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.

Does the gas valve have to be shut off during the crossing?

Yes, without exception. Every ferry operator requires the main valve of your gas system to be closed the moment you drive onto the ship, and to stay closed until you drive off. Color Line checks this as you board, TT-Line explicitly prohibits the use of a gas fridge on board, and Smyril Line requires all gas appliances to be switched off and the bottles to stay in the vehicle. So switch your fridge over to 12V in good time, or accept that it will be off for a few hours: a properly pre-cooled fridge will handle a crossing of 6 to 8 hours without any trouble.

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.

What paperwork and treatments does my dog need for England and Ireland?

Your dog must be microchipped before the rabies vaccination, and you may only travel 21 full days after that vaccination. On top of that, a tapeworm treatment (echinococcus) administered by a vet is compulsory: a minimum of 24 and a maximum of 120 hours (5 days) before arrival in Great Britain, and the same requirement applies to Ireland. The vet has to sign that off in your EU pet passport, which is accepted without question on entry to the UK. Schedule that worming treatment tightly into your itinerary: too early is just as wrong as too late, and the ferry operator is entitled to refuse your dog at check-in.

North Sea & Channel

Eurotunnel Le Shuttle Calais – Folkestone

Calais/Coquelles (terminal) (FR) → Folkestone (terminal) (GB)

Dog may stay in the vehicle
Year-round
Short crossing

Key facts

Ferry operators

Eurotunnel Le Shuttle

Crossing time

36 min

Frequency

up to 3–4 departures per hour, 24/7

Season

year-round

Price indication

€250–520 one-way high season (motorhome >1.85 m high = single-deck carriage); off-peak ±€195, busy summer weekends up to ±€520 — indication

Pets

Very pet-friendly: your pet stays with you in the motorhome, ±€25 per animal per one-way trip (book in advance)

Reachable only by ferry

Overland alternative: this IS the fixed link under the Channel; the alternatives are the Calais/Dunkirk–Dover ferries

Fastest crossing (35 min platform to platform); you stay in/with your vehicle — no seasickness, minimal waiting time

Ferry or drive on? Do the maths

Departure port & check-in

Be there at least 90 min before departure, precisely because of the compulsory gas check for motorhomes; in high season allow 2 hrs. On arrival, follow the signs for 'large vehicles' or high vehicles - motorhomes take a different route across the site than cars. Vehicles over 1.85 m high go in the single-deck wagons, which are twice as tall as the double-deck ones. There are no ramps: you drive in on the level, right behind the vehicle in front.

Facilities at the terminal

Fresh water

No reliable drinking water point at Coquelles (the Carrefour point is reported out of order); top up at Camping-Car Park Calais.
Chemical toilet

Disposal at Camping-Car Park Calais; the Carrefour point on Bd de l'Europe can take black and grey water but works only intermittently.
Showers

No showers at the terminal.
Fuel

Carrefour petrol station on Bd de l'Europe next to the terminal.
Gas & LPG

Note: motorhomes running on LPG are refused, so filling up with LPG just before the tunnel is pointless.
Groceries

Carrefour at Coquelles, right next to the terminal.

Where to spend the night before departure

Carrefour service point, Bd de l'Europe, 62231 Coquelles
Car park

Distance to terminal

±1 km

Price per night

token system

No overnight stays

Only a waste disposal point at the Carrefour petrol station, not a parking or overnight spot. Recent reports: fresh water out of order for months, the token mechanism broken, and the listing marked temporarily closed (1.91/5). Do not count on it.
Camping-Car Park Calais, 275 Rue Asfeld, 62100 Calais
Motorhome aire

Distance to terminal

±10 km

Price per night

€17.50 per 24 hrs incl. tourist tax

Overnight stays allowed

The nearest secure motorhome aire with full service (water, waste disposal, electricity), 102 places, 24/7 access. About fifteen minutes' drive to the tunnel terminal.

Practical tip

The strict gas rules are the biggest stumbling block: LPG as a motor fuel is absolutely prohibited, even with an empty tank and even as a second fuel (hybrids running on petrol or electricity are fine). For household gas: one bottle up to 47 kg, or several bottles totalling no more than 50 kg; a fixed tank may be filled to a maximum of 80% and you have to be able to demonstrate that on the spot with a level gauge - without a gauge you are turned away. Every valve shut, and no gas appliance running during the crossing. You stay with your motorhome in the wagon for the whole crossing of about 35 min. Maximum overall length 18 m including trailer. Motorhomes typically pay 1.3x (a quiet weekday) to 1.9x (a busy weekend) the car rate.

Arrival & first stop

First motorhome stop after arrival

Folkestone Services, M20 junction 11
Car park

Distance to terminal

±3 km

Price per night

Not known

Overnight: check in advance

Explicitly named by Dover council as a motorhome facility: toilets, showers, food and fuel. Practical for a short night around an early or late shuttle.
Marine Crescent, Folkestone CT20 1PS
Car park

Distance to terminal

±4 km

Price per night

Not known

Overnight: check in advance

A well-known park4night location on the Folkestone seafront; rules and enforcement vary, so read the signs when you get there.
Black Horse Farm Caravan and Motorhome Club Site, Densole CT18 7BG
Campsite

Distance to terminal

±8 km

Price per night

£40-50 per night for non-members

Overnight: check in advance

The standard stop right by the tunnel: drinking water, waste disposal, toilets, showers, electricity, dog field. According to park4night, closed for refurbishment until spring 2026 - worth checking.

Fuel, gas & LPG

LPG in Kent is limited, and not relevant if you travel by tunnel (LPG vehicles are not permitted there in any case). For gas bottles, the British Calor system applies.

Watch out on arrival

You come straight onto the M20 towards London (junction 11). Drive on the left. In London the ULEZ and the LEZ apply. The tunnel runs 24/7, so you can arrive in the middle of the night - in that case plan a 24-hour stop such as Folkestone Services in advance.

Practical tip

The terminal at Coquelles has shops and restaurants; do your last shopping there or at Carrefour, as it is appreciably cheaper than in Kent.

Border, documents & rules

A UK ETA is compulsory (£20). British border control is 'juxtaposed' and happens at the terminal in Coquelles before boarding, together with French exit checks and EES. On top of the regular border control comes the gas check for motorhomes. Pets must be declared in advance.

Motorhome tips

NOTE: vehicles with LPG/dual-fuel PROPULSION are prohibited. Gas bottles for cooking/heating ARE allowed: max 47 kg per bottle / max 50 kg total, no more than 80% full, turned off; mandatory gas check at check-in (arrive 1–2 hrs early). Max combined length 18 m

Frequently asked questions

Sources:leshuttle.com chunnel.co.uk tunnel-sous-la-manche.fr park4night.com campingcarpark.com dover.gov.uk

Eurotunnel Le Shuttle Calais – Folkestone

36 min€250–520 one-way high season (motorhome >1.85 m high = single-deck carriage); off-peak ±€195, busy summer weekends up to ±€520 — indication

Eurotunnel Le Shuttle Calais – Folkestone

Key facts

Departure port & check-in

Facilities at the terminal

Where to spend the night before departure

Carrefour service point, Bd de l'Europe, 62231 Coquelles

Camping-Car Park Calais, 275 Rue Asfeld, 62100 Calais

Arrival & first stop

First motorhome stop after arrival

Folkestone Services, M20 junction 11

Marine Crescent, Folkestone CT20 1PS

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

Border, documents & rules

Motorhome tips

Frequently asked questions

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

Does the gas valve have to be shut off during the crossing?

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?

What paperwork and treatments does my dog need for England and Ireland?

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