How beWinkle travellers choose their route
After hundreds of departures from Madrid, we see a pattern: the trips that go best aren't the most ambitious, they're the best thought-out. Here's what the ones who come back delighted do differently.
We've had hundreds of departures from Madrid, and that gives you a curious perspective: you see people set off with their plan and come back with their story. And there's a pattern that keeps repeating. The trips that turn out perfectly aren't the most ambitious ones, or the ones with the most spectacular route on paper. They're the best thought-out ones. Here's what the ones who come back with that "I'd do it all again tomorrow" look do differently.
They cover fewer kilometres than you'd think
Rookie mistake number one is wanting to see everything. You set off with a list of ten places and end up seeing nine petrol stations and a lot of tarmac. Seasoned travellers do the opposite: few kilometres a day, rarely more than 150 or 200. Why? Because the point of a campervan isn't arriving, it's stopping. That viewpoint that wasn't in the plan, that village where you stay for lunch, that cove where you end up spending the whole afternoon. If you're pushed for time, you miss all of it by rushing.
Fewer stops, more time at each one. That's the formula.
They fix a few things and leave room for surprises
Here's the balance that sets the ones who really enjoy it apart. They don't plan every single night down to the last detail (that kills the magic and ties you down if the weather changes), but they don't set off blindly either. What they do is fix two or three anchors: the first night, the last night, and a couple of stops they're really excited about and don't want to miss. Everything else stays open. That way you've got a backbone, but also room to improvise depending on the day, the weather and how you feel. The best part of a trip is usually the bit you didn't plan.
They pick the area according to the season, not the other way round
Another thing they get right: instead of fighting the calendar, they choose where based on when. In summer, they head north and to the mountains to dodge the heat. In spring and autumn, almost anywhere in Spain is perfect. And in winter, with a heated campervan, they head to the sierra and to villages when there's nobody around. Spain is basically several different countries depending on the month, and they make the most of it instead of struggling against it. If winter tempts you, we cover it in winter campervanning.
They sort out two small but important details before setting off
And lastly, the travellers who go with peace of mind have two things checked before they hit the road: where to refuel on the emptier stretches, and where the service areas and water points are. That's not over-planning, it's simply removing the only two real worries on a route. With a service area app and a quick look at a fuel station map, those worries disappear and the trip just flows. And if they're unsure, they ask us on WhatsApp — after so many departures, we've picked up the tricks for every area.
Your route, your way
There's no perfect route, only your route. But if you want a shortcut and a solid starting point, we've got itineraries we've already driven ourselves, with stops, places to sleep and where to refuel, ready to copy and adapt. Take a look at the blog and steal whatever ideas are useful to you.
Once you've got your plan (or just the urge to go), we'll have the campervan checked over and WhatsApp open for whatever you need. Check out the Winkles and pick your dates and book. The best route is the one that has you scrolling back through the photos a week later.
Related routes
- Picos de Europa by campervan: a 5-day route
- Basque Coast and Landes by campervan: 7 days
- Algarve and Portugal's Atlantic coast by campervan: 9 days
- From the Pyrenees to Cabo de Gata (12 days)
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Frequently asked questions
How many kilometres a day should you do on a campervan route?
Travellers who enjoy it most rarely go over 150 to 200 km a day. The whole point of a campervan is stopping, not arriving: if you string together long drives, you end up seeing more tarmac than scenery. Better to cover fewer kilometres and have plenty of time to enjoy each stop.
Is it better to plan the whole route or improvise?
A middle ground. What works best is having the first and last night sorted, plus two or three fixed stops you're really keen on, and leaving the rest open to improvise depending on the weather and how you feel. Don't tie everything down, but don't set off with nothing planned either.
What's the best time of year to travel around Spain by campervan?
Almost any time, if you pick the right area. Spring and autumn are ideal in most of the country. In summer, the north and the mountains dodge the heat; in winter, a campervan with heating opens up the sierra and the villages with no queues. It depends more on where you're going than on the month.
What's the most common mistake when planning a campervan route?
Trying to cram in too much. A lot of people plan twice as many stops as they can actually fit in and end up driving non-stop. The second common mistake is not checking where to refuel and where the service areas and water points are. Sort those two things out and the trip changes completely.