The Best Campervan Routes in France Starting in Boulogne-sur-Mer
So you’ve packed up your camper van, and you’re ready to take the ferry from Cork to Boulogne-sur-Mer, but how will you explore Europe when you get there?
There are several road trip options, from the South of France to Scandinavia, and choosing the perfect route for you is all part of the fun. There are many things to consider when you’re planning a trip in your camper van, including your budget, your preferences and the time of year you are travelling, and these can help you to work out how to make the most of your road trip from Boulogne-sur-Mer.
Let’s take a look at the camper van routes you can take from Boulogne and find out which is right for you!
Campervan Routes You’ll Love
Boulogne to Normandy
Exploring Normandy from Boulogne-sur-Mer is a great opportunity to discover a classic coastal route, and when you’re in a camper van, you can really slow down and enjoy the ride. Treat yourself to the coast-hugging route to Bayeux before making your way back to Boulogne, or make this the first leg of your European road trip. We suggest breaking the 300km journey into small chunks and taking the time to really enjoy the process. You’ll explore the wonderful Opal Coast and several historic locations, including old port towns and fishing villages.
From Bologne, you can travel south along the Opal Coast to Baie de Somme, which offers wonderful views and wildlife, before crossing into Normandy. Here, you’ll appreciate the dramatic Alabaster Coast, with white chalk cliffs, and you can choose to stop at Dieppe or take a longer driving day and continue to Honfleur, a historic port town. You can spend a few days exploring Caen and the D-Day Landing Beaches, where there are several important sites and museums, and visit the tapestry at Bayeux to finish your trip.
France is a great place for travelling in a campervan, and there are plenty of superb campsites along the way, including free aires which offer the basic facilities for overnight stays. You can use apps to find sites that suit your requirements, and this takes the stress out of your trip. We still recommend booking campsites in advance if you are travelling in peak season, especially if you are in an area with fewer campsites available. The free D-roads tend to provide a more scenic route, while the A-roads will allow you to travel faster if you’re pushed for time. Tolls differ for campervans, depending on the size.
Boulogne to the Belgian Coast
It doesn’t take long to travel from Boulogne to the Belgian Coast, so you can take your time and enjoy the journey. First, take a day to explore Boulogne itself, and treat yourself to a seafood meal in this famous fishing port! You can visit the historic old town and take a trip to Nausicaa, Europe’s largest aquarium, if you have time. Then, you can head out along the Opal Coast following the coastal road (D940) with its incredible views of the chalky cliffs and impressive beaches.
You’ll pass The Capes on your journey, where you can see across the channel to England on a clear day, and you’ll pass through plenty of small towns and villages, each with its own unique charm. It’s worth stopping for a while in Dunkirk to discover the fascinating museum Operation Dynamo before you cross the border into Belgium.
In Belgium, you’ll love the Coastal Tram, which connects the Belgian seaside destinations, and it’s well worth taking a day to explore in this way. You’ll find apps to help you find parking for your camper van, and there are plenty of excellent campsites in this area. We particularly recommend visiting De Panne, with its beautiful, wide beaches, and Ostend, which offers a little more nightlife! Knokke-Heist is the place to visit for a shopping trip, and there are several upmarket art galleries here, too.
Boulogne to the Dutch Coast
The route from Boulogne-sur-Mer to the Dutch coast covers approximately 445km, along the Opal Coast in France and through Belgium before arriving in the Netherlands. You can travel quickly along the A16 or take the coastal D940 through France for better scenery. It’s well worth stopping along the way to appreciate the views – all the way to Dover, England, on clear days – and don’t forget the excellent cuisine. Charming coastal villages such as Wissant and Wimereux are popular for their fresh seafood, before you head into Belgium and sample the local waffles!
As you travel through Belgium, you can incorporate a stop in one of the beautiful cities along the way, depending on whether you are drawn to discovering historical WWI sites in Ypres or the medieval architecture and canals in Bruges. Once you cross the border into the Netherlands, you can take your time to explore the Dutch Coast to make the most of the varied scenery. We recommend the iconic windmills at Kinderdijk, near Rotterdam, and the historic area of Zaanse Schans, north of Amsterdam, with its traditional wooden houses and working windmills.
If you’re looking for vibrant culture and a lively resort atmosphere, you’ll love the Hague area, and if you prefer a quieter dose of culture, you might want to try Haarlem for beautiful canals and impressive dunes. Take care when you’re visiting cities, as it can be tricky to find parking for your camper van. We suggest parking in the larger car parks on the outskirts and taking public transport to explore city centres, especially in Bruges.
