Camping pitch – Are you a passionate camper and already in the middle of planning your next vacation in the great outdoors?
When camping, you are not only completely flexible in your travel planning, but you can also make a stop whenever you feel like it.
Of course, you can simply choose the nearest campsite, but you might want to have a little more peace and privacy from time to time.
There are legal pitches where you can camp comfortably with your loved ones and your roof tent or tent trailer.
Find out more here.
Camping Ratgeber:
Alternatives to camping: camping legally in the great outdoors
From the Harz Mountains and Lake Constance to the Baltic Sea or North Sea, legal pitches can basically be found everywhere.
Whether you are traveling with your partner in a rooftop tent for 2 people or with the whole family in a rooftop tent for 4 people, sitting together in front of the tent in the evening is simply part of the experience.
But especially in high season, the popular campsites are often very crowded and fully booked.
So you probably won’t have much privacy if your camping neighbors have pitched their awning right next to you.
Find out here how you can avoid the overcrowded campsites and still camp close to nature and completely legally without committing a crime! 
Pitches: Natural, legal & affordable
First of all, there are camping sites that specialize in offering just such pitches.
Far away from overcrowded campsites somewhere in the middle of idyllic nature.
You simply select a site in advance, enter the regions that are on your travel route and book your suitable pitches!
Of course, you can always do this spontaneously while you’re on the road, provided the area is still available.
Our tip here is VanSite, for example.
As soon as you enter your next destination on the site, you will be shown a few nearby pitches that you can then book and drive to.
All the pitches are completely unspoilt, so you have the feeling of freedom and wild camping, but are still completely legal.
If you now think that this is just right for you, you can find an overview of all legal campsites in Germany here:
Trekking places: Hiking trips with tent
Another suggestion are so-called trekking sites, which are also specifically advertised as such.
You can usually find these a little off the beaten track and can only be reached on foot.
These sites are therefore ideal if, for example, you are going on a long day trip and need a place to sleep after a long hike.
This also means you don’t have to return to the campsite but can set off directly from here the next day.
Trekking campsites usually only offer a small number of campsites, are located in the middle of the forest and are very unspoilt.
With a bit of luck, however, a toilet block will be available.
Instead of sleeping in a roof tent, you sleep in a bivouac tent, trekking tent, tarp or similar tent, which you ideally have with you in your rucksack.
You should also remember to bring food and water for the night.
Everything you need to know about trekking sites
- Located away from hiking trails, e.g. in the forest
- Only accessible on foot
- Suitable for day trips with a rucksack and tent
- Small number of storage spaces (but you are not completely alone)
- A toilet block may be available
- Mostly possibility for a campfire
- You must bring your own food for the night
Restoration of fitness to drive
If you are traveling with your camper or your car including roof tent or tent trailer and are planning a long tour, possibly lasting several weeks, then there may be very long driving times in between.
So that you don’t have to drive all night to get to the next campsite, you can easily take breaks in parking lots or at the side of the road.
If you have parked your car, you can even spend the night here.
This falls under “restoring fitness to drive” and allows campers to rest for about 10 hours.
Of course, nobody can check the exact period.
However, you must bear in mind that parking is not the same as camping and you are therefore not allowed to pitch your roof tent, but may have to sleep in the front of the car seats.
Maybe you can fold down the back seat and make yourself comfortable on a mattress?
Also avoid setting up camping equipment such as camping furniture, an awning or a tent.
This also counts as camping and is prohibited in this case.
Everything you need to know about roadside parking
- Parking with camper, car, motorhome etc. is permitted for one night
- Falls under “restoration of fitness to drive”
- Rest for up to 10 hours
- Parking is not the same as camping
- Camping equipment may not be set up
Wild camping: what you should know
If you’re now thinking that you can just pitch your tent somewhere, you’re wrong.
Because it’s not that easy in Germany.
In general, wild camping, i.e. spending the night in your own vehicle or tent, is prohibited anywhere in the countryside.
No matter how tempting it is to park your car on the beach or in the middle of an open landscape and pitch your roof tent or tent trailer, you may even be fined!
Each federal state has its own nature conservation and forestry laws, which you should definitely find out about in advance.
Camping in nature reserves is always prohibited.
The only exceptions are pitches on private land where the owners have given you their consent.
However, these are rather rare.
So if you want to be on the safe side, it’s better to find out about legal sites on your route in advance and book suitable pitches in the countryside!
Rules for wild camping in Germany
- Wild camping in nature reserves, national parks, reserves and landscape conservation areas is generally prohibited
- Rules may vary within the federal states
- Camping on private land is permitted with the consent of the owner
- Sleeping in a bivouac tent is not considered camping and is often not prohibited
Conclusion!
Alternative to campsites
If you don’t necessarily want to spend the night at the popular and overcrowded standard campsites, or if there are none to be found far and wide on your route, you have several options for camping legally in the countryside.
Wild camping is a very tricky business, as it is not permitted everywhere in Germany.
Especially in nature and landscape conservation areas, wild camping is definitely prohibited and punishable by law!
Instead, you should look for a secluded parking lot and rest in your car for the night.
But even this is only permitted for a few hours and without any camping equipment.
If you are on foot, you can of course always visit trekking sites.
However, this is more of an emergency solution for just one night.
The best option compared to campsites is therefore a legal pitch in the countryside.
You can choose this in advance, you are still in a natural location, can camp here legally for as long as you like and set up all your outdoor equipment!
