I'll be driving to Vancouver for a week this summer and due to budget constraints will likely be sleeping in my car. Can anyone suggest a good place to park in the evenings for free where I won't be harassed?

You will not be able to park in any beach or park parking lot overnight. Downtown has meters and restricted parking hours. Your best bet would be to park in a residential neighborhood on the west side of the city.

You can't be serious! Maybe you should be spending your time looking for a job rather than traveling if you have to sleep in your car.

There is a nice campsite in "Anmore" which is in Port Moody. It is about a 30 minute drive to the downtown area. It has showers and a pool. Buntzen lake area is nearby. I camped there for 2 weeks once while I was having my apartment rennovated after a fire. Beware of sleeping in your car in Vancouver.

My suggestion is to sleep overnight at the Hostelling International Jericho Beach hostel for about $20 a night. It's free parking, you get a bed, bathroom/kitchen facilities and beachfront property.

Thanks for all the advice, but I do really think that I'll be sleeping in my car. I don't like hostels. I've been robbed in more than one. Plus, I'd rather spend that $20 on food and sights.<BR><BR>David suggested parking in a residential neighborhood on the west side. Could someone be a little more specific, such as street names or at least directions to get to the west side residential neighborhoods?

The west side is not hard to find. Follow the sunset. However there are a lot of very high quality neighbourhoods in the area and you may find a cop or security person rapping on your window. I think actually the best place might be a shopping mall parking lot. There always seem to be a few cars in the lots even in the wee hours. Oakridge at 41st and Cambie or Arbutus mall at 27th and Arbutus could work. But I still think it's a lousy idea.

Gary.<BR>Assuming this is a serious question, do you not think that driving up to North Van or down to the Tsawassen spit to find a parking spot might be safer? better?<BR>I agree it is a lousy idea, but in Victoria also there are certain parking lots full of campers and cars that could not get into a campsite.

Safer? I don't know. Better? From being rousted? Probably. But it's still a lousy way to spend a vacation. Frankly paying a campsite fee and having facilities freely available would still seem to be the best compromise.

By the way - not that I havn't done it. In the sixties i travelled that way accross Canada and down to Panama basically staying in run down Hotels only in the big cities. I never had a problem but I had some very uncomfortable nights - especially in the tropics.

Many streets in West Van are restricted residential parking. Actually many areas in all of Vancouver proper are restricted to residents. If you must sleep in your car, try one of the suburbs. What ever you do, don't attempt to car sleep in East Van.

down by the fraser river. foot of kerr street (at Marine Way). beware anywhere you go you may wake up to a flashlite waking you up, especially if your car is the only one there. so you will be sleeping in your car for one week?? wow, i hope you have a roomy car! good luck!