Planning a campervan or caravan trip: pitches, hook-ups and towing days

A campervan or caravan trip is freedom — until it is six in the evening and every campsite nearby is full, or the one you found has no electric hook-up. Planning the nights is what makes the days relaxed.

Decide what your rig needs

Before choosing a route, list what you need from a pitch. It depends on how self-contained your vehicle is:

• Electric hook-up — essential for fridges and heating, and for charging an electric car or van.
• Fresh water to refill the tank.
• A dump station for grey water and the chemical toilet.
• Pets allowed, if the dog is coming too.

In Holiday Routes, choose Caravan / Camper when you create the trip, then pick your setup — a self-contained campervan or motorhome, a car towing a caravan, or an electric car towing one — along with the kind of pitch you prefer and the facilities you need.

A campsite for every night

Each day of the plan ends with a campsite, not a hotel, chosen with your facilities in mind. The day card shows the towing distance and driving time, the sights along the way and where you will sleep.

Towing changes the day

With a caravan behind you, everything takes longer: lower speed limits apply to towing vehicles in many countries, overtaking is harder, and fuel or electricity use goes up. Plan shorter driving days than you would in a car alone, and avoid arriving late at a site you have never seen.

Unhitch for a day

Staying two nights at the same site? Mark the day as a basecamp: the caravan stays on the pitch and the day's driving is planned as a solo car excursion — much easier on narrow village roads.

Before you go

• Book ahead in peak season, especially near the coast and lakes.
• Check the site's arrival hours; some close the barrier in the evening.
• Keep the site's booking confirmation in the trip's bookings vault.

Frequently asked questions

Can I plan a campervan trip outside Europe?

Routes and days work anywhere in the world. Campsite suggestions are richest in Europe today.

Can I swap a campsite for a hotel on some nights?

Yes. Every day is editable — mix campsites and hotels as you like.