Weparked for the nightat the top of the hill by theFranciscanmonastery where Columbus met Queen Isabella of Spain to successfully seek funds for his journey to the new world. Through Spain without tolls Spend a few days wandering the old townand Barrio Santa Cruz; admire the architecture and enjoy the typical Spanish ambience. Each of the . Spanish roads are typically well-maintained, and the drivers are considerate and relaxed. b) Short crossing to northern France, motorways to Perpignan, then the Spanish AP7 coastal motorway to your destination. From the green north and the mountainous interior to the gorgeous coasts, youll find all the best road trips in Spain here. Dont forget, it is YOUR responsibility to make sure the vehicle has the required safety equipment. Our essential guide to visiting Norway in a motorhome will provide you with all the information you needwhat are you waiting for? Get the permission of the landowner if possible. NEWS : The Spanish authorities have (for the time being) removed the tolls from the AP7 motorway between the French border and Alicante. The slip road ends in traffic lights where you need to be in the centre lane to turn left across a dual carriageway. You can also hire a motorhome in the UK and drive it across to Spain. A good tip is to try and arrive AT your destination just before lunchtime. However if you encounter very strong winds remember its a forest area on light sandy soil, parking under trees may be ill advised. The weight of your motorhome no longer matters- all motorhomes are charged the same. The most famous of these is the Mezquita; the grandest and most beautiful mosque ever built by the Moors which is now a stunning Cathedral. Planning a driving route from UK to Spain, Hiring a motorhome or camper to tour Spain. You can find out more about travelling with pets on the Gov.UK website. Leave Calais on the A 16 following signs for Abbeville. But of course there is much more to see along the way! Wild camping is not allowed in any of the Spanish National Parks. 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). Dont forget you will need snow chains and make sure you have fitted all-weather tyres. If you wear glasses you must carry a spare pair. Many shops close on Sundays. With short breaks, and sharing the driving, we usually arrive at the overnight stops around 4pm (ish) after a 7am (ish) crossing, and after leaving Poitiers around 9am. OK I admit, not quite a toll free route to Spain! From 28th September 2021, you will have to display a UK sticker on the rear of your vehicle when travelling in Spain, even if you have a new style UK numberplate which displays the Union Jack flag. If you like chateaux and history, this is for you! The area has hardly any mass tourism. The Gap Decaders are participants in a number of affiliate programmes. Documents You Need to Travel & Drive in Spain, Can't decide? 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. Pump colours are green for petrol and black for diesel. The fastest (almost) toll-free routes to France and Spain You join the bottom of the A10 motorway for the free section towards the city. The motorhome route is shown in the map below. For some reason, driving from the UK to Spain seems to confuse people. ), Alternatively, get a toll pass/ payment tag so you can use the Telepeaje, VIA-T or T lanes. If youre going later and youre in a popular town or city, expect to wait for a table or book. We recommend you dont drink this water and also clean out your motorhome freshwater tank thoroughly before refilling it to get rid of the particles found in de-salinated water. 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! In January 2020 and September 2021, many motorhome tolls were removed. The route mainly leads through the (northern) French Pyrenees, but also visits the Spanish part and Andorra. Motorhome services are generally widely available, especially along the coast. (PLEASE do not leave a pet in a van or car while you go sightseeing, especially on a hot day.). In both Pampaneira andTrevlez, we were the only motorhome in their car park,hereandhererespectively. 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 First is the ferry crossing options from Plymouth and Portsmouth to Santander and Bilbao - both of these ports are in Northern . The medieval centre of Santiago de Compostela is almost entirely pedestrianised, in keeping with its UNESCO World Heritage status. Each four-weekly issue is packed with the best motorhome travel features, genuine reader reviews of campsites, in-depth motorhome reviews, plus the latest technical advice, buying tips and much more. 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. Motorhome Route France, Spain and Andorra - Straight through the Pyrenees Developed by: NKC - travel guides (the NKC is the Dutch parent company of Campercontact) Described route: 15 travel days The Pyrenees form the natural border between France and Spain and are richly blessed with natural beauty. Before motorhome overnight parking, do your usual checks and add an extra one look forPine Processionary Caterpillars in Spain, which make their nests in those lovely shady pine trees we all like to park under. Yep. If a vehicle is blocking the road, use hazard lights and put the red warning triangle 30 metres from the scene to warn approaching traffic. Lidl carries a good basic range and has by far the best value wine in Spain. From the Cote dAzur to the deserted and tranquil interior, France is the perfect place to spend a summer in your motorhome. Free motorways are shown in blue, Spanish toll motorways are shown in red. With one of the best winter climates in Europe and friendly locals, Spain is a perfect country for a motorhome road trip. Motorhome aires in Spain are not as plentiful as in France but they are out there! Is there any other city throughout the whole of Europe that offers visitors a more diverse range of things to do than Barcelona? 