Algeciras – Tanger Med
Algeciras (ES) → Tanger Med (MA)
- Dog may stay in the vehicle
- Year-round
- Short crossing
Key facts
Overland alternative: no overland route to Africa — this is THE standard crossing
Highest frequency, lowest price, open tickets: missed boat = simply take the next one; Tanger Med is 45 km east of Tangier city, right on the motorway
Ferry or drive on? Do the mathsDeparture port & check-in
On this route DFDS asks you to be in the port at least 90 min before departure. There are at least 11 sailings a day and the crossing takes about 1 hr 30. Tickets can be changed free of charge up to 48 hrs before departure, which is handy for motorhome travellers who cannot plan their arrival to the minute. Note: between 15 June and 15 September the Operación Paso del Estrecho (OPE/Marhaba) is in force, with modified access and boarding procedures in Algeciras, Tarifa and Ceuta and considerably longer waits.
Facilities at the terminal
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Fresh water
Limited: grey water disposal at Parking Palmones, water via the motorhome aire in Tarifa or campsites in the area.
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Chemical toilet
Not at the port of Algeciras; there is disposal at the motorhome aire in Tarifa.
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Showers
No showers at the port.
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Fuel
Fill up in Spain - fuel in Morocco is not always cheaper and the quality varies away from the main roads.
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Gas & LPG
Fill your gas bottles or refillable tank in Spain: in Morocco you cannot fill European bottles, and Moroccan butane bottles need their own pressure regulator.
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Groceries
Carrefour and Lidl at Palmones and Los Barrios - the last big shop before Morocco.
Where to spend the night before departure
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Parking Estación Marítima Puerto de Algeciras
Car park- Distance to terminal
- ±0.1 km
- Price per night
- €25 per 24 hrs
Overnight stays allowed
A paid site one minute's walk from the terminal, with toilets and waste containers, and a separate zone for stays longer than a day. The reviews, however, are poor (1.5/5): a great deal of noise from port and road traffic, and several travellers report people hanging around and a risk of theft. Several reviewers say they would never spend the night there again.
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Parking Palmones, Calle Fragata, Los Barrios 11379
Car park- Distance to terminal
- ±8 km
- Price per night
- free
Overnight: check in advance
For years the classic gathering point for motorhomes heading to Morocco, opposite the ticket office. Room for about 50 motorhomes, free grey water disposal, waste containers, Carrefour and Lidl nearby. Important warning: a review from September 2025 reports that stopping there is no longer allowed and that the police move motorhomes on (2.69/5). Verify on the spot.
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Área para Autocaravanas de Tarifa
Motorhome aire- Distance to terminal
- ±22 km
- Price per night
- Not known
Overnight stays allowed
An alternative if you sail via Tarifa to Tanger Ville rather than via Algeciras; quieter than Algeciras.
Buy your ticket at one of the agencies along the N-340 or online; open return tickets valid for a year often cost barely more than a one way (around €205-210 for a vehicle with FRS through Viajes Normandie). Do your shopping, gas and fuel entirely in Spain. Make sure your green card or additional insurance for Morocco is arranged before you check in.
Arrival & first stop
First motorhome stop after arrival
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Wild camping in Morocco
Car park- Distance to terminal
- Not known
- Price per night
- Not known
Overnight: check in advance
Wild camping is legal in Morocco and many travellers use park4night to find free spots. There are also numerous campsites with electricity, water, wifi and hot showers at a fraction of European prices. A specific, verified first stop within 30 km of Tanger Med could not be sourced.
LPG for vehicles barely exists in Morocco; household gas runs on Moroccan butane bottles with their own fitting. Fill up in Spain beforehand.
The procedure on arrival: your passport is stamped on board during the crossing. With a vehicle you drive after disembarking to the customs desks in the 'Automobile Access' zone and then onto the N16 towards Tangier. The old D16ter lapsed on 1 January 2019: customs now creates a single digital 'Déclaration d'admission temporaire de moyen de transport'. You show your vehicle registration document and passport, the officer checks your details in the system and prints one document with the latest exit date (six months) - keep it safe, because you have to hand it back in when you leave. Waiting times vary widely: from 13 min to 2.5 hrs, depending on how busy it is and on whether the scanner is used, which happens at random. Avoid old Michelin maps on which Western Sahara is marked with a dotted line - those are confiscated; motorhomers advise keeping the map in the glovebox until you are through customs. Drones are prohibited. Early morning sailings and quiet weekdays give the fastest processing.
You can change money in the port. Expect busy traffic with plenty of mopeds around Tangier; drivers do stop properly for pedestrians, though.
Border, documents & rules
A passport valid for at least six months, a vehicle registration document in your own name (with a hired motorhome, written authorisation from the owner), and valid international or green card insurance for Morocco. Since 2019 the temporary vehicle declaration has replaced the D16ter and is valid for six months. Morocco lies outside the EU customs union, so import restrictions apply to alcohol, drones, weapons and certain printed matter. On the way back into Spain, expect an EU external border check with a scanner.
Motorhome tips
Buy an open return; tickets also at agencies/kiosks around Algeciras (often keener than online); sort your passport stamp/police form on board; avoid the Marhaba peak days (late July–±25 Aug)