16 BEST Tips For Sleeping In Your Car

Do you ever dream about hitting the road on an exciting adventure where you camp along the way? The world is huge and full of neat places to explore. Traveling can be expensive, especially if you pay for hotel rooms.

But car camping helps you save loads of money and can be super fun. In this article I will be sharing 16 tips on how to have a safer and more enjoyable experience while sleeping in your car.

Stealth is super important when it comes to car camping. The more obvious people are about camping out of their cars, the more likely it is that businesses will crack down on them and cities will make new rules and regulations about car camping.

It's also much safer to be stealthy while car camping. That means you lay low and seem as inconspicuous as possible. If people see you sleeping in your car they can give you a hard time.

Here are my car camping tips for you.

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Have a comfy sleep set up

You can transform just about ANY car into a cozy car camper. The most important thing when considering sleeping in your car is the bed set up. The whole experience can be ruined by a bad night's sleep.

There are many different ways to set up a bed in your car.

My bed is in the back of my sedan and is made up of foam and layers of blankets. Sure, it's a little crammed in there, but it's still possible to sleep comfortably in it.

Bigger cars are better when it comes to setting up a bed. For a larger car you can usually put down the back seats and make it nice and flat. Then you can set up a cot, a sleeping mat, or an inflatable bed. You can also DIY your car camper bed by buying foam from the store, or even by using couch cushions.

To stay nice and warm, get a good sleeping bag. Use the same blankets and pillows you have on your bed and you're set for a good night's sleep!

Window covers

You most definitely don't want people to peer into your car while you're trying to sleep. So, window covers are a MUST when car camping. It's also important to stay as stealthy as possible. You don't want people to know you're in there because then they can cause trouble. They might call the cops, or wonder if you're dead and end up knocking.

You can buy window covers or make your own. These are the window covers I recently purchased. They magnetically attach to your window.

For fun DIY window covers, check out this video. I made coastal inspired window covers.

Back into your spot

Car camping is unpredictable. You never know when you'll have to quickly leave. It's a smart move to back into a parking spot, so if you must flee you can do so easily.

Keep driver's seat empty

If you do have to leave abruptly, whether a cop tells you to or someone starts harassing you, it helps to have the driver's seat empty. Sometimes people want to move things to the front to clear up the back while they sleep, but it's important to leave the driver's seat free of belongings in case you have to hop in there to drive away.

Don't have lights on while sleeping

Here's another stealth tip. Since you don't want to make it obvious that you're in there at night, refrain from having any lights on while sleeping. It's a good idea to limit light usage once it gets dark. Even with the window covers up sometimes people can still see lights on in the car.

Don't sleep somewhere unless you know you're allowed

No one wants to get kicked out of a spot while you're trying to sleep. You especially don't want the rude awakening of the dreaded Knock. Always be sure you are parking somewhere that you are allowed. Walmarts were once a safe place for car campers, but now many of them prohibit overnight parking. Always check for signs.

Ventilation

A car camping trip can become deadly if you can't breathe in the middle of the night. It's important to have some ventilation. Crack a window open to allow air in. You can get bug screens to prevent mosquitos from getting in while windows are open. In case of rain, you might want some rain guards so water doesn't pour in.

Self defense

Humans can be dangerous, so don't forget to have some form of self defense within reach. Make sure you know right where it is and could easily grab it in the dark. You never know when someone will break into your car. Safety first!

If you're car camping in bear territory, be sure to have bear spray.

Charge your phone

The best time to charge your phone is while you're sleeping. I recommend getting a portable power station or portable charger. It's a terrible thing to be caught on the road with a dead phone.

Tell someone your location

Naturally, family members and friends will be concerned about you sleeping in you car. It's a good idea to share your location with a few people you are close to. If anything happens, it is good for them to know the last spot you were at.

Lock your doors

This should go without saying, but I'll mention it anyway. Always keep your doors locked, even when you're not sleeping, including while you're driving.

Easy access to your keys

Make sure your keys are easily accessible while you're sleeping in your car. If you get spooked or a stranger starts bothering you and you decide to leave, you don't want to have to frantically search for your keys.

Arrive late, leave early

For the sake of stealth, always arrive at your sleep spot late and leave first thing in the morning. The less time you spend at one spot, the better your chance of avoiding issues with other people. No one even has to know you were sleeping there.

Don't set up sleep system where you'll be sleeping

If you don't have a fixed bed, meaning you have to set something up to sleep, be sure to do that somewhere besides where you are sleeping. You don't want strangers to see you set up a bed, and have them know where you are sleeping. So do it ahead of time, then drive to your spot so you can easily hop in bed without it being obvious.

White noise/noise canceling headphones

Things can get loud when you're sleeping on the road. Having a white noise machine or noise canceling headphones is the best way to tune out the sounds of society and sleep peacefully.

Try these Apple noise canceling earbuds that have a white noise and hearing aid feature.

Sleeping mask

Sometimes there will be lights outside of your car when you are trying to sleep. Get yourself a sleep mask to keep things nice and dark.

Here's a cute mermaid sleep mask that I like.

Those are all the tips I have for safely and comfortably sleeping in your car. If you found this article to be helpful, hit the like button and share with someone who is interested in car camping.

About the author

Shello! My name is Mermaid Liv, a professional mermaid and content creator. I share my love of mermaiding through this blog, along with my Youtube channel.

If you've never heard of it before, mermaiding is a hobby, profession, and sport that involves wearing mermaid tails made for swimming.

I began making tails in 2013 and have continued my mermaid journey, starting my Youtube channel, working at a mermaid festival, performing at gigs, and being featured in the Netflix Docu Series MerPeople.

Follow me on Instagram for mermaid photos and videos: @the_real_mermaid_liv and be *shore* to check out my Youtube channel.