Motorhome route from the Netherlands to Spain: stages and stops

A motorhome route from the Netherlands to Spain and down to the Costa del Sol comes in two versions: via Belgium, Luxembourg, the Rhône valley and the Mediterranean coast (about 2,500 km from Amsterdam, in six relaxed days) or via Paris, Bordeaux and Madrid (about 2,300 km, in five days). In winter, the Mediterranean route is the more pleasant one because it avoids the Meseta plateau and gives you stops by the sea. The destination, Torrox-Costa, has a mild climate for staying several weeks.

In the Netherlands people search for it as camper route van Nederland naar Spanje, almost always with the same question: how many days you need and which way to drive down without wearing yourself out. Here are both routes with real distances, a suggested split into stages and what you should know about each country you cross.

The motorhome route from the Netherlands to Spain: two options compared

	Via the Mediterranean	Via the west (Madrid)
Route	Belgium, Luxembourg, Lyon, Narbonne, La Jonquera, Valencia, Murcia	Belgium, Paris, Bordeaux, Irún, Madrid, Granada
Distance from Amsterdam	about 2,500 km	about 2,300 km
Recommended days	6	5
Tolls	French motorways; in Spain, toll-free as far as Alicante	French motorways; in Spain, free dual carriageways except for the odd toll section in the Basque Country depending on your route
In winter	Milder: almost all of the Spanish part runs along the sea	Meseta plateau and the Somosierra pass, with possible snowfall
Who it suits	Those who want beach stops along the way	Those who want to get there sooner

Distances are by road to Torrox-Costa; in a motorhome the actual driving time is a little longer than in a car.

Route 1: along the Mediterranean coast, in six stages

1. Amsterdam – Luxembourg: about 410 km (4 h 50 min), via Belgium.
2. Luxembourg – Lyon: about 520 km (5 h 40 min), through Lorraine and Burgundy.
3. Lyon – Narbonne: about 390 km (4 h), following the Rhône towards Languedoc.
4. Narbonne – Peñíscola: about 470 km (5 h 10 min), crossing the border at La Jonquera.
5. Peñíscola – Murcia: about 370 km (4 h), via Valencia and Alicante.
6. Murcia – Torrox-Costa: about 380 km (4 h 20 min), via Almería and the Costa Tropical.

That adds up to about 2,535 km. The French stages are the longest, and from the border onwards you can slow down and stop wherever you fancy.

Stop in Peñíscola

The walled old town on a peninsula, with Pope Luna's castle at the top, is one of the most striking stops on the Castellón coast. Coming from France, it's a good place for your first night in Spain. Practical information on the Peñíscola tourism website.

Valencia, halfway there

Valencia is about 150 km from Peñíscola. If you have an afternoon to spare, the old Turia riverbed, the City of Arts and Sciences and the city beaches are easy to explore by bike or public transport. Don't take the motorhome into the centre. Information at Visit València.

Route 2: via Paris, Bordeaux and Madrid

1. Amsterdam – outskirts of Paris: about 500 km (6 h). Better to go round the city than through it.
2. Paris – Bordeaux: about 585 km (6 h).
3. Bordeaux – Irún: about 220 km (2 h 20 min). A short stage to rest on the Basque coast.
4. Irún – Madrid: about 470 km (5 h 20 min).
5. Madrid – Torrox-Costa: about 520 km (6 h), via Granada.

About 2,300 km in total. It's the shortest option, but from November to March the Castilian Meseta can have frost and snow; check road conditions every morning with the DGT.

What you need to know about each country

Belgium: low emission zones

Brussels, Antwerp and Ghent have low emission zones (LEZ). In Brussels, every foreign-registered vehicle must register free of charge at lez.brussels before entering, even if it meets the standards. For Antwerp and Ghent, the information is at vlaanderen.be/lez. If you're not going into those cities, just stick to the ring roads.

