We're driving a big vehicle on the wrong side of the road, so avoiding city centres is also preferable. Cross the A13 motorway and continue onto the free A154 motorway which soon becomes the N154, a fast dual carriageway, taking you past Evreux to Nonancourt where you meet the N12. Many people move on after. 9 Motorhome Ferry Routes to and From France Dover - Calais Dover - Dunkirk Newhaven - Dieppe Plymouth - Rostoff Poole - Cherbourg Portsmouth - Caen Portsmouth - Cherbourg Portsmouth - Le Harve Portsmouth - St. Malo Motorhome Ferry Routes to and From Spain Plymouth - Santander Portsmouth - Bilbao Portsmouth - Santander These are prettier than the coastal sprawl but the narrower winding roads mean no mileage saving and a longer journey time. For a grown-ups-only holiday, check out our recommended sites just for adults Editor's Pick - The best campsites for dogs. 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!). motorhome wild camping heres everything you need to know to stay safe and find free spots. This road trip itinerary will take you to the major cities and best places to visit in Andalucia Spain, bringing the country alive. First, you'll take one of the ferries from Dover to Calais. This is an ideal option if you have plenty of time and are planning a few months or more for your motorhoming in France and Spain trip. If you need any kit or essentials for motorhoming in Europe, heres what we recommend and where to find it, You can travel with Brittany Ferries from Portsmouth or Plymouth and go to either Santander or Bilbao (both on the north coast of Spain). With this in mind, we've asked our campsite assessors to come up with their suggested route through France to the Catalan border. You will find some petrol stations with additional facilities for motorhomes, like waste disposal, water (NOT always drinkable!) This is a generous and joyous country, full of colour and extremes. To find out where to stay during stage 3 - click here. Unlike other countries in the continent, in the UK there are no Areas enabled for overnight stay for motorhomes or campervans. Read on to find out all you need to know. Turn back under the main road, across the round-a-bout and at the next take the first exit on the D401. The long road south - a motorhome route through France to Spain You may be surprised at how many motorhomes from northern Europe travel to campsites in Spain for the winter. 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. This route lends itself well to ferries which arrive from the UK into Caen or Cherbourg. Here, you can easily alternate a quiet beach day with a city trip, for example with the port city of Marseille. motorhome routes through france to spain The highest quality of care for individuals with developmental disabilities Most of the aires included in this route have paved parking suitable for poor weather and are close to village or town centres for shopping and restaurants. TOP TIP: Buy these essentials for driving in Spain in advance. This is one of the quickest motorhome routes through France to Spain and is the cheapest from a toll perspective. The Gap Decaders are participants in a number of affiliate programmes. What documents do you need to drive in Spain? If youre going later and youre in a popular town or city, expect to wait for a table or book. that they are packaged proprietary brand products for direct sale to the final consumer, and. Bigger supermarkets may be open, but will close at lunchtime. If you only see one thing, it must be the Cathedral, where all roads seemingly lead, includingthe famous Camino. This tranquil and beautiful nature wetland nature reserve is known for its birdlife and encompasses rivers, dunes & beaches. The D810 runs almost parallel with the A63 past Biarritz and St Jean de Luz to the French border town of Hendaye with its Spanish neighbour Irun just across the river. GUIDE: Stop the overwhelm with our step-by-step guide. Copyright 2023 Warners Group Publications Plc. Spanish life is all about family, religion, food and tradition. Further to the east, youll find El Chorro and the famous Caminito del Rey, one of the most dangerous hikes in the world until the H&S experts got hold of it! MOTORHOME ROAD TRIP TO SPAIN DAY 1 Calais 52,125 views Apr 15, 2018 173 Dislike Share Save Mark Davies 17.3K subscribers SPAIN or BUST! However, now that BREXIT has happened and rules have changed (more on that later too! This corner of Spain, including Galicia, is known as Green Spain because it rains so much! The Pyrenees form the natural border between France and Spain and are richly blessed with natural beauty. As a result I'm looking for as much help as I I can get. If youre planning on dinner, expect the restaurant to be quiet and soulless before 9pm. Mountain roads are also very slow and if your destination is Valencia or further south there is little saving in overall mileage compared to the much safer and faster route along the Atlantic coast near Biarritz. Motorhome wild camping in Valencia is no longer permitted. Find motorhome and campervan sites at Pitchup that are bound to get the bark of approval Day 5 - Virollet-Font Paillaud to Bordeaux. We love helping motorhome & campervan owners make the most of their time on the road, whether youre a complete motorhome newbie or planning a long tour of Europe. Eastern route Paris - Clermont-Ferrand - Bziers - Perpignan - La Jonquera The eastern route through France is the obvious choice for travelling to eastern 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. Motorhome services are generally widely available, especially along the coast. Leaving the motorway you drop down a hill. Petrol and diesel are widely available. Spain is not as finished as you might be used to. There are a number of must-sees including the Plaza de Espaa, the Real Alczar, the Giralda Tower and the Cathedral. If youre coming from the south, make sure to