You might feel like you’re not supposed to sleep in your car, but the science behind it all is actually pretty good. Your body doesn’t like to be hot, and sleeping in your car with the air conditioning on can help you avoid this problem. The only problem is, that about 10 out of every 100 people who say they don’t like to drive actually do. If you’re one of those people and you keep reading, rest assured… You are not alone! But before we tell you why and how much staying asleep in your car with the AC running would benefit you, let’s answer some common questions first.
Can You Sleep in Your Car with the AC Running?
Yes, you can sleep in your car with the AC running. However, it is not recommended to do this while driving. The air in your car will be too cold and you will not be able to keep your eyes open.
What Is The Problem With Sleeping In Your Car?
- Hotter than your own body: Your car can get up to about 100 degrees Fahrenheit warmer than your own body. Sleeping in a car that’s too hot can cause serious health problems, including heat exhaustion and heat stroke, which are both very serious.
- Lack of air circulation: You might think that sleeping in a car with the air conditioning on would provide enough air circulation, but it doesn’t always work that way. The concerns go beyond cars because the same issues occur in any vehicle with an open roof. Lack of ventilation means you’ll have to sleep on top of the covers, which is uncomfortable and can lead to overheating as well as other health problems like hypothermia and frostbite.
- Heat retention: When you sleep in your car with the AC running, you’re losing around 20% of your body heat through the metal side panels and roof of your car. That means if it’s a cold night, you won’t be getting much benefit from having an AC unit on all night long!
- Drifting away from reality: If you’re going to spend hours or even days asleep in a vehicle for any reason, it should be for something positive like driving cross country or camping out under the stars! If you’re going to be sleeping in your car for any reason other than one of those things, then stay off the road!
- The risk of carbon monoxide poisoning: Carbon monoxide is a deadly gas that can build up in your car if you don’t have any windows open. When that happens, you need to get out of the car immediately and call 911! Carbon monoxide poisoning can be very serious and even fatal, so having it happen while you’re sleeping in your car is not something to consider!
Can You Sleep In Your Car With The AC On?
1. The short answer:
Yes! If you want to sleep in your car and you don’t want to risk the above problems, then yes, you can sleep in your car with the AC on. Now that we cleared that up, let’s talk about why you can do this and what it will do for you.
2. You Should Sleep in Your Car with the AC on:
For starters, sleeping in a car with the AC running is a great way to stay cool. If you have an air conditioning unit installed in your vehicle, then it’s like having an extra fan blowing directly on you because of all that air circulating around inside the car! Having something blowing directly on top of you helps keep your body cool by reducing heat from escaping through direct contact.
3. You Shouldn’t Sleep in Your Car with the AC on:
Sleeping in a car with the air conditioning on does not provide enough comfort if your goal is to get a good night’s sleep (we’ll get into more details about this later). However, if your goal is to stay alert while driving safely or if you need to be able to fall asleep while driving overnight at some point during your trip (see our next question below), then yes… sleeping in a car with the AC running would be okay!
4. You Can Stay Asleep When Sleeping In Your Car With The AC On:
If it’s summertime or well into the night, then you will probably want to sleep in your car with the AC on for a short period of time. If it’s wintertime and not too cold, then you should be fine sleeping in your car for a longer period of time (we’ll discuss how long that is later).
5. How Long You Should Sleep in Your Car With the AC On:
The length of time you spend sleeping in your car with the AC on depends on how comfortable you are with that decision. If it seems like it would be okay, then go ahead and do it! If you’re not sure about it or if there is a chance that you might get too cold or too hot while sleeping there, then don’t do it! You only have one body to sleep in and make sure that every part of it is getting enough rest!
Is There Any Way To Sleep In Your Car With The AC On?
- The short answer: Yes! Sleeping in your car at night means that you can get all the benefits of being asleep while still being awake enough to drive safely. However, doing this all night long can cause some problems such as falling asleep while driving or not being able to fall asleep at all because of noise or lights from outside your car. So, if this type of sleep deprivation is something that bothers you (or if there’s more than one person riding along with you), then don’t do this! See our next question below for how to overcome this obstacle.
- The long answer: You could try sleeping in your car with the AC on as a short-term solution but it’s not going to be ideal for many reasons. First off, it’s going to be very uncomfortable and you could get too hot or too cold while sleeping there. Secondly, it will take up a lot of room in your car and the AC unit itself takes up a lot of space and takes up power too (we’ll talk about these topics later). Thirdly, the risk of falling asleep while driving is very high because of all the lights from outside your car and everything else that is going on around you. So, if you have any concerns about getting distracted by things around you while driving at night, then don’t do this! See our next question below for
Can I Sleep In My Car With The Ac On During Winter
- The short answer: Yes! Sleeping in your car at night means that you can get all the benefits of being asleep while still being awake enough to drive safely. However, doing this all night long can cause some problems such as falling asleep while driving or not being able to fall asleep at all because of noise or lights from outside your car. So, if this type of sleep deprivation is something that bothers you (or if there’s more than one person riding along with you), then don’t do this! See our next question below for how to overcome this obstacle.
- You could try sleeping in your car with the AC on as a short-term solution but it’s not going to be ideal for many reasons. First off, it’s going to be very uncomfortable and you could get too hot or too cold while sleeping there. Secondly, it will take up a lot of room in your car and the AC unit itself takes up a lot of space and takes up power too (we’ll talk about these topics later). Thirdly, the risk of falling asleep while driving is very high because of all the lights from outside your car and everything else that is going on around you. So, if you have any concerns about getting distracted by things around you while driving at night, then don’t do this! See our next question below for how to overcome this obstacle.
The Bottom Line
Remember, sleeping in your car with the AC on is not only good for your health, but it’s also a fun challenge. Your muscles will get a workout, your body will get some much-needed rest, and you’ll be able to see how long you can go without getting out of the car. So, should you sleep in your car or not? The answer is simple, it’s your choice! You can sleep in your car when you want to, and how long you sleep is up to you.
