Ferry to Spain with a Motorhome: Full Guide

Ferry to Spain with a Motorhome: Full Guide

Stunning Spain is a perfect destination for motorhome holidays. But if you’re travelling from the UK, common questions are “How do I get from the UK to Spain by ferry?” and “How much does a van on the ferry to Spain cost?”

Return ferry travel for two adults travelling in a 7m-long, 2.6m high motorhome from the UK to Spain ranges from £725 to £1,300+, depending on season, sailing time and departure/arrival ports. When we checked, a return ticket for two travellers and the motorhome detailed above was £1,273-£1,335 for a high season, one-week journey departing the next day; and £738-£768 for a one-week return in low season, bookable six months in advance.

As with most forms of travel, this is quite a wide price range, where final prices will depend on several factors. We cover these below, along with alternative ways to get from the UK to Spain by ferry.

What does the price of taking a motorhome to Spain depend on?

The price of the ticket depends on:

• Length of time between booking and departure date: trips booked closer to the latter will cost more

• Seasonal demand: high season will obviously be more expensive

• The departure and arrival ports

• The ferry company

• The number of people travelling and their ages

• Whether pets are accompanying the trip

• The length and height of the motorhome

• Any cabin bookings.

How long does the ferry take to get to Spain?

All ferry routes to Spain from the UK depart from Portsmouth or Plymouth, and arrive at Santander or Bilbao (from Portsmouth) or just Santander (from Plymouth). The quickest ferry route from the UK to Spain is 20 hours and 15 minutes, from Plymouth to Santander. Allow 20-34 hours for a motorhome ferry journey from either port in England to either port in Spain:

Departing from Portsmouth

• Portsmouth to Santander: 23h 30m

• Portsmouth to Bilbao: 33h 30m

Departing from Plymouth

• Plymouth to Santander: 20h 15m

Where to book a ferry to take a motorhome to Spain

You can book directly with a ferry company sailing from the UK to Spain, but a price comparison site will give you the best chance of a good deal. Try Direct Ferries, which gives all prices from all ferry operators for the same route anywhere in the world.

Aim to get the best price by booking as far as advance as possible, and avoiding exceptionally busy times like school half-terms or the peak of high season.

Which ferry companies operate between the UK and Spain?

The only ferry company currently running routes between the UK and Spain is Brittany Ferries, after taking over the UK-Spain ferry routes from P&O in 2010. It operates three direct routes: Portsmouth to Santander or Bilbao, and Plymouth to Santander.

Permits and documentation needed for ferry travel between the UK and Spain

Legally, you won’t need all these documents, but they’re recommended for a trip of this type:

• Printed booking confirmation

• Documentation and insurance papers for the motorhome

• Valid driving licence/s for driving abroad

• Valid passport /ID card. You now need a passport to enter the EU. See the UK government official page about visas and immigration for more information.

• If you’re travelling with children with different surnames, make sure you bring all the necessary documentation and have the right permissions to take a child abroad.

We also recommend bringing your health insurance card.

Alternatives to taking the ferry to Spain

If you don’t want to do such a long sailing in one go, there are a couple of alternatives to boarding a ferry to Spain from Portsmouth or Plymouth:

Taking the Eurotunnel from Dover to Calais

The journey time for the Eurotunnel from Dover to Calais is just 35 minutes. Even adding in travelling time to Dover from anywhere in the UK, you’ll be in mainland Europe more quickly than taking the ferry direct from England to Spain.

Of course, there’s then the driving time from Calais to Spain (about 12 hours), but you can do this at your own pace and stop off whenever you like… an attractive prospect if you’re travelling with kids.

Taking the ferry from England to France

As our travelling by ferry to France guide lays out, there are several sailing options from the UK to France alongside Dover-Calais. Arrive at Dieppe, Cherbourg, St Malo, Caen or Dunkirk from UK ports including Portsmouth, Poole, Newhaven and Folkestone. Reaching the Spanish border from northern France is again around 12 hours’ drive.

Taking the ferry from the UK to Ireland

If you’re lucky enough to be on an extended trip, or are finishing up a UK road trip and want to stay on the road, consider crossing to Ireland and taking a ferry from there to Spain. There are two routes: Cork to Santander and Rosslare to Bilbao, both run by Brittany Ferries.

P&O Ferries, Stena Line and Irish Ferries are the operators for ferries from the UK to the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. The main ferry routes are:

Wales

Fishguard to Rosslare : 2h 30m (Stena Line)

Pembroke to Rosslare : 3h (Irish Ferries)

Holyhead to Dublin : 2h 15m - 3h 15m (Stena Line and Irish Ferries)

Holyhead to Belfast : 8h 15m (Stena Line)

England

Liverpool to Dublin : 8h (P&O)

Liverpool Birkenhead to Belfast: 8h (Stena Line)

Scotland

Cairnryan to Larne : 2h (P&O)

Cairnryan to Belfast : 2h 15m (Stena Line)

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