Spending the night in a motorhome or camper van
Travelling by motorhome has one indisputable advantage: the freedom to adapt the trip to your tastes, needs and time. The essence of caravanning lies in being able to enjoy the road, to relish a few more days in that special place that has won you over and start the journey again when you really want to. And do you know what the best part is? That you will travel whilst feeling at home.
So as not to lose that feeling of peace of mind, comfort and freedom when travelling in a motorhome, we must respect the environment and, to do so, it is necessary to know the regulations stipulated in each area regarding spending the night, parking and camping. Looking after the places we visit is part of the "how to be a good motorhomer guide", so: Let’s get on with it!
In this post you will learn everything you need to know on how to spend the night, park and/or camp with your motorhome in Spain correctly. Take note!
Differences: Spending the night, parking, camping.
The first thing to know is that spending the night, parking and camping are not the same thing and are therefore governed by different rules and laws.
The following is a brief, easy explanation of what it means to spend the night, park and camp with a motorhome.
What is motorhome parking?
Parking means to station the motorhome in a place or space suitable for this purpose. It does not mean that those inside the vehicle are using it.
What is spending the night in a motorhome?
We go one step further. Staying the night in a motorhome does not only mean stationing or parking the motorhome, but also spending the night in the motorhome. In this case only the inside of the vehicle is used.
What is motorhome camping?
The last step is camping. In this case, the vehicle is parked and not only is its inside used, but a space beyond the limits of the motorhome is also occupied, such as: unfolding the awning, setting up a "terrace" with chairs and table, etc.
Legislation on spending the night in motorhomes.
Next we will see where you can spend the night and camp with your motorhome, but first we will stop at its parking.
Where can you park your motorhome?
Motorhomes must respect the same regulations as other vehicles when parking. You should choose a place where it does not hinder traffic and where parking is allowed. However, check if there is any limitation in terms of weight and height in the area where you want to park (this is usually indicated with a notice or sign).
Where can you spend the night with your motorhome?
If you only use the inside of your motorhome, you can park it on public roads to spend the night following the same rules as any other vehicle. However, according to current legislation, each town has the power to restrict spending the night in a motorhome wherever it deems it appropriate, so we advise you to check the signs and/or contact the town hall or police so that they can inform you before you park to spend the night..
Where can you camp with your motorhome?
Camping is prohibited on public roads. However, you can do so in places specifically designated for this purpose, such as motorhome areas, camping sites, etc.
Where to sleep with a motorhome?
We have already discussed the difference between spending the night and camping. If you only want to spend the night using the interior of your motorhome you can do this on the public road respecting the regulations of the town you find yourself in.
If you need to expand the space and use parts of the outside of your motorhome, you will have to do it in specific areas.
Motorhome areas
There are private and public motorhome areas.
The former usually have services for emptying grey water and sewage together with water for refilling tanks, as well as connection to power. You can also find other services such as: laundry, bathrooms, showers, cafeteria, mini supermarket, etc. As these are private areas, everything depends on the facilities that the company that runs it provides.
Public motorhome areas are under the responsibility and regulation of the local town council. They are usually free of charge and it is a parking that is enabled for motorhomes but which not always have minimum services.
Some of them have a drain to empty sewage waters, water intake for refilling, bathrooms, etc., but we advise you to make sure they have everything you need before spending the night.
Camping Sites
The cost of spending the night and/or camping in a camping site usually involves a higher cost than a private motorhome area, due to the fact that there are usually more services.
What can we find?
- Electrical outlet.
- Shaded areas.
- Recreational area, sometimes with a swimming pool.
- Fixed tables and chairs in common areas.
- Full bathrooms with showers.
- Cafeteria and/or bar.
- Kiosk
- Basic supermarket.
- Maintenance service
- Laundry.
- Excursions and/or activities service.
We recommend that you find out about all the services offered by your destination camping site in advance.
Apps to Help You Find Safe Places to Sleep
This will help you. Having one or more applications that inform you about places to spend the night or camp, will make you travel in a much calmer, prepared and safe way.
Here are some of the most commonly used ones:
Prk4night: this application has more than 130,000 places of reference in more than 45 countries, so it is not just useful if you are travelling in Spain. It will inform you of the services available in the motorhome or camping area, whether it is free or not, as well as showing you photos and user ratings.
CaraMaps: a very complete application that, in addition to being useful during the trip, will also make it easier for you to plan your trip in advance.
Furgo Perfectos: is a very intuitive and easy to use application. Here you will find useful information for your motorhome trip with comments from the caravanning community to help you make decisions.
Tips for Spending the Night and Camping in A Camper or Motorhome.
Before starting your trip, check the regulations of the places you are going to visit, especially if you are travelling abroad. Once you know where you can spend the night and camp without any problems, you can set the itinerary for your adventure.
Other aspects to take into account when spending the night or camping with your motorhome:
- Explore: Do you have time? If so, take a walk around the area. In addition to discovering new places, you will be able to find out whether or not you like the environment and where the establishments and/or public services (police, doctor's surgery, etc.) you are interested in are located.
- Save your location: activate the GPS and take note of the coordinates. In case of emergency you will be able to give your exact location.
- Do not leave valuable objects in sight: anything that may attract attention because of its value, better to keep it safely stored in your motorhome.
Have you taken note of everything? You are now ready to live your great motorhome adventure! And if you need more information, take a look at the rest of our blog posts. We are sure they will be of great use to you.