Don't panic, this is not just another ordinary winter camping blog. You probably already know plenty about snow chains, heaters and winter hacks (if not, our winter basics and Johannes' parking heater report are waiting for you). This is about what is really missing once your vehicle is kitted out: available winter pitches. More precisely, the ones you don't have to book.
Just drive off … is that possible?
If you want to spend the night at a ski resort on a whim in winter, so you can skip the traffic chaos and be first on the mountain in the morning, you know the problem: many classic winter campsites in the Alps feel like they need booking half a year in advance. And if the good weather does not match the dates you booked, you are left with hefty cancellation fees. Yet a survey at the Caravan Salon in Düsseldorf shows that 87 percent of campers prefer to choose a place to stay spontaneously rather than reserve one. Our philosophy is simple: the activity, the actual experience, is the goal, not the bookable pitch. After all, what are four wheels for if not for flexible plans? You can drive to all of the following pitches at any time without booking ahead; check-in and payment happen digitally on site.
Eastern Switzerland & Graubünden
- Avers (6 locations in total)
- Bergün (valley station)
- Chäserrugg (valley station)
- Flums (Aparthotel Edy Bruggmann)
- Flims/Laax (in front of TCS Camping)
- Hochwang (near the valley station)
- Savognin (Surses municipal car park)
- Scuol (in front of Camping Sur En)
- Splügen (Sufers municipal car park)
- St. Moritz (Julier, Silvaplana municipality)
- Val Müstair (in front of Camping Muglin)
Bernese Oberland
- Adelboden (private pitch)
- Hasliberg (Gasthaus Brünig Kulm)
- Frutigen (Berggasthaus Höchst)
- Grindelwald (Hotel Wetterhorn)
- Gstaad (Lauenen sports ground)
- Interlaken (in front of TCS Camping)
- Lenk (private pitch)
- Brienz (in front of Camping Aaregg)
Valais
- Nendaz, 4 Vallées (private pitch)
- Belalp (Blatten, Rischinu)
- Münster, Obergoms (Hotel Alpine Feelgood)
- Unterbäch (tourist office)
- Zermatt (Visp car park)
French-speaking Switzerland
⛷ Powder tactics: check the weather window the evening before, drive up at night, be first at the lift in the morning, and because nothing is booked, a spontaneous change of plan costs exactly zero francs. All pitches with live availability at parknsleep.app.
Pitch list from the Parkn'Sleep company blog; the offer and winter operation of individual pitches may change with the seasons, the live availability in the app is what counts.
