You can join this route easily if you decide to come over on a ferry to Caen, Le Havre, Dieppe or Cherbourg. UK citizens can only stay in the Schengen Area (a zone in Europe where countries have no internal borders and allow the free and unrestricted movement of people) for90 days in every 180 daysin the Schengen Area. ), visit the Start Here page to find out how we can help you! Our ready-made Spanish road trips are here to help, guide to motorhoming in Europe after Brexit, Tips for Campervan Rental and Motorhome Hire in Spain (and the rest of Europe!). The tolls on this route will cost you an estimated 180; it could be more if you're driving a big motorhome of upwards of 3,500 kgs. Spanish life is all about family, religion, food and tradition. American Express is rarely accepted but UK credit or debit cards should work (but not always, so carry cash to be safe! Ratings and Reviews Powered by TripAdvisor. John, we did that trip last year, although we had longer and set off earlier. Motorhome aires in Spain are not as plentiful as in France but they are out there! Spain has certain days where driving is restricted. With the colourful traditions, good food and wine and fabulous architecture, you have all the ingredients for an amazing tour. - Travelling down the coast is one of the best France motorhome routes If you've got the staying power, then get yourself down to the south west of France where this cool coastal town, not too far from the Spanish border, can offer you a few days of sun, sea and surf. Youll often see the typical pictogram sign by the side of the road pointing you to a service point, this may be a dedicated area, within an aire or another facility. You will be almost unaware of crossing the border at Irun, watch for the Espania sign, and turn south on the N121 a surprisingly fast road wriggling through the mountains to Pamplona. This gorgeous country, full of beautiful light, fabulous food and landscapes straight from a film set, will not disappoint. Highlights of 20 days travelling through south-west France. If you are driving in the mountains, you MUST sound your horn before a blind bend, but its illegal to use a horn in built-up areas. You can either have two small boards or one large board but they must be placed at the back of the outfit between 50cm and 150cm off the ground. Home Motorhome Advice Travel to Europe Motorhoming & Campervanning in Spain Complete Guide. You can park a motorhome during the day anywhere parking is allowed (as long as there are no signs banning motorhome parking) and as long as you arent overhanging a space or blocking the road. If youre looking for a longer holiday, just throw in some beach time! Top Tip: Even if you book a standard class cabin, its possible to book into the Commodore C-Club lounge, where free hot drinks, water and wine are served, along with generous snacks, meaning you dont need to pay for expensive food on board. About 600 euros have been spent on gasoline and tolls, the most expensive of the trip without a doubt. You will fall in love with this captivating and romantic city. This sailing does navigate the Bay of Biscay and can be choppy in autumn and winter, but in our experience, its more cost-effective than driving through France. Let this tour take you on a journey of discovery through Northern Spain and Portugal as we show you some of the best of the lesser-known gems. Order a Cerveza pequea (small beer) for 1 and get a free tapa, you can do this in all the bars in Len and literally have your dinner for nothing! If youd like to avoid campsites and aires, but dont want to risk staying off-grid, there is a scheme which connects business owners to people motorhoming or campervanning in Spain, called Espana Discovery. These are the things you MUST have with you when youre motorhome or campervan touring in Spain. Spain is not as finished as you might be used to. The editorial team's campsites of choice in the north of England Editor's Pick - The best campsites in Dorset. Are you feeling a bit nervous about wild camping for the first time? First, you'll take one of the ferries from Dover to Calais. The Gap Decaders are participants in a number of affiliate programmes. Vegetarian or vegan food can be hard to find outside of bigger towns and cities. Go out along the coast in a kayak, canoe or stand-up paddle board if you can, and marvel at the crystal clear turquoise water, an abundance of sea life, wired rock formations and hidden sea caves. Spains capital city is a beautiful and cultured city with stunning architecture, tranquil parks and some of the best art museums in Europe. If under 3,500kg go straight on, otherwise the inside lane swings right down to a bridge, after which you turn left returning back to the main road. In the height of summer it can be blisteringly hot and wild camping can be a challenge without air conditioning. On the way, stop atSant Carles de la Rapita,a charming Spanish town with lots of great seafood restaurants. The Gorges d'Hric in Southern France brings our Vanlife diaries to the most dramatic destination where river pools and waterfalls await. Want to rent a vehicle for your road trip? Headlight beam converters (unless you can adjust yours automatically). Number of days: Two to four. ferry or tunnel from UK to France (there are pros and cons to both). The route through Southern Norway should take you about two to three weeks. At 35 a night, this is without doubt, the poorest value-for-money motorhome campsite site we have ever stayed on, although our research suggests its the best motorhome site in Madrid! Menu Skip to . OK I admit, not quite a toll free route to Spain! As you approach the N12 the map, and probably your navigator, will suggest turning left past Dreux and