stop at thewetlands of La Albufera and try the traditional paella which originated here. Although this was in late February, wefound all the bars and restaurants open and welcoming. Dont forget you will need snow chains and make sure you have fitted all-weather tyres. Itinerary by region. If you choose to use the Autopista toll roads while motorhoming in Spain, here are some tips for you: Bizarrely, some toll roads in Spain are being demoted to free routes, but are still marked as AP on the map. Spanish toll roads are pay-as-you-go and are very reasonably priced. This route is by far the fastest, and it ensures that you can make the entire journey through France without needing to stop at any point if more than one person can take to the steering wheel. Spanish people talk LOUDLY and over each other constantly. Free delivery for many products! John, we did that trip last year, although we had longer and set off earlier. Continue on the N12, for another three miles and take the second exit. Spain has a number of different languages. You can find out more about them here, Some of the bigger cities in Spain have environmental zones which only residents are allowed to drive in. Next on our Perth to Darwin travel itinerary is the wonderful town of Broome. All rights reserved, Gift ideas for motorhome & campervanners, Our favourite motorhome & road trip gear, (Already purchased a guide or course? Find out about life on the road, destinations, routes and practical motorhome advice on our blog. Dont forget, if you are driving through France to get to Spain, you need all the kit required by France as well as the kit for that country. Among its many Roman ruins are a 1st-century B.C. The Gorges d'Hric in Southern France brings our Vanlife diaries to the most dramatic destination where river pools and waterfalls await. The minimum driver age for campervan and motorhome hire in Spain is 21. 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! Do I need an international driving permit to drive in Spain? The beautiful capital city of Spain has to be visited. In practice, this could mean towing your car while its fixed to a trailer, although there is ambiguity around this and differing advice can be found on the internet. (stuffed aubergine) when this mediterranean vegetable is in season and youll be blown away. Unless you are in an absolute dive or the service is dreadful, it is expected that you will leave a tip, usually around 5%. You cannot touch a screen while driving (television, video, DVD etc.) 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. Yes, you can take dogs, cats and ferrets to Spain. This campervan route through Spain will take you to the country's most beautiful locations. You may find that Spanish people are not as friendly towards dogs as you are used to, and youll often see dogs tied up or confined within rural properties. Just before Biarritz, take the D932 due south to Cambo-les-Bains. Some go for up to six months from October onwards, we prefer to spend Christmas at home and travel out in January. 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. View Larger Map. If youve been motorhoming in Italy, you might surprised to learn that aires are called Aires in Spain, just like in France (theyre called Sostas in Italy). Dont forget to grab your free wild camping checklist here. The load must be indicated by an aluminium panel with diagonal red and white stripes, manufactured to ECE70 standard. Planning a driving route from UK to Spain, Hiring a motorhome or camper to tour Spain. From the Cote dAzur to the deserted and tranquil interior, France is the perfect place to spend a summer in your motorhome. A motor home route through France to Spain." I read this on another site, " OutAndAboutlive. human resources job scope; holland america cruise cancellations due to coronavirus Tolls can be paid for in cash (Euros) or cards at selected booths. On roads with single carriageways,the speed limit establishedmay not be exceeded by more 20km/h when overtaking. Most of them have some sort of discount- some are as little as 10/ day, including electric. Main roads (mostly modern single carriageway roads) are in green. Some garages and supermarkets will have fresh water and a place for grey water. From the green north and the mountainous interior to the gorgeous coasts, youll find all the best road trips in Spain here. PDF versions of our most popular campsite guide books. Go straight on and in just 500 yards take the slip road towards motorways and Evreux. New to motorhome or camper travel in Europe? Dont forget, it is YOUR responsibility to make sure the vehicle has the required safety equipment. The pace of life is simple and unhurried. 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. Spains fabulous climate will seduce you and its people charm you. You can choose from unlimited data packs to just single days, depending on your needs. Free motorways are shown in blue, Spanish toll motorways are shown in red. ), 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. Get lost wandering the streets and alleys, soaking up the heat and atmosphere whilst stumbling upon gorgeous plazas and cool bars around every corner. ), you might find things a little quieter, certainly with British vans. Weve tried all sorts of kit- some useful, some not so much. When we travel, we kind of end up with a happy medium of both. Castilian is most common, but there is also Basque, Catalan and some smaller dialects. Peaje or AP is a toll road. Utilise the campsite bar a glass of wine and a beer will typically cost 3, a bargain! If under 3,500kg go straight on, otherwise the inside lane swings right down to a bridge, after which you turn left to bring you back, through the commercial area, to the main road. Park your campervan, set up your mountain or road bike, fill up your water bottle, and get exploring! Are you new to motorhoming? The drive west from Great Basin to Reno along Highway 50 takes you across central Nevada and past stunning state parks, only-in-America roadhouses, and wonderfully preserved . 