Freecamping Map of Europe
This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.
Free camping is camping overnight in your recreational vehicle or tent at a place where you do not have to spend. Most free camping spots are not in developed campgrounds. Free camping sites are sometimes called boondocking, dispersed camping, dry camping, and primitive camping.
Free campgrounds are desired by some travelers only because it doesn’t cost money. Still, others may find extra advantages to free camping, including the amusements of camping without conveniences, the opportunity to camp far from other people, and enjoying the beauty of wildlife. But not all countries in Europe have the same rules for free camping.
Below you can find travel rules for free camping in Europe created by Vita. This map is aimed to help campers and vanlifers with safe free-camping and boondocking around Europe and beyond.
The map creator had spent recent months collecting about where we all can camp freely around Europe and where we can’t really. This map was created after hundreds of discussions with people from many countries, Facebook groups, and the road. It is the current state of Europe.
On top of the map, the creator of the map also co-founded a website with lovely places along the way (after 10 years of caravanning with family). So that’s where his knowledge is coming from.
The map is a view from a perspective of a vanlifer or camper with a motorhome of any kind. It’s not for travelers with tents, and it might be a bit of guidance for caravans.
Best practices for wild camping
- Sleeping for one night — as a tired driver, you should be fine sleeping on the road in all European countries.
- Roaming & parking — if you don’t set up any camping gear outside, it is more tolerated than full camping.
- Camping, wild camping, or free camping — this usually involves taking your chairs, table, and awning out.
- National Park & beaches — it’s usually illegal to spend the night in National Parks all over Europe and on beaches in the southwest of Europe.
- The high season — July & August — is usually more strict than the off-season in summer destinations.
