet or out of sight.


On the Road: England and Wales

Motorway services are your best bet for hassle-free places to park and sleep. A Google Maps or Waze search along your route will help you find one that suits you. Look out for signs on the motorway indicating services with toilets, showers, and specific motorhome amenities.


Overnighting in laybys is often tolerated, especially if there are one or two trucks also parked. Choose one that's removed from the main road by an island rather than right on it, for reasons of safety and noise as well as for stealth.


In towns and cities, stay away from residential areas, preferring quiet back streets, industrial areas, and places where other campervans are parked. Practice stealth and leave before people people start travelling to work.


Farm stays and pub car parks are a growing and invaluable resource. Find them using the apps discussed below, and remember that there's no harm in asking a pub landlord if you can spend the night.


In the Wild: Scotland and Europe

Similar common sense practices apply in Scotland and Europe regarding being unobtrusive when wild camping, but you can feel more relaxed about the whole thing. Stay away from signage expressly forbidding overnight parking and be aware that most nature reserves won't allow you to park and sleep outside of car parks. The more out of the way you are, the less you have to worry. This is especially true in high tourist season, unless you're parking up among other campervans.


Treat the Netherlands, Denmark, and Belgium as you would England and Wales. Switzerland and Austria can be very tricky in populated or popular areas, but the Alps are big and frequently remote. Look out for roads that wind their way up valleys and terminate in a car park. These car parks are often camped in as they're out of the way and used by outdoor-minded people.


On the Road: Scotland and Europe

The same ideas regarding motorway services, laybys, and street parking discussed above for England and Wales also apply in Scotland and Europe. The further east and south in Europe you go, the more relaxed the culture is in general. This makes street parking less of an issue, but watch out for tourist-dense areas in high season all the same.


Europe's greatest gift to caravanners on the road is the 'aire de services' or motorhome service station. These are designated caravan and motorhome stopovers situated on main roads and the outskirts of towns and cities. You'll generally find quiet parking spaces, toilet blocks, and dump stations, as well as showers, water refills, and electric hook-ups. These service stations are named differently across Europe:


  • France: Aire de service

  • Belgium and the Netherlands: Camperplaats

  • Italy: Area di Sosta

  • Spain: Área de Acampada/Área de Autocaravanas/Área del Servicio

  • Portugal: Zona de Estacionamento para Autocaravanas

  • Denmark: Autocamperplads and Naturlejrplads

  • Norway: Bobilplass

  • Sweden: Ställplats

  • Finland: Pysäköintipaikk

  • Austria, Germany, Switzerland: Stellplätz

  • Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Slovenia, Hungary, Bulgaria: Stellplatz

  • Croatia: Kamp odmorište/Stellplatz

  • Romania: Parcare rulote/Stellplatz

  • Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro: Kamp odmorište/Autokamp

  • Albania and Greece: Autokamp


Look out for these signposted along motorways and on Google Maps/Waze as you plan your journey.


Top Apps for Finding Park and Sleep Spots and Campsites

There's a growing range of apps which act as databases of campervan camping spots, both for wild camping, park and sleep stopovers, and paid campsites. Park4Night is already very well known in Europe, and its US counterpart The Dyrt is also well-established. These are searchable and directories of wild camping spots, park and sleep locations, and paid campgrounds. You can filter by park-up type, user reviews, and amenities, whilst user photos give you an idea of the vibe you'll encounter when you arrive.


Special mention goes to Harvest Hosts and Brit Stops, which connect US- and Canada-based RVers (Harvest Hosts) and UK-based caravanners (Brit Stops) with a growing number of businesses who open their land to overnight stays. These farms, vineyards, breweries and pubs offer unique and out-of-the-way stopovers in return for patronage of their businesses. It's an excellent setup which brings landowners and vanlifers together.


Check out the table below for a further selection of apps and websites that'll help you find your next park-up whilst out on the road.


Name

Region

Features

Special Features

US & Canada UK

Connects travellers with farms, wineries, breweries, and pubs offering overnight parking for self-contained RVs

Unique, off-the-beaten-path locations with the expectation of patronising hosts

US

Directory of 1M+ campgrounds, dispersed camping, filters by amenities, user reviews and photos

Extensive user-generated content; covers both campgrounds and wild camping

UK & Europe

Places to park/stay (wild camping, campsites, farms), info on services (water, waste, amenities)

Wide range of spot types, user-driven updates, strong focus on free or low-cost options

UK & Europe

Campsites, stopovers, and wild camping spots with maps, reviews, GPS coordinates

Comprehensive UK motorhome stopover coverage; useful for motorhome-specific searches in UK/Europe

US, Canada

Listings for campgrounds, public lands, boondocking spots, user reviews, and photos

Focus on boondocking and public land camping, includes cell signal information for remote locations

Worldwide

Free/paid camping, wild camping, fuel stations, mechanics, overlanding resources

Focuses on overlanding, international travel, and remote camping, popular with adventurers in less developed areas

US

Directory of campgrounds, truck stops, rest areas, parking, services (dump stations, propane)

Comprehensive road-trip app; strong focus on truck stops, rest areas, and RV services for travellers on the move


Being a Good Camper: Vanlife Ethics

I've mentioned it already, but now I'll be explicit: the number of people travelling in campervans is growing worldwide, and anti-campervan sentiment is growing alongside. This results in restrictions on freedoms for vanlifers and is making life harder for the many people who live in vans and cars not for leisure, but out of necessity.


