How to Find Great Campervan Park-Ups

One of the questions we’re asked most often about travelling in a campervan is how we find somewhere to sleep each night.

When you’re travelling through unfamiliar countries, finding a suitable overnight stop is something you need to think about regularly. And when your home is seven metres long and almost three metres high, there are a few extra considerations!

Over the years, we’ve parked everywhere from quiet riversides and beaches to ordinary city car parks. We’ve found some wonderful places to spend a few days, along with a handful we’d rather forget.

The good news is that finding somewhere to stay doesn’t need to be particularly complicated. Having a few reliable tools and a clear idea of what you’re looking for makes the process much easier.

Here’s how we find overnight park-ups while travelling in It Zwibble, our self-converted VW Crafter campervan.

1. Start with what you need from your overnight stop

Before opening an app or searching a map, it’s worth considering what you actually need from the location.

Not every park-up serves the same purpose.

If we’re exploring a city, we’re usually looking for somewhere we can leave It Zwibble for a few days while we get around on foot, by bicycle or on public transport. Being central is a bonus, but it’s not our first priority. We care more about whether we can park comfortably and get a decent night’s sleep.

A city-centre car park might look ideal on a map, but it’s not much use if the entrance is too low, there’s nowhere to manoeuvre or traffic noise will keep us awake all night.

On the other hand, when we’re planning to spend a few quiet days somewhere, we’re looking for something quite different. We love finding spots beside rivers, near beaches or out in the bush, where we can enjoy the surroundings without needing to go anywhere. Sometimes we find somewhere so lovely that we end up staying longer than planned.

Questions to ask yourself

• Are you simply stopping overnight, or do you want to stay for several days?
• Do you need access to shops, attractions or public transport?
• Is a quiet night’s sleep more important than being close to the city centre?
• Do you want somewhere scenic where you can relax?
• Do you need mobile reception or internet access to work?
• What facilities does your vehicle have, and what will you need during your stay?

Answering these questions first makes it much easier to narrow down your options.

Finding somewhere to sleep is just one part of planning a longer journey. If you’re thinking about travelling beyond the occasional weekend away, we’ve also shared our approach to planning an overland journey, including how we balance preparation with flexibility.

2. Use campervan apps to find possible park-ups

Most of our overnight parking research happens before we set off for the day. About 95% of the time, Megan uses apps to identify possible locations.

Our main resources have been:

• iOverlander: One of our most-used resources on our international journey, with locations and information contributed by other travellers.
• park4night: Another useful source of potential overnight stops, photographs and traveller reviews.
• CamperMate: An app we used while travelling in New Zealand.
• Dong Ying Di: A WeChat mini programme we used to find overnight parking during our travels through China.

These apps are particularly useful because they provide information from people who have actually visited the locations. Rather than relying solely on a map, you can often see photographs, read reviews and get a better understanding of what to expect.

But we never assume that a location will be suitable just because someone else has stayed there.

Check how recent the information is

This is one of the most important things we’ve learned.

A place that was a brilliant park-up a year ago might now have parking restrictions, construction work or other changes that make it unsuitable.

When reviewing a potential location, we look for:

1. Recent reviews. Has anyone stayed there lately?
2. Photographs. Do they show the parking area, access and surrounding environment?
3. Vehicle suitability. Have people stayed there in larger campervans or motorhomes?
4. Reported problems. Have travellers mentioned noise, access restrictions or other issues?
5. Changes over time. Do the latest reviews tell a different story from the older ones?

We also contribute our own reviews and updates when we can. These apps work because travellers share information with one another. If we’ve stayed somewhere, adding a recent update might save the next person a frustrating detour.

Don’t forget Google Maps

If we can’t find anything suitable through the campervan apps, we’ll often turn to Google Maps. It’s useful for identifying public car parks, parks and other locations that might be worth investigating.

However, a promising-looking parking area on a map is only a starting point. It doesn’t tell you whether overnight stays are permitted or whether the location will be suitable when you arrive.

3. Check the location before you settle in

Finding a promising park-up is only half the job.

Once we arrive, Darryl will usually get out and inspect the location before we commit to staying. This is particularly important with It Zwibble. At approximately seven metres long and 2.8 metres high, we can’t assume that a parking area suitable for a car will accommodate us.

Our park-up inspection checklist

Access and vehicle size

• Is there enough height clearance to enter and leave?
• Are there barrier arms, low branches or overhead obstacles?
• Can we manoeuvre without difficulty?
• Is there enough room to park without blocking other vehicles or accessways?
• Can we get out again easily?

Comfort

• Is the ground reasonably level?
• Is there a busy road nearby?
• Are bright lights likely to shine directly into the van?
• Is there anything that could make the location unpleasant overnight?

Suitability

• Are we permitted to park and stay overnight?
• Is the parking area already crowded?
• Are we likely to inconvenience other people?
• Does the location feel comfortable and appropriate for an overnight stay?

That final question is important.

Occasionally, a location meets all the practical requirements but still doesn’t feel right. Perhaps it’s too crowded, the surroundings aren’t what we expected or something about the situation makes us uncomfortable.

We don’t feel obliged to stay just because we’ve driven there. A location that looks perfect in an app can be quite different in person, so it’s always worth checking before settling in.

4. Consider whether stealth camping is appropriate

Another option we’ve used, particularly in urban areas, is stealth camping.

Essentially, this means parking somewhere fairly ordinary, such as a quiet residential street, and spending the night inside your vehicle without setting up a campsite outside. We’ve done this in New Zealand, China and the United States.

The aim is to be discreet and considerate.

