BLUE PLANIT

Prius Camping - Everything You Need to Know

Matt - September 6, 2020

Prius camping has been one of our favorite ways to vacation around the US in 2020. We'll explain why it's so great, how to sleep comfortably, and what you need to make it a great trip.

The Benefits

There are so many advantages to Prius camping. Where to start..

Freedom & Flexibility

Being able to comfortably sleep anywhere you can safely park is an incredibly liberating way to travel. No more worrying about making campsite reservations months in advance. Not more worrying about getting to your Airbnb or hotel in time for your reservation. With Motel Prius, you can quite literally choose when and where to call it a night.

One of the best parts of Prius camping is the ability to change your plans on the fly. If you're off exploring Death Valley National Park and you realize you need a couple extra days for everything you want to see, no problem in Motel Prius. Or let's say you're ambitiously making the 12+ hour drive from San Francisco to Seattle in one go and realize after 8 hours that you can't go any further. You're good to go with your Prius car camping arrangement, just find a safe place to park and get some zzz's.

What may be the most influential aspect of your car camping logistics is access to a public restroom, which is not very tough to get. We'll touch on that in the Where To Park section below.

Save Money

This one's not rocket science.. not paying for a place to sleep means more money in your pocket. With the average Airbnb and hotel coming in at around $100-$150 per night, those savings rack up quickly. Even if you look at a motel, with an average cost of $45-$100 per night, the savings are still significant.

For a three-night trip, you're looking at saving between $135 and $450, or more!

The Setup

Sleeping

The Prius is deceivingly spacious inside. Its secret weapon to being able to sleep comfortably in the Prius is that the rear seats fold forward to be nearly completely flat. The front seats also slide forward quite far to give even more space to the rear. This allows enough space for two people to sleep full length, as long as they're around 6'0 or under.

We recommend sleeping with your head towards the bumper and feet towards the front, opposite of how some may think to orient themselves. The reason for this is because you can sleep comfortably with your feet hanging off the edge of the seats instead of your head partially off, so this orientation makes it possible for taller people to sleep in Motel Prius. A bonus of this setup is that you'll have a sweet view of the stars on a clear night since the trunk window will be right above you.

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Here's the gear you'll need:

Sleeping pad - The trunk has no cushion so you'll need padding below you to sleep comfortably. You'll want a space-efficient option that still has enough padding and support. The Campbro Sleeping Pad has been great, but it's currently not available. Amazon's Choice Sleepingo Pad looks like a good alternative but you can't clip two together.
Pillow - Like the sleeping pad, you'll want space efficient padding. We like this inflatable travel pillow.
Sleeping bag - Make sure you have the appropriate temperature rating for where you'll be sleeping. For two people, this XL sleeping bag has been warm and very comfortable.

Step-by-Step Setup

1) Slide the front seats forward as much as you'd like to create more space.

2) Fold the rear seats and headrests down. Notice the area is nearly completely flat with the seats folded down.

3) Set up your sleeping pads.

4) Clip your sleeping pads together if possible to prevent them from sliding apart.

5) Set up your pillows.

6) Set up your sleeping bag on top and call it a night!

Climate Control

If you're Prius camping in weather that's too hot or cold to sleep comfortably, fear not! Since the Prius is a hybrid car, it has a big battery to power the AC or heat. When the battery gets low, the engine will kick on to recharge the battery and then turn off when it's charged enough. This process will repeat throughout the night.

Even better, the Prius has an auto climate control feature that will turn the AC or heat on or off as needed to maintain the temperature you set. This helps to minimize how much energy is used overnight to keep you comfortable. Most Prius owners seem to report that this auto climate control approach will use about one gallon of gasoline per night. You can read more on how auto climate control works in a Prius here.

Storage

You'll want to avoid storing your travel gear on top of your sleeping bag to stay comfortable, which isn't hard since the Prius has so much of space.

The leg area in the rear seats has LOTS of space after the seats are folded down and the front seats are slid forward. That should be where most of your gear fits, like your duffel bag and food. You can also store more goods, like your backpacks, in the front on the seats and dashboard.

