Is It Actually Legal To Sleep Here In My Van?

Sleeping in a parked van can be legal in one place and prohibited just a few miles away. Drawing on my 27 years as a park ranger—and my experience living in a van—I explain how I determine whether an overnight spot is actually legal. I break the question down into three essential checks: • Whose ground is it? • What term do local rules use for what I’m doing? • How long am I allowed to stay? The answer often depends on invisible jurisdictional boundaries, local definitions, and whether my behavior counts as parking, sleeping, camping, or overnight occupancy. #VanLife #VanCamping #OvernightParking #Boondocking #CarCamping #TravelTips