Good habits on the road
The Park-up Code
A handful of easy habits that keep lovely spots open for everyone, and keep the people who live nearby happy to see vans.
Park considerately
Fit in rather than spread out. Use marked bays where there are some, keep gateways, passing places and farm tracks clear, and leave room for others to get by.
Empty waste only at proper points
Grey water and toilet cassettes go to a dump station, an aire or a campsite: not a drain, a hedge or a stream. Find a dump station.
Leave no trace
Take all your rubbish with you, and a little extra if you spot some. If the bins are full, keep yours in the van until the next ones.
No fires unless they are allowed
Campfires and disposable barbecues scar the ground and can start wildfires in a dry spell. Cook on a stove, and light a fire only where a sign or the landowner says you can.
Keep it quiet
Music low, engine and generator off for the night, lights soft. Arriving late and leaving early keeps a spot welcoming.
If it's full, move on
Squeezing in is how good spots get closed. If there's no room, there's another place down the road.
Check the local rules
What is allowed overnight changes from country to country, and often from town to town. Read the signs at the entrance, and our guides below.
Be a good guest
Buy bread in the village, fill up at the local garage, say hello. Spending a little locally helps places stay welcoming to vans.
Overnight parking rules where you're going
Our guides explain, country by country, where you can and can't sleep in a van, with links to the official sources.
Adding a spot?
Share places anyone can use. Don't add private driveways or someone's home, and leave out a spot if the owner has asked people to keep it quiet. Check the spot yourself when you visit: details can change and may be out of date.