Where Can You Park a Campervan Overnight?
Updated · By the Vanlifer team · 3 min read
The main types of overnight spot
| Type | What it is | Typical cost |
|---|---|---|
| Motorhome aire / camper stop | A designated parking area for motorhomes and campervans, often run by the town. Usually has a service point for water and waste. Called aire de camping-car (France), Stellplatz (Germany, Austria), área de autocaravanas (Spain, Portugal), area sosta camper (Italy), camperplaats (Netherlands). | Free to roughly €20 a night, depending on the country and the services. |
| Campsite | A full campsite with pitches, toilets, showers and electricity. You can set up chairs, an awning and so on. | The most expensive option. Many campsites offer cheaper "quick stop" rates for motorhomes arriving late and leaving early. |
| Private land with permission | Farms, wineries, breweries and pubs that welcome vans for a night, often through networks (France Passion, Brit Stops, Hinterland and similar). | Often free if you buy something; the networks themselves may charge a yearly fee. |
| Public parking ("park-up") | An ordinary car park or street where overnight parking is not prohibited. You park, sleep inside and leave in the morning. | Free or the normal parking fee. |
| Wild / nature spot | Off-grid spots away from towns. Legal in some countries, tolerated in some places and banned in many others (especially national parks and coastal protected areas). | Free. |
Parking vs camping: the line that matters most
In much of Europe the law treats a van that is simply parked, with people sleeping inside, differently from a van that is camping. You are usually considered to be camping when you:
- put out chairs, a table, an awning or a barbecue;
- use levelling blocks or wind-out legs;
- open windows outward or take up more space than the parking bay;
- empty water or waste anywhere other than a service point.
Staying "parked" (everything inside, wheels on the ground, nothing out) is what keeps an overnight stop discreet and, in many places, legal. Our is van life legal guide explains this distinction country by country.
How to tell if a spot is OK for the night
- Read the signs. A crossed-out motorhome symbol, a height barrier, or "no overnight parking / camping" means no. In France look for "stationnement interdit aux camping-cars"; in Spain, "prohibido pernoctar".
- Read recent reviews. On the Vanlifer map every spot shows photos, services and how recently someone stayed. A spot that was fine two years ago may now be signed.
- Check where you are. National parks, nature reserves, beaches and coastal strips have the strictest rules almost everywhere.
- Arrive late, leave early, leave no trace. It is the simplest way to avoid trouble and to keep spots open for the next van.
- If police or a landowner ask you to move, move. Be polite; arguing rarely helps.
Rules by country
The rules really do differ. In Scandinavia the right to roam is generous but does not simply cover motor vehicles. Portugal tightened its motorhome rules in 2021, and Scotland's access rights do not include vehicles. Spain has regional and municipal rules. Start here:
- Wild camping in Europe: rules by country
- Aires in France · Spain · Portugal
- Scotland & the NC500 · Norway & Sweden
- Freedom camping in New Zealand
Finding spots with the Vanlifer map
Vanlifer is a free community map. Filter by Park for the night, Motorhome aire, Campsite, Wild / nature, Drinking water or Waste / dump, and open a spot to see its photos, services, price and reviews. If you find a good place that isn't on the map yet, drop a pin. Each spot gets its own public page, so other travellers can find it too. Browse all spots by country or the community's favourite spots.
Frequently asked questions
Sources
- France: Service-Public, rules on motorhome parking
- Scottish Outdoor Access Code (access rights exclude motorised vehicles)
Rules and prices change, and local signs and bylaws always take priority. This guide was last checked on 19 October 2026. Spotted something out of date? Tell us in the Telegram community.
