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.
Overnight and wild camping
United States
Do not assume that a roadside, trailhead or parking-lot space allows overnight sleeping. Use posted campground, public-land and local rules.
- National parks often require designated campsites for sleeping in an RV and prohibit overnight camping in parking lots or roadsides.
- Rules for dispersed camping vary across BLM, Forest Service, state and county lands.
Canada
In Parks Canada places, camping, including sleeping in a vehicle, is limited to designated campgrounds and requires the right permit or reservation.
- Sleeping in roadside pullouts, trailheads and day-use areas is not allowed in Parks Canada sites.
- Provincial parks, crown land and municipal areas have separate rules; check the province before stopping.