In hostels you meet a lot of other backpackers and the facilities are usually good. You could also wet them beforehand to stay cool. If the back seats turn down, do so. The tarp should be sufficient for privacy. If this is more than a one-time thing, stick-on vinyl or a legal window tint could reduce light intrusion. This will also work during the winter if you put the towel on your heating vents. Try laying back the seats and putting your blanket or sleeping bag over you. While such a device still needs a way to hoist the bag up high, and get some privacy, it can give a good shower when there is no running water. Even if your are in a public place like Walmart it is still very dangerous. In many areas, public beaches have showers. If you have to sleep in your car in the Lone Star State be sure to keep your windows cracked and have a bottle of water handy. Crack the window or sunroof for ventilation. If bugs are a problem in the area, bring netting to put over the slightly cracked window. If you own a medium car there should be enough space for you to sleep in the backseat. "I like to have a lot of breaks on long trips, for I enjoy photography and walks in between. Do not crack it too much, though, for security purposes. Whether traveling with or without a destination, an automobile is a great multifaceted tool that can double as a reliable form of shelter. ", "I'm sorry, officer - I'm getting away from an abusive relationship. While not free, they can be a great comfort on the road. What should I do if I don't have all of that stuff? The best cars to sleep in have rear seats that fold down flat or are removable. Gas stations usually offer public bathrooms. We use cookies to make wikiHow great. Cars quickly turn into air fryers, and sleeping hot is the worst. Car camping is often technically illegal, so you do not need to spotlight yourself. -- any place that does inventory at night. I suggest finding a different place to park. If a blanket is not available, throw some clothes at the bottom of the bag to keep things dry and warm. Other ‘Car Camping’ Reviews You Might Like: Technology, performance and design delivered to your inbox. It is still possible to sleep sitting down. If you have pockets behind the front seats, put valuables in there and then put something (book, food, etc) on top to cover it up. Extremities are the first parts of the body to get cold, and sleeping with cold feet can ruin the night. When you wake up, moisten the towel and spread it out on the dashboard. I don't have money for a hotel, so I was planning to sleep here for the night. If it’s not, use a piece of clothing as a sleep mask. Plus, hotels sometimes take license plates numbers to check their guest list. By signing up you are agreeing to receive emails according to our privacy policy. If you find yourself at an angle, make sure to position the car so your head is above your feet. Don’t use your car’s dome lights. If it is cold, make sure your head is covered to keep heat from escaping. I'm OK, just wanted to be safe. Please consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. If you are somewhere without shower facilities, some moist wipes can help you get that fresh feeling. Looking for. Or you can lie down on the back seats of the car instead. Flat places are obviously preferred, but they’re not always available on windy Forest Service roads or in remote areas. Sleeping in your car with your head elevated keeps you from getting sick and helps you get an overall better quality of sleep. It is far better to sleep lying down than on the front passenger seat, but that is also an option. Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. If you toss and turn in the middle of the night, it could come undone and you could wind up awake and freezing. Inflate the air mattress or sleeping pad and lay it in the desired position. Hand sanitizer or baby wipes. A cleaner car also attracts less attention, especially if clean on the outside. (Photo by Carmen K. Sisson/Cloudybright) It’s a rainy summer night in Alabama, and I’m sleeping in my car at a truck stop. Quite often you will find people in motor homes doing the same thing. You will wake up in the morning much happier. Sleeping in a car is a fairly simple task, but there are ways to make it more comfortable. We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. Just do not stay for too long or your vehicle may appear suspicious. And be sure to leave early enough in the morning to avoid attracting the attention of weekday church employees or volunteers. Make sure to check signs to make sure the time limit is long enough and the parking lot allows overnight parking. But do not depend on the local constable to be on your side, as not everyone will be. A sleep mask can help you sleep more soundly. Look in the travel toiletries section of your favorite big box store; many will sell a resealable pack the size of an envelope for around $1. Use these small tricks for more comfortable and efficient experience while sleeping in a car. Drawing too much attention to yourself is usually not a great idea. Your website is always helpful, thanks. Avoid clutter by putting things away during the day. Find shade, if possible. wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. Find shade, if possible. Take inventory of any materials around the car that can be used for either making a bed or covering the windows. Go to the bed, move your mouse until you see "SLEEP" and press F. Sleep does not save the state of the game! I pulled off of the road because I was falling asleep at the wheel. Very often, they will offer help, leave you in peace, or at least let you be on your way without further trouble. Hide them under things like blankets or bags. Example: An empty parking lot next to a soccer field. ", http://jalopnik.com/5952615/how-to-use-your-car-as-a-hotel, http://www.traveldudes.org/travel-tips/5-tips-sleeping-your-car/13626, http://travel.baddalailama.com/2009/04/how-to-sleep-in-car.html, Please consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow, A $60 sleeping bag will keep you warm in −20 °F (−29 °C) weather. But it doesn’t have to be a roll of the dice to determine your comfort level. Some people use magnets to keep the netting in place. How can I stop people from banging on the car and scaring me at night? Whether it's a long day or a long year, sleeping in your