Parking Challenges When Living in a Van: How to Find Parking Spots on a Regular Basis
Living in a van can be an amazing experience, but it comes with a set of challenges all its own. One of the biggest issues one must face is finding parking spots on a regular basis. It’s easy to find a great parking spot at the right moment, but it’s an entirely different story when it comes to finding those same spots night after night.
Parking when living in a van is a difficult task for a few reasons: It’s illegal to park on the streets overnight, and paid parking spaces are often too limited and expensive to justify using them every night. Therefore, the goal is to find a selection of secure parking spots that form the basis of your nightly stay. To do this, you must think outside the box and consider a few different strategies.
Research Budget-Friendly Parking Spaces
The traditional route of finding parking objectives is to research budget-friendly options in your area. This can include looking into public parking lots, truck stops, rest areas, and other similar spaces. You’re likely to find a variety of parking spots with varying formality levels, from the generic non-committal lots to spots where the manager wants to know your license plate information.
Either way, you should always do some research and try to scout out a few spots in advance. This helps you understand the area better and helps you judge the size of the spot, the rules, the accessibility to amenities and other factors that will impact your stay. Plus, having a few options in advance makes it easier and faster to find a parking spot when night comes.
Get to Know Your Spot Prior to Parking
Another key tip is to have at least one spot of your own. That is, a spot that you’ve visited on multiple occasions and gotten to know the ins and outs of. This provides you with a sense of comfort and a certain spot to fall back on when you’re looking for a place to park. It also helps you become familiar with the area and be aware of any potential safety issues, too.
The best way to find such a spot is simply to drive around the area and make frequent checks at various locations. Once you’ve got a good idea of your local area, you can find several spots you like and keep them in mind as your own. This way, you can know for sure that the spot will be available when you return for a visit.
Know Where to Look for Longer-Term Options
If you’re looking for longer-term parking options, such as for a week or more, consider looking into campgrounds, RV parks, and other sites with longer-term or even permanent accommodations. These spots often provide additional amenities, such as bathrooms and electricity, as well as more specific policies that give you added security.
These parks are usually part of city or county governments, so you’ll want to call the city hall and ask if they have any special permits or option available to longer-term residents. Some of these parks are also privately owned, so do a bit of research to find out if you can get a special rate for a long-term stay. Many parks are willing to negotiate in exchange for a reduced rate, so look into that if needed.
Network with Other Van Dwellers
Finally, one great way to find parking spots is to network with other van dwellers. Other van dwellers often know more about the area than you do, and they are also usually up for a chat if you bump into them. If you’re lucky, they can hook you up with cool spots in the area that are either publicly available or only known to that person.
The best way to meet van dwellers is to look for live-in van meet-ups in your area, attend rallies and gatherings, or simply by asking around. van dwellers can often be spotted - you don’t need to travel far. You should also make sure to pay it forward. When another van dweller comes through your area, help them out and be willing to share any spots you know about. This way, you build a good rapport and help the van-dwelling community as a whole.