At different times in my life I’ve camped and slept in both a car and a tent. For a while I owned a Honda Element that made the camping set up really slick. As my family increased in size, a tent made a lot more sense.
In this article I address which is a better option for someone who doesn’t camp very often or is just starting out. These are the most important factors to consider if you’re trying to decide whether to sleep in your car or pitch a tent:
| Factor | Tent Camping | Car Camping |
| Sleeping Warmth | X | |
| Sleeping Comfort | X | |
| Sleeping Safety | X | |
| Convenience | X | |
| Price | X | |
| Experience | X | |
| Privacy | X | |
| Space | X |
Overall it is better to sleep in a tent for most people because of the experience. Nothing beats the proximity to nature you experience sleeping out in a tent. Sleeping in a car has its advantages and is a good option in many situations, but sleeping in a tent is better for camping.
Sleeping in a Car vs. Sleeping in a Tent
Like I said, I have experience doing both, and I really enjoy both car camping and tent camping for different things. Car camping is great for stealth camping or a quick night while traveling, but tent camping is usually more comfortable since there’s more space for everyone.
For example, my wife and I camped in our car on the rim of the Grand Canyon the night before doing the Rim-Rim hike. We didn’t want to deal with taking a tent down at 4 in the morning to catch the shuttle, so it made more sense to just sleep in the car.
We camped in our Honda Element a bunch when we only had one kid, but when our second came along we just didn’t fit anymore so a tent provided a lot more space. These are the things I learned sleeping in cars and in tents:
Is it Warmer to Sleep in a Car or a Tent?
It is warmer to sleep in a car because cars are more insulated than the thin walls of a tent. They also are more air-tight, which means you don’t have to worry about a breeze coming through and robbing you of your warmth. If you do get cold while sleeping in a car, you can always turn on the engine and heater and warm up for a few minutes.
If you live in a windy region or are dealing with a windstorm, a car is a lot better than a tent during cold weather. Not only is it a lot quieter, but the wind outside doesn’t really affect your warmth inside. Windy nights in a tent can get pretty cold and the endless flapping of the tent can make it hard to really relax and rest.
During warmer months or in warmer areas, it can be really warm and stuffy to sleep in a car. You can roll down windows, but then you risk letting mosquitoes and other bugs or small animals inside. With a tent you can just remove the rain fly and you get great ventilation all night.
Is it More Comfortable to Sleep in a Car or a Tent?
With the same size mattress in each, a car is less comfortable than a tent because of seat belts and the low ceiling. When sleeping in a tent you usually have more space than if you sleep in a car, unless the car is a big SUV or van designed for camping. Tents have more ventilation than cars as well.
A lot of the comfort level of a car or a tent depends on what kind of set up you have. If you have a nice camping pad and a decent-sized tent, a tent can be very comfortable- far more comfortable than a small car trunk.
If you have a big van or SUV with a thick mattress in the back, the vehicle can be much more comfortable than a tent. The #vanlife may not be as quite as glamorous as it looks on Instagram, but it definitely has some advantages to tent camping.
Is it Safer to Sleep in a Car or a Tent?
It is definitely safer to sleep in a car than in a tent because the walls are more than a hair thick and your escape is just a few feet away if something happens. Tent camping is really pretty safe as well, but sleeping in your car is a better idea if you are in a dangerous area.
It’s important to note that even a car or SUV can’t keep you perfectly safe from large animals like bears. A large bear can smash a window in order to get food inside the vehicle. If you’re camping in bear country, it’s really important to store your food in a bear canister up in a tree.
The threat of a car alarm or an armed camper is usually enough to keep any would-be burglar at bay. Depending on the area though, especially if you’re stealth camping at a public park or in a parking lot, you need to be aware of the possibility of a police officer or security guard knocking on the window and telling you to move along during the night.
Sleeping in a car is usually the better option to keep you safe from smaller wild critters too like snakes and scorpions and spiders. Occasionally you’ll get a mouse inside your vehicle, especially if you keep opened food in there. This can happen whether you’re sleeping in a tent or car though.
