In concept, sleeping in your car can sound rather drab. "Oh I just slept in my car!" is usually met with a judgmental "Oh... nice!" But, it is far from uncomfortable. Truthfully, it's no hotel stay, but the benefits are many - sleeping in a locked vehicle instead of a tent, protection from weather, access to more locations, and foregoing a campsite reservation fee.
What you need:
An SUV, or a vehicle which allows you to fold down the backseat into a flat space. Unless you want to sleep in your front seats. Let me know how that goes.
A portable phone charger or a fully charged phone. Stay safe!! And set your alarm for the sunrise. I use an awesome car battery jumper kit.
Optional: these will improve the quality of your sleep tremendously!
- inflatable sleeping mat
- thin towels for privacy
Pros of sleeping in your car:
Safety - you're in a locked vehicle instead of a tent!
Ease of set up. No more tent poles for me.
Weather protection - no need to be concerned about excessive cold, rain, or winds.
Quick getaway if you need to leave fast! Just climb in the driver's seat and leave if you need to!
Cons to consider:
Can you stretch out in your car or will you be cramped? If you're much taller than 5'10", you may find it a tight fit inside your vehicle.
Is it going to be hot at night? If so, cracked windows may be a necessity to avoid cooking yourself overnight.
Did you bring a lot of 'stuff'? Well... maybe don't do this in the first place, but if so, you'll need to stow things on top of your car or outside your car overnight to make room for yourself.
Tips for sleeping comfortably in your car:
Use an inflatable mat. I have one which can be inflated in about 3 minutes and provides an inch of glorious cushioning from the flat seatback.
2 blankets!! One to sleep on top of, and one for sleeping under. Having a blanket underneath you conserves the heat you give off and keeps you toasty.
Safety: I keep pepper spray, a personal alarm, my car keys, and any other self-defense gear. Place these within reach of where you're sleeping.
Bugs - after you've locked yourself in the car for the night, turn on a flashlight for a few moments to attract any bug intruders and deal with them accordingly.
Privacy - I use thin microfiber towels to shield the back windows and give myself a bit more privacy. I simply shut the door with the towel hanging out of the side of the door to secure it over the window. You can also drape a towel between the front seats or use a sun shield to cover up the windshield.
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