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!

Does your car have an alarm that reacts to movement or air pressure changes? If so, can you lock the doors and be inside without the alarm going off?

My DH does this loads when he goes to his hobby events. We own a large car and he has a mattress thing in the back and he made some blinds for the windows. He parks in lay-bys or industrial type estates or residential roads but not outside peoples houses. Going loo is probably harder for women but you could practice a she wee and milk container

Stay in a church? I don’t think that’s a thing?! And staying in university accomodation is extremely limiting in Cornwall (Falmouth and Camborne only?!) and also a lot more expensive than you might imagine (even if it’s available!).

I need to be flexible on dates, that’s the whole point really. I’m a knackered mum hoping for 24-48 hours of freedom by the sea. I cannot commit to house or pet sit for someone.

Ive had some really encouraging responses here. I promise, without saying exactly what my cat is, that it’s unlikely anyone will be concerned about me or think I’m a sex worker.

This is a question I will be asking my local garage! I hate the car alarm and would mind turning it off if that’s possible.

Go for it!

Just remember, wild camping is illegal in England.

Having said that, try and find a secluded spot for one night. Rule is to scout spot in daytime, arrive late and leave early. Don't return. And move if asked to by police or farmers. As for tulse around waste stick to the wild camping/ sleeping code: Leave no trace.

I’d be more inclined to wildcamp somewhere remote than sleep in my car.

Nowadays people pick up their dogs poo with plastic bags - useful in this scenario

Travel John do various toileting things on Amazon you can keep in your car for emergencies but definitely practice a She wee

I used to work for a supermarket. Their car parks have cameras and you will get clamped if you stay longer than a couple of hours. Employees cars are on a white list.

I had to do this once because of some difficult circumstances. It was awful! So uncomfortable and I only dozed fitfully so was exhausted the next day.

I don't think this a huge deal for 1 or 2 nights.

Ive slept in my car once due to a cock up with a hotel booking. My top tips:

• have a kids travel potty with the lid that closes and seals shut. Carry potty brand.
• have blinds for windows & one of those windscreen shades.
• don't park on residential roads. Go to a leisure centre or modern church with a car park etc. Security wise its better to choose a car park you pay a few quid for as they often have security cameras that deter crime/loitering.
• don't sleep on the back seat its a weird angle & seat belt clips are hideous. Put back seat down and put airbed/mat into boot.

Be prepared that it can be shit if it rains etc & you just feel you have nowhere at all to go.

How big is your car DH can sleep full length in the back of ours but had to spend a night once in my Fiesta passenger seat. Definitely not the same experience

Oh.. I wouldn’t do this .. I have a Toyota Corolla though 😂😂
If you used a tent and paid for overnight then you could have facilities to cook.. surely that would offset cost having eat in cafes etc and also provide some safety .
Safety would be my first concern.

Also on YourParkingSpace you can book a space in a supermarket car park. We used this for a week when we went to Spain

I am very familiar with parts of Cornwall and I am not sure that car/van wild camping is too popular with either residents or the authorities.

The problem is that everyone thinks that they are on a unique journey getting away from it all, but they are just one in a series of people doing the same thing. My grandfather, who had come from very little himself, lived in a scenic spot in Cornwall and encountered a lot of rude and entitled people in camper vans. The irony was that for many years he had run a reasonably-priced tourist accommodation business.

The fact that you are asking indicates that you personally wouldn’t be discourteous, but unfortunately that is just the image of this form of travel.

A few towns in Cornwall have homeless men and street drinkers, so there may also be a risk of harassment.

What about a cheaper campsite inland?

If you have a tent personally I’d drive somewhere and wild camp. The chances of getting moved on/someone calling the police if you’re trying to sleep in your car on a residential street is far higher than genuinely discreet LNT wild camping

Dreadful idea. It’ll be uncomfortable and you’ll probably get a visit from the piolixe.

Jusr buy a tiny pop up tent and stay at a campsite for goodness sake! You can probably get one for a tenner off Facebook marketplace and the campsite for a tiny tent will be inexpensive.

I was going to ask this. I have a bit of experience of residential music camps and the ones i know of would NOT be happy with you going and whipping your child out for an evening with mummy - largely because it would likely make any home sickness /worry worse, not better.

They generally keep the kids super busy and tbh if theres any chance of your child 'needing' to see you for an evening this probably isn't the right activity for them.

Im also surprised you can afford to pay for the music residential (costs for these run into many hundreds if not thousands!) but dont want to stump up £25 for a camp site for the night?

The whole plan sounds bonkers sorry. And if your son is there for a week are you planning to drive him there, then drive home for a couple of nights, then drive to cornwall, then drive home for another couple of nights, then drive to pick him up? How is that relaxing in any way!!

You will be fine OP. You know you will leave no trace so crack on and stay where suits you My friend would recommend the blow up mattresses. Next time you change your car think about getting a van - higher mileage costs but you can ‘camp’ in the back and it could be great for both of you too. Have slept in many unofficial place in mine - love the freedom and value.

I don't think it sounds too bad an idea, however, you can get a tent these days for £10 to £15 so you could always still camp in your car but do it on a campsite and just put a small tent up next to your car to appear as if you are regular camping. That way you'd have the safety, security and facilities of a campsite. As a single camper you can probably find some spaces on the day if you ring around, even in the height of summer. Good luck, it sounds wonderful to me

www.madelyneonthemove.com/car-camping-essentials/

Yep, do it. What you need as a minimum is a comfortable bed, something to block the light (view in) and something to pee in.

I have thermal screens cut from this sort of stuff in my campervan: https://amzn.eu/d/050tyOef

I also pee into dog poo bags with commode pads in them at night if needed

I go to supermarkets to wash and shit 😁

Lots of places to just park up, ideally look for somewhere that camper vans have stopped, near beaches is usually a good shout

It sounds like a great idea. Have fun and report back when done!

Sleeping in a church definitely is a thing, but you'd still need to pay and book so may not help you (although I don't know cancellations terms, worth checking).
https://champing.co.uk/
https://www.britishpilgrimage.org/sanctuary-network