Where to sleep (and wake up happy) in your camper van
Our top picks of where to stay for road days, nature escapes and more
A Hipcamp, owned and operated by local people who list their campsites on the app, can be a great alternative to a larger campground. Although, they don’t always have all the amenities of one.
The super cool thing about a camper van is that you have a place to sleep no matter where you go. However, there’s the matter of where to park your van before hopping in bed and heading off to dreamland.
There are loads of places to stop and settle in for the night, along with websites, apps and maps to help you find them.
You can plan out where to sleep ahead of time or on the go.
We do both.
But, I find I can relax more on a trip if I plan out where to stay in our camper van before we leave home. At least for some of the nights.
So, what types of places do I look for when planning a camper van trip?
That can depend on a few things, including the weather, local laws and what’s available in the area. But, I’ve noticed they’re not the primary factors that determine where we stay in our camper van.
Instead, the biggest factor for me, as our trip planner, is: What are we doing in the area where we’re staying?
We want something wildly different from our overnight camper van stay if we’re just passing through an area versus staying and exploring.
And, if we are staying, we want something different depending on the type of trip and destination it is.
Top spots to stay in your camper van
So, let’s take a look at my favorite places to stay in our camper van based on what we’re doing that day or on that trip.
1 I just need a place to sleep
Best place to stay in your camper van: Cracker Barrel
Staying overnight in a Cracker Barrel parking lot is a free and convenient option when you’re just passing through an area.
It’s typical to have one, two or even more days when we’re just driving to or between destinations where we’ll stay longer. I call these our travel days. And, they’re necessary when you go by road.
Sometimes they’re also a bit of a slog.
One thing I’ve found that makes them better? Staying overnight in our camper van at Cracker Barrel. Or, as I fondly call it, Cracky.
Say what? Staying in a parking lot at a chain restaurant makes your camper van trip better?
I know. I wouldn’t have believed it myself a few years ago.
And, yet here I am telling you, Cracker Barrel is my favorite place to stay the night on a travel day.
Sleeping at Cracker Barrel in our camper van checks off the two biggest things I look for in a place to stay when we’re just passing through: convenience and affordability.
I don’t want to stray too far off our route, and I don’t want to spend much on a short stay. We’re probably arriving late and leaving early(ish).
Cracker Barrels are located right alongside the freeway, typically in the suburbs not too far outside a city. So, the convenience is hard to beat on a camper van trip.
A hot breakfast at Cracker Barrel in the morning makes sleeping in their parking lot even more attractive.
Then, there’s the affordability. Cracker Barrel is known for welcoming overnight RVers, and it’s free to stay.
Major bonus: breakfast and bathrooms in the morning.
And that, friends, is why Cracker Barrel tops the list of places to stay when we’re just passing through.
It’s convenient, affordable and simple. Just pull in, look for the RV spots and settle in.
We’ve never gone inside to let a manager know we’d be sleeping there, but you certainly could. And, we’ve never had a problem staying at Cracker Barrels in Kentucky, Mississippi, Missouri and beyond.
We’ve even stayed in a Cracker Barrel parking lot as our only overnight on a trip. Such as when we head out for just one night to see a concert or go to another event.
There is one thing, however, that makes me not want to stay at Cracker Barrel: the weather. Getting the van cooled down enough to sleep after a hot travel day can take a few hours of air conditioning. And, we have to run our generator at Cracker Barrel to do that. There are no electric hookups.
It’s doable, of course. But, we don’t want to sleep with the generator on — too loud.
And, sleeping with the windows open once the van cools down raises some safety concerns. Not to mention, someone could walk right up and observe us snoozing. Creepy!
Cold nights at Cracker Barrel are a little easier. We can turn on our propane heating system, or just bundle up under the covers.
Still, there are times when we want the comfort and convenience of electric hookups because it’s so hot or cold out. On those nights, we skip Cracker Barrel and typically look for a campground close to the freeway instead.
Other places to try when you just need a place to sleep in your camper van
Rest area
This is a great option if there’s no Cracker Barrel nearby and the weather isn’t too hot or too cold. Because, again, you won’t have any electric hookups at a rest area.
However, it’s not legal in every state to stay overnight at a rest stop. Some states, such as Kansas, allow it. (Thank you, Kansas!)
Others let you sleep there, but only for a few hours. So, check the state laws before you pick a rest stop as your place to stay the night.
Less than 3 miles from I-70, Wilson RV Park in Wilson, Kansas, is a convenient option for an overnight in your camper van. We enjoyed breakfast from their onsite café, Cozy Coffee.