Chartres to meet the N10. We stayed several nights at thisgreat spot,perfect for getting the bus to the start of the hike and then walking back from the end, via the bar of course! Spain is a fantastic country for road tripping. With one of the best winter climates in Europe and friendly locals, Spain is a perfect country for a motorhome road trip. Yep. You may carry a load, such as bikes on a rack, extending by up to 10% of the length of the vehicle to the rear. Its always worth investing in a book of aires, as well as an online app- just in case you find yourself without internet in your motorhome (or without a wifi signal). Main roads (mostly modern single carriageway roads) are in green. Mealtimes in Spain are noticeably different to the rest of Europe. Motorhome camping in and around Barcelona is challenging. Spanish supermarkets are generally ok, all offering the basics and some a bit more upmarket, such a Carrefour. Full details of the cost or routing via Reims is available on the French Autoroutes website. Although the UK left the EU at the beginning of 2020, because the pandemic came swiftly on its heels, many of us are still realising the repercussions and getting used to how it affects travelling in a motorhome. Many shops and businesses also shut for a long lunch (between 12-2pm) and some will not open on Wednesday afternoons. Motorhome Tour to Spain Part 1 - Powering through France with some sadness. Petrol and diesel are widely available. The pace of life is simple and unhurried. b) Short crossing to northern France, motorways to Perpignan, then the Spanish AP7 coastal motorway to your destination. Be sure to get: Name and address of all the people involved in the accident, Vehicle registration numbers of all parties, Take photos of damage using a camera, GoPro or phone. Things you need to drive in Spain- safety gear, Road trip accessories you MIGHT need when campervanning in Spain, Motorhomes or campers with a total train length of over 12m. At some campsites, you will need to pay extra for shower or electric usage. Lidl and Carrefour have great parking facilities for motorhomes, the others less so as they are often more centrally situated in towns. a) Ferry to the north coast of Spain and drive south to your chosen Costa. This gorge is spanned spectacularly by an 18thcentury arched bridge andtall housesperchprecariouslyalong itsedges. In some places, to turn left across a dual carriageway you need to pull-in on the right and wait until it is clear in both directions. Top Motorhome Destinations in Spain The Pyrenees Picos de Europa Len Santiago de Compostela Madrid Huelva Tarifa Seville Via Verdes Crdoba Ronda & Grazalema Caminito del Rey Sierra Nevada Almeria Cartagena Valencia Serra d'Irta Parc Natural del Delta de l'Ebre Barcelona Resources for Motorhome Travel in Spain Can't decide? There is a lot of diverse hiking here but the weather can be unstable and the terrain unforgiving. Some spots are even right on the beach! I am a pretty competent driver and not nervous of driving in mountains provided the roads are sensible and not too narrow. To take your motorhome from the UK to Spain you have a basic choice: either take a ferry across the Bay of Biscay to Northern Spain, or take the Channel Tunnel or a ferry to Northern France, and drive across France to the Pyrenees. Book with Eurocampings for the best deals on over 520 campsites in Spain. It can take some time to get all the documents together and the vaccines organised, so make sure you start the process well in advance. Unless you are in an absolute dive or the service is dreadful, it is expected that you will leave a tip, usually around 5%. Following on from Sundays, many shops and restaurants will also close on Mondays with a sign on the door stating . The nearest metro station is Canillejas, about a ten minute walk and on the same line as all the major tourist destination stops, so no changes are required. This post may contain affiliate links, from which we earn an income. Weve been touring Europe in our motorhome for several years. If youre driving in Spain, you need to carry the following documents: Most UK citizens do not need anIDPto drive in Spain, as long as you have a card driving licence issued in the UK (in date, of course!). I have selected the famous N10 route from Calais to Irun which is used by many motorhomes when travelling to Spain. Developed by: NKC - travel guides (the NKC is the Dutch parent company of Campercontact) Described route: 15 travel days. Utilise the campsite bar a glass of wine and a beer will typically cost 3, a bargain! We use, 120 km/h (74mph) on motorways/ autovias and many dual carriageways, 90 km/h (56 mph) on secondary roads (out of town)- can increase to 110km/h to overtake, 50km/h (31 mph)- on roads with two or more lanes in the same direction, 30 km/h (19 mph) on roads with one lane in each direction, 20km/h on small lanes where road & pavement are the same level. The Pyrenees is best visited between May and October, unless you want to ski, as outside these times you will definitely encounter snow. The age-old conundrum about the best route to Spain in a motorhome from the United Kingdom is whether to pay for a long ferry crossing or pay for fuel and tolls doing long miles through expensive France. Route 1 is via Tours, Bordeaux and down the Atlantic coast on the N10 until you cross the border between Biarritz and San Sebastien. ), If you are going to be travelling to Spain during summer, we highly recommend you have an awning- youll definitely need the shade and protection from the sun. Grab your FREE France travel checklist so you remember it all! Most of the routes i have seen on the forum have avoided toll roads. There are speed cameras just as in the UK, and