Living in Your Car While Traveling in the United States (page 1 of 3)

Hi everyone, So great to be back on our forum!...

For the past few years, I’ve been traveling on a budget, especially by sleeping as often as possible in campgrounds or in my car... If I can help, I’d be happy to.

Hello! I’m also a fan of road trips in the American West, sleeping in my SUV—usually in the wilderness rather than campgrounds. I’ve been doing this for over 20 years now because, beyond the budget savings, it gives you total freedom in planning, the ability to adapt your route based on the weather, and a complete immersion in nature.

Hi there, I can confirm this is a great way to travel if you get the right vehicle! And it’s not just the American West that’s perfect for it!

I’ll admit, every now and then I’ll head to a campground to freshen up 😏. But I can confirm, the freedom and flexibility this way of traveling offers is amazing. No more wasting time in hotels. You’re right in nature! Love it. I usually set up a mattress in the back of my vehicle, and it works pretty well.

I’ve traveled in an SUV several times, and this year I went for a 4-seater Jeep. Well, I’ll admit the Jeep wasn’t the most comfortable vehicle. Surprisingly, the back was much smaller.

So far, I've only tried the USA. What kind of destinations have you done?

In Europe, the Duster works really well (used it in Iceland and Romania). For the US, there are more options. Before, I’d only check ground clearance when I got to the garage. Now, I also check if the rear seats fold down to create a flat surface. Latest test: the 4Runner last May. Not great. Other destinations for this style of travel: Hungary, Bavaria, Austria, Croatia

It all depends on the Jeep for sleeping inside with a self-inflating mattress: with the Jeep Grand Cherokee, it’s really comfortable (I’m 1.80m tall). I fill the gap between the folded rear seats and the front seats with a 3-layer inflatable travel footrest (around 15 € online).

The Jeep Wrangler isn’t practical at all. The back seats don’t fold down completely, and the whole trunk is about 15 cm lower. It was really tricky to fit everything in, and I basically slept with my head tilted up. On the other hand, I slept super comfortably in the Chevrolet Equinox and the Nissan Rogue.

I'm thinking of booking the suburban/Ford Expedition/Jeep Wagonner category next time. I've done quite a few trails like the one leading to Toroweap Overlook, Reflection Canyon, or Cathedral Valley Road, and in the end, I barely used the 4-wheel drive. I only used it at White Pocket for the sand.

I think I'll prioritize comfort for my next trip.

Basically, this is what the hybrid Jeep Wrangler looks like (and rental agencies only offer hybrids now). The batteries are under the rear seats, so the back isn’t flat for a mattress... Plus, the rear seat cushions fold up against the front seatbacks, which costs you about 15 cm. In short, not enough room in the back.

Thanks for these illustrated details. Since I’d heard about these limitations from friends who’d driven Jeep Rubicons, that’s why I’ve never rented either a Jeep Wrangler or a Jeep Rubicon—especially given the much higher cost. Since 1999, I’ve been able to regularly rent standard-category SUVs with good ground clearance that were true 4x4s (Jeep Grand Cherokee, Toyota 4Runner, Nissan XTerra), which let me tackle rough or sandy trails. But in recent years, these vehicles have become rare, and I’ve had to settle for SUVs with lower ground clearance and only AWD—or even once a 2WD like a Nissan Pathfinder. In the “large SUV” category you’re considering, you should still find SUVs that perform well on not-too-difficult trails.

Hi there! For our last three trips, we chose to sleep in the car as much as possible, so we rented in the suburban category. We got a Suburban twice and a GMC Yukon XL once. They were great in terms of comfort and handled the off-road tracks at Valley of the Gods, Alstrom Point, and others really well. On the other hand, in 2022 and 2024, it really hurt the wallet! Gotta make it worth it :)

Thanks for the info. Yeah, the rates sting a bit, but in the end, when you see hotel prices, it quickly becomes worth it. My Jeep in September: 1500 € for 4 weeks, the suburban was 500 € more. That’s 5 nights in a hotel. It pays for itself in a week.

I’m leaning more and more toward this option for my next trip. The comfort really wasn’t great in the Jeep.

Hi, More and more people are choosing this way to travel, which lets you discover new destinations and live unforgettable adventures without spending too much.

Hello! So happy this Forum is open again... I’ve been loyal—haven’t posted on any other travel forum since!

For my part, I haven’t been back to the US since the year of COVID... it really messed everything up. And when I look at flight prices now... this isn’t just inflation—I nearly fainted! But the urge to go is coming back!

For my last trip in 2017, I had a NISSAN Pathfinder... No issues with space in the back—seats folded down and everything was flat. Perfect for laying out a sleeping bag.

I was supposed to leave for Florida in April 2020, and of course my trip was canceled because of COVID. I didn’t let it get me down!... In 2022, 2023, and 2024, I went back. I’m still loving it just as much. Flights have gotten more expensive, but little by little, car rental prices have become reasonable. You can find an SUV for around 850 € for 3 weeks through Alamo with their 20% discount. Flying, I’ll admit, still costs me at least 800 €. I remember getting tickets for 350 € before COVID... 😄

Yes, and what I love is waking up in nature... It's just incredible.

Yes, and what I love is waking up in nature... It's just incredible.

Me too! That’s one of the reasons I choose to sleep in my vehicle.

For my last trip in 2017, I had a NISSAN Pathfinder... No issues with space in the back—seats folded down and everything was flat—perfect for laying out the sleeping bag

I also rented a Nissan Pathfinder from Alamo at that time. It was ideal for camping inside, and it was AWD (All Wheel Drive). I rented one again from Hertz in 2022—the new model was still just as spacious and comfortable, but the ground clearance had decreased, and it was only 2-wheel drive (so sandy trails weren’t an option anymore).

Usafan, Sedonax, it’s great to see you both again—I feel like I’m reuniting with part of my travel-forum family! 🚐😊