In Europe, particularly in Germany and Spain, there are several disputed trailer parks mostly forcefully or unlawfully placed on squatted land in the midst of urban centers (Berlin, Hamburg, Barcelona). Names for such phenomena include Wagenburg, Wagendorf or Bauwagenplatz (all German, meaning: "trailer castle", "trailer village" and "trailer place" respectively) and people living there are often associated with the punk movement and do it yourself (short DIY) punk ethic. A somewhat similar phenomenon exists in Britain, in the form of communities established informally by New age travelers, Irish travelers, and Roma. On the whole, however, trailer parks are much less common in these countries than they are elsewhere and in North America and are much less emblematic of a distinct lifestyle and membership to a certain social class.

In Australia, there is generally no differentiation between a trailer park and an RV park. The term "caravan park" is used to refer to both.