the Spanish (and other EU) authorities have been known to pursue Brits for non-payment of fines. Weve spent over 18 months travelling in a motorhome in Spain, and in this campervanning and motorhoming guide youll find lots of practical and helpful information. Motorhome Chat quick route through france to spain sophiekins Dec 6, 2017 1 2 Next S sophiekins Free Member Mar 5, 2014 6 0 canary islands Funster No 30,404 MH low profile Exp since 2007 Dec 6, 2017 #1 hi all I'm new subscriber here be gentle !!. The Spanish government caps the price of gas, and you should expect to pay around 15-18 for a replacement bottle. Remember, this is for daytime parking for motorhomes- lets move on to overnight parking. del Corregidor). We highly recommend paying extra attention to your motorhome security when travelling in Italy. The best campsites for a holiday with your four-legged friend Editor's Pick - Top northern England campsites. You may carry a load, such as bikes on a rack, extending by up to 10% of the length of the vehicle to the rear. Check out our guides to travelling in France where you'll be sure to find lots of ideas and inspiration, get our 2 week motorhome itinerary France complete with a motorhome route map of France, or check out our French destination ideas. . Motorhome hire from a local owner. For Spain motorhome rental best if youre travelling with a family or need more room check out Motorhome Republic, who have over 40 pick-up and drop-off locations in Spain, meaning you can plan a one-way drop-off, or access the bit of Spain you want to see really easily. If youre not sure, read, Spare bulbs for all lights in the vehicle, be yellow in the centre with a red outline, Vehicle V5 logbook (which must show your correct address), Green card (get from your vehicle insurer), a licence issued in Gibraltar, Guernsey, Jersey or the Isle of Man, Solar panel- perfect if you want to wild camp in Spain with your motorhome, Driving in flip-flops or open-backed shoes is illegal, Speeds are in km/h, not mph (you might want to change the setting on your sat-nav). This will be my first time in the van into France,Spain and Portugal. If in doubt, you can always ask at the tourist office or town hall- many places are happy to allow you in their car park for the night. Reception at the campsite will give you more information about the Metro and explain the different types of tickets. Castilian (or Spanish) is the main language, with Catalan being spoken in Catalonia, Valenciano being spoken in Valencia (both being more like the French language), Galician belonging to the northern region and Basque belonging to the Basque Country. When visitingCrdobain a motorhome, this is the only designated parking allowing overnight stays; we found it to be great value for money, with security being important. Sniff out the world's best dog friendly motorhome and campervan sites in Yecla, Spain. Motorhoming in Spain in winter offers many benefits but be prepared as you may need to use your heating and will find it cools down as soon as the sun sets. Our route only involves one major junction so, outside rush hour, traffic should be reasonably light. Contains eBook, checklists and more. From the stunning Alps, the Black Forest with its gorgeous romantic road, to medieval cities, fairytale castles and magical Christmas markets this surprising and interesting country is a must-see road trip destination for campervans and motorhomes. Now that BREXIT has happened and the UK pet passport scheme is no longer valid, you will need to get an Animal Health Certificate before you leave the UK. We stopped atCamping Osunain the east of the city, close to the airport. From here to Bayonne is 256 miles but its a fast dual carriageway virtually all the way with only Bordeaux having heavy traffic. Anywhere near the beach will be tough all year. This also includes a motorhome sat-nav- program it before you leave and dont touch it unless youre parked up safely. This tiny national park nestled between Alcossebre and Peniscola is gorgeous for hiking with stunning sea views. Where to stay: Pony Express RV Stop in Austen, Silver Sky Lodge RV Park in Eureka, Bonanza RV Park in Fallon, and Silver Sage RV Park in Reno. To find out where to stay during stage 5 - click here. You should now be in the right hand lane for the next set of lights. As you can see very little time difference between the routes. Bigger supermarkets may be open, but will close at lunchtime. Mobile Phone and Internet Its usually possible to use your UK phone and data in Spain, but do check with your provider. motorhome wild camping heres everything you need to know to stay safe and find free spots. A perfect and peaceful escape for you and your touring caravan, motorhome or tent, or you can purchase your Editor's picks - ideal campsites for Christmas holidays. Look out for traffic signs indicating that winter tyres or snow chains are compulsory where you are. Gas bottles are also widely available, with butane generally being more popular because of the warmer climate (butaneis more suited to milderweather conditions but propane is better for cold weather as it burns at lower temperatures). You should have a European Claim Form provided by your insurer before you leave. ), or a tyre repair kit. Either way, the destination is Abbeville where, just north of the city, you pick up the free A28 motorway, which takes you all the way to Rouen. Use an app likePark4Nightto locate motorhome and campervan services. Of course, you can always drive down one route and back up another! To find out where to stay during stage 2 - click here. Many camping sites will provide desalinated water instead of potable water. The motorhome route costs: 14.99PRO users will pay: 11.99.