Winter camping
Campsites open in winter too: camping with your motorhome in the snow and the sun
Winter camping is increasingly popular: with a well-equipped motorhome or caravan you can travel all year round, even when temperatures drop. On Ovisola you'll find campsites that stay open in winter, from wintersport grounds at the foot of the Alps to sunny wintering spots in southern Europe. Picture a pitch with heated sanitary facilities and an electric hook-up near the ski slopes, or a quiet spot in Spain or Portugal to escape the cold. Whatever you're after - snow and après-ski or palm trees and mild temperatures - we show every year-round campsite on the map so you can plan your winter trip with the camper easily.
Ovisola maps 5,213 winter camping across Europe. Pick a country below to explore further.
Popular winter camping
Winter camping on the map
© OpenStreetMap contributors
Winter camping by country
All about winter camping
Winter camping means travelling with your motorhome or caravan all year round, even when it freezes or snows outside. Where many campsites close their gates after summer, a winter campsite stays open: with heated sanitary facilities, a solid electric hook-up and pitches that can handle a layer of snow. People choose winter camping for very different reasons - some are after snow, ski slopes and après-ski in the Alps, others escape south to overwinter in the mild sun of Spain or Portugal. What they share is the freedom to travel outside high season, with calm on site, lower rates and a completely different landscape from summer. On Ovisola we show the campsites that are open in winter on a single map, so you can see at a glance where you can go with the camper - from a snowy mountain valley to a palm-lined beach on the Costa.
When choosing a winter campsite, focus on the practical facilities that make the difference when it's cold. The most important are heated, frost-free sanitary blocks, a reliable electric hook-up (you use more power for heating in the cold) and well-drained, paved or gravel pitches that don't turn to mud. Consider access too: is the campsite on a clear, gritted access road, and is there a supermarket or village nearby that's open in winter? For winter-sport fans, the distance to the ski lift, a ski-bus stop and a heated room to dry gear all count. For southern overwinterers it's about long-stay rates, wifi and a sociable winter community. On Ovisola you compare campsites by location, amenities and reviews, and filter the winter theme together with, for example, motorhome pitch, near a lake or family-friendly - so in a few clicks you keep only the spots that truly fit your winter trip.
Europe offers two very different winter worlds for the camper, and you'll find both on Ovisola. For snow and winter sports the Alpine countries are favourites: Austria (Tyrol, Salzburgerland), Switzerland, southern Germany (Bavaria, the Black Forest), northern Italy (South Tyrol, Aosta) and the French Alps, with campsites right by the slope where you click into your skis first thing. Scandinavia also draws adventurous winter campers with northern lights and silence. On the other side of the continent lies the overwintering route: the Spanish Costas (Costa Blanca, Costa del Sol), the Algarve in Portugal, Andalusia and the French Mediterranean coast attract thousands of northern Europeans from November to March who spend winter in mild temperatures. In between, plenty of campsites in the Netherlands, Belgium and Germany stay open all year for a short wintry trip close to home. Through the Ovisola map you hop from region to region and see which campsites are available in winter per area.
Practically, the winter season varies greatly by destination. In the ski areas high season runs from December through March, with the Christmas holidays and February the busiest and priciest periods - book a slope-side pitch well ahead. For overwintering in the south, January and February are the quiet core months, where many campsites offer attractive monthly or seasonal rates. Bear in mind that facilities can be more basic in winter than in summer (part of the grounds or the pool may be closed) and that your camper needs to be winter-ready: good insulation, a frost-resistant water tank and winter tyres or snow chains for the mountains. Always check in advance with the campsite whether they are genuinely open in your travel period and which facilities are running. Ready to plan? Open the Ovisola map, filter for winter camping and compare the campsites open in winter on location, amenities and reviews - whether you want to head into the snow or chase the sun.
Frequently asked questions
- What exactly is winter camping?
- Winter camping is camping with a motorhome or caravan during the winter months, at a campsite that is open then. That can be in the snow near a ski area or in the mild south to overwinter. Your camper is ideally winter-ready (insulation, heating, frost-resistant water tank) and the campsite has winter facilities such as heated sanitary blocks and electricity.
- What facilities does a good winter campsite have?
- Key ones are heated, frost-free sanitary blocks, a reliable electric hook-up (you use more power for heating), well-drained paved or gravel pitches and a gritted access road. For winter sports the distance to the slope/ski-bus and a heated drying room matter; for overwintering, long-stay rates and wifi are welcome. Check per campsite which facilities run in winter.
- Where in Europe is winter camping best?
- For snow and skiing the Alpine countries are favourites: Austria, Switzerland, southern Germany, northern Italy and the French Alps, with slope-side campsites. For mild winter weather many campers head to the Spanish Costas, the Portuguese Algarve, Andalusia and the French Mediterranean coast to overwinter. Closer to home, campsites in the Netherlands, Belgium and Germany also stay open year-round.
- How do I know for sure a campsite is open in winter?
- On Ovisola we show campsites known to be open year-round, but opening times can differ by year and period. So always check the current opening period on the campsite page and, if in doubt, contact the campsite directly before you leave - especially around the holidays and in the core winter months.
- Does my camper need special winter equipment?
- For comfortable winter camping a winter-ready camper is recommended: good insulation, a powerful heater, a frost-resistant or heated water tank and enough gas supply. For the mountains, winter tyres and snow chains are often compulsory. In the mild south a standard setup usually suffices, as it rarely freezes there.
- Is winter camping cheaper than in summer?
- Often yes. Outside the summer high season rates are usually lower, and for overwintering many southern campsites offer good monthly or seasonal prices. The exception is the ski areas around the Christmas and February holidays, where winter is high season. Compare the starting prices per campsite and period on Ovisola.