Can You Park a Campervan Anywhere?

4th Mar 2025

A campervan gives you a sense of freedom you can’t quite get with a car. Sure, they can both be enjoyed on the open road, but stopping off and cooking in your car and sleeping on the backseat doesn’t quite have the same allure as a journey in a vehicle purpose-built for such activities.

This begs the question then; can you park your campervan anywhere? We see roadsides and carparks filled with cars and motorbikes, but rarely do we see campervans doing the same. Well, that’s largely because the rules surrounding campervans are a little different. After all, they are a home on wheels so to speak.

Campervans being parked on roadsides, car parks or back streets tend to be because the owners are using the area as a place to sleep, cook or rest after a long drive and it is this among other things that mean you can’t just park a campervan anywhere.

In this blog, we’ll take a closer look at where you can park a campervan so you can remain compliant with the laws and still have an enjoyable trip.

Where can you park a campervan in England?

If you are keeping your trip domestic rather than outside of England, you have a few options for where you can safely and legally park your campervan.

Campsite

Perhaps an obvious one, but a campsite is also one of the most likely places you’ll be taking your campervan. You’ll need to book a spot as campsites are purely for renting a space rather than setting up a permanent base. With facilities on site, you can chill in the caravan and benefit from bathrooms, water supply and more.

Private land

Parking a campervan on private land is allowed as long as the landowner has granted you permission. Just rocking up and setting down without permission is illegal and you could find yourself facing fines and more if caught! If you can’t find the details of the landowner, it may be best to search for somewhere else to stay.

On the roadside

There is no law to forbid you from parking on the roadside but there are some rules of etiquette shall we say. Firstly, to comply with road laws, you must make sure you have a valid MOT for your campervan and ensure that where you park it does not obstruct other road users. You’ll also need to be aware of any potential disruption you might cause. If the road is residential, the people living there may not take too kindly to having a campervan outside their house for days on end. Not only may it become an eyesore, but you might also be blocking light and obstructing other road users.

If you are parking it outside your home, you should first check the parking rules and property deeds before pulling over and parking up. Some roads prohibit parking and some property deeds state that vehicles such as campervans cannot be parked on a driveway. This means you’ll have to find somewhere else to park even if the campervan is your only vehicle.

Where can I park my campervan when I’m abroad?

Rules outside of the country will vary depending on where you are. In many cases, in Europe especially, the rules are similar to what you’d find in England. It would always be advisable to check before you travel though. The fine could be significantly higher than what you might find back home.

How can I find where I can park my campervan?

Luckily in these days of smartphones and apps, there seems to be a solution for everything. A host of apps and websites can provide campervan owners with a wide range of parking options. Campercontact and Park4Night both give campervan and motorhome owners a wealth of information and help them find safe, legal places to park up. Alternatively, the TRO library provides a detailed spread of information relating to parking rules for where you are. You should remain aware though that the TROs (Traffic Regulation Orders) can vary from town to town. This means what might be fine in one area is forbidden in the next. Breaking these rules could result in a fixed penalty notice.

Can I get a parking permit for my campervan?

In some places, parking permits are available at a cost. The rules vary from place to place, and strict stipulations may be in place for the times you can park and for how long. Always check before settling on somewhere as a base.

Can I park my campervan at a service station?

Not really. Using a service station is typically for refuelling, stocking up on supplies or using the restroom. Sleeping or long stays are forbidden, and, in many cases, there will be plenty of signs to inform you of this.

Could I park my campervan in a public car park then?

The TROs we mentioned earlier apply in this instance, meaning that it is unlikely you’ll be able to park a caravan in a public car park for the long term.

Can I park my caravan and sleep in it anywhere?

We all know the rules over taking breaks on long journeys and ensuring you remain safe. However, sleeping in your campervan is a little bit of a grey area. There is no law saying you cannot park on the street and therefore get some rest, but as we saw earlier, the TROs in place may well forbid it where you’ve decided to park.

Laybys can be deemed as acceptable areas to park a campervan and sleep, but this does not apply in all areas. As a result, you should check the rules for the area you are heading to and the route it follows. Then you’ll know where you can stop off for a rest either on the way or when you arrive.

If you haven’t yet got yourself a campervan but are hoping to enjoy a few road trips with your partner, family or by yourself, speak to us! We are experts in affordable campervan finance and help drivers of all credit scores secure the finance they need. Whether you have a pristine credit file or a record that’s seen better days, our finance solutions ensure you can remain on the road. In fact, bad credit campervan finance is something we specialise in.