I Spent Three Months Traveling Europe in a Camper Rental. Here’s What I Learned

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If it seemed like everyone you knew went to Europe in the summer of 2024, you’re not imagining things. The European Travel Commission says tourism to the continent is booming at a level not seen since 2019, with travelers expected to spend $780 billion this year. While an increase in tourism is great news for the economy, it can mean additional fees and rising hotel prices for tourists.

We were among the millions of Americans who vacationed in Europe last summer, but we took the road less traveled with a camper rental rather than a hotel or Airbnb. After taking two trips, exploring four countries, and spending a total of three months in camper rentals in Europe, I’m convinced this is the best way to see the continent.

Here’s what I learned and why you should consider renting a camper for your next European adventure.

Camper Rentals Boost Flexibility

With a camper rental, you don’t need to book campgrounds in advance like you’d need to book a hotel. Traveling by camper is part of the culture in Europe, and camping areas are everywhere. During my explorations in four countries in the busy months of August and September, I didn’t book a campsite. I was turned down once and ended up at a campground nearby with no trouble. 

I love this type of open itinerary as you can go where you please, stay as long as you want, and move with the weather. If there’s rain in the forecast, drive south. If it’s too hot along the Mediterranean, drive up to the Alps. Everything in Europe is relatively close together, and the roads are in great shape, making it easy to change plans, stay flexible, and find incredible places to camp and explore.

Plus, crossing borders within the E.U. is no issue at all. There are no checkpoints or driving rule changes to worry about. It’s like traveling between states in the U.S.

Choose Camper Rental Companies Carefully

If it’s your first time renting a camper in Europe, you’ll have to read the fine print when exploring which campervan rental company to try. While a daily rate might look low, many companies have bookable extras, which aren’t really extras, but necessities. For example, Indie Campers show a low daily rate of $40 for a trip in November, but you have to pay for bedding, a propane cylinder, chemical tabs for the toilet, and more. Roadsurfer charges extra for the bedding kit, but they include everything else. Anywhere Campers offer everything at one rate, even including two mountain bikes with every rental!

We traveled with both Roadsurfer and Anywhere Campers and recommend both companies wholeheartedly. Roadsurfer has the most variety of rigs and rental locations, while Anywhere Campers offers the newest rigs and most customizable service with pick-ups and drop-offs anywhere in the E.U.

In full disclosure, both companies offered me free campervan rentals in exchange for my honest opinion.

Size Matters

If you’re looking at European van rentals for the first time, you’ll see many options. Choosing the right rental for your needs can be overwhelming. From minivans to fully integrated campers with a drop-down second bed, the sky’s the limit.

We’ve traveled in two semi-integrated campers and a VW California-style campervan. If you’re looking for maximum space and comfort during your trip, you’ll want one of the semi-integrated campers. These are longer and wider, with larger bathrooms and kitchens. 

Choose one of the smaller rigs if you want to drive rugged coastlines with windy, narrow roads. 

Tolls Can Break the Bank

When I first traveled in a European camper, I was unprepared for the tolls. Not only are toll booths confusing for a newcomer, but they are everywhere. Tolls can be expensive, too, especially in France. Sometimes, a short drive down the highway would cost us €20, or $21. You can get around toll roads by setting your Google Maps option for “No Tolls” or travel in countries that don’t utilize toll roads like Germany.

The only benefit of toll roads is their excellent rest stops, especially in Italy. These rest stops, called AutoGrilles, had full-service espresso bars, restaurants, stores, and bathrooms. Plus, toll roads often get you to your destination much faster and are well-maintained. 

Campgrounds Range From Luxury To Parking Lot

If you’re used to camping in the U.S., you’ll be surprised at how different European campgrounds are. It’s harder to find spacious sites, and they don’t have amenities like fire pits or picnic tables. We didn’t come across a single campground where people had fires! However, the campgrounds we stayed in were incredibly organized, with separate sinks for dishes and washing clothes. Most had showers and nice bathrooms, and we stumbled on some with fine-dining restaurants, saunas, pools, and private bathrooms, too! 

Some campgrounds aren’t even campgrounds but are more like parking lots or RV parks where you park 10 feet from your neighbor. 

We recommend using the app Park4Night to find places to camp, see photos, and read reviews.

Cities Welcome Campers

One thing we noticed about traveling Europe in a camper is this: Europeans love and welcome motorhomes, which they lovingly call “camping cars” or “campervans.” Many towns set up municipal camping areas that are very cheap, sometimes $10-$12 per night. Most have amenities like water, dump stations, and power, and others have bathrooms and showers. 

Campers are encouraged to use these camping areas to explore the town’s bars, restaurants, and attractions.

Just because you are traveling by camper doesn’t mean you can’t get up close and personal with European towns and cities.

Save Money on Meals

One major benefit of a camper rental over a hotel in Europe is that you can cook most of your food, make coffee, and refrigerate your drinks. We saved hundreds (if not thousands) of dollars by grocery shopping and cooking food.

Plus, grocery shopping and European farmers’ markets are delightful experiences. Products are fresh and affordable. However, grocery stores can be confusing: many require you to weigh and add a printed label to your produce before bringing it to the register. 

Nonexistent Language Barrier

If you’re worried you must be fluent in various languages to explore Europe by camper, that’s not the case. I did use the Pimsleur app to learn some French before traveling to France, but most people we encountered spoke enough English to get by. I like knowing a few niceties in various languages to show people I am trying, but it’s optional.

I highly recommend the Google Translate app when reading restaurant menus or grocery store packaging. It also came in handy for interpreting signs.

Europeans Are Extremely Polite

One thing we loved about camping in Europe was how polite everyone else was in the campground. We never heard barking dogs, screaming children, loud music, or parties that went way into the night. 

Everyone was quiet, respectful, and didn’t make any noise, a huge benefit when campsites are small and people are crammed together. 

Get off the Beaten Path

If you’re taking trains and staying in hotels, you’re most likely only seeing major cities and towns where every other tourist goes. A camper rental lets you go to places the average tourist typically doesn’t visit, and you’ll be immersed in the culture. We loved the small towns we stumbled across with no prior planning or knowledge. You’ll be surprised and delighted by what you might find when you stray further from popular spots. 

Are You Ready?

I hope you try a camper rental for your next trip to Europe. If you do decide to go this route, some of our favorite areas to explore are the Italian Dolomites with jagged peaks and rocky monoliths, Germany’s Black Forest with its quaint towns, saunas, and thermal baths, the Route de Grandes Alpes in France with hair-raising mountain passes, and the delightful French Riviera.

This article was produced by Media Decision and syndicated by Wealth of Geeks.