Most high-demand public campgrounds use reservations, length limits and site-specific equipment rules.
Camper Rules Assistant
Build a country route and get compact allowed/do-not-assume/check cards for overnight rules, LEZ, tolls, documents and winter requirements.
United States
The United States is excellent for RV travel, but rules are fragmented by federal agency, state, county, city and private campground. Reservations and vehicle dimensions matter.
Do not assume that a roadside, trailhead or parking-lot space allows overnight sleeping. Use posted campground, public-land and local rules.
Toll roads, bridges and express lanes are state or facility based. Axles, height, weight and transponder compatibility can affect cost. The US does not have a nationwide LEZ sticker system, but states and cities can regulate parking, idling, emissions inspections and vehicle access.
Canada
Canada's RV rules vary by province, territory and park agency. National parks are strict about designated camping, permits and reservations.
Parks Canada campgrounds can require reservations, national park entry passes and site-specific vehicle limits.
In Parks Canada places, camping, including sleeping in a vehicle, is limited to designated campgrounds and requires the right permit or reservation.
Budget for national park entry passes, camping fees, ferries and occasional toll bridges or highways. Canada has no single national low-emission sticker for RV touring, but cities, provinces and parks can set local vehicle, idling and access rules.
Documents and insurance
United States
Foreign visitors may need both a home-country licence and an International Driving Permit depending on the states they visit.
- Insurance, registration and rental rules are state-specific; confirm coverage for every driver and state.
- Temporarily imported personal vehicles can trigger CBP, DOT and EPA rules; check before crossing the border.
Canada
Visitors can usually use a valid home-country licence for a short time, but provinces set the details and an International Driving Permit is recommended when needed for translation.
- It is illegal to drive without car insurance in Canada.
- Visitors may temporarily bring a personal vehicle into Canada for their own use without meeting Canadian standards, subject to visitor rules.