Camping guide
Car camping and boondocking
Car camping and boondocking open up a freer, cheaper way to road trip — sleeping where the day ends instead of racing to a booked campsite. This guide covers the difference between the two, how to find spots, what to pack, and how to stay safe, legal and respectful so these options stay open for everyone.
Start planning nowWhat is car camping?
Car camping simply means using your vehicle as your base for sleeping — either dozing inside it or pitching a tent right beside it. At a developed campsite you'll have toilets, water and sometimes electric hook-ups; the car just saves you carrying gear far. It's the easiest entry point to camping because you can bring more comfort than a backpacker ever could.
What is boondocking?
Boondocking — also called dispersed, wild or free camping — means staying overnight away from developed campsites, with no hook-ups, water or facilities. It's hugely popular with campervanners chasing remote, scenic and free spots. The trade-off is that you must be entirely self-sufficient and far more careful about where you stop, because the rules vary enormously by country and even by local area.
How to find spots
Apps make this far easier than it used to be. Park4Night and iOverlander list user-reviewed overnight spots, aires and dispersed sites across the UK, Europe and beyond. Designated motorhome aires and 'Britstops'-style farm and pub stopovers are a reliable, welcome option in the UK. Always read recent reviews for height barriers, no-overnight signs and how busy a spot gets, and have a backup in mind in case your first choice is full or closed.
Kitting out your car for sleeping
You don't need a campervan conversion to start. A flat sleeping platform or a well-arranged back seat, a good sleeping mat and a warm sleeping bag are the essentials. Add window covers or reflective screens for privacy and insulation, a power bank or leisure battery for charging, and a simple stove for cooking outside the vehicle. Keep a head torch, water and a small first-aid kit within reach, and never run the engine for heat while you sleep — carbon monoxide is a real risk.
Staying safe and legal
The legal picture matters most. In England and Wales there is no general right to wild camp or sleep overnight on the roadside, so you need the landowner's permission. Scotland allows responsible wild camping for tents under the Outdoor Access Code, but this does not cover sleeping in a vehicle in laybys. Across Europe, rules differ by country and region. Wherever you are, trust your instincts on a spot, arrive late and leave early, avoid private land and 'no overnight parking' signs, and use proper campsites or aires when in doubt.
Leave no trace
These freedoms survive only while campers respect them. Take every scrap of litter home, never empty toilet waste or grey water anywhere but a proper disposal point, keep noise down, don't light fires in dry conditions, and leave each spot exactly as you found it. Quietly setting a good example is the single best thing you can do to keep wild spots open for the next traveller.
Car camping and boondocking FAQ
What is the difference between car camping and boondocking?
Car camping usually means sleeping in or beside your vehicle at a developed campsite with facilities, while boondocking (also called dispersed or wild camping) means staying overnight away from campsites with no hook-ups or facilities, relying on being fully self-sufficient.
Is it legal to sleep in your car?
It depends on where you are. In England and Wales there is no general right to sleep overnight on the roadside or wild camp without the landowner's permission. Scotland allows responsible tent wild camping but not vehicle overnighting in laybys, and rules vary across Europe. Use campsites or designated aires when in doubt.
How do you find free camping spots?
Apps like Park4Night and iOverlander list user-reviewed overnight spots, and designated motorhome aires and farm or pub stopovers are reliable options in the UK. Always check recent reviews and local rules, and have a backup spot in mind.
What do you need for car camping?
The essentials are a flat sleeping setup, a good sleeping mat and warm sleeping bag, window covers for privacy and insulation, a power bank for charging, water, a head torch and a stove for cooking outside the car. Never run the engine for heat while you sleep.