car comfortably can be a valuable life skill. A half an inch or less (1.25 cm) is plenty. It will make it dark and make it easier to fall asleep. ALPS OutdoorZ Redwood -25 Degree Flannel Sleeping Bag, Lightspeed Outdoors PVC-Free Warmth Series Self Inflating Insulated Sleep Camp Foam Pad, Got a question? Depending on your car or height, you may want to sleep sideways from corner to corner to buy some more space. Sleeping crunched up or on uneven seats can create conditions that are poor for your blood circulation. If you've ever done a massive road trip, thought hotels were way too expensive, or wanted to save on rent, you've probably had the urge to call your car home. In a pinch, you can blindfold yourself with a bandanna, tie a scarf around your eyes, use a hat, and so forth. Keep in mind that some may have evening activities on Wednesdays and weekends, so be sure the church is closed before getting comfortable. I'll move right along. These tips will help you create the safest and most secure night possible. For tips on finding a good place to sleep, read on! Don't lean your neck on the seat belt, because it can cause irritation and red necklines. Some vehicles such as vans can be converted to have a complete bed in the back, absolute luxury! To allow fresh air into the car, slightly open the windows or the sunroof. You don’t want uneven bumps or anything prodding your side. The biggest barrier to sleeping well in a car, train, or plane is that you have to be sitting up. Most churches are quiet at night, with ample parking without too much sleep-disrupting lighting. Two blankets pinned together with safety pins are the next best thing. After about an hour of driving, it will heat up. And account for the weather, too. It’s no secret that vehicles can get a little dirty, especially if you eat on a regular basis inside your car. Never leave your car window open more than a crack. You risk breathing in harmful car emissions, running out of gas, or killing the car battery. Truck stops and roadside stops are good, as are campsites in national parks (though you may have to pay a small fee). In this case, 82% of readers who voted found the article helpful, earning it our reader-approved status. Perfect! These locations are typically reliable waypoints, many of which have restrooms, to sleep overnight. Can't fall asleep for some reason? For added warmth, heat up water, put it in a water bottle, wrap it in a shirt, and put it in the sleeping bag. A bathroom that is in a 24 hour store or interstate rest stop is likely safer than a public bathroom in an urban park - but not always. If someone finds you, hopefully they will be kind enough to just continue on their merry way. If you do not have a pad, use your blankets, sleeping bag, and/or clothes to create some cushion between you and the surface. Bring a safety pin with you to keep your sleeping bag closed if it does not draw tightly around your head. Or even sleeping under a pile of blankets. © document.write(new Date().getFullYear()) Brookline Media Inc. All Rights Reserved. You can also buy mesh to place in your windows (or sunroof). If we can’t bolt on an AC unit to the car then, as I said above, the best we can do is equalize the interior and exterior temperatures. It is hard to tell who is sleeping in their cars and who is just parked while shopping, watching a film or working out. Step 2: Cover the windows. You can sometimes get away with using facilities (such as the pool or beachside bathroom and shower) of a campground, hotel, or the like if security is a bit lax, and you are sneaky. A "solar shower" is easy to find in most camping equipment stores. Wire mesh can be scavenged from an old screen window or door, or screening can be bought at a hardware store. Do not leave the car running or leave the key in the “on” position overnight to use the climate control. Make sure the seat that your sleeping on is covered with an excellent comforter. Each ride will be different, but these are good, if not somewhat obvious, general guidelines for creating a cozy place to sleep. In general, keep to yourself. If you manage to get some decent sleep in your car then good on ya! You should not rely on running the heat in your car, because being warm at night but stranded in the morning with a gasless car is not helpful. Find a shelter as soon as possible! ", "Reinforced feasibility of temporary, limited in-car sleeping on long trips. Also, you can pull it over your eyes for additional darkness. This is how The Drive turns its automobiles into auto motels. Sleeping in the car seat is not exactly the best place to sleep, but if you have to, use a travel pillow that supports your head and neck. This is my setup of how I do it in my 2000 Honda Civic.When I say I'm technically homeless. To create this article, 85 people, some anonymous, worked to edit and improve it over time. It is best if you are a curling sleeper as this will be the position morning will find you in. ". If it is an overhead parking garage, park on a high floor so that noise from cars entering and exiting will not bother you. Even if you keep your car spotless, a thorough cleaning is in order. Here at The Drive, our informational team has spent more than a few nights in the confines of our automobiles and have suffered the pains, aches, and early morning jostling from the local constabulary. How you sleep in the car heavily depends on your body type. Then, move the front seats forward so you have more space to sleep in the back seats. You can't control the actions of others. If you have a particularly charismatic and outgoing personality, you may find yourself able to use your abilities to your advantage. A library is nice too -- under the rationale that you were reading a book and went out for a nap -- plus, a library is a great place to spend a day. Be careful of safety, however. If you are driving, it is best to stop! The most important thing when finding a car to sleep in is how much space you have to lie down. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/2\/25\/Sleep-Comfortably-in-a-Car-Step-1-Version-3.jpg\/v4-460px-Sleep-Comfortably-in-a-Car-Step-1-Version-3.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/2\/25\/Sleep-Comfortably-in-a-Car-Step-1-Version-3.jpg\/aid9909-v4-728px-Sleep-Comfortably-in-a-Car-Step-1-Version-3.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"