The first time I escaped the British winter in my van I felt like I’d discovered one of life’s biggest cheat codes.
Seek year-round sunlight and see how it changes your life. Not warmth necessarily, but sunlight!
In this post we’ll explore the options for getting out of the UK by campervan. Do you drive through France OR get a ferry to Spain?
UK to Spain ferry options
There are 3 ferry routes from the UK to Spain:
- Portsmouth to Santander. Running year round. Sailing time 28.5 and 33.5 hours – 2 nights
- Portsmouth to Bilbao. March to Dec. Sailing time 32.5 hours – 2 nights
- Plymouth to Santander. March to Nov. Sailing time 20 hours – 1 night
Get a ferry to Spain or drive through France?
In terms of cost there isn’t a obvious choice. But generally, if you’re travelling at last minute it’s probably more cost effective to drive through France. That’s because getting a reasonable price on the Spain crossing means booking months in advance. Let’s go through an example of each, totalling up the costs and travel time.
Example one: drive through France
Ferry (Dover – Calais): 1.5 hours
Ferry cost: £100
Miles driving (Calais – santander): 810 miles
Driving time: 17.5 hours
Diesel cost: £200 (@ 27.5mpg, £153/L)
Total cost: £300
Travel time: 19 hours
NOTE: If you want to cut your driving time down you can use toll roads. This will cut driving time from 17.5 to 13.5 hours but at a cost of £135. This brings the total to £435 with 15 hour travel time.
Example two: Ferry to Spain
The cost for this ferry varies a lot. If you leave it until the last minute you might find it’s just not worth it.
Ferry (UK – Spain): 20 – 36 hours depending on the ferry and route
Ferry cost: £200 – 600 depending on when you book and what route you select
The fastest and cheapest route to Spain from the UK is the Plymouth to Santander ferry. A 20 hour sailing for less than £200 (April 2024). This one gets booked up quickly.
Conclusion
Drive through France if you:
- Need a flexible departure date
- Get sea sick
- Want to visit France
Get a ferry to Spain if you:
- Are able to get a good ferry price – booking well in advance
- Want to get to warm climate asap
- Want to reduce wear on your van
- Hate driving
What do I choose, ferry or drive?
During winter I’ll always choose the ferry direct to Spain. I love the feeling of getting on a ferry in the middle of a wet, dark, cold British winter and waking up in sunny Spain. France, or whatever, can wait for summer.
Have I missed anything? share your thoughts and tips in the comments…
Also see this post: Preparing the van for travel (2024)
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