Camping with caravans in Germany – pay attention to these points
Camping with a caravan is becoming increasingly popular, as is traveling in your own country. But what is actually important and allowed, what should you pay attention to when camping with a caravan in Germany?
Where camping with caravans is allowed in Germany
Camping is of course always allowed on campsites in Germany. These are often highly sought after and fully booked weeks in advance, especially during the travel season and during the holidays. So if you are planning a tour, then find out early on whether there is still a parking space available for you at the campsite of your choice. You can also stay overnight outside of campsites, but this is not allowed everywhere and sometimes only allowed to a limited extent. On streets and parking lots, for example, it is permitted with restrictions for one night, provided that the overnight stay serves to restore the ability to drive. Real camping is not allowed. Be sure to pay attention to regional and local differences and restrictions, and above all to nature conservation, forest and dike laws. Staying overnight on streets and parking lots in Germany is prohibited for several nights. Overnight stays on private property are also permitted to a limited extent, here too it is important to pay attention to regional regulations and laws on nature conservation, etc. You can sometimes even camp for several nights on private property, this is permitted with restrictions and follows the same rules as camping for one night on private property.
The dimensions of your team of vehicle and caravan
In addition to the permissible total mass of the vehicle combination, the dimensions are also very important when driving with a caravan. Vehicles that exceed this require a special permit for their journey, which can usually be obtained from the local district and road traffic offices. A few safety measures are also required for the teams, so you have to pay attention to additional lights or mirrors, for example. However, this is not regulated nationally, but at the discretion of the responsible authorities, who also issue the special permits.
For the dimensions, however, the values are fixed: Your vehicle without a trailer must not exceed a maximum width of 2.55 meters. The same applies to the caravan with drawbar. Both must also comply with a length of 12 meters. The width of the entire team is then not surprising, this may also be a maximum of 2.55 meters. The length, on the other hand, is set at 18 meters, so that neither your vehicle nor the mobile home can use the full permitted length.
Check list before driving
So before you set off with your team and explore the many beautiful corners of Germany, you should whip your team into shape. Do you have everything you could need for your trailer hitch? Are the spare keys for the detachable towbar packed? Is the tire pressure correct on the towing vehicle as well as on the trailer? Also think of your wheel chocks and, depending on the width, also of the additional mirrors for your vehicle. How about the additional power supply, so that your fridge in the caravan is supplied with power while driving? Depending on the team, there are certainly individual points that you should check a few days before departure. This leaves you enough time to organize everything in case of doubt.