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. 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. Some larger sites or those run by corporates will have a fixed number of ACSI pitches which will have EHU but no water or drainage. RELATED POST: Motorhome Aires in Spain All You Need to Know. As with most countries in Europe, you have four options when it comes to where to park your motorhome or camper overnight: Sadly, Spain is getting tougher about free overnight motorhome parking spots and many places now ban them completely. GUIDE: Stop the overwhelm with our step-by-step guide. These caterpillars can kill dogs and small children, and will most definitely spoil your motorhome trip if you bump into one! Packed with great museums and atmospheric squares and quarters, Madrid is a great city in which to spend a day or so. If you're planning a UK campsite stay then visit our Campsite Finder, with over 5,000 campsites to search you'll be sure to find the perfect place to pitchup to in your Motorhome. Motorhome Road Trip: Tips & Activity Ideas | roadsurfer Motorhome Tour to Europe - the route France to Spain #motorhomelife If youre new to our website (welcome! Routes to Spain/Portugal using toll roads - Motorhome Matters - Out Then read on for all our top tips and practical advice about how to wild camp in a motorhome and get off the beaten track like an expert! Inland and in the Spanish mountains, nights can be chilly and in the north, you may well see snow. READ MORE: Discover the best & warmest places to enjoy winter in Spain. About 600 euros have been spent on gasoline and tolls, the most expensive of the trip without a doubt. Menu Skip to . Turn back under the main road, across the round-a-bout and at the next take the first exit on the D401. Based on 53,609 reviews. your inbox. Car Rental Frauenfeld in Switzerland | Save 30% Today 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. READ: 10 essential questions to ask before you rent a motorhome. From here, drive south towards Ronda and the Parque Natural de la Sierra Grazalema. The use of winter tyres in Spain is regional. The non toll free route from Calais to Basel is via the A26 motorway and the A4 motorway. Can I take a pet to Spain in my motorhome? Anywhere near the beach will be tough all year. Distance 609km - Driving Time 6 hours 20 minutes. All Rights Reserved. The LongRoadSouth | Motorhomer 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. The load must be indicated by an aluminium panel with diagonal red and white stripes, manufactured to ECE70 standard. Are you feeling a bit nervous about wild camping for the first time? Continue on the N12, for another three miles and take the second exit. Are you desperate for some Spanish sun but dont want to fly? Complete Europe Motorhome Travel Toolkit, CHECKLIST: Dont forget to grab your FREE Europe motorhome travel checklist HERE. Many people move on after. But dont enter the town, which is busy and narrow. - 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. Ferrovial's planned Dutch move angers Spanish PM Main roads (mostly modern single carriageway roads) are in green. 10 Incredible Routes for a Motorhome Road Trip Through Europe The most famous French motorway connects Thonon-les-Bains on Lake Geneva with Menton on the French Riviera. The load must be indicated by a. 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). Campervan Castaways Vanlife 44 | Expert Adventure Motorhome Travel Writing. If you are stopping for over 30 nights it is possible to stay at a good quality site for 10 a night including electricity. It has a host of information on best routes to many locations. 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. Motorhome touring in Spain- Other useful things you might need, Speed Limits in Spain (unless otherwise signed! The beautiful capital city of Spain has to be visited. However, with a little common sense and staying within the restrictions, its often possible to stay off-grid with your motorhome or campervan. Next on our Perth to Darwin travel itinerary is the wonderful town of Broome. Motorhome rental between Individuals The other popular option for groups of 4 or larger, or for those seeking a few more luxuries within their campervan, is the motorhome style of camper. Either way, travelling through France to Spain could be the perfect European route for you. Book with Eurocampings for the best deals on over 520 campsites in Spain. 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. If youd like to connect with Kat, send her an email or follow her adventures on social media. Or take a campervan route through the popular region of Normandy and Brittany! Diamonds with a black line through mean you no longer have priority ( this is usually on roundabouts.). which could distract you when driving should be positioned where you cant see it. You will find some petrol stations with additional facilities for motorhomes, like waste disposal, water (NOT always drinkable!) Do you want to wild camp in your motorhome? The website is supported by our readers, so if you buy through links on this site we may earn a commission- at no extra cost to you.