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. The UKs longest running outdoor motorhome & campervan show, four nights camping, with live entertainment and extensive exhibition area. Continue straight on to seamlessly join the D323 southern bypass and in 7.5 miles turn south, still the D323, to La Fleche and on to Bauge and Saumur. Either way you end up in Pamplona. Whichever is your bag (and there is a lot of choice), if youre heading south in your camper in Spain for several months of the winter and a long site stay, make sure you book in advance! If you only have a paper driving licence or a licence issued in Gibraltar, Guernsey, Jersey or the Isle of Man then you will need an. These are surprisingly effective! 4. We stayed at thePort of Gelvesjust outside the city but accessible by scooter or public transport. Trams always have priority everywhere- keep eyes in the back of your head if youre driving near a tram network. Spare wheel and the tools to change a wheel, or a tyre repair kit. We intended to do Callais to Biarritz area, cross the border through centre of Spain to Portugal. The best campsites for a holiday with your four-legged friend Editor's Pick - Top northern England campsites. With the fantastic beaches of the Costa Brava and a beautiful old town, this makes a great final stop on your motorhome tour of Spain. Most hire companies allow their motorhome rentals to be taken overseas, including our recommended hirer, Spaceship Rentals. Campervanning in Spain- motorhome overnight parking, Motorhome wild camping guides for the UK & Europe. Guided wildlife tour in Jasper National Park. Planning to take your motorhome to Europe? I dont like the Bay of Biscay in winter, nor paying to use expensive motorways. 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). Motorhome Routes Through France. c) Short crossing but drive across country through France and Spain. You can find out more informationhere. Routes to avoid it go too far inland and are slow, so stick with it. In both Pampaneira andTrevlez, we were the only motorhome in their car park,hereandhererespectively. 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. Most of the routes i have seen on the forum have avoided toll roads. En route you will enjoy lovely landscapes, jagged peaks, picturesque villages and breathtaking views. You might also find random traffic lights, which turn to red in the middle of nowhere if youre speeding and make you wait for a couple of minutes before turning to green so you can move off again. If the weather is good there are two low altitude passes you can take instead. Diesel in Spain is some of the cheapest in Europe, especially if you fill up at the supermarket, with Cepsa and Repsol garages being the most expensive. Three-day friendly festival in West Sussex. Full details of the cost or routing via Reims is available on the French Autoroutes website. Personal travel and medical insurance along with an EHIC or, Two warning triangles for the front and rear. There are many aires along the coast south of Bordeaux and many motorhomes only come this far for the winter. Use an app likePark4Nightto locate motorhome and campervan services. As you leave the ferry terminal stay on the main road, dont turn into town unless you intend staying on the aire near the harbour. Avoid cities if youre driving in a motorhome- many of them are too crowded and the streets are just not cut out for large vehicles. Barcelona is a real foodie city, with a great central market and lots of fantastic tapas bars and seafood restaurants, check out thebest restaurants in Barcelonafor an authentic gastronomic experience when you visit the city. ( Fastest route if no delays round Paris) W1 Fastest - all motorway or dual carriageway except through Rouen. You join the bottom of the A10 motorway for the free section towards the city. Take your caravan or motorhome on the slow route to North-East Spain Spain France Travel Advice We're often asked for suggested routes, and the way to Spain is one which crops up regularly. Firstly, routes and route maps for France and Spain. The non toll free route from Calais to Basel is via the A26 motorway and the A4 motorway. Update August 2021 you no longer require a green card to prove you have vehicle insurance cover when travelling in Europe. the packaging is unbroken unless in current use. The use of winter tyres in Spain is regional. Join our email list here and get access to our FREE resource library. Day 1 -Vron to Gron. When it comes to the cheapest Switzerland car rentals online, Auto Europe . Motorhome touring in Spain- Other useful things you might need, Speed Limits in Spain (unless otherwise signed! Want to get exclusive tips and tricks? There is history and culture everywhere you look, as well as friendly and welcoming people, delicious food and SUNSHINE- even in winter. Lunch, which is the main meal of the day, is eaten between 2 and 3pm. There, we visit some of its brightest jewels: Granada, Malaga, Seville, Cordoba and Ronda. If you are staying longer, then it is likely that the sites own rate will be better value the longer you stay the cheaper it becomes. A very efficient drive all the French motorways despite getting caught up in a se. If you wait until youre at the ferry/ tunnel, you could spend THREE times as much! You might find these posts helpful: See all our Europe motorhoming posts here, NEED GEAR? If you dont have your own vehicle, you can easily fly into Spain and hire one. Spain's prime minister denounced Friday a plan by construction giant Ferrovial to move its headquarters to the Netherlands as the decision triggers a political storm. We havent travelled any further than the south of France and as were working at the time we used the motorways.