Motorhome Routes Across Spain from Valencia: 5 Trips for 2026 by Campervan, Van or Caravan
From Valencia you can be on the Costa Blanca in an hour or so and in Granada in five. Every season more people set off from here by motorhome, campervan or van, looking for nature, historic towns and good food without being tied to hotel timetables. We suggest five itineraries and, before that, a few practical points about hire and paperwork.
Why choose Valencia as the starting point for your motorhome routes?
Geography, above all. From here the A-7 heads south and the AP-7 towards Catalonia, the A-3 towards Madrid and the A-23, the Autovía Mudéjar, climbs through Teruel to Huesca. The Costa Blanca, the Aragonese Pyrenees, Andalusia and the Meseta are a day's drive away at most. And with winters this mild, you can set off in almost any month of the year.
The advantages of touring Spain by motorhome from Valencia
In a few hours you go from Mediterranean coves to mountain nature parks. If you do not have your own vehicle, the city has plenty of hire companies, so getting started does not mean buying anything. If you already have your own and need somewhere to keep it between trips, our caravan storage in Silla is less than 5 km from the V-31.
What do you need to get started in caravanning?
A driving licence that covers the vehicle's weight, specific motorhome insurance, some confidence behind the wheel and patience when parking. Before your first long trip, try the vehicle out for a couple of days and learn how big it really is. For planning, Google Maps and Wikiloc cover almost everything: the first for aires where you can stay overnight, the second for walking routes.
The best times of year to set off from Valencia by motorhome
Spring and autumn, without a doubt. There are fewer people about and the temperatures are right for walking. Summer is still the season for families heading down the coast. And winter? It is a great option for inland Spain, with Toledo or Cuenca almost empty, as long as your heater works properly.
Where can you hire a motorhome in Valencia?
There are plenty of options. Before you sign, compare prices and read the small print on the insurance; when you collect the vehicle, walk all the way round it with the member of staff and note every scratch.
Recommended companies for hiring motorhomes and campervans
There are Valencian companies with fleets ranging from compact campervans to large motorhomes with a full bathroom. Read other customers' reviews and do not be shy about asking whether the price includes unlimited mileage, fully comprehensive insurance and breakdown cover, and how much the deposit is. That is where the differences lie that never make it into the advert.
How do you book a motorhome in advance for 2026?
Months ahead if you are travelling in July or August. Many companies offer early booking discounts, and booking early lets you choose the model that fits your number of travellers and your route. The same goes for Easter (Semana Santa), although people tend to forget.
Differences between hiring a caravan, a van or a motorhome
A caravan is cheaper but needs a towing vehicle and some practice with the hitch. A campervan gets around town almost like a car; a motorhome wins on space and independence. Choosing one or the other depends mainly on the route and how much experience you have behind the wheel. Here we compare a caravan with a campervan.
Route 1: from Valencia to the Costa Blanca by motorhome
The shortest and, for many, the best one to start with. Coves with crystal-clear water and white villages perched above the sea, with watchtowers and old towns like those of Altea or Calpe.
Recommended stops along the way
Gandia is barely an hour away on the AP-7. Then come Dénia, with its castle above the harbour, and Altea, with its blue-domed church at the top of the old town. The Peñón de Ifach in Calpe is worth the detour on its own.
Camping areas and motorhome aires
There are plenty of designated aires for overnight stays and well-equipped campsites on the Costa Blanca. In summer, though, book ahead. Turning up at eight in the evening on an August day without a pitch is the quickest way to ruin a trip.
Hiking and outdoor activities on the route
For walkers the area has a lot to offer: waymarked paths between cliffs and viewpoints, many of them recorded on Wikiloc with reliable tracks.
Route 2: from Valencia to the Aragonese Pyrenees by campervan
From the Mediterranean to the high mountains of Huesca in a single trip. The contrast is huge, and that is why people love it.
Recommended itinerary and distances
Almost the whole journey is on dual carriageways, along the A-23 through Teruel and Zaragoza to Huesca, and then on main roads up to the valleys. It is about 500 km to Ordesa. Best done over two or three days, with a night in Teruel or Albarracín so you do not arrive exhausted.
The best hiking routes in the Pyrenees
The Ordesa y Monte Perdido National Park has been a World Heritage Site since 1997. The valley path to the Cola de Caballo waterfall, about six hours there and back, is the best known, and rightly so.
Tips for driving a motorhome in mountain areas
Mountain driving is different. Hairpin bends, long gradients, the odd missing hard shoulder and cows in the middle of the road. Check your brakes before a mountain pass and come down in low gears rather than riding the brake pedal. At night, best not.
Route 3: the Costa Dorada and Catalonia
Roman stonework and a cuisine quite different from Valencia's, on a route that passes through some of the prettiest towns on the coast.
Places of interest between Valencia and Tarragona
Peñíscola, an hour and a half away, with its walled old town above the sea. And Tarragona, whose Roman Tarraco has been a World Heritage Site since 2000 and is easy to explore on foot from the amphitheatre.
Recommended campsites for motorhomes and vans
The Costa Dorada is full of campsites that cater for motorhomes, some by the beach and others on a riverbank, almost all with full facilities.
Family activities on the route
With children, this route works really well: PortAventura is just round the corner and there are miles of fine sandy beaches to alternate theme park and relaxation.
Route 4: from Valencia to Andalusia by campervan
Heading south through Murcia. Andalusia has enough to fill weeks.
Stages of the route and estimated times
The journey can be split into several stages. Murcia is the natural first stop before you enter Andalusia, and from there petrol stations and service areas are well signposted. Allow about five hours to Granada without long stops.
Places not to miss with a caravan
Granada, for the Alhambra and for the Albaicín at sunset. Córdoba, for the Mezquita. Two cities that justify the whole trip on their own.
Hiking in Sierra Nevada and Despeñaperros
Sierra Nevada has high-mountain routes that go above 3,000 metres, while Despeñaperros, the gorge that separates Andalusia from the Meseta, is impressive for its rock walls.
Route 5: the Meseta and inland Spain by motorhome
For those who would rather leave the coast behind. Centuries-old towns that you almost have to yourself in the low season.
Recommended routes through Castilla-La Mancha and Madrid
Toledo, with its World Heritage historic centre, and Madrid, with enough museums for a week. On the A-3 it is just over three hours to the capital.
Service areas and motorhome parking
Inland there are quite a few central car parks set up for motorhomes, many of them paid, where you can sleep peacefully a few minutes from the monuments.
What to taste and discover on this inland route
Pisto (a ratatouille-style vegetable stew), migas (fried breadcrumbs), cured Manchego cheese and Valdepeñas wine. Passing through La Mancha without sitting down to eat would be a mistake.
Practical tips before setting off on a motorhome trip in 2026
Before any of these routes, get two things sorted: the paperwork and the money.
Documents and insurance needed to drive a motorhome
A licence that matches the vehicle's weight, valid insurance, a current ITV (Spain's MOT) and the technical data sheet to hand. Without those, better not to start the engine.
Prices and an estimated budget for a caravanning trip
Add up the hire if you do not have your own vehicle, diesel, tolls, campsites and the odd extra night's accommodation. If you have your own vehicle, also factor in what it costs to store it for the rest of the year: at our facility it is €45 per month, or €40 on an annual contract, and your car stays inside while you travel. Details on our prices page.
How to try out the motorhome before your trip
Do a short outing before the long trip. One night close to home is enough to get to grips with the water, the battery, the fridge and the chemical toilet before you are 600 km away. When you get back, at our facility in Silla you can empty the toilet cassette and check your tyre pressures before leaving it in its space. For other questions about storage, see our FAQ.