Freeway-close campgrounds
There’s a well-known chain of campgrounds with locations that are almost always close to the freeway: Kampgrounds of America (KOA).
However, they’re not always cheap.
Many of them have amenities, such as swimming pools and cafés, that increase the cost of staying there.
Although, due to the convenient location and hookups, we might just stay at one on a travel day anyway.
If so, we get the smallest and cheapest campsite we can.
In some areas, you’ll also find private campgrounds that are close to the freeway and have fewer amenities, which often means lower rates.
Truck stop gas stations
If a gas station is big enough to allow 18-wheelers to stay the night, chances are they’ll allow a camper van to stay, too. If you aren’t sure, just go inside and ask.
Something super cool we want to try: Love’s RV Stops.
Some locations of Love’s Travel Stops have a handful of RV spots with electric hookups. You, of course, pay for these spots — reserve one in advance online or on the Love’s Connect app, if you like.
We have yet to be in the right place at the right time to stay at one. But, given that Love’s is our favorite gas station due to the clean restrooms, great snacks and fenced dog areas, we hope to try it one day.
Walmart
Another parking lot popular for overnight camper van stays is Walmart. From what we understand, not all locations allow RVs to stay overnight, so we don’t bother with it.
If you’d like to try it, however, the Internet at large recommends calling or going in to ask the manager if you can stay there in your camper van.
At the very least, check the parking lot for signs that expressly prohibit overnight parking.
2 I want to explore a city
Best place to stay in your camper van: KOA
KOAs typically crowd their sites together, but they’re still a great option for staying in your camper van to enjoy a little urban tourism.
Here’s where KOAs pop up on our camper van itineraries: Urban tourism.
There’s a KOA close to major cities from Philadelphia to Chicago to San Francisco. Not walking close. But, sometimes Uber and Lyft close.
Although, the bigger the city, the farther away the KOA seems to be.
So, check your transportation options if you want to leave your van plugged in at the campsite rather than try to find parking in the city.
There might even be a low-cost shuttle from the KOA into the city center.
Nashville KOA, for example, partners with a local shuttle service that, as of this blog posting, provides transportation to Lower Broadway and back for only $15 roundtrip. It’s about a 20-minute ride, and it’s cash only.
You need to call and arrange a pickup at the campground in advance. They don’t just stop by looking for people who might need a lift.
We’ve stayed at Nashville KOA twice. Both times, however, we got around by Uber and Lyft.
Often packed with amenities, activities and games, KOAs can have slightly higher rates than other campgrounds. But, their city-close locations are convenient for certain types of trips.
The first time we stayed, we didn’t even know about the shuttle until we checked in, so we didn’t have time to schedule a pickup.
The second, we called on our way to the KOA and arranged a ride. Smart, right?
However, when the shuttle arrived, we were still getting the van and dogs ready for a little quiet time, and it left without us.
Womp. Womp.
Maybe the third time will be a charm, and we can hop on the shuttle from Nashville KOA to Lower Broadway. I want to go back and tour the Johnny Cash Museum.
With their city-close locations, KOAs make urban tourism in a camper van more doable.
When we head off to explore, we like knowing the van isn’t too far away and that the dogs are safe and comfortable inside, with the heat or ac running, if needed.
And, you can typically rely on a KOA to have clean bathrooms and showers.
Other places to try when you want to explore an urban area in your camper van
City-close campgrounds
KOAs aren’t your only option for having the comfort and convenience of electric hookups near a city. You might just find a private campground outside the city where you’re headed.
To find these, I look up the city on Google Maps, select the Nearby option and enter “RV camping” or “RV campground.” I like to have “RV” in my search because RV campgrounds almost always have electric hookups.
Staying next to Castor River at a Hipcamp in Fredericktown, Missouri, made for a relaxing getaway not too far from home.
Airbnb-like apps
Everyone knows by now that Airbnb enables homeowners to rent their house, condo or cabin to others for what’s typically a short stay. Other apps do the same for landowners.
Use them when you’re looking for a place to park your van for a night or longer.
I have the most experience with Hipcamp.
I haven’t used it to stay in or near a city, but you could.
For example, the Garden Oasis in the Heart of Vegas listing says it’s just minutes from the famous Las Vegas Strip. And, it offers electric, water and sewage hookups.
Meanwhile, closer to where Super Cool Van Trips calls home, is the Urban Surprise listing, which offers a Saint Louis driveway with electric, water and sewer hookups.
Not all listings offer such amenities, so be sure you check what’s available before booking.
