Travelling Morocco by campervan means choosing every evening where to stop: a campsite by the ocean, a guarded car park near a medina or a guesthouse on the edge of the desert. But you still need to know where you can sleep, what is tolerated and what is not. Here is our practical guide to planning your nights in a campervan or motorhome in Morocco, with peace of mind.
The essentials at a glance
- Our recommendation: sleep in an equipped campsite as often as possible. It is the easiest, safest and most comfortable option.
- In towns: use a guarded car park or a campsite on the outskirts. Medinas are not accessible by van.
- Wild camping is not permitted everywhere. It depends on the local authorities and is increasingly restricted on the coast.
- Arrive before dark: choose your overnight stop before you set off.
- With our van, plan a night with an electric hook-up regularly: the hobs and the microwave run on electricity.
Campsites: the easiest option
Morocco has many campsites, especially along the Atlantic coast, around Marrakech, in the Atlas valleys and on the edge of the desert. Facilities vary a lot from one site to another, but you will usually find:
- a pitch for the van, sometimes shaded;
- an electric hook-up;
- a water point to fill the tank;
- toilet and shower blocks;
- often a waste disposal point;
- security, at least at night.
Our tips for choosing well:
- Read recent reviews on campervan travel apps (see below): the state of the facilities, cleanliness and the quality of the electricity supply change over time.
- Arrive in the early afternoon in high season. In winter, the coast between Essaouira and Agadir attracts many European motorhome travellers and some campsites get very busy.
- Check the price on arrival and ask what is included (electricity, hot showers, water). Carry cash: cards are not always accepted.
- Test the hook-up as soon as you settle in: voltage and the condition of the sockets can vary.
Why it matters with our van
Our campervan has an equipped kitchen with 2 electric hobs and a microwave: you need to be plugged in to cook. The van comes with a 30 m extension cable and a water hose, precisely so you can make the most of campsites. Plan your route with a campsite at least every other night, and a picnic or a restaurant on the evenings when you are not hooked up. The foldable barbecue provided also lets you cook outdoors, where it is allowed.
Guarded car parks and authorised parking
When there is no campsite nearby, an authorised parking area is the best alternative.
- Guarded car parks: in most towns, attendants (often wearing a vest) watch over car parks, day and night. You pay on the spot, in cash: agree on the price when you arrive. It is the ideal option to visit a medina, such as Marrakech or Essaouira, and stay the night.
- Guesthouses, hotels and gîtes: outside towns, some places accept vans in their car park, sometimes with access to toilets or electricity. Always ask permission and what is included before you settle in.
- Officially designated areas: in some very touristy places, the authorities direct vans to dedicated car parks or areas for the night. Follow the local signs.
For everything about driving, tolls and parking attendants, read our guide to driving in Morocco by campervan.
Wild camping: what you need to know
This is the most common question, and the answer is not clear-cut. To our knowledge, there is no single published national rule that allows or bans overnight camping in a van everywhere in Morocco: local authorities decide, and the situation can vary from one municipality to another and change from year to year.
What we see in practice:
- On the coast, especially between Essaouira and Agadir, "no camping" signs have multiplied in recent years. In busy areas, such as around Taghazout, the gendarmerie commonly asks vans to move to a campsite or a designated car park for the night.
- Near towns and villages, overnight parking outside designated places is frowned upon and often refused.
- In remote mountain or desert-edge areas, wild camping is more often tolerated, but it is never a right.
In all cases:
- Never set up on private or farm land without permission, in a military zone, or in a national park or protected site without authorisation.
- Near a village, ask the residents before you settle in.
- If the authorities ask you to leave, do so politely: they will usually point you to a campsite or car park.
- Leave no trace: no litter, no waste water, no toilet paper in nature.
Our advice: keep wild camping for the occasional night, in a quiet and remote spot, and choose campsites the rest of the time. You will enjoy the scenery just as much, with added comfort and safety.
How to find a place to sleep each evening
- Traveller apps such as Park4night and iOverlander list campsites, car parks and wild camping spots, with comments from other travellers. Always check the date of the latest reviews: a spot tolerated two years ago may be banned today.
- Ask locally: campsite managers, car park attendants and shopkeepers know the local rules.
- Choose your stop before leaving in the morning, with a back-up option, so you never have to look for a place at night. Driving after dark is strongly discouraged in Morocco.
- Avoid riverbeds (oueds), which are often dry: a storm upstream can cause a sudden flood, even when the sky is clear where you are.
Where to sleep, region by region
- Marrakech: the medinas are not accessible by van. Sleep in a campsite on the outskirts, for example around the palm grove, or in a guarded car park, and take a taxi into the centre.
- Essaouira and the Atlantic coast: the area has many campsites, from Essaouira to Sidi Kaouki, Imsouane, Taghazout and Agadir. It is also where wild camping is most restricted: choose campsites and authorised car parks. Our ideas for stops are in our Marrakech to Essaouira road trip and Morocco surf trip guides.
- The Atlas and its valleys (Dadès, Todra): you will find campsites and guesthouses that welcome vans. Nights are cool, even cold in winter: bring warm clothes.
- The edge of the desert (Merzouga, M'Hamid El Ghizlane): many guesthouses and campsites welcome vans at the foot of the dunes. Stay on tarmac roads: our van is not designed for sand or tracks.
To plan your route, take inspiration from our road trip ideas from Marrakech.
Water, electricity and waste water
- Water: fill the tank at campsites or at fuel stations that allow it, using the hose provided. For drinking, choose bottled water.
- Electricity: plug in whenever you can to charge your devices and cook.
- Waste water and toilet: empty them only at designated disposal points, in campsites. Never empty them in nature or in a gutter.
- Rubbish: keep a bin bag on board and use the bins at campsites or in towns.
Safety: our tips for peaceful nights
- Lock the van, even when you are inside, and keep valuables out of sight.
- Park so that you can leave easily, without having to manoeuvre.
- Trust your instincts: if a place does not feel right, move on before dark.
- Keep your phone charged and our WhatsApp number at hand: we are reachable throughout your rental.
Sources
- Wild camping status: summary of campervan travel guides and motorhome forums consulted in October 2026. As no single national rule was found, local rules and signs always take precedence.
- The other tips in this guide come from our experience of campervan rental in Morocco.
