Car Camping Takes Off During Holiday: Family of Three Spends Just 1,600 Yuan on a Six-Day Trip

A new form of budget travel has attracted widespread attention in China following the National Day holiday: sleeping inside a car during road trips.

Known in China as “bed-car travel,” the practice involves folding down the rear seats of a family vehicle and placing mattresses, sleeping bags and other basic equipment inside, effectively turning the car into a temporary sleeping space.

The trend has gained popularity among self-driving tourists because it offers greater flexibility while significantly reducing accommodation costs.

Several travelers recently shared their holiday travel expenses on social media. One family of three reportedly spent just over 1,600 yuan on a six-day road trip, while another traveler said six nights of accommodation cost only around 500 yuan.

Saving Thousands on Accommodation

The biggest attraction of car camping is simple: it can dramatically reduce accommodation expenses.

During major holidays, hotel prices in popular tourist destinations can rise sharply, while rooms can become difficult to book. Some travelers therefore choose to sleep in their vehicles rather than spend hundreds of yuan per night on hotels.

A family of three recently shared a six-day travel budget of slightly more than 1,600 yuan. Most of the expenses were related to fuel, food and limited parking fees, while accommodation costs were kept extremely low.

A tourist from Mianyang in Sichuan province also traveled to Gannan during the National Day holiday with her family and used a car as their overnight accommodation. She said the family saved more than 3,000 yuan in hotel costs during the trip.

For families traveling during peak periods, avoiding several nights of hotel expenses can make a significant difference to the total cost of a holiday.

Turning an Ordinary Car Into a Mobile Bedroom

Unlike traditional motorhomes, bed-car travel does not require consumers to purchase a specialized recreational vehicle.

SUVs, MPVs and other vehicles with relatively spacious interiors can often provide a sleeping area after the rear seats are folded down and a mattress is installed.

Automakers have also started promoting features such as one-touch bed conversion and camping modes, making the concept increasingly accessible to ordinary consumers.

For families and young travelers who prioritize flexibility and affordability, the vehicle can serve two purposes at once: transportation during the day and temporary accommodation at night.

Travelers can drive during the day, stop at an appropriate location in the evening, sleep inside the vehicle and continue their journey the next morning.

That flexibility eliminates the need to plan every day around hotel reservations.

Rising Hotel Prices Helped Fuel the Trend

Industry observers say the popularity of car camping does not necessarily mean travelers are unwilling to pay for accommodation.

Instead, some consumers are responding to the combination of higher holiday hotel prices and concerns about value for money.

When a hotel room costs several hundred yuan per night, travelers naturally begin comparing alternatives.

If their vehicle already provides enough space for sleeping, using the car for overnight stays can allow them to spend more of their budget on transportation, food and sightseeing.

As a result, “saving money” has become the biggest selling point of the trend.

Social-media posts showing travelers saving thousands of yuan on accommodation have further increased interest in the concept.

Safety Concerns Are Also Growing

Despite its popularity, car camping comes with significant safety considerations.

The most important rule is that passengers should not lie down in the rear sleeping area while the vehicle is moving. Without proper seat-belt protection, passengers can face serious injury in the event of sudden braking or a collision.

There are also concerns about unauthorized modifications. Some vehicle owners may attempt to change the interior structure to create more sleeping space, potentially creating compliance and legal issues.

Experts have also called for clearer safety information from automakers when marketing camping-related vehicle functions. Sleeping and camping features should be clearly presented as functions for use when the vehicle is parked, rather than while it is being driven.

Public Facilities Are Another Challenge

The rapid growth of bed-car travel has also highlighted shortcomings in public infrastructure.

Many travelers stay overnight at highway service areas, public parking lots or other locations. However, ordinary passenger vehicles generally lack dedicated systems for water supply, sanitation and wastewater disposal.

When only a small number of travelers use this model, the impact may be limited. But large numbers of vehicles gathering around popular tourist destinations can place pressure on parking spaces, public toilets, water supplies and waste-management systems.

Problems can become more serious when travelers occupy public parking spaces for extended periods or conduct cooking, washing and wastewater disposal in public areas.

Experts therefore believe that infrastructure will be crucial to the long-term development of car-based tourism.

From a Grassroots Trend to a More Organized Travel Model

The demand behind car camping is unlikely to disappear.

The model meets growing consumer demand for affordable, flexible and personalized travel, while also benefiting from the expansion of self-driving tourism, camping culture and outdoor functions in new-energy vehicles.

However, long-term development will require more than travelers simply finding places to park overnight.

Dedicated car-camping facilities near tourist destinations and along popular driving routes could provide parking, toilets, showers, electricity, water and waste-disposal services.

Such infrastructure would allow the industry to move from an informal, largely self-organized model toward a more regulated tourism format.

Travelers also have a responsibility to use designated areas where possible, remain inside the vehicle only after it has been safely parked, avoid unauthorized modifications and properly dispose of waste and wastewater.

The story of a family of three completing a six-day trip for just over 1,600 yuan has attracted attention because it reflects a broader shift in consumer behavior.

As travelers increasingly seek better value and greater freedom, China's holiday tourism market may gradually move beyond the traditional hotel-based model toward a more diverse combination of hotels, campsites, motorhomes and car-based accommodation.