Vanly is a similar app, but I haven’t tried that one yet.
Friends’ driveways
Have friends or friends of friends in the city where you’re going? Ask if you can stay in their driveway. Be sure to let them know there’s no pressure to say, “yes.”
And, be sure to keep things lowkey. Some cities have laws that prohibit people from living in an RV, even in a driveway. And, some neighbors might not like it.
Still, we’ve stayed in friends’ driveways in Colorado Springs and Louisville, Kentucky. And, we have our eye on a friend’s driveway in Santa Fe.
I’d love to expand our network of driveways to stay in. Sometimes, it’s all you really need. And, if you become tight with the Super Cool crew, we have a driveway for you in Missouri.
3 I want to check out a small town
Best place to stay in your camper van: Hipcamp
When you stay at a Hipcamp, you typically support local property owners, including the artists who own and operate this one in Morrison, Colorado.
Small towns are a delightful destination for a camper van trip. There are probably some cool things to check out — a restaurant, park, brewery, museum or festival.
Plus, small towns are typically close to nature. Meaning you can go on an amazing hike and then get a great dirty chai afterward. It’s the best of both worlds.
Some small towns even have some pretty nice private campgrounds.
But, when we’re heading to stay in a small town in our camper van, the first place I look is Hipcamp.
Hipcamps are often (but not always) smaller and more scenic than a full-fledged campground. And, they typically have more personality.
The tradeoff can be fewer amenities. But, if it means fewer people, that’s just fine by us.
We’ve stayed at Hipcamps in our home state of Missouri, along with Illinois and Colorado.
We chose an RV spot at Red Rocks Paradise in Morrison, Colorado, where we slept in our camper van last summer next to a ginormous light-up robot made of scrap metal. While we were there, we explored the town of Morrison and went to a concert at Red Rocks Amphitheatre.
You won’t find a bocce ball court and “grainzebo” at just any Hipcamp, but you will at Wine Trail Wilderness in Southern Illinois.
More recently, we stayed at Wine Trail Wilderness in Pomona, Illinois, near the Shawnee National Forest and Shawnee Wine Trail.
This might just be the crème de la crème of Hipcamps.
A few days before our stay, the hosts sent us bottle lists from two nearby wineries and offered to pick up anything we wanted. We selected a rosé and paid for it once we arrived.
Handing off the rosé, they then escorted us to our site, where a cooler of cold water from their 450-foot-deep well was waiting. They showed us around the “grainzebo” — a gazebo fashioned from a grain silo off a local farm that has a gas grill and picnic table.
There’s also a bocce ball court. And, the bathroom has a composting toilet with a sink and soap outside.
Perhaps, best of all, the campsites aren’t all on top of each other like we’ve experienced at other Hipcamps.
Imagine finding all that from a campground, even a family-run one.
Of course, there are other ways to enjoy a camper van stay in a small town
State parks
State parks are typically near small towns and may offer more amenities, such as electric hookups and a campground store, than a Hipcamp. Plus, you know that your stay helps to support the state park system, which provides a valuable way for people to enjoy the outdoors.
Private campgrounds
We’ve already hit on private campgrounds a couple of times — for being close to a freeway or city. You’ll also, of course, find them close to or maybe even in a small town.
We love a little family-run campground because we know we’re supporting a local business.
One thing I do stay away from, however, is a private campground that allows people to live there long-term in their RVs. There just seems to be a weird us (travelers) versus them (full-timers) vibe that I don’t enjoy. And, sometimes those campgrounds tend to be a little, well, less nice. Because saying “junky” — whoops — wouldn’t be polite.
Staying at Historic Arcadia Farm, a Harvest Hosts location in Kentucky, felt a bit like escaping to the Irish countryside.
Harvest Hosts
A great option for a unique small-town stay is Harvest Hosts.
You pay for a Harvest Hosts membership, which gets you a one-night stay at a participating business, such as a winery or museum, at no extra cost. Although, you can sometimes pay for extra nights or amenities, such as electric hookups.
We’ve enjoyed stays at Short Mountain Distillery in Woodbury, Tennessee, Paddle Stop Brewery in New Haven, Missouri, and Historic Arcadia Farm in Stanford, Kentucky, among others.
There’s an expectation for you to spend money at the business, but you’ll probably want to anyway.
If you’re not yet a member, feel free to use our referral link to sign up for Harvest Hosts at 15% off.
Currently, a standard annual membership is $99. They also have pricier memberships that include golf courses, campgrounds and more.