And if you need even more space, there's a compartment beneath the rear trunk that you can store some smaller gear in.

Where To Park and Sleep

The flexibility of sleeping in your Prius allows for tons of options, but here are some recommended spots to park and sleep.

Freeway Rest Stops - You may be surprised at how clean and accommodating these stops are. With restrooms and water fountains, rest stops are the glamping of Prius camping. You have running water to wash your face, brush your teeth, and usually top off water bottles. They're convenient when you're on a long drive and typically have very reliable Google Reviews. Check the ratings and reviews of a stop to see if anyone mentions being able to sleep overnight, cleanliness, noise, and lighting.
Park Camping or Parking Lots - National and State parks often have campgrounds that fill up well in advance, but their parking lots are usually very spacious and available. Sometimes there are even restrooms available. Sleeping overnight at a trailhead parking lot, or generally in a park, can be a very convenient arrangement for getting an early start to a long hike. Of course, not all parking lots will have facilities so be prepared with enough water for drinking and hygiene, and also be ready to use nature as your restroom.
Road Turnouts - Turnouts are great for camping closer to your destination, like a national park or specific hike. Some parks may not allow overnight parking in parking lots, so one strategy is to exit the official park but pull into a turnout close to the entrance for a shorter commute the next morning. With turnouts, choose ones that are large enough to have lots of space between your car and the main road. From personal experience, turnouts often are large enough to have at least 10ft. between where you park and traffic.

A great resource to find free camping spots is freecampsites.net.

Though the recommendations above are great suggestions, here are some key factors to keep in mind when choosing from any type of Prius camping location.

Safety - Wherever you park, you want to feel confident that no creature (human or animal) will be a threat. If you have food in your car, which you likely will, be careful not to sleep where animals may be more likely to roam. We've found that locations typically trafficked by vehicles may be safest, but of course it's no guarantee. Next, if you're parking in a turnout, don't park in a narrow one that doesn't provide enough space between you and traffic. You want to make it less likely that an unobservant driver will accidentally side-swipe your parked car while you're sleeping!
Noise - A noisy spot can ruin a night of Prius camping. If you're deciding on a rest stop, be mindful of how busy the parking lot is and if it's close to the highway. Some rest stops have trees between the rest stop parking and the highway to help reduce noise levels, and it really helps. The Prius helps to insulate from some noise but not enough to rely on in noisy areas. Ear plugs are great to have as a backup.
Restrooms - If you're comfortable with taking nature's calls in the wild, this isn't a big deal. But, if you want running water and a less strenuous squatting experience, you'll want to stay closer to some restrooms. Trailhead parking lots occasionally have restrooms, but rest stops will be your most consistent option. Rest stop restrooms are also usually kept very clean. Another option is to park near public-facing businesses, like a motel or a hotel, and use their restrooms. Typically, if you don't look suspicious and walk in like you belong there, no one will stop you.
Level Ground - When you're sleeping in your Prius, you don't want gravity pushing you into the side of the trunk because you're parked on a slope. Similarly, you don't want your head to be pushed into the trunk either. To sleep comfortably, you want to park in as flat a spot as possible. Trust us, you'll regret parking on a slope. It's not comfy.
Lighting - There's a delicate balance to strike here. You want enough lighting to feel safe, especially if you're in a public space like a rest stop. On the other hand, you don't want blaring light shining on your face through the trunk or side windows. Be observant and try to park where light won't impact your sleep but where you still feel safe.
Garbage - You'll likely be eating lots of food on the go and the trash will start to pile up. Many parking locations will have garbage bins nearby, like at rest stops or trailhead parking lots. If you're parking on a turnout, you won't have a bin option. Don't litter! Bring a plastic bag during your trip to store your trash in your car to throw away later.

Favorite Prius Camping Destinations

With great freedom comes great.. vacations? There are so many great destinations in the United States for Prius camping. Here's a list of places where we can personally attest to having had great Prius camping experiences.