Sleep in the car: as comfortable and safe as in bed

Regardless of whether it is a spontaneous overnight stay at the rest stop or a carefully planned camping trip: With our tips you can also sleep comfortably in the car.

Sitting in the car for hours is a very uncomfortable experience for most of us – so it comes as no surprise that most of us don’t even think about spending a whole night between the seat backs.

• But sleeping in the car doesn’t have to be an unpleasant experience. With the right preparation and some inexpensive tools, you can rest on 4 wheels (almost) as comfortably as in a luxury motorhome.
• In addition, sleeping in the wild is much more exciting than the boring four walls of a hotel. Rushing leaves, chirping crickets and the scent of fresh green are only found very close to nature.

To make your adventure under the stars a success, it is best to follow our tips for the best sleep in the car.

Choosing the right place – for day and night

Sleeping in the car is not desired everywhere – some parking spaces are not open around the clock & in some places driving is temporarily prohibited.

The police or other law enforcement officers will often wake you up in the wrong place .

Before taking a break, pay attention to the surroundings and make sure that disturbance (for you & others) is unlikely.

Good places to sleep in the car can be found in the great outdoors, around side streets or residential areas outside the city with lots of free parking spaces.

There are also often enough parking spaces near churches, shopping centers or attractions.

In any case, the place should be quiet enough (even in the morning). You should therefore only park as an early bird near playgrounds so as not to be woken up by the screams of children.

Rest areas are of course particularly well suited – there is not only light and toilets here, but usually also an opportunity to get food.

Beware of hot temperatures

It can also get very hot in the car on some summer nights. Then you should definitely pay attention to enough circulating air so as not to run any health risk.

Fortunately, such temperatures (at night) are rare in our latitudes, but when you are on vacation you should look for a shady spot to spend the night in the car and, if necessary, leave the windows slightly tilted.

Sleeping bags & blankets protect against low temperatures

In summer the temperature is not a problem, but during the other seasons it can cool down significantly at night.

• Anyone who freezes and shivers is guaranteed not to close their eyes, which is why you should always take a small blanket or a sleeping bag in the trunk.
• Do-It-Yourself: 2 blankets and a couple of safety pins are enough to put together a makeshift sleeping bag that will keep the body from cooling down. Of course it can be done even better .
• A sleeping bag not only protects against the cold, but also helps on hard surfaces. Depending on the thickness, you can even go without a mattress.

A normal blanket is a minimum requirement – during unexpected stops you can quickly get it out of the trunk and don’t have to worry about hypothermia.

It can of course be even better: If you regularly spend the night in the car, it is best to look around for a high-quality sleeping bag (light & warm models don’t cost the world).

Better than the backrest: a mattress for the car

Admittedly, sleeping with a blanket and sleeping bag is not really comfortable – even if you have enough space after folding back the seats.

The upholstery of most trunk leaves a lot to be desired and in the long run the hard surface causes back pain for most people – it cannot be compared with your own bedroom .

One way of sleeping in the car significantly improve, provide mobile air beds or mattresses are.

• They are extremely space-saving most of the time and inflate quickly in an emergency.
• Thanks to the soft padding, it is much more comfortable to sleep on them than on hard (and in winter, cold) metal.

Such air beds for the car come in all different shapes and sizes. From the inexpensive version for small compact cars to the airy double bed for large station wagons.

A suitable air bed is one of the best investments for anyone who spends more than 1 night in the car. Sleep on the soft cushions 100 times better than on the cold sheet metal of the trunk.

It doesn’t always have to be a car bed

If you only take a break in the car from time to time or plan a short power nap, then of course it is not worth setting up an air bed.

Nevertheless, there are ways to make short breaks much more pleasant:

• A small neck pillow supports the head while sleeping and makes short stops much more pleasant (open for tired passengers).
• A little more unusual is this travel pillow , which can be easily attached to the belt and ensures comfortable sleep.

In an emergency, a rolled-up sweater may be enough to support the neck and make the stopover more comfortable.

More tips for better sleep in the car

There are a few basic items you should always have in your car, whether you spend the night in it or not.

• A flashlight, for example, is part of the basic equipment and should be in every trunk.
• A car tarpaulin prevents prying eyes and is also suitable for protecting the interior of the car from the sun’s rays or the cold.
• A couple of (clean) towels won’t hurt either. They are suitable for almost everything: cleaning, drying or just to cover the windows and create privacy.

There are also a whole range of other items that could be helpful: ear plugs help with loud street noise, for example, a sleeping mask shields the eyes from the light of passing cars.

Summary

With the right tools, even a night in the car can be a comfortable adventure. In my opinion, the best investment is a soft air bed .

This is not only compact, but can also be set up quickly. Your back will thank you for it and you will spend the next day full of energy and not pain.

Note: Read more helpful tips here to help you sleep well.