Van life guide: England
Van Life in North Yorkshire: Best Spots, Meetups & Where to Park
Find fellow van lifers, plan meetups and convoys, or meet someone who gets the lifestyle in North Yorkshire. North Yorkshire is England’s biggest county, with the Dales, the North York Moors and a dramatic coast all within its borders.
The van life scene in North Yorkshire
The Yorkshire Dales National Park covers the west and the North York Moors National Park the east, with heather moorland and wooded valleys. The coast runs from Saltburn to Scarborough and Filey, with fishing villages and fossil-rich cliffs.
When you are based in North Yorkshire, it is easy to meet people when you plan a campfire with people who get the lifestyle. See also our Yorkshire Dales guide and the guides to York, Whitby and Scarborough.
Meeting people in North Yorkshire
Start with a brew somewhere public and busy, let a friend know where you are going, and keep your exact pitch to yourself until you know someone. With VanDates you choose what you are open to, whether that is friendship, convoys or romance, and you only ever show an approximate area.
North Yorkshire at a glance
- Where: North Yorkshire, England
- Best time to go: April to October
- Local flavour: Wensleydale cheese, Yorkshire puddings, Whitby fish and chips and Black Sheep ale
- Approximate location only: never your exact pitch
Best spots in North Yorkshire
Must-see places in North Yorkshire include Whitby Abbey, Robin Hood’s Bay, Fountains Abbey, Malham Cove, the Yorkshire Three Peaks and Castle Howard.
Ideas to try: a walk to Malham Cove, a coast path day to Robin Hood’s Bay, a steam ride on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway, a visit to Fountains Abbey.
Parking up and staying legal in North Yorkshire
Popular spots such as Malham and the coast get very busy at weekends and in school holidays, and many car parks have height barriers or overnight bans. Use campsites and check signs.
In England, wild camping is generally not allowed without the landowner’s permission, and overnight stays on roadsides, in car parks and at beauty spots are often restricted by signs, byelaws or council orders. Dartmoor has its own arrangements, so check the national park’s current guidance. Use campsites, Certificated Locations, farm stopovers or pubs that welcome vans, and follow the Countryside Code.
Read the Countryside Code. Please take your litter home, be considerate to residents, and see our Community Guidelines and Safety Tips.
Ready to meet van lifers in North Yorkshire?
Join The Crew. Discover who is parked or travelling near you, join upcoming community meetups, or find someone special who truly gets life on the road. Membership is £1.99 a week and you can cancel any time.