The Tesla Model Y might be the best car ever made for sleeping in. Fold the rear seats, turn on Camp Mode, and you have a climate-controlled bedroom with a glass roof and no engine idling. Thousands of owners camp in theirs at trailheads, Supercharger stops, and campgrounds. This guide covers the three things that make or break the experience: getting Camp Mode set up, choosing a mattress that fits, and packing the right gear.
What Camp Mode does
Camp Mode is a setting that keeps the car in a comfortable overnight state while parked. When it is on, the Model Y:
- Maintains cabin temperature at whatever you set, heating or cooling
- Keeps the interior air circulating
- Powers the USB ports and 12V outlet so you can charge devices
- Leaves the touchscreen available for music, streaming, or the ambient lighting controls
- Turns off Sentry Mode and the walk-away lock behavior so the car does not alarm or lock you in
To turn it on, park and stay in the car, tap the fan icon at the bottom of the screen to open the climate panel, and choose Camp from the Keep Climate On options. Tesla notes that Keep Climate On, Dog Mode, and Camp Mode are only available when the battery is above 20 percent. Set your temperature, dim the screen, and you are done.
How much battery does it use?
Owners consistently report roughly 1 percent per hour in mild weather, so an 8 hour night costs about 8 to 12 percent. Cold nights near freezing can run up to 20 percent because the heat pump works harder. Plan to start the night with at least 40 to 50 percent if you have a drive in the morning, and treat 20 percent as the floor, since Camp Mode will not run below it.
Does the Model Y lie flat?
Nearly. With the rear seats folded, the cargo floor and seatbacks form a long, mostly flat surface with a slight slope and a small step where the seatbacks meet the trunk floor. That is why a mattress or topper matters so much: 3 to 4 inches of foam erases the ridge and the slope, and turns “I slept in my car” into “I slept.”
Real cargo dimensions
Numbers vary a little by model year and how far forward you slide the front seats, so measure your own car, but the ranges owners report are consistent:
| Measurement | Approximate size |
|---|---|
| Usable length, rear seats folded, front seats forward | About 72 to 83 inches |
| Width between wheel wells (narrowest point) | About 41 inches |
| Width at the widest point | About 50 inches |
| Floor to glass roof | About 30 to 34 inches |
The wheel well width is the number that matters most. A mattress wider than about 41 inches has to sit on top of the wheel wells rather than between them, which works with a 4 inch mattress but not with a thin topper.
What mattress size fits a Model Y?
There is no household size that fits. A twin (38 x 75) fits between the wheel wells with a little room to spare and is a good solo setup. For two people, most owners go with something around 48 to 50 inches wide by 72 to 76 inches long, which rides over the wheel wells and uses the full width of the cabin.
We do not make a Tesla-specific SKU, but we do two things that solve it well:
- RV bunk sizes. Our RV toppers and RV Mattress come in 35 x 75, 35 x 79, and a 48 x 75 three quarter size. The 3/4 Full Short at 48 x 75 is close to ideal for two in a Model Y.
- Custom cut. Measure your car and send us width, length, and thickness. Our custom topper program cuts gel memory foam or Talalay latex to any rectangle in half inch increments, with a written quote in one to two business days. A 3 inch topper folds or rolls to fit in the trunk well when you are not using it.
Our dedicated Tesla Model Y mattress page walks through the options in more detail. Whatever you choose, memory foam is the better pick here over an air mattress: no pump, no leaks, no cold air under you, and it stores flat.
Model Y camping gear checklist
Sleep
- Mattress or 3 to 4 inch memory foam topper cut to fit
- Sleeping bags or a comforter (Camp Mode keeps the cabin comfortable, but a blanket still helps)
- Real pillows. A pair of LOUNJ pillows takes up little space and makes a huge difference
- Window shades or a sunshade set for privacy and to block morning light through the glass roof
Power and charging
- Mobile connector and adapters if the campground has a 14-50 or 5-15 outlet
- USB-C cables for the front and rear ports
- A small battery bank for anything that needs charging with the car off
Comfort and camp
- Headlamp or lantern (the cabin lights are dim in Camp Mode)
- Small trash bag and paper towels
- Water, snacks, and a compact cooler that fits in the front trunk
- Camp chairs and a folding table for outside the car
- Toiletries, wipes, and a towel
Tips from owners
- Park level. Even a slight slope is noticeable when you are lying down.
- Crack a window a half inch if condensation builds up, or lower the cabin temperature a couple of degrees.
- Store the mattress in the trunk well or the front trunk during the day; a rolled 3 inch topper fits easily.
- Turn on Camp Mode before you make the bed so the cabin is already at temperature.
- Check campground rules on running climate overnight; most are fine with it since there is no engine noise or exhaust.
Sleep as well as you drive
The Model Y already does the hard part. Add a properly sized foam mattress and a couple of good pillows and it is a legitimately comfortable place to spend the night. Explore our Tesla mattress options or send us your measurements for a custom cut. Everything is made in Phoenix, AZ, CertiPUR-US certified, and ships free to the lower 48.