How many gas bottles am I allowed to carry on the ferry?

The rule of thumb on virtually every North Sea, Channel and Irish Sea route is: a maximum of 3 bottles with a combined weight of up to 47 kg. That is literally how Stena Line, Brittany Ferries, DFDS, Irish Ferries and Smyril Line word it. P&O Ferries differs: on the North Sea and Channel routes only the 47 kg of gas per vehicle limit applies, but on the Irish Sea routes it is a maximum of 3 bottles of no more than 11.2 kg each. LeShuttle (Eurotunnel) applies 47 kg per bottle or tank, which must also be filled to less than 80%. Two standard 11 kg bottles therefore stay comfortably within the margin everywhere.

Can I travel with an LPG system or a fixed gas tank?

Draw a distinction between gas as a fuel and gas for cooking and heating. LeShuttle (Eurotunnel) carries no vehicle that runs on LPG, not even as a second fuel; other dual-fuel combinations such as petrol-electric are fine. On the ferry it is different: Irish Ferries and Brittany Ferries carry LPG, LNG and CNG-powered vehicles without any fuss, provided it is a factory-fitted system and the valve is shut off. A refillable gas tank or refillable bottle (Gaslow, Alugas, Safefill) counts as domestic gas and may also go through the tunnel: up to 47 kg, filled to less than 80%, and you must be able to demonstrate that at the gas check.

Can my dog stay in the motorhome during the crossing?

That varies by ferry operator and route, and it is the single biggest pitfall. On the short Channel crossings it is allowed: P&O and DFDS Calais/Dunkirk-Dover (around 15 to 19 euros per animal), Stena Line Hook of Holland-Harwich (around 19 euros) and Color Line Denmark-Norway (9 euros). It is explicitly not allowed on DFDS IJmuiden-Newcastle, Brittany Ferries to Spain, TT-Line, Finnlines, Smyril Line and Go Nordic Cruiseline: there the vehicle deck is locked and your dog has to go into a kennel on board or a pet-friendly cabin. In the Eurotunnel your dog simply stays with you in the motorhome, which is what makes that route so popular with dog owners (around 25 euros per animal).

How do I book a pet-friendly cabin, and why do they sell out so fast?

Ships only have a handful of them: Irish Ferries has 5 pet-friendly cabins on the James Joyce (Dublin-Holyhead), P&O has 6 dog cabins per ship on Hull-Rotterdam, and Brittany Ferries has a limited number on the Spain ships Galicia, Salamanca and Santona. You select them while booking, but for DFDS IJmuiden-Newcastle you even have to phone. For summer sailings and the Spain and Ireland routes they are often gone months in advance, so book the cabin before you plan the rest of your trip. Budget around 35 to 50 euros or pounds per animal each way, on top of the cabin fare.

How do the height and length classes work, and what will I pay as a motorhome?

Ferry operators price on length and height, not on weight. Stena Line uses a separate motorhome or campervan category up to 12 m long, 4 m high and 2.6 m wide, provided your vehicle is genuinely registered as a motorhome; cars sit in classes up to 2 m or up to 3 m high. Irish Ferries works with three motorhome classes: up to 2.25 m high and shorter than 8 m, higher than 2.25 m and shorter than 8 m, and 8 to 12 m (at which point height no longer matters). With LeShuttle anything over 1.85 m automatically falls into the more expensive single-deck carriage, and on most Channel ferries the surcharge also starts at around 1.85 m. A motorhome that is 7 m long and 3 m high therefore quickly costs two to three times a car fare.

Which ferry to England is cheapest with a motorhome?

On ticket price alone, Dunkirk-Dover with DFDS nearly always wins (around 100 to 260 euros one way for a motorhome up to 7 m with 2 people), followed by Calais-Dover and Dieppe-Newhaven. But factor in the drive: from Utrecht it is a good 300 km to Calais or Dunkirk, which soon costs 60 to 90 euros in diesel plus toll. Hook of Holland-Harwich with Stena (daytime sailing around 150 to 300 euros) saves you some 400 driving kilometres and is often the cheapest overall solution for the central Netherlands. IJmuiden-Newcastle (350 to 650 euros including the compulsory cabin) is the most expensive per ticket, but replaces 800 driving kilometres and a hotel night if you are heading for northern England or Scotland.

North Sea & Channel

Calais – Dover

Calais (FR) → Dover (GB)

Dog may stay in the vehicle
Year-round
Short crossing

Key facts

Ferry operators

P&O Ferries, DFDS, Irish Ferries

Crossing time

1½ hrs

Frequency

±25 sailings per day across the 3 ferry operators combined (±174 per week)

Season

year-round

Price indication

€120–300 one-way high season (motorhome ≤7 m + 2 people); car from ±€55–100 — indication

Pets

Pets stay in the vehicle (P&O/DFDS ±€15–22, Irish Ferries free); P&O has a pet lounge on some sailings (surcharge)

Reachable only by ferry

Overland alternative: no overland route to GB; the only fixed-link alternative is the Eurotunnel (car shuttle train) a 20-min drive away

Cheapest and most flexible Channel crossing; ideal for turn-up-and-go thanks to the high frequency

Ferry or drive on? Do the maths

Departure port & check-in

On Dover-Calais, Irish Ferries requires 1 hr before departure for cars, vans and motorhomes, 2 hrs for coaches and 90 min if you are bringing a pet. Important: British and French border control takes place AFTER check-in, so add that time on top. P&O and DFDS work with comparable windows; in July and August and around British school holidays, 90 min to 2 hrs is realistic. Motorhomes use the same lanes as cars; when it is busy, staff assign high vehicles a separate queue.

