Where you can legally stay overnight in a van
The line between a legal overnight and a fine is real — and it changes at every border. Aires, Stellplätze and the Spanish pernocta rule.
The stay networks
~5,000 Stellplätze across Germany
400+ Camping-Car Park aires in France
pernocta ≠ acampar the Spanish legal distinction
Country by country
France runs on aires (services, low cost); Germany on Stellplätze. Spain tolerates 'pernocta' (sleeping inside the vehicle) but not 'acampada' (chairs, awnings, levellers out) — a distinction the Guardia Civil enforces on the coast. When in doubt, use a stopover app; see our stayover-apps comparison.
Key takeaways
- France = aires, Germany = Stellplätze, both purpose-built.
- In Spain, sleeping (pernocta) is fine; camping (acampada) isn't.
- Stopover apps (Park4Night etc.) find the legal spot.
Sources
What this page is based on — every source is verified and links out so you can check it yourself.
- Verified / official
- Provisional
- Out of date