Travelling Europe by campervan – my track and location
Explore the map below to see my travels across Europe by van. As well as all the places I've stayed for free.
The anchor icons show every place I've camped for free in my van. Hover over the anchor icons to see notes. The green flashing van icon shows me most recent/current location.
- 26
- Countries travelled
- 47k
- Miles driven
- 544
- Wild camp spots
- 4
- Van breakdowns
A route with no fixed itinerary
Since 2014, I’ve been travelling in my DIY campervan around Europe. Travel became life. Life became travel. There’s no single “route” here. What you’re looking at on the map above is over a decade of real GPS data, logged trip after trip, camp after camp.
When I first set off, I wasn’t even sure if the van would make it across England to get to the Ferry in Dover.
But the van just kept going and going.
This page isn’t a fixed itinerary to copy — it’s a living record of where the van has actually been, and it grows with every trip.
I get asked about the countries I’ve been to, fuels costs, distances, whether it’s safe, where to camp, and how the Schengen 90-day rule affects a trip like this (post-Brexit). If you’re planning your own version of this, the country breakdown and FAQ below might be helpful.
Where the van has actually been
Every country on the track, ranked by distance driven. Click on a country to see related posts.
Figures sourced from the author's own GPS track logs... 'Wild camps' counts logged stops, not nights... Distance per country is a close approximation...
Planning a longer stay in the Schengen Area? Non-EU visitors are limited to 90 days in any rolling 180-day period across the Schengen zone. Use my handy Schengen 90-Day Calculator to plan your trip.
Schengen 90-Day CalculatorQuestions people ask
I also answer personally and in the comments.
Can you just park anywhere overnight, or do you need a campsite?
My rule is, as long as I’m not disturbing anyone or in anyone’s way it’s probably fine. And it usually is. I’ve been asked to move just a few times in all these years. No big deal.
How long can you stay in Europe?
As Brit you have to now abide by the 90 day rule. That is, no more than 90 days in a 180 day window. I made a handy calculator to help visualise this rule and plan your trips around: Schengen 90 day calculator
Is it safe to travel around Europe alone in a van?
From my experience yes! The least safe country is probably the UK in terms of crime and violence.
Can you travel with pets?
Yeah of course.
What size/type of van is best for a trip like this?
The best kind of van is one that’s well maintained, reliable and that has spare parts readily available.
Which country was the easiest/hardest for wild camping?
Worst countries for wild camping, probably Switzerland and England. Attitudes are generally a little more hostile towards campers. The easiest country is probably Spain – lots of space, people are chilled.
Which country would you recommend for a first-timer?
Spain! obviously. However the tourist areas on the south coast are a little more difficult for wild camping but there are plenty of amazing spots all over Spain.
Do you need a visa or special documents to drive a van across this many countries?
If you’re from the UK you get a default 90/180 day visa without having to fill out any forms. There are no border checks between countries once you are in the EU block. Tracking is done on entry/exit to the EU – mostly now electronic with no passport stamp.
What happens if the van breaks down abroad?
If you have breakdown cover, call them. They’ll tow you to a nearby garage to get fixed. Ideally it’d be a garage with a yard suitable for camping in (ask them). If you don’t have breakdown cover you need to find someone to tow you. This could be a passer by or by calling a recovery truck person.
What does fuel cost across a trip like this?
My van averages about 30 miles per gallon. I’ll get around 450-500 miles on a full tank. Not great. Not awful.