Vanlife with a View: The Best Scenic Overnight Stays for Spring

Spring is here, which means two things: longer daylight hours and zero excuses to wake up in a Walmart parking lot. If you’re craving scenic overnight spots where your morning coffee comes with an epic view, we’ve got you covered.

Sunrises, Stargazing, and Vanlife Vibes

Let’s be real—one of the best parts of vanlife is waking up to views that people pay premium Airbnb prices for. But not all overnight spots are created equal. Some come with a side of breathtaking mountaintops, tranquil lakes, or wide-open desert skies. Others… well, they come with a strip mall and a 24-hour fast food drive-thru.

This spring, skip the sketchy parking lots and level up your stay. Here are some of the most scenic overnight parking spots available on Vanly—because your van deserves a five-star view.

(Pro tip: Want to plan your year of vanlife adventures? Check out the Vanlife Calendar 2025 for the best road trip stops, events, and seasonal destinations!)

🏔️ Blue Ridge Parkway, North Carolina

Why You’ll Love It:

• Winding roads, wildflowers, and wow-worthy views

• One of the best scenic drives in the country

• Sunrise spots that make you feel like you’re in a Bob Ross painting

Spring is when the Blue Ridge Mountains come alive, and there’s no better way to experience it than parking at a private property just off the parkway. Wake up to rolling misty hills, do a morning hike on the Appalachian Trail, and grab a post-hike craft beer in Asheville.

Vanly Perk: Plenty of private landowners offer overnight parking near the Parkway, so you can avoid crowded campgrounds and still score million-dollar views.

🌊 Big Sur, California

Why You’ll Love It:

• Endless ocean views and dramatic cliffs

• The kind of sunset that makes you question all your life choices (in a good way)

• A mix of rugged wilderness and fancy coffee shops

Big Sur is bucket-list worthy for vanlifers, but finding legal overnight parking can be tricky. Avoid the stress (and the hefty fines) by booking a private overnight stay on Vanly. Some hosts even offer secluded cliffside properties where you can fall asleep to the sound of crashing waves.

Vanly Pro Tip: Spring means fewer crowds and peak wildflower season, so it’s the perfect time to snag an oceanside spot before summer tourists take over.

🏜️ Sedona, Arizona

Why You’ll Love It:

• Red rock views straight out of a postcard

• Top-tier stargazing (no light pollution = all the constellations)

• Warm spring weather = perfect for vanlife

Sedona in spring is absolute magic. The desert isn’t unbearably hot yet, the wildflowers are blooming, and the red rock formations glow like they’re straight out of a sci-fi movie. Book a Vanly overnight spot with unobstructed red rock views and enjoy the ultimate off-grid experience.

Bonus: Some Vanly hosts offer private land with fire pits and picnic setups, so you can make the most of those desert sunsets.

⛰️ Grand Tetons, Wyoming

Why You’ll Love It:

• Snow-capped peaks, alpine lakes, and wildlife galore

• One of the most photogenic mountain ranges in the U.S.

• Bonus: You might spot a moose while sipping your morning coffee

Spring in Grand Teton National Park is underrated. The summer crowds haven’t arrived yet, the snow is melting into crystal-clear lakes, and the wildlife is out in full force. Overnight parking near the park can be hard to find, but Vanly hosts in the area offer private land with jaw-dropping views of the Tetons—no reservations required.

Vanly Perk: Wake up to one of the best sunrise views in the country, minus the stress of competing for a parking spot at a crowded campground.

🌄 Moab, Utah

Why You’ll Love It:

• Iconic red rock formations that make you feel like you’re on Mars

• Perfect weather in spring (before summer turns it into an oven)

• Mountain biking, hiking, and off-roading paradise

Moab is the kind of place where you wake up, step outside, and immediately feel like an action hero. Whether you’re exploring Arches National Park or mountain biking through slickrock terrain, this desert town is an adventure lover’s dream.

Vanly Pro Tip: The best overnight spots in Moab are on private land with panoramic desert views—and you can book them in advance on Vanly to avoid the crowded (and often fully booked) campgrounds.

🏞️ Lake Tahoe, California/Nevada

Why You’ll Love It:

• Crystal-clear alpine water (seriously, it looks photoshopped)

• Spring skiing + beach days = the ultimate combo

• A peaceful break before the summer rush

Spring in Lake Tahoe is the best of both worlds—you can still hit the slopes in the morning and paddleboard on the lake by afternoon. The surrounding forests and mountain peaks create some of the most scenic overnight stays imaginable.

Vanly Perk: Several private landowners in the Tahoe area offer overnight stays near the lake, so you can park somewhere peaceful and wake up to mountain air and pine tree views.

🌿 The Takeaway: Vanly Makes Scenic Overnight Parking Easy

If your vanlife aesthetic = waking up to jaw-dropping views, then Vanly has your back. Instead of stressing over where to park, book an overnight stay on private land with incredible scenery, fewer crowds, and no "No Overnight Parking" signs in sight.

Spring is the best season to chase scenic spots before summer traffic kicks in. Whether you’re craving coastal cliffs, desert canyons, or alpine lakes, Vanly has a scenic overnight stay that’ll make your road trip next level.

🚐 Ready to wake up with a view? Check out Vanly’s top scenic stays and book your next overnight parking spot before they’re gone!