France: tolls and Crit’Air

• On French motorways, a motorhome over 2 m and under 3 m high and up to 3.5 t pays class 2; at 3 m or more, or over 3.5 t, class 3 (Vinci Autoroutes).
• Some cities have low emission zones (ZFE) that require the Crit’Air sticker, for foreign vehicles too. If you're going to enter one, order it only from the official website certificat-air.gouv.fr.
• Many villages have aires de camping-car run by the local council, with waste disposal, handy for overnight stops in transit.

Spain: motorways, speed limits and parking

• The AP-7 has been toll-free between La Jonquera and Alicante since 2021 (Spanish Government). Further south there are still some toll sections, always with the free A-7 running alongside.
• A motorhome up to 3,500 kg can do 120 km/h on motorways and 90 km/h on ordinary roads; above that weight, 90 and 80 km/h (General Traffic Regulations).
• For the DGT, parking a motorhome without an awning, tables or levelling legs counts as parking, not camping; local councils can limit the time and ban camping (DGT instruction).

The French and Spanish part is the same as for those coming from Germany, so in the winter route from Germany to Andalusia you'll find more detail on France, Switzerland and the stops along the coast.

When to set off and how to plan the trip

Most people who come down from the Netherlands for the winter set off between October and December and head back in spring. A few tips we often give at reception:

• Drive in daylight. In November and December daylight ends early in northern France; plan your stages so you arrive before dark.
• Stop every two hours. It's the DGT's standard advice for long journeys, and in a motorhome you'll appreciate it even more.
• Have a plan B for the night. In low season some aires and campsites in the north close; have two options noted down for each stage.
• Watch out on the way back. If you head back in spring, bear in mind that Easter (Semana Santa) is high season on the Costa del Sol: book early if you plan to stay over those dates.

From Milucar: the end of the route in Torrox-Costa

Milucar is in Torrox-Costa, on the N-340 coast road, at exit 940 off the A-7 (Torrox/Cómpeta). From Murcia it's about 380 km and from Madrid about 520 km. It's run by Marcelle and Martijn, a family who live in Torrox-Costa and opened the aire in 2017. The entrance gate closes at 20:00: plan your last stage so you arrive before then.

• Beach less than 100 m away and Torrox-Costa centre about 2 km.
• Pitches of about 50 m², XL pitches for motorhomes up to around 12 m and front-row “Balcony” pitches with their own water and drain.
• 16 A electricity with a CEE plug, paid by consumption; the hook-up box can be up to 15 m away, so bring a long cable.
• Fast Wi-Fi included, professional washing machine and dryer, showers and a waste disposal point.
• Bus stop at the gate and ALSA coaches to Málaga and Granada from Torrox-Costa bus station.

If you're coming for the winter, low season lasts all year except Easter (Semana Santa) and summer, and there's a discount from 30 nights (see the rates). To help you choose an area, have a look at wintering in a motorhome in the Axarquía and the eastern Costa del Sol.

Frequently asked questions

How many kilometres is it from the Netherlands to the Costa del Sol by motorhome?

From Amsterdam or Utrecht, about 2,250-2,300 km on the shortest route (Paris, Bordeaux and Madrid) and about 2,500 km along the Mediterranean coast. From Eindhoven or Maastricht, a bit less.

How many days should I allow?

Five days via Madrid and six via the Mediterranean, with stages of 400 to 550 km. In winter it gets dark early, so it's best to set off early and not push the stages.

Which route is better in winter?

The Mediterranean one. You avoid the Meseta and the mountain passes of Castile, where it can snow, and from the border you're driving almost entirely near the sea, in milder temperatures.

Do I need to register for the Belgian low emission zones?

Only if you enter them. In Brussels registration is compulsory for foreign number plates and free of charge; for Antwerp and Ghent, check the conditions at vlaanderen.be/lez before you set off. You can use the ring roads without entering.

Are there tolls in Spain?

Along the coast, the AP-7 is free between La Jonquera and Alicante; further south you have the free A-7 as an alternative to the toll sections. On the western route, from Madrid to Granada you're on free dual carriageways; near the border, in the Basque Country, there may be the odd toll section depending on your route.

Once your stages are sorted, book the end of your trip: book your pitch at Milucar and park your motorhome less than 100 m from the beach.