{"id":1242,"date":"2026-11-04T09:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-11-04T08:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/milucar.es\/?p=1242"},"modified":"2026-10-26T11:10:41","modified_gmt":"2026-10-26T10:10:41","slug":"ruta-autocaravana-francia-andalucia","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/milucar.es\/en\/ruta-autocaravana-francia-andalucia\/","title":{"rendered":"Motorhome route from France to Andalusia along the coast"},"content":{"rendered":"

The motorhome route from France to Andalusia along the Mediterranean coast crosses the border at La Jonquera and heads down through Catalonia, the Valencia region, Murcia and Almer\u00eda to the Costa del Sol. From Perpignan it's about 1,120 km to Torrox-Costa and from Montpellier about 1,270 km: comfortable in four to six short stages, almost always with the sea in sight. The AP-7 is toll-free between the border and Alicante, and from there you carry on along the A-7 dual carriageway.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In France people search for it as camping-car Espagne<\/em>, and most of those who write to us from there want the same thing: to come down without rushing, sleep by the sea and reach the south with time to stay. Here you have the distances, a breakdown of stages, the stops worth making and the Spanish rules that most surprise people on arrival.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Distances from France to the Costa del Sol<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Exit<\/th>Distance to Torrox-Costa<\/th>Non-stop driving<\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
Paris<\/td>about 1,785 km<\/td>about 19 hrs<\/td><\/tr>
Lyon<\/td>about 1,570 km<\/td>about 17 hrs<\/td><\/tr>
Toulouse<\/td>about 1,310 km<\/td>about 14 hrs<\/td><\/tr>
Montpellier<\/td>about 1,270 km<\/td>about 14 hrs<\/td><\/tr>
Carcassonne<\/td>about 1,230 km<\/td>about 13 hrs 20<\/td><\/tr>
Perpignan<\/td>about 1,120 km<\/td>about 12 hrs 20<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

These are road distances by car; with a motorhome allow a bit more time, especially on the mountain sections.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Autocaravana<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Before the border: Carcassonne and Collioure<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If you're coming via Toulouse or Montpellier, the last French stretch is good for two very different stops.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Carcassonne<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\"La
Photo: Office de Tourisme de Carcassonne<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The walled medieval Cit\u00e9 is about 95 km from Toulouse and about 150 km from La Jonquera. It's a classic stop for the first or last night in France. The tourist office publishes on its official website<\/a> opening hours, access and parking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Collioure<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\"Playa
Photo: Office de Tourisme de Collioure<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

On the C\u00f4te Vermeille, a few kilometres from the border, Collioure is a fishing village with its church right by the water and a royal castle. The centre is small and gets crowded: go early or out of season. Information from the Collioure tourist office<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The motorhome route from France to Andalusia, stage by stage<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

A plan in six short stages from La Jonquera, driving in the morning and having the afternoon free:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

  1. La Jonquera \u2013 Tarragona:<\/strong> about 245 km (2 hrs 45). You pass close to Girona and Barcelona; Tarragona has a Roman ensemble listed as a World Heritage Site.<\/li>
  2. Tarragona \u2013 Valencia:<\/strong> about 255 km (2 hrs 55). Halfway along are the Ebro Delta and Pe\u00f1\u00edscola.<\/li>
  3. Valencia \u2013 Alicante:<\/strong> about 180 km (2 hrs). Costa Blanca beaches.<\/li>
  4. Alicante \u2013 Murcia:<\/strong> about 80 km (1 hr). A short stage to rest, or carry on to the Mazarr\u00f3n coast.<\/li>
  5. Murcia \u2013 Almer\u00eda:<\/strong> about 220 km (2 hrs 30). Right next door, the Cabo de Gata-N\u00edjar Natural Park.<\/li>
  6. Almer\u00eda \u2013 Torrox-Costa:<\/strong> about 160 km (1 hr 55), via the Costa Tropical.<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    In total, about 1,140 km from the border. If you're in a hurry, it can be done in four days by combining stages; if you're coming to spend the winter, there's no reason to rush.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Four stops on the Spanish coast<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    Pe\u00f1\u00edscola<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    A walled old town on a peninsula, with the castle at the top and beaches on both sides. About 150 km north of Valencia, it works well as a first long night in Spain. Information on the Pe\u00f1\u00edscola tourism website<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    The Ebro Delta<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    Between Tarragona and Castell\u00f3n: rice fields, lagoons and wide-open beaches, with flat roads and quiet villages. In winter it's a haven for birds and there's hardly anyone around.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Cabo de Gata<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    Once in Almer\u00eda, the Cabo de Gata-N\u00edjar Natural Park is volcanic coastline, dry and almost undeveloped. San Jos\u00e9 is about 40 km from Almer\u00eda city. The park has its own rules, stricter than the general ones: on beaches, dunes and restricted areas you can't park or spend the night outside the designated spaces, and this is enforced.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    The Costa Tropical<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    Between Almer\u00eda and M\u00e1laga, the A-7 passes Motril, Salobre\u00f1a and Almu\u00f1\u00e9car, now in the province of Granada, with custard apple and avocado trees on the slopes. Almu\u00f1\u00e9car is about 30 km from Torrox-Costa: a good place to stop for lunch before you arrive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Spanish rules worth knowing<\/h2>\n\n\n\n