Facilities at the terminal

Fresh water

Drinking water at Camping-Car Park Calais (included in the rate).
Chemical toilet

Disposal for cassette and grey water at Camping-Car Park Calais.
Showers

No showers at the aire or in the terminal.
Fuel

Petrol stations on the edge of Calais, a few kilometres from the aire.
Gas & LPG

Not known
Groceries

Carrefour City ±1.2 km from Camping-Car Park Calais; bakers and a market in the town centre.

Where to spend the night before departure

Parking in the port of Calais
Car park

Distance to terminal

±0 km

Price per night

Not known

No overnight stays

The port offers short-stay parking for drop-off and pick-up only; there is no medium- or long-stay parking and therefore no legal way to spend the night there.
Camping-Car Park Calais, 275 Rue Asfeld, 62100 Calais (GPS 50.95933 / 1.832247)
Motorhome aire

Distance to terminal

±3.5 km

Price per night

€17.50 per 24 hrs incl. €1.20 tourist tax (low season ±€14.05); 5 hrs' parking with services €6

Overnight stays allowed

102 places, secure site with 24/7 access via the Camping-Car Park system. Full service: drinking water, waste disposal and electricity. Carrefour City ±1.2 km away, ±700 m from the beach and the promenade. 4.5/5 from 522 reviews. By far the most reliable place to spend the night before your crossing.
Rue du Sémaphore, Sangatte
Car park

Distance to terminal

±8 km

Price per night

free

No overnight stays

Popular with motorhomes for the dunes and the beach access, but marked on park4night as daytime parking. Narrow access roads, unsuitable for motorhomes of ±8 m and over. In a residential area, so complaints are easily provoked.

Practical tip

Allow for the stowaway checks: the British carriers' liability regime means your vehicle can be scanned and searched and that you are responsible for locking every hatch and locker. Lock all doors, hatches and the garage as soon as you set off for the port, even for short stops. A free shuttle bus runs between Calais station and the port (every 11-22 min).

Arrival & first stop

First motorhome stop after arrival

Marine Parade car park, Dover CT16 1LW
Car park

Distance to terminal

±1 km

Price per night

£13 per night

Overnight: check in advance

Officially the only place in Dover where sleeping in your vehicle is allowed, along with Waterloo Crescent. Only 18:00-08:00; daytime parking 08:00-18:00 is prohibited. ±20 places with bays long enough for 6.5 m. Two minutes from the port, with sea views. Pay at the machine or via RingGo. Reviews report a lot of noise from speeding drivers in the evening.
Black Horse Farm Caravan and Motorhome Club Site, Densole CT18 7BG
Campsite

Distance to terminal

±12 km

Price per night

£40-50 per night for non-members; considerably cheaper with membership

Overnight: check in advance

A classic stopover: ±30 min from Dover Ferry Port and close to the Eurotunnel. 100 pitches, drinking water, waste disposal, toilets, showers, electricity, dog field, pub across the road. Note: according to park4night it is closed for refurbishment until spring 2026 - check before you go.
Folkestone Services (M20 junction 11)
Car park

Distance to terminal

±12 km

Price per night

Not known

Overnight: check in advance

Named by Dover District Council itself as a facility for motorhomes: toilets, showers, food and fuel.

Fuel, gas & LPG

LPG in Kent is limited; a British bayonet adapter is needed. Dutch and German bottles cannot be exchanged in the UK (the Calor system).

Watch out on arrival

Drive on the left immediately after the exit, and the first roundabout at Dover is notorious. Sleeping in your vehicle is prohibited in every other Dover District council car park. Motorhomes that do not fit in a single bay may use two bays at Maison Dieu Road with two valid tickets. Driving on to London means the ULEZ (all of Greater London) and the LEZ (heavier vehicles, including older motorhomes over 3.5 tonnes).

Practical tip

The A20 from the port connects straight onto the M20 for London and the A2/M2 for Canterbury. When it is busy, Operation Brock or TAP can partially close the M20 - check the Kent Resilience Forum.

Border, documents & rules

A UK ETA is compulsory for Dutch nationals (£20, valid two years, applied for through the UK ETA app). A passport is required. British border control is 'juxtaposed': you cross the British border in Calais, along with French exit checks and EES registration. Pets: EU pet passport and tapeworm treatment; declare them when booking and allow 90 min for check-in.

Motorhome tips

Price rises with vehicle height (>1.85 m) and length; gas max 47 kg (P&O/DFDS: max 3 bottles), closed and declared; LPG propulsion is — unlike in the Eurotunnel — usually allowed here (check with the ferry operator)

Frequently asked questions

Sources:directferries.com poferries.com help.irishferries.com campingcarpark.com calais-dover.com park4night.com dover.gov.uk

Calais – Dover

1½ hrs€120–300 one-way high season (motorhome ≤7 m + 2 people); car from ±€55–100 — indication

Calais – Dover

Key facts

Departure port & check-in

Facilities at the terminal

Where to spend the night before departure

Parking in the port of Calais

Camping-Car Park Calais, 275 Rue Asfeld, 62100 Calais (GPS 50.95933 / 1.832247)

Rue du Sémaphore, Sangatte

Arrival & first stop

First motorhome stop after arrival

Marine Parade car park, Dover CT16 1LW

Black Horse Farm Caravan and Motorhome Club Site, Densole CT18 7BG

Folkestone Services (M20 junction 11)

Border, documents & rules

Motorhome tips

Frequently asked questions

How many gas bottles am I allowed to carry on the ferry?

Can I travel with an LPG system or a fixed gas tank?

Can my dog stay in the motorhome during the crossing?

How do I book a pet-friendly cabin, and why do they sell out so fast?

How do the height and length classes work, and what will I pay as a motorhome?

Which ferry to England is cheapest with a motorhome?

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