How to Sleep in Your Car on a Road Trip: 10 Tips for Comfort and Security

Are you ready to embark on an epic road trip?

Wait – where are you going to sleep? 

I don’t know about you, but I find that my car makes an ideal bed while I’m on the road. I actually prefer sleeping in the car to booking hotels! And it’s a lot easier than you think. 

Discover how to sleep in your car on a road trip while ensuring the greatest comfort and security possible. 

How to Sleep in Your Car on a Road Trip

I think sleeping in a car during a road trip is far superior to booking hotels. But to do it right, you must consider safety and comfort. 

Here’s what you need to know so you can sleep soundly while car camping. 

Safety First When Sleeping in the Car

The biggest challenge to sleeping in your car is finding a safe and legal parking spot. Although campgrounds specifically designed for sleeping are the safest option, sometimes even those are beyond our budget, or miles out of the way. 

But don’t fear. If you stay in the right places, sleeping in your car is nearly as safe as sleeping at a hotel. 

Here’s what to look for when deciding where to stop for the night. 

Truck Stops

I typically stay at truck stops when I sleep in the car, as most allow overnight parking. You can find them all along the federal interstate system in the US. 

Most allow overnight parking, which is common if you are on the federal interstate system (USA). Check out this handy guide for truck stops on your route so you can pre-plan where you will stay. 

Opt for a truck stop that’s open for 24 hours, and park in an open area of the lot that’s easy to see from the front. With constant traffic overnight and a line of sight to the front door, you’re unlikely to be bothered. 

Walmart

Finding free places to rest for the night becomes tricky if you travel on state routes and back roads. 

Fortunately, most Walmart stores in rural areas allow overnight parking.

Walmart prefers overnight campers to park in the rear of their stores. You will often see RVs and trailers parked in that area as other weary travelers bunker down in the lot for the night. If you’re in a sedan or SUV, you can get away with parking closer to the door.

I stayed overnight at Walmart during my trip through Arizona and Utah. Since I was driving a small SUV, I parked closer to the store, a little away from the vans.  Although most people wouldn’t bother you, you want to be sure you can escape into the store in case of an emergency. 

I felt safe the entire night. 

No Walmart or Truck Stop

Walmart stores with overnight parking and truck stops are the safest places to sleep in your car, because there are often others doing the exact same thing. 

But sometimes there are no Walmart or truck stops available. 

If you’re in a pinch, you can sleep on roads with residential parking or in other parking lots with many cars. These are the least safe options, and often, police or security will force you to move along if they see you. 

However, if you’re too tired to safely drive, sometimes you have to do what you have to do. 

On the last night of my road trip through the Canyons of the Ancients, I slept in a Days Inn parking lot just outside Zion National Park.

I was terrified that I would be found out and towed, but I made it safely through the night. 

How to Sleep in the Car Safely in Hotel Lots or on the Street

Hotels and residential areas frown upon car sleepers. Nicer hotels take down license plates to prevent them, while residential areas strictly enforce permit parking. 

Avoiding detection is key to safely sleeping in a hotel parking lot or residential neighborhood. 

Opt for middle-class neighborhoods without permits and big-name chain motels with large lots. Avoid fancy hotels, as they will likely ask for license plates and patrol the parking area. 

Keep a low profile and try your best to make it look like no one is in the car. Wake up early and move out before any guests or nosy neighbors can spot you. 

Ensure your car blends in. Don’t park your beater amongst a sea of luxury cars. That’s a surefire way for someone to complain. 

What if You’re Discovered?

The worst thing someone can do is try to tow you. They will generally just ask you to move if you are in the car. 

Please note that car sleeping is illegal in some places. Be sure to follow the local laws. If asked to leave, leave without an argument. 

Although sleeping in a residential area or hotel parking lot isn’t ideal, it’s doable in a pinch. You’ll likely go undetected if you park near other cars and keep a low profile. 

Car Camping at Rest-Stops

Rest stops have a bad reputation. In the 80s, many rest areas transformed into nefarious places at night. Although that was a long time ago, and rest areas are typically safer nowadays, they are still a last resort option, especially for solo travelers.

