You already have your route in mind to enjoy 100% of a few days aboard your camper van or motorhome. You have also thoroughly checked the vehicle (paying special attention to elements such as the wheels) to make sure everything is in order and you have prepared your suitcase taking into account where you are going, how many days, what the weather is going to be like and if you are going to practice one of your favorite hobbies like trekking or surfing.
You have all the essential accessories to make the most of the camper experience and avoid rookie mistakes and also some gadgets with which you will not miss any comfort in your house on wheels. Without excess weight, and everything perfectly placed so as not to compromise safety: perfect.
But if you have not previously investigated the places of interest on your route or your destination and you have not searched for campsites or overnight areas close to them (nor do you know which ones to reserve or not), finding the ideal place to camp on your roadtrip can be be an adventure in itself.
And it is not only about finding a safe place to spend one or more nights, but also a space that allows you to enjoy the surroundings and the freedom offered by traveling in a camper van, motorhome or caravan. Luckily, there are tricks that can help you.
To know where to sleep with a camper van, motorhome or caravan in Spain without risking being penalized, the first thing to do is to distinguish between overnight stays and camping.
The overnight stay implies that one or more people sleep inside a vehicle, without leaving it or taking items outside to cook or live (what can be done is open windows and skylights as long as the exterior dimensions of the vehicle are not altered). vehicle). As for camping, in addition to spending the night, it involves deploying exterior elements such as awnings, chairs, and tables to make life inside and also outside the vehicle.
Camping is regulated at the regional, provincial and municipal level, so the regulations may vary depending on where we want to go. However, free camping is prohibited in practically the entire Spanish territory, so it can be subject to sanctions.
Thus, except in certain protected spaces such as Natural Parks (including their car parks), parking and sleeping inside a motorhome or camper van is not prohibited. Of course, as long as certain conditions are met, such as being correctly parked, having taxes up to date and the mandatory insurance in order.
In the rest of Europe, the regulations on overnight stays and camping can vary from one country to another, so it is important to check the specific conditions of the places we want to visit when planning the trip. For example, in France and Germany wild camping is allowed in some specific areas, while in Switzerland and Norway, wild camping is prohibited and camping is only allowed in campsites.
Today it is very easy to find places to spend the night or camp with a camper van, motorhome or caravan both in Spain and in the rest of Europe, thanks to specialized applications and web pages that can help in the search.
An example of this is the Park4Night app, very complete, with detailed information on where you can or cannot camp (including photos, comments from other users and available services). Furgoperfectos or Campercontact are apps along the same lines. For those looking for that “something more”, the new Roadsurfer Spots offers very special land or private spaces for lovers of caravanning in the purest Airbnb style.
Once we have chosen our ideal destination to spend the night or camp with our camper or motorhome, there are some aspects to take into account to find the perfect place and ensure that we have a pleasant experience without setbacks.
In this sense, taking into account aspects such as the security of the place, the facilities it offers (such as bathrooms, showers and electricity) and the availability of drinking water is essential. And if we have had a setback and we have no choice but to spend the night at a service station, we will check whether or not it has security cameras and if there are more vehicles parked, such as other campers or trucks. It will be a good sign.
When camping in a campsite or area set up for it, it is key to observe where the sun rises and sets in order to have an idea of ​​how to better orient our vehicle and if during the day we will have some shade to enjoy the outdoors more comfortably. This is essential for those who do not have an awning (especially when it is time to eat). If you go camping often, it is one of the basic accessories that we recommend you keep in mind.
Nor should you forget the wedges, some practical allies when we cannot find a sufficiently horizontal and flat terrain when camping, which would be ideal. And if it is not possible? In addition to placing the chocks as appropriate, it is better if we park so that our head is higher than our feet at bedtime.
When instead of going to a campsite we go to a caravan park, the ideal is to situate yourself with the cabin pointing to the exit. This way you will be safer and you will be able to leave as soon as possible if there is an unforeseen event (and here it is better if we take into account another trick: always keep the keys in the same place, to locate them quickly whenever you need them).
If you are traveling with children, do not forget to check if the desired destination and the campsite are suitable for them. It is also very important to plan enough breaks on the way there and back (remember that the ideal is to stop at least every two hours or 200 km of travel).
Also, if your best friend is traveling with you, it is very important to make sure if the place where we are going to spend the night allows or not pets or if any extra or daily fee is paid for them. It is also convenient to have the surroundings controlled and find out about the walking areas, or parks, if we have beaches nearby and if they allow dogs or not (there are some that, for example, do not allow them in high season). This way you will not be surprised and you will be able to enjoy your vacation with your pet to the fullest.