Boulogne to the Loire Valley
It is possible to drive from Boulogne-sur-Mer to the Loire Valley in around 5-6 hours directly, but taking it slow in your camper van can create an enjoyable road trip to the famous wine region. There are plenty of beautiful places to stop on the way down, and you can enjoy camping at vineyards to make the most of the local produce!
When you’re driving to the Loire Valley, you’ll want to stop off in Amiens to visit the impressive Gothic cathedral, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Le Mans is another great choice, especially if you’re a fan of motor racing, and the beautiful old town is a lovely place to while away the hours. You’ll need 3-5 days in the Loire Valley region to fully appreciate this stunning area, and your camper van gives you the freedom to discover it at your own pace.
In the Loire Valley, there are several beautiful châteaux, including Chambord, with its famous double-helix staircase, and Villandry, with its incredible Renaissance gardens. You’ll find options for touring the area, or you can design your own tour that takes in the best vineyards in France. Spring is a wonderful time to visit this area, with warm temperatures and beautiful scenery, but without the crowds that summer brings! You may need to plan if you’re travelling out of peak season to ensure that campsites are open, but you will have plenty of options all year round.
Boulogne to Central Germany
When you’re exploring by camper van, you can indulge your interests and discover a whole new world of opportunity. If history is your bag, you’ll love the route from Boulogne to Frankfurt and the Rhine Valley, which takes in several beautiful castles. A particular favourite is Burg Eltz, near Munstermaifeld in the northern Rhineland. This is one of the few undestroyed Rhenish castles and is a fairytale-style castle that is even said to have its own ghost!
When you leave Boulogne, you should take the A16 and E40 through Belgium, Aachen and Cologne. The route to Frankfurt is around six to seven hours, and there are many great places to stop along the way. We love Oberwesel, with a fantastic castle on the hill behind the town, or you might consider an overnight stop in Bruges or Brussels so that you can explore Belgium as well as Germany on your trip.
Our recommendation is to take it slowly; there is no need to rush, and you will make the most of the wonderful location if you are able to relax and enjoy the ride. If you are travelling to a city, take the scenic route and appreciate everything the countryside has to offer, and if you get the opportunity to travel along one or both of the historic coastal routes, you are in for a real treat.
Boulogne to the Black Forest
If you have time for an extended road trip, the Black Forest is a wonderful location to explore and offers something a little different from coastal driving. The scenic route will take you through the Ardennes and Luxembourg, so you can feast your eyes on the rolling hills and sumptuous forests here, although you can access the area more quickly via the French A roads if you travel through the Champagne region.
The route you take will determine your stops along the way, but there are plenty of options, and you will find delicious cuisine and excellent wine at every turn. Reims is an interesting place to visit if you’re taking the speedy route, with prestigious champagne houses and an impressive cathedral, while Luxembourg City is a historic treat, located on a clifftop with ancient fortifications and subterranean tunnels to explore. Strasbourg is the perfect way to access the Black Forest, with plenty of medieval architecture and Christmas-themed shopping opportunities!
When you reach the Black Forest, you’ll fall in love with the scenery, and you can discover some of the highlights when you drive along the Schwarzwaldhochstraße (B500). You can see stunning views across to Baden-Baden, which is a popular spa town and well worth a visit. Don’t miss Triberg, with Germany’s highest waterfalls and a large collection of traditional cuckoo clocks, and you can discover all the little gems in the area before you make your leisurely drive home.
Choosing Your Route
Travelling in Europe is usually straightforward, with a choice of larger, faster roads or smaller, more scenic routes. The toll roads in France are convenient but incur costs, while driving in Germany and Luxembourg is usually toll-free. All are camper van friendly, although it will be more difficult to find parking for larger vans in some areas, especially historic cities.
Your camper van gives you the freedom to travel through multiple countries or take in several different areas at your own pace, and you can ensure that you have all the essentials you need to stay comfortable while you are away from home.
We recommend choosing a route that allows you to take your time, whether you are road tripping for a long weekend or for a month. Taking it slow means you have time to adapt to new opportunities and enjoy discovering the unexpected treasures along the way. When you’re looking through your holiday photos, you may not remember how far you managed to drive, but you’re sure to remember that tiny bistro where you enjoyed the best meal of your life!
The Hibernia Line: Passenger Ferry from Cork to Boulogne
The Hibernia Line is the perfect way to travel from Ireland to France, and with six departures per week, you can choose the most convenient crossing for your camper van. You’ll travel in a high-quality 350-cabin vessel from Cork to Boulogne-sur-Mer, and you can simply drive off the ferry and begin your road trip from here.
With the new Hibernia Line, it’s easy to take your campervan from Cork, Ireland, to Boulogne in France, the ideal gateway to mainland Europe. You’ll find more information and booking options on our website, so you can start planning your next holiday today!