Rest areas are well-lit but not well-traveled. Some along major freeways may get a lot of traffic at night, but in rural areas, you may not see another soul. Police officers or city officials may check in every now and again, but you won’t know their schedule. 

Although it’s unlikely that something bad would happen at a rest stop, the solitude makes it riskier than the other options. 

Those traveling with a partner may feel safer staying overnight at a rest stop. 

How To Sleep Comfortably in the Car During a Road Trip

The back seat of a car doesn’t offer the comforts of a hotel bed. Even a fairly short person can’t fully stretch out in the back seat of sedans and small SUVs.

But there are ways to make it more comfortable. 

Choose the Right Car

If you’re taking a road trip from home, you’re probably using whatever car you own, so you might not get to choose the best car to sleep in. 

However, if you’re renting a vehicle or have a choice, consider comfort. 

Large, roomy SUVs or vans are ideal. Some vans even have beds that fold down!

But you’re likely stuck with what you’ve got. 

Making Your Car Comfortable for Sleeping

Most cars can be comfortable enough for sleeping. You just have to know how to fold them!

Where to Sleep in the Car

Most car campers simply lean the driver’s seat back for a few hours of shut-eye. However, when I’m alone, I prefer the passenger seat, as there’s no pesky steering wheel to get in the way. 

If you have an SUV or crossover, test folding down the back seats to see if you can make a good sleeping surface. Unfortunately, this trick did not work in my SUV, as the back seats didn’t fold completely flat, but instead had a weird incline that made sleeping uncomfortable. 

I usually sleep in the back seat. I’m short enough (and my SUV is wide enough) that I could stretch fully out in the back. Taller folks may have to sleep with bent knees to make the back seat work. 

Blankets and Cushions

Car seats are made for driving, not sleeping. Therefore, the supports might be in the wrong place. 

Blankets, paddings, pillows, and cushions are your best friends. Extra cushions can help even out an uneven surface and prevent seat belts that refuse to tuck into the seats from prodding you all night long.

Extra blankets placed over windows can help block out street lights. Your car interior won’t be completely dark, but it will be easier to sleep without the bright light shining in your eyes. Roll the window down slightly and put a tiny edge of the blanket through it, then roll it back up to secure the blanket in place for makeshift curtains.

Hygiene While Car Camping

The biggest benefit to booking a room is easy access to the bathroom. You can brush your teeth, shower, do your business, and keep yourself clean. 

Cars don’t usually have those amenities, but that doesn’t mean you should avoid sleeping in the car. Follow these tips and you’ll be fine. 

Sleep Near a Bathroom

If you, like me, need to run to the bathroom first thing in the morning, choose a parking location with one nearby. 

Again, truck stops and Walmart reign supreme. Many truck stops even offer showers, so if you’re feeling ripe after a few days on the road, you can book one. 

When there aren’t any nearby, consider parking somewhere that’s only a short drive from a gas station that opens early in the morning. 

Sink Hygiene

Sleeping in the car doesn’t mean you have to forgo daily rituals like brushing your teeth and washing your face. 

Do it in the sink at the gas station or Walmart. 

Nobody will care. 

Roughing It

Sometimes you won’t find a parking spot near any civilization, but that’s okay, roughing it is part of the fun!

Bring extra water bottles so you can brush your teeth, and pack wet wipes so you can keep your most sensitive bits clean while on the road. 

How to Sleep in the Car with Your Family

If you’re taking a road trip with your little ones, you may want to rethink sleeping in the car. It will be hard enough to survive a road trip with kids without sleeping on top of one another in the car. 

Those with large vehicles like vans and SUVs can probably make car sleeping with the kids work, but if you have a sedan or small pickup, it may not be a viable option.  

The number of people and the car’s size will help you decide whether sleeping in the car is a good fit. I probably wouldn’t do it, but sometimes you’ve gotta do what you’ve gotta do, right?

Enjoy Car Camping!

Sleeping in the car on a road trip should be on everyone’s bucket list. It offers limitless freedom for a fraction of the price. 

Follow our advice for how to sleep in the car and make the best of the liberating experience.