MOTORHOME TRAVEL / UK TO SPAIN
Ferry to Spain or Drive Through France? Motorhome Costs Compared
Is the ferry to Spain really dearer than driving through France? We compare seven ways to get a motorhome from the UK to Spain, with real distances, drive times, tolls, fuel and ferry costs.
At a glance
Why this travel guide is worth doing
Every year, British motorhomers heading south ask the same question: is it really cheaper to drive through France, or does the ferry to Spain work out about the same once you count everything? The honest answer is that it depends on your vehicle, your route and how much your time is worth, but it is usually much closer than most people expect.
This guide compares seven ways of getting from the UK to Spain by motorhome, with real road distances, drive times, tolls, fuel and ferry costs. It also covers the extras that catch people out, from Channel crossing height rules to French toll classes and the price of diesel on either side of the border. Prices change, so treat the figures as a guide and always check live quotes before you book.
- The short answer: the ferry is rarely a big saving or a big loss. Once you add the Channel crossing, tolls, fuel and overnight stops to the driving route, the two often come out within a few hundred pounds of each other.
- Ferries: Brittany Ferries sails from Plymouth and Portsmouth to Santander, and from Portsmouth to Bilbao, taking roughly 20 to 36 hours.
- Driving: Calais to the Spanish border at Irun is about 1,095 km (680 miles), which most motorhomers split over two or three days.
- Your time: the ferry swaps two or three days at the wheel for one or two nights at sea.
- Heading for eastern Spain? If you are going to Barcelona, Valencia or the Costa Blanca, driving down the eastern side of France can make more sense than sailing to the north coast.
Mapped and ready
See the real route before you set off
Open the interactive map before travelling and save an offline map for the journey.
France motorhome stopover
France motorhome stopover
Many French towns have simple motorhome stopover areas (aires), ideal for a night on the drive south. Photo: Mattis, public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.
Useful overnight bases
Where to stay on the way
Compare places to stay near Santander →Live prices from Booking.com. Affiliate link: Days Out Now may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
Santander
Santander, Spain
Compare stays →Bordeaux
Bordeaux, France
Compare stays →Tours
Tours, France
Compare stays →Bilbao
Bilbao, Spain
Compare stays →Le Mans
Le Mans, France
Compare stays →Accommodation links are affiliate links. Days Out Now may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Prices and availability are set by the booking provider.
Route itinerary
Build the journey day by day
Plymouth to Santander ferry
The shortest crossing from the UK to Spain, with one night on board. It sails about twice a week, but only in the season: from late March to early November. The final 2026 sailings were on 1 and 2 November and the 2027 season starts on 21 March. It suits motorhomers from the South West, Wales and the west of England best.
Overnight base: On board (one night)
Route advice: Not an option for a winter trip, so check the season first. Declare your exact height and length when booking.
Parking or booking: Fares rise in summer and with vehicle length. A cabin is required, so check whether your quote includes it.
Portsmouth to Santander ferry
A longer, slower crossing with two nights on board that runs for most of the year, with fewer sailings in winter. It suits motorhomers from London, the South East and the Midlands, who can reach Portsmouth easily by motorway. You land in the middle of Santander, ready to head west, east or south.
Overnight base: On board (two nights)
Route advice: Pack for two nights on board and check pet and onboard rules with the operator.
Parking or booking: Book early for summer and school holidays. A cabin is required.
Portsmouth to Bilbao ferry
Takes about the same time as the Santander ferry but lands further east, at Zierbena just outside Bilbao. That puts you closer to the Basque Country, Rioja, San Sebastian and the road towards eastern Spain.
Overnight base: On board (two nights)
Route advice: Choose by where you want to land, not by the crossing, because it is the longest of the three.
Parking or booking: Check the timetable, as sailings can be reduced in deep winter. A cabin is required.
Drive: Calais to Irun, the fastest route
The classic route is mostly toll motorway and takes about 11.7 hours at car speeds. In a motorhome, allow roughly 13 to 14 hours of driving, which most people split over two or three days. Aim to stop around Tours or Poitiers and again near Bordeaux.
Overnight base: Tours or Poitiers, then the Bordeaux area
Route advice: Avoid the Paris ring road at peak times and fill up with diesel in Spain where you can.
