Camping in my car?

[User76443998]

To cut a long story short….

My child will be away for a week in the summer on a music camp. My child wants to go but often struggles being away from home and there is a 50/50 chance I will need to visit during the week or take my child out for a night “off” midweek (I would book a local hotel for a night if this happens).

There is also the possibility that they will be fine and not need me!

I would LOVE a break while they are at camp. A night or two away by the sea. The camp is in Devon and I love Cornwall.

I don’t want to book anywhere because a) money is as tight as tight can be and b) I might need to cancel for the reasons above.

I know Cornwall really well. Is it crazy to think I could go down for a few nights and camp in my car? Just parking on quiet residential roads? There is a local leisure centre in the town I would stay in that I can use for showers and I’d be swimming in the sea every day anyway. THIS IS JUST FOR ME, I ABSOLUTELY WOULD NOT CAR CAMP WITH MY CHILD.

Is it safe? I’d curl up on the back seat with a window open a crack and be covered with a duvet…

AIBU? I’m sure I’ll get some interesting replies. Off to sleep now so hope for some wisdom in the morning!

The campsites I know wouldn’t allow sleeping in a car (I have checked) and are expensive in the summer anyway. And the problem remains that if I can’t make it down I’d lose the money…

I’ve only slept in my car once when there was an accident and the road was closed so I had no option! But it was surprisingly ok and not too uncomfortable!

I’d have some way of blocking out the windows so people can’t see in.
How will you pee? Surely you’ll need one before bed and as soon as you wake? Again, you’ll need privacy as you can’t pee in the road if on a residential street.
If you are contemplating this as a holiday, surely staying at home would be more comfortable and relaxing?

So parking outside someone's house? I wouldn't be happy about that tbh.

I have my child 100% of the time. I love them and I love being in Cornwall with them but I can never fully relax and do what I’d like to do. Even going for a swim in the sea is tricky because I have to be able to see them all the time.

I don’t normally need to see in the night and have a cast iron bladder.

Id just love a day or two of being by the sea, swimming, painting and walking on my own.

I’d have to be selective! Roads with larger houses, or houses set back from the road. It’s a balance. I wouldn’t be leaving anything gross behind or making noise so I doubt people would notice? I don’t know…

For example, I would notice if someone was sleeping in a car outside my house but if they were on the other side of the road I very much doubt I’d notice (other side of the road has lots of cars that park there for the shops and a school playing field).

You will feel Hella exposed without anything to block the windows and that will then look sus AF that someone is sleeping in there. What car do you have?

A nice car with a generous back seat. But no blackout windows/blinds. Probably have some old baby blinds though… I wondered if anyone would notice a small adult under a duvet on the backseat of a car?

It'll be light from silly o'clock. In theory I think it's a good idea but I'd want to block the windows for privacy, security and to stay asleep. And probably stay on a campsite if I'm honest.

I bet someone you know could lend you a little festival tent or pup tent.

Could you park in big service station car parks a bit further out and then drive in to Cornish towns in the day time. Might not feel as weird or vulnerable as anywhere else?
Can you get those things to block your windows on the inside so that you don’t feel watched/exposed?

Just do what you want OP, you will be discouraged asking on here

“Just parking on quiet residential roads?”

According to A.I., “Sleeping overnight in your car within a residential area in Cornwall is a complex area. While not legally criminal, it is a significant gray area that is highly discouraged by local authorities and frequently results in complaints to the police or council.”
Personally, I think it’s a terrible idea. If you’ve been sleeping in your car and are summoned at short notice to pick up your DC, you’ll look won’t exactly look fresh and lovely! And I could completely understand the locals in a leafy area with large houses set well back from the road complaining about some random “dosser” parking overnight in their road and sleeping in the car. As for not leaving anything gross behind, can you guarantee you won’t need a pee and be caught short in the morning? Seriously, OP, enticing though the idea of a week in Cornwall might sound, this really isn’t the way to do it.

I’d do it @User76443998. I used to as a student…
I’d cover the back windows all round with black out vinyl and make a black fabric divider to hang across the car just behind the driver and passenger seats, then I’d fold the back seats down, remove the parcel shelf and blow up an inflatable mattress in the seat/boot space for maximum comfort.
Then you’ve got living space!
Lots of people use a single mattress and then have space alongside for stuff.

You need to be parked safely, which is your biggest challenge.

Just wanted to say, if you can do it safely, I have seen inflatable beds on TEMU that fit across your back seat and have a section that covers the footwell to give you a double mattress in that back.

Be careful OP

If you're on Facebook, look up the group Car Camping UK. There's so many helpful tips on there, I'd definitely go for it!

Oh ignore all the nay sayers and go for it. Many years ago my parents and I ended up sleeping in the car as we arrived in Ullapool and there was nowhere to stay. Found somewhere for the following evening so we went to the chippy then the pub then kipped in the car. It was bloody awful. Three of us in a ford cortina, windows open a crack, plagued by midges in the morning but we survived and no one could have cared less.

If two nights just don’t stay in the same place. Get baby blind things for the windows and I doubt anyone would notice. Don’t some people live out of their cars so surely there is no law against it. And if there is then I really do bloody give up. It’s ok to sleep on the streets but not in the relative safety and comfort of your own car.

Yes we have pondered doing this. When you"re in a tent and it's raining, a car is warmer, dryer and more lockable - what's not to like?

Do turn the alarm off though OP, if you have one.

Have you thought about looking at YHA properties? Dependant on dates there are some in Cornwall where you can get a bed for about 30 pounds a night
https://www.yha.org.uk/hostels?location%5Bsearch%5D=Cornwall+Services%2C+Saint+Austell%2C+UK&location%5Bresult%5D=ChIJXwKw6ehxa0gRl6Yqb-P8sV4&location%5Btype%5D=place&startDate=23%2F07%2F2026&endDate=24%2F07%2F2026&females=1

You would be better off parking in a 24hr supermarket car park tbh! Convenient toilets and food. You won’t upset any residents (a lot of people wouldn’t take kindly to someone rocking up and sleeping in their car in Cornwall).

Cornwall is always crowded during the summer and it could be a problem finding a decent space. Maybe you can borrow or buy a pup tent and go to a campsite with showers and toilets available. Then put the tent up but still sleep in your car if you wanted. If you son needs to stay with you overnight he can sleep in the tent. This site has been very useful Pitchup.com

Try the park 4 free app as well... Won't be residential but nice places to park up for the night

Absolutely go for it. I love watching the youtube videos of people car camping. Though I do worry about the safety of the women who do it in the US, but here in the UK you'll be fine. Also maybe buy a urine bottle, that's most people do, and some of those stick on black outs for the windows.

I love the car camping videos too. Get some good 'blinds' and you'll be fine..@Wonderlandpeony what makes you think camping in the US is more dangerous?. Apart from the wildlife I can't think what would make it more dangerous.

It's not the wild life you need to be scared of, it's the men that are the predators - I'm a true crime junkie and so many women go missing in the US, never to be seen again.

Also have you seen the van life video of Alyssa Vanilla when the dodgy guy in the buggy was stalking her? If not check it out!
It was incredibly creepy and she's lucky to be alive I'd say. Though she was rather naively out in the dessert on her own.

You'll be fine. Take a doggy poo bag in case you need to shit on the pavement.

😂😂😂