Motorhome Routes

Germany is the exception among southern destinations: sleeping in your motorhome in a public car park is permitted in principle. But only under one specific heading, and it is narrower than many assume.

The law speaks of "Wiederherstellung der Fahrtüchtigkeit" — restoring your fitness to drive. The purpose is road safety: preventing you from driving on while exhausted. Everything follows from that. One night, while in transit, and in practice around ten hours. It must be evident that you are on your way, not that you have arrived.

The moment you display camping behaviour, the legal classification changes. No awning, no chairs or table outside, no barbecue, no levelling legs. That counts as wild camping in public space, with fines from 10 to 2,500 euros. A single overnight stop is generally not penalised; staying put is.

Parking is allowed wherever it is not prohibited by traffic rules or signs, provided you do not obstruct traffic and stay within the marked bay. Note that pavement parking is only allowed for vehicles up to 2.8 tonnes, so never with a motorhome.

Several federal states have tightened their rules in recent years, particularly in tourist regions, so check the municipal by-law at popular destinations.

Against that restriction stands the thing Germany excels at: a very dense network of Stellplätze made specifically for motorhomes, often with electricity, water and a disposal point, and usually cheaper than a campsite. There you may stay several nights and set your things outside. For a motorhome trip through Germany that network is the real answer, not the transit exception.