Parking or booking: Tolls and fuel add up. Motorhomers report around €150 in tolls for a Class 2 motorhome from Calais to Irun.
Drive: Calais to Irun, the western route
Almost the same length as the fast route, but it swings west and avoids the Paris ring road. It takes about 12.1 hours at car speeds, so allow around 14 hours in a motorhome. Rouen and Le Mans make good overnight stops.
Overnight base: Rouen, Le Mans or Niort
Route advice: A good choice if the Paris traffic puts you off. Fuel and tolls come out close to the fast route.
Parking or booking: Check your toll class and use a route planner to estimate the bill before you go.
Drive: Calais to Barcelona, the Mediterranean route
The best way to reach Catalonia, Valencia and the Costa Blanca. It runs south through the centre of France and down the A75, which is largely toll-free but crosses the Millau Viaduct, a toll bridge. Allow about 14.7 hours at car speeds, or roughly 17 hours in a motorhome, over three days.
Overnight base: Clermont-Ferrand, Millau or Perpignan
Route advice: Take the free A75 where you can to save on tolls, and book campsites early in summer.
Parking or booking: The Millau Viaduct charges a toll. Spanish motorways on the coast mix toll and toll-free sections.
Hybrid: Portsmouth to Caen, then drive south
Sail to Normandy, then drive to Irun in about 9.2 hours at car speeds, or roughly 10 to 11 hours in a motorhome. This cuts around 250 km off the drive compared with starting from Calais and saves a long day on the road, without the longer crossing to Spain.
Overnight base: Tours or the Bordeaux area
Route advice: A smart compromise if you want a short ferry and a shorter drive.
Parking or booking: Many sailings are in the daytime, so you may not need a cabin. Check the timetable and book early for summer.
Arriving in northern Spain
Arriving in northern Spain
A motorhome in Irún, just over the border from France. Photo: Vasconium, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Book things to do nearby
Affiliate links: Days Out Now may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Prices and availability are set by the booking provider.
Before you go
Practical information
What each route costs. The figures below are rough guides, based on a mid-sized motorhome with two people, and will change with the season, your vehicle and the day you travel.
- Ferry to Spain: expect to pay from a little over £200 each way for a motorhome and two passengers in the cheaper months, rising in summer and for longer vehicles. A cabin is required on the Spain routes, so check whether your quote includes one.
- Channel crossing: Eurotunnel takes about 35 minutes and the Dover to Calais ferry about 90 minutes. Motorhome fares can start at around £90 each way and climb to several hundred pounds depending on date, height and length.
- French tolls: most motorhomes between 2 m and 3 m high are charged as Class 2. Travellers report toll bills of around €150 for Calais to Irun on the fastest motorway route, and around €85 for Calais to Bordeaux. Use a route planner to estimate your own figure.
- Fuel: in late October 2026, diesel averaged about €2.37 a litre in France and about €1.89 in Spain. Spain also had a temporary fuel discount that was due to taper off by the end of December. At 12 litres per 100 km, crossing France from Calais to Irun burns roughly 130 litres, or about €310 at French prices.
- Overnight stops: aires and campsites typically range from free to around €30 or €40 a night.
An illustrative total. Driving from Calais to Irun in that mid-sized motorhome might cost around £430 to £710 one way once you add the Channel crossing (£90 to £250), tolls (about £85 to £130), fuel (about £260) and one or two stops. A Plymouth or Portsmouth ferry for the same vehicle might cost around £200 to £450 or more one way, depending on the season and the length of your motorhome. That is why the answer is so often “it depends”.
Why the ferry can win. You skip about 1,000 km of driving, so you save fuel, tolls, wear and tear and two or three nights of stops. You also arrive rested in northern Spain, and it suits you well if you live in the South West or along the south coast.
Why driving can win. You choose your own pace, you see more of France, and you avoid cabin and seasonal ferry limits. It also makes sense if you live near Dover, or if your destination is in eastern or southern Spain.
Money-saving tips.
- Measure your height and length and declare them exactly when you book the Channel or ferry crossing. Wrong figures can mean extra charges or being refused boarding.
