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Planning a European motorhome trip

A first European trip is mostly admin: tolls, gas, water, insurance and a route that does not assume motorway speeds on a mountain road.

The practical starter for UK and US drivers

Everyone goes in the same three months, and the aires fill up accordingly

67% of EU camping nights fall in June to August, per Eurostat

Tolls, vignettes, and the ones you have to buy before you cross

A fine at the border is the usual alternative

LPG across Europe, and the adapter you will wish you had packed

Four connector standards, one gas

Driving rules change at the border, and so does what you must carry

Vests, triangles, breathalysers and headlight rules

What is the next thing to sort?

When to go Getting there Tolls and vignettes Gas and LPG

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Guides

Sort these before you leave.

Start here Read

Motorhome travel in Europe

The whole first trip in one page: paperwork, tolls, gas, water, where you are allowed to sleep, and what to do differently on week two.

When to go

Eurostat puts 67% of EU camping nights in June to August. What that means for space at an aire, and what shoulder season costs you in weather.

Getting there Read

Ferries and crossings

Booking a vehicle taller than a car, the gas bottle rules that differ by operator, and the crossings worth paying more for.

Before you drive

Driving rules by country

Speed limits that change when it rains, low emission zones that fine you by post, and the equipment each country requires on board.

Next step

Build the route around real places

A route planned on scenery alone tends to collapse on night three, when the pretty village turns out to ban overnight parking. Sketch the trip on the map first and the rest of the plan follows the stopovers.

Open the map →

Not sure where to start?

Start with the rules.

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