Anyone who’s spent any time touring Europe in a motorhome will know that if you are planning to stay on a campsite, it is best to book in advance. Campsites that open in and around resorts for the ski season are limited – far fewer than are open in summer which means that if you are travelling during any of the holiday periods, they can get very busy – not only that, not all welcome caravans in winter. For this reason, we consulted with Winterised Caravan Skiing Guru John Wilson. All the campsites listed here are also open to motorhomes.
If you’re considering taking your caravan skiing, also check out John’s article ‘Can I Take My Caravan Skiing’.
So let’s answer the question, where can I take my caravan skiing? Here are ten excellent winter campsites that welcome caravans during the ski season:
Austria
- Panorama Camping, Tirol
- Camping Arlberg, Tirol
- Tirol Camp, Fieberbrunn
- Aktiv Camping Prutz, Tirol
- Camping Solden, Solden
- Camping Hofer, Tirol
France
- Camping Huttopia, Bourg St Maurice
- Camping Caravaneige Le Giffre, Samoëns
- Camping Chantalouette, Praz sur Arly
Germany
- Camping Oberstdorf, Oberstdorf
As you can see from this list, there are plenty of options for taking your caravan camping in winter but don’t forget to also consider road access in winter conditions. One of the obvious benefits of taking a caravan skiing over a motorhome is that you have transport once in situ, so whilst you are largely restricted to formal private campsites (as opposed to aires, stellplatz and sostas), you do have the ability to use the campsite as a base to explore further afield without moving your whole camping set up.
These sites have been verified and so you can be safe in the knowledge that you will be able to reach them towing your caravan.
Austria
Panorama Camping, Westendorf, Tirol
A very friendly campsite, close to the pleasant small town of Westendorf in the Skiwelt. It’s an easy drive from A12 motorway and low altitude at 790m means all routes are usually clear. There’s a free ski bus to lifts and with a supermarket close by, you won’t even need to dig the car out for a midweek top-up shop. The walk into town is about 10 minutes (regular boots). It has excellent facilities with pub/restaurant on site. Panorama Camping is competitively priced for an Austrian campsite at around €25 per night (in low season).
Visit Panorama Camping on Snomadsites.com for our full review
Camping Arlberg, Tirol
The infamous Camping Arlberg is a purpose built winter campsite just 4kms from St Anton. Each comfort pitch comes with a fully heated large garden shed containing a shower room; washing up area; and storage shelves. A heated secure cabinet for each pitch is on site for your ski gear and boots. There’s also a public swimming pool with café adjacent to the campsite, with the village shops and restaurants about 10 minutes walk away. A free ski bus runs past the site to take you to St Anton. Sounds perfect, but it is expensive requiring a small mortgage in high season! See notes in the Winterised review for a cost breakdown.
Winterised full review of Camping Arlberg here.
Tirol Camp, Fieberbrunn
Situated in the Saalbach Hinterglemm Ski Circus area, this is a popular resort style campsite with a host of on-site facilities including a swimming pool, excellent restaurant and the option to have a ‘Camping Arlberg’ style private facilities shed. It is just a short walk to the ski lift and about 10 minutes walk to shops in the town. It’s one for families as it’s very child friendly and whilst almost as expensive as St Anton in our opinion offers better value with the quality of facilities.
Aktiv Camping Prutz, Tirol
Situated alongside the Inn River, this campsite is situated in the Reschenpass Valley, close to the Italian and Swiss border. It has good facilities – a restaurant which is open at weekends; a free ski bus to Serfaus/Fiss/ Ladis; and is only a short walk from the village for shops and restaurants.
As with many Austrian ski areas Prutz is ideal if you have access to a car which is where caravaner’s win over motorhomers! On top of the 200km+ of piste in Serfaus, the smaller resorts of Fendells; Nauders; Venet; the Kaunertal glacier; and even Samnaun and Ischgl are between 15 and 45 minutes drive away. It is competitively priced with a number of special offers each season.
Our review of Aktiv Camping Prutz
Camping Sölden, Sölden
If you prefer high altitude skiing with snow-sure slopes then Camping Sölden could be for you. Just 300m from the ski lift in Sölden and even closer to the bus stop to Obergurgl/Hochgurgl, this campsite is well positioned for easy access skiing.
It has good quality modern facilities, large communal drying rooms to rejuvenate soggy kit, and ski storage. It’s just a short walk to the town shops, bars and restaurant. It can be busy in school holidays, so advance booking essential and some pitches are a tight squeeze with a larger caravan so ensure you include dimensions when booking. Prices are above average for Austria but reflect its convenient position. You get what you pay for.
Camping Hofer, Tirol
Just a few minutes stroll from the centre of Zell am Ziller, Camping Hofer is a large campsite with recently modernised facilities; drying rooms; ski storage and an excellent bar/restaurant on site. A free ski bus takes you to the Zillertal Arena ski area, and is only 20 minutes drive from Mayrhofen and 30 minutes from the Hintertux glacier. Expect to pay around €33 per night for 2 adults and a caravan excluding electric.
Everything you need to know about Camping Hofer on Snomadsites.com
France
Camping Huttopia, Bourg St Maurice
Camping Huttopia is a large popular campsite with good quality facilities within walking distance of the shops and restaurants in the town centre. A free ski bus takes you to the funicular which lifts you to the mega skitropolis of Les Arcs (1600 is where you drop in). This is a really popular base ffrom which to ski the Paradiski area which, as well as Les Arcs also includes La Plange and Peisey-Vallandry. For peak season stays booking is essential as it is competitively priced – a family of four in mid February will start from under €30 a day.
Camping Caravaneige Le Giffre, Samoëns
Situated just two hundred metres from the Grand Massif cable car in Samoëns and about ten minutes walk from the town, Camping Le Giffre is popular with families and has very good facilities. Prices start from around €35 in peak season for a family of four, but if you can get here in January, excellent deals are available from the ACSI network.
Winterised full review of Camping Caravaneige Le Giffre here.
Camping Chantalouette, Praz sur Arly
Camping Chantalouette is situated in the centre of Praz sur Arly, close to shops and restaurants and just a few minutes drive (or 10 minutes walk) to the lifts which provide access to Espace Diamant. Espace Diamant stretches all across the valleys to Les Saisies. This is a fairly basic campsite with simple facilities but very competitive prices throughout the season. Two adults with inclusive 10amp electric will be about €25 per day and there is a very friendly English speaking owner on site.
Germany
Camping Oberstdorf, Oberstdorf
Situated about 10 minutes walk from the attractive town centre of Oberstdorf, this campsite is well placed to access the wide variety of winter sports on offer in the area. It has good facilities with a budget friendly pub/restaurant on site. Expect to pay around €30 per night in high season. A word of caution, this area can be very busy during the Dutch and Bavarian half term, and a car is essential as lifts are spread across three valleys up to 10 km apart and the free ski buses can be crowded.
Related Questions
Can I take my motorhome skiing in Switzerland? Yes but there are some things you need to know before you plan to take your motorhome skiing in Switzerland – Start Here
Do I need winter tyres for my motorhome? Each country in Europe has differing regulations about the use of winter tyres – you can find more detailed information here.