- Fit a toll tag. A Liber-t style tag lets you use the télépéage lanes without stopping, and some tags also work in Spain and Portugal.
- If your motorhome is over 2 m high, use the lanes for taller vehicles, not the lanes with a 2 m barrier.
- Fill up in Spain rather than France where you can. On the October figures, every 100 litres bought in Spain instead of France saves about €45 to €50.
- Consider the hybrid route: a Portsmouth to Caen ferry takes about 6 to 7 hours and cuts around 250 km off the drive to Irun compared with starting from Calais.
- Avoid peak French travel days, especially summer Saturdays, when the motorways are busiest.
- If you plan to enter French cities with low-emission zones, check whether you need a Crit’Air sticker before you go.
- Check pet rules with your ferry or Channel operator before you book.
Parking
Driving: plan overnight stops around Tours, Poitiers or Bordeaux. Ferry: you sleep on board.
Tickets and booking
Book your Channel crossing or ferry as early as you can, especially for summer, and declare your exact height and length. Gas and LPG must be declared when booking Eurotunnel.
Seasonal considerations
The Plymouth to Santander ferry is seasonal, running from late March to early November. Portsmouth sailings run for most of the year, with fewer in winter. Summer weekends are the busiest on French motorways.
Road conditions, tolls or permits
French motorways are toll roads and well surfaced, and free alternatives are slower. Many Spanish autovias are toll-free, but some autopistas charge.
Safety
Plan a break every couple of hours and share the driving if you can. Check your vehicle weight, height and gas arrangements before you travel.
Important cautions
Prices, timetables and rules change often. Always check live quotes and official timetables before you book.
Days Out Now Free Travel Club
Take the useful bits with you
Join free for GPX route files and access to Days Out Now member benefits, including eligible days-out savings.
Useful answers
Ferry to Spain or Drive Through France? Motorhome Costs Compared FAQs
Is it cheaper to take the ferry to Spain or drive through France?
There is rarely a big difference. Once you add the Channel crossing, tolls, fuel and overnight stops to the driving route, it often comes out close to a Plymouth or Portsmouth ferry, which also saves about 1,000 km of driving. The ferry usually wins on time and comfort, while driving wins if you want to see France or you are heading to eastern Spain.
How long is the ferry from the UK to Spain?
Plymouth to Santander takes about 20 to 22 hours. Portsmouth to Santander takes about 31 to 34 hours and Portsmouth to Bilbao about 32 to 36 hours. All three are run by Brittany Ferries.
Does the Plymouth to Santander ferry run all year?
No. It is seasonal, running from late March to early November. The 2027 season starts on 21 March. Portsmouth sailings run for most of the year, with fewer in winter.
How far is it from Calais to the Spanish border?
Calais to Irun is about 1,095 km (680 miles) by road. At car speeds that takes about 12 hours, so allow around 13 to 14 hours of driving in a motorhome, normally over two or three days.
How much are French tolls for a motorhome?
It depends on your route, height and length. Most motorhomes between 2 m and 3 m high are charged as Class 2. Motorhomers report around €150 in tolls for Calais to Irun on the fastest motorway route and around €85 from Calais to Bordeaux. Use a route planner to estimate your own bill.
Do I need a toll tag in France and Spain?
You can pay at the barrier by card, but a tag lets you use the télépéage lanes without stopping. Some tags also work in Spain and Portugal, so check which one suits your trip.
Where can I stay on the way?
Aires, campsites and motorhome stops are common around Tours, Poitiers and Bordeaux if you drive, and in Santander or Bilbao when you arrive. Use the stay map on this page to compare places.
How do I choose between the ferry and driving?
Choose the ferry if you want to skip about 1,000 km of driving and arrive rested in northern Spain. Choose driving if you want to explore France, you live near Dover, or you are heading for Barcelona, Valencia or southern Spain.
When should I walk it?
This detail has not yet been verified for this route. Check the official visitor information before setting off.
For local businesses
Own somewhere visitors should discover near Spain?
Showcase a relevant place to stay, food stop, attraction or activity while Days Out Now keeps editorial control.
MAKE MORE OF YOUR DAY
Explore more places on the map
Choose what you need, then use the map to compare locations and plan the rest of your day.
Leave a Reply