That means:

• Keeping everything contained within the vehicle.
• Not putting out chairs, tables or an awning.
• Avoiding noise and unnecessary disturbance.
• Not blocking driveways, footpaths or accessways.
• Leaving the location tidy.
• Respecting local parking and overnight-stay restrictions.

Stealth camping doesn’t mean ignoring the rules. A vehicle that looks like it’s simply parked is still subject to local restrictions, and being considerate of nearby residents is essential.

It can, however, open up possibilities that you might not initially consider. Over the years, we’ve spent nights in a Home Depot car park in Oregon, a liquor store car park in Kaitaia and beside a construction site in Krabi, Thailand. They’re hardly the sort of places you’d find in a glossy camping brochure, but they served their purpose.

Other travellers also use petrol stations for overnight stops, although that’s not something we’ve done ourselves. The important thing is finding somewhere suitable for your circumstances, rather than assuming every overnight stop needs to be scenic.

5. Accept that some park-ups won’t be perfect

Even with careful research, you won’t always get it right. A location might turn out to be much noisier than expected, have an unpleasant smell drifting through the area or attract rowdy neighbours late into the evening. Some of these things are difficult to anticipate, particularly when you arrive somewhere during the day and the atmosphere changes after dark.

We’ve certainly had our share of less-than-ideal nights, but we’ve learned that there’s a difference between somewhere that’s a bit unpleasant and somewhere that’s genuinely unsuitable. If it’s simply a matter of putting up with some noise or discomfort, we’ll generally stay the night and move on in the morning. If we don’t feel comfortable or safe, however, we’ll find somewhere else. There’s no reason to stick with a poor choice simply because you’ve already parked up.

What if your park-up doesn’t work out?

1. Assess the problem. Is it simply inconvenient, or is there a more serious concern?
2. Decide whether it’s manageable. A noisy road might be annoying but tolerable for one night.
3. Consider your alternatives. Are there other suitable places nearby?
4. Move if necessary. If the location feels unsafe or inappropriate, find somewhere else.
5. Update the app. If the information was outdated or misleading, consider leaving a review to help other travellers.

One disappointing night doesn’t mean you’ve made a terrible decision. Finding good park-ups is a skill that improves with experience.

6. Know when paying for a campsite is worthwhile

We don’t usually pay for overnight accommodation when we’re travelling in It Zwibble.

One of our priorities when converting the van was being able to live off-grid. We have solar power, batteries, water storage and a composting toilet. This gives us considerable flexibility when choosing where to stay.

Being able to stay off-grid was an important consideration when we designed It Zwibble. We’ve shared more about the decisions behind our campervan setup and how they support our life on the road.

But that doesn’t mean we never use paid campsites.

Sometimes local rules require you to stay in designated camping areas. New Zealand, for example, has been one of the places where we’ve encountered the most restrictions, with local freedom camping bylaws affecting where overnight stays are permitted.

If you’re planning to freedom camp in New Zealand, the Department of Conservation provides guidance on restrictions and responsible camping. It’s also important to check the bylaws of the local council where you intend to stay.

At other times, paying for a campsite simply makes practical sense.

Think about what you’re paying for

During a campervan trip through California, we stayed at a campsite in Santa Monica. It was one of the most expensive campsites we’ve used, but we had several things we needed to accomplish.

Megan needed reliable Wi-Fi to upload a university assignment, we both wanted showers, we had laundry to do and we needed to replenish our water.

Rather than paying simply for somewhere to sleep, we were paying for access to facilities that solved several problems at once. We made sure we got as much value as possible from that campsite fee!

Before deciding whether a paid campsite is worthwhile, consider:

• Do you need fresh water or other facilities?
• Is it time to do laundry or have a proper shower?
• Do you need reliable internet access?
• Are there restrictions on overnight parking in the area?
• Would paying for a campsite make your visit easier or more comfortable?
• Could you combine several practical jobs into one campsite stay?

Sometimes a paid campsite is the best option. Other times, when you already have everything you need on board, there’s little reason to pay simply for a parking space.

7. Build a routine that works for you

After travelling through so many different countries, we’ve developed a fairly simple approach to finding places to sleep.

We don’t have a fixed rule about how far from a city centre we’ll stay, whether we need a scenic location or how often we should use campsites. Instead, we make those decisions based on what we’re doing and what we need at the time.

Our seven-step park-up routine

1. Decide what we need. Are we sightseeing, working, travelling through or taking a few days off?
2. Search the apps. Start with iOverlander, park4night or whichever resource is most useful in that country.
3. Read recent reviews. Check photographs, restrictions and comments from other travellers.
4. Look at the map. Consider access, location and alternatives.
5. Inspect the site. Check vehicle clearance, manoeuvring space, ground conditions and surroundings.
6. Make a decision. Stay if it’s suitable, move on if it isn’t.
7. Share useful information. Leave an update for other travellers when appropriate.

It’s not a complicated process, but it takes much of the uncertainty out of finding somewhere to stay.

Finding your own approach to life on the road

One of the best things about travelling in a self-contained campervan is the freedom to choose where and how you spend your time.

Sometimes that means waking up beside a river or enjoying a few days near the beach. Other times, it means spending a perfectly comfortable night in an ordinary car park because it’s convenient for what you want to do the following day.

There’s no single perfect type of park-up. What matters is finding somewhere that suits your vehicle, your needs and the local rules, while being considerate of the people and places around you.

And if you occasionally end up somewhere noisy, crowded or less than picturesque, don’t worry too much. It’s all part of learning how to travel this way.