Where to Sleep in Your Van: Alternatives to Walmart Parking Lots

One of the first questions people ask us before getting a van is, where do you sleep? It is a reasonable concern. Of course, there is always the choice of staying in Walmart parking lots. However there are several other choices that are more scenic and appealing. Don’t get me wrong. The ability to stay in a Walmart parking lot is fantastic, safe, free and convenient…and if you own a van and travel in it frequently, you will most likely end up staying in one at one point or another.

But for those who are looking for alternative places to stay, there is a world of options opening up. One of the coolest organisations that has popped up in recent years is Harvest Hosts. When you join, you have access to stay at thousands of wineries, breweries and farms all over North America. It is an excellent way to travel and support local businesses wherever you go. As a food and wine lover, I am a huge fan of Harvest Hosts. Many places offer farm tours or tastings of their wines, beers or ciders. Yum! Aside from the epicurean delights, it is lovely to sleep somewhere peaceful and wake up with a view. You also usually meet a few other road trippers along the way.

Another great option for parking your rig is finding BLM Land near you or boon docking. I recommend downloading the iOverlander app to your phone. This app is free to download and is incredibly useful wherever you travel. The app takes your current location and gives you a list of nearby places to stay. This includes neighbourhoods, parking lots and BLM land. It is updated by other users, so many people leave notes about spots they have stayed and enjoyed or places they would avoid in the future. You can contribute your own notes as well about your experiences and places you find.

So for those who are new to van travel and are worried about where to sleep, don’t be! There are great options for places to stay in your camper van and new experiences to be had. Get out there and explore!