4 I want to escape to nature
Best place to stay in your camper van: State parks
We’ll gladly stay at a state park instead of a national park so we can hike with Bonnie and Clyde. Which is what we did at Cloudland Canyon State Park in Georgia.
You may be surprised that state parks are my top pick when we want to escape to nature in our camper van.
But, hear me out.
State parks and state recreation areas can be just as scenic and iconic as national parks. The thing that sets them apart for me: Dogs are typically allowed on the hiking trails at state parks but not at national parks.
We get there are fragile ecosystems and dogs stomping through them, even while leashed on a trail, isn’t great. But, how different is it really from a human stomping through them on a trail?
Another reason to opt for a state park: There are more of them to choose from than national parks — thousands compared to under 100.
Lake Macatawa Campground is one of two campgrounds at Holland State Park in Michigan.
Some of our favorite state parks so far include Holland State Park in Michigan, Edgar Evins State Park in Tennessee and Cloudland Canyon State Park in Georgia.
Holland State Park has two campgrounds. One’s more woodsy and within walking distance of Lake Michigan. The other seems more like a parking lot, but it’s right by the lake.
The campground at Edgar Evins State Park is built on a hillside overlooking Center Hill Lake. Many campsites consist of an elevated wooden platform, and I found that absolutely delightful. Like having your very own lakeside balcony.
And, camping at Cloudland Canyon State Park puts you front and center for hiking to two magnificent waterfalls on a single trail: Hemlock and Cherokee falls.
The bad thing about state parks? Just like national parks, getting a campsite reservation can be tough. Do some research before you plan a trip so you understand when the campsite reservations open for booking. Sometimes it’s 6 months in advance. Sometimes 1 year.
And, when the reservations do open, get online early and book your stay.
Other places to stay when you want to escape to nature in your camper van
National parks
Of course national parks have to be on the list of nature-centric places to stay in your camper van. We haven’t yet had the pleasure, but we hope to soon.
Although, I have to say, I have campsite booking anxiety when it comes to the national parks. The sites, especially ones with electric hookups, are so hard to come by.
But, clearly, it’s not impossible because millions of people camp in the national parks every year. It’s just a matter, as with state parks, of staying on top of when to book.
Apps and websites like Campflare (free) and Campnab (paid) can help by sending you campsite availability or cancellation alerts.
Bureau of Land Management
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) oversees about 245 million acres of public land, largely in western states such as Utah, Montana, California and Wyoming.
There are some developed campgrounds with restrooms, electric hookups and other amenities.
But, largely, there’s just land for dispersed camping — also known as boondocking or wild camping. This means there are no amenities, likely not even picnic tables and certainly not restrooms. So, be sure to arrive with everything, including power, food and a bathroom, you need for your stay.
Also do some research to understand if you need a permit, if you can have a campfire and how long you can stay. You can browse places to camp on the BLM website or use their interactive map.
Apps and websites can help, too. Try The Dyrt (free or paid), iOverlander (app only; crowd-sourced; free or paid) or Campendium (free or paid).
U.S. Forest Service
The U.S. Forest Service (USFS) manages another 193 acres of public land, mostly, as the name implies, in forested areas. And, yes, you can camp in some of them.
Like BLM, USFS offers both developed and dispersed camping. Find spots to camp using their digital maps, interactive map or PDF maps. Or, try the same apps listed for BLM camping.
5 I want to stealth camp
Best place to stay in your camper van: Wherever you happen to be
Do you really need to go through all the effort of finding a place to stay in your camper van? Not necessarily.
Can’t you just pull over and go to sleep? Sure.
People stealth camp in their camper vans all the time.
Stealth camping means staying overnight somewhere it’s not typically allowed, such as on a city street.
If you can make it look like the van is just parked there for the night and that no one’s sleeping inside, you might get away with it. The key is to not draw attention to yourself with a lot of noise or lights.
This isn’t typically our style, save for the driveway stays. Plus, that one time we parked on the street outside a friends’ house in our college town and slept there.
We’d rather avoid an officer or security guard knocking on our window in the middle of the night.
Most likely, they’d just ask us to leave.
Still, it’s something we don’t care to deal with. But, you might feel differently.
There are endless places — both paid and free, legal and not so much — to stay in your camper van.
Just remember, no matter where you decide to stay in your camper van, be sure to keep safety in mind. If a parking lot is too dark or a BLM location feels off, don’t stay there. The same goes for anywhere you’re thinking about stopping for the night.
Who knows, maybe one morning we’ll open our van door and find you in the parking space or campsite right next to us. If so, I hope we can say, “hello.”
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