Is it More Convenient to Sleep in a Car or a Tent?
Camping in a car is usually more convenient; but it really depends on the size of the car and your setup. With a small car it’s really annoying to have to get everything out in order to lay down the seat and set up a bed. In a larger car it’s nice to have everything at arm’s reach so you can stop whenever.
With a tent you can set everything up and then take the car to a trailhead or climbing area or whatever and leave your camp ready when you get back. Setting up a tent may take a few tries before it becomes easy, but it should really take less than 10 minutes.
When sleeping in a car, you only need to find enough space for your car to park. In a tent, you need to find a large enough flat spot to pitch a tent.
Sleeping in a car you can be fully contained and can ‘stealth camp’ in a parking lot or even a neighborhood on a road trip. If you’re going from place to place rather than having a single base camp for a trip, sleeping in the car can be a good option.
I did this in Maui with a rented van, and it made the Road to Hana awesome since we could see the whole thing over a couple of days without having to drive back to the north side of the island to stay the night or cook meals.
Is it More Expensive to Sleep in a Car or a Tent?
If you already have a car then sleeping in a car is cheaper than buying a tent. If you don’t, a tent is a lot cheaper. Trading out a small car for a bigger car for camping in rarely makes sense unless you intend to do a lot of camping in it or use it for a prolonged road trip.
Which is a Better Experience, Sleeping in a Car or a Tent?
This is where tent camping really takes the cake. Sleeping in a car really insulates you from the outside world- and most of the time that outside world is the reason you go camping! You can roll down windows or leave the trunk open, but there’s still a big difference from sleeping in a tent.
With a tent, there’s only a millimetre of material separating you from the outdoors. You get to hear every noise the forest makes clearly, and get to look through the the mesh roof of your tent at the stars. Sleeping in a tent smells like the outdoors as well, while sleeping in a car can smell like whatever snacks or dirty socks were left under the seat.
Sleeping in a tent definitely provides a much more immersive experience in nature, and that’s usually the reason I try to get out camping. Sleeping under the stars is the only more immersive option, but it also includes the downside of bugs and inclement weather.
There’s a lot more adventure sleeping in a tent since you can go just about anywhere and you’re a lot closer to nature. I’ve written more about this previously in my article Why Tent Camping is the Best
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Will I Have More Privacy Sleeping in a Car or in a Tent?
Unless you have really tinted windows or curtains in your car, a tent affords more privacy from other campers. A tent with a rainfly can’t be seen through, although with a light inside you may be able to see shapes through the sides.
With a tent you can also hike off into the woods and find a more private spot. With a car you are limited to where there are already roads.
In a car anyone can walk by and see inside. You can buy or make curtains or window shades that suction onto the windows, but for a short trip it probably doesn’t make sense.
Cars are better at insulating noises though, so if you’re a loud sleeper then your friends may appreciate you sleeping in a car!
Will I Have More Space Sleeping in a Car or in a Tent?
One of the biggest downsides to car camping is that it gets really cramped. In my Honda Element the seats would either lay flat to form a bed, or they could lay flat and then be lifted up and secured against the sides forming a truck bed. It was nice for a single sleeper, but didn’t provide a lot of space for more than one person.
With a bigger van or SUV you get a little bit more space, but usually you can only sit up and can’t stand and there just isn’t much room for all of your stuff.
I usually have more space in a tent since I keep most of my equipment in the car and only sleep in the tent. You can always buy a bigger tent as well if standing up is important, or if you’re going with a bigger group or your family grows.
Summary
Ultimately, the choice to sleep in your car or in a tent is up to you. There are clear advantages and disadvantages to each, and there are times and places where each is better.
A tent provides a spacious, wild experience; but it also takes a while to set up and isn’t as insulated from the elements. Sleeping in a car is safer and faster for road trips, but robs you of many of the best parts of camping. Whichever one you choose though, the important thing is to get out there!