When parking and sleeping overnight, we must behave in a way that leaves no room for criticism from residents, farmers, landowners, and rangers. That means:


Leave No Trace

When you drive away, your park-up should look exactly the same as it did when you arrived. That means no litter, no fires outside of existing fire pits, no dumped wastewater (unless it contains no human or food waste and only 100% biodegradeable products), and no evidence of having gone to the toilet.


Packing out your poo should be the default. The only place where leaving it behind is acceptable is in low-traffic areas with temperate climates and rich, loamy soil. Here, digging a cathole is OK as your waste will decompose quickly. Do not poo on the ground and kick dirt over it, or hide it under a rock. Pack out your toilet paper wherever you are; don't burn it.


A composting campervan toilet makes this a non-issue. A compact, portable, and cheap alternative is a fold-up bin liner/trash bag toilet:


folding camping toilet

Being able to sit down to go to the toilet in a plastic bag which you tie up and dispose of later is a comfortable way of embodying Leave No Trace ethics.


Be Aware of Your Environment

In addition to leaving no trace, be mindful of your physical impact on your chosen park-up. Don't drive over wildflowers, shrubs, and saplings, and avoid churning up mud with spinning tyres. Don't drain water of any kind within 100ft (30m) of a water source (including pee and toothpaste).


Don't Block Access

Be mindful of gates, turn-offs, footpaths, and trailheads. Don't park your camper in truck or electric vehicle spots at rest stops/services.


Think About Where you Set Up Camp

Truck stops, rest stops/services, and car parks aren't the place to wind out your awning and set up chairs. Think about the space you're taking up and what your park-up spot is for. Unless there's lots of space and you're out in the wild or it's clearly an established campervan spot, try to keep a modest profile.


Be Considerate

Noise pollution is still pollution. Nothing breeds resentment towards vanlifers like being forced to listen to music or a running generator when out in nature. Bright spotlights, slamming doors, and running engines shatter the tranquillity of natural spaces and draw attention if you're engaged in 'grey area' camping.


Think Stealth

Above all, remember that nobody can complain if they don't know you're there (or can easily pretend you aren't). If in doubt about a park-up, draw the curtains, stay inside, and blend in.


Don't Cause a Scene

If you're asked to move on, swallow your pride and do as you're asked. It's not worth getting into fights, no matter how uppity or entitled landowners or authorities might be. The reputation of the vanlife community depends on mutual respect, de-escalation, and depriving people of a reason to complain.


Park and Sleep for Non-RV Travellers

Living the van life but not in a van? Many travellers keep things basic and sleep in their car. It's also a solution for people moving around on a very small budget. Sleeping in your car requires the same mindset and caution as sleeping in your van, but comes with one or two extra considerations.


Privacy

You're unlikely to have curtains or window covers in your car, but spending time parked up with the interior lights on is the exact opposite of stealth. We'd highly recommend a set of insulating window covers:


magnetic car window covers

These will prevent anyone from seeing inside your vehicle, keep some warmth in, and prevent condensation buildup.


Power

We'd also highly recommend a portable power station. Vanlifers have the luxury of a dedicated electrical system for keeping their devices charged. This being unfeasible in a car, many people simply rely on their car's 12V cigarette lighter socket. However, when you're not driving, this quickly drains your car's starter battery.


ecoflow river 2 on table

A portable power station is a portable, fast-charging battery bank that can charge from your cigarette lighter socket and will power a phone and laptop for days at a time.


Sleeping

Finally, unless you have the luxury of a car whose seats fold completely flat, you're likely to be dealing with a rather uneven sleeping surface. Even with an infaltable camping mat, a bumpy or sloped surface seriously impacts comfort. A Japanese-style futon mattress is an excellent addition to a car sleeping setup:


japanese futon roll up

Designed to roll up for compact storage, they can also be folded in such a way as to even out a sloped and uneven sleeping area.


As a dedicated outdoor adventurer who's spent plenty of time 'between vans', I'm no stranger to sleeping in my car. These three items have been transformative, and I'm now perfectly happy with my car setup.


Final Thoughts

The more time you spend out and about, the more common sense you'll develop when assessing a park-up. Play it safe at first, and pay attention to what others are doing. Apps like The Dyrt, Harvest Hosts, Brit Stops, and Park4Night take out the guesswork, allowing you to park and sleep where others have given the thumbs up. As you learn the way of the road, you'll get better at finding and assessing park-ups on your own. Above all, be considerate and respectful of locals and the environment, giving nobody a reason to complain about the lifestyle you've chosen. Following the advice given in this article should ensure that you and the rest of the community will have plenty of park-ups and wild camping spots to enjoy for years to come.


 

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