Campervan or motorhome: which one to choose
Both let you sleep wherever you stop, but they don't travel the same way. The campervan goes where a motorhome can't fit and parks like a car; the motorhome has more room and a proper bathroom. We'll help you choose based on how you actually travel.
It's the classic dilemma for anyone renting for the first time: campervan or motorhome? Both let you sleep wherever you stop, and both come with a kitchen, so on the surface they look like the same thing in different sizes. But they travel very differently, and choosing the right one is the difference between enjoying your trip and spending half of it looking for somewhere to fit the thing. Let's look at it without the sales pitch.
Size: the thing that changes everything else
The basic difference is size, and everything else follows from that. A campervan is a van (in our case, a VW Transporter) converted for sleeping and cooking. It's the size of a large vehicle: it fits in a normal lane, parks with only the height to worry about, and gets through narrow coastal and mountain roads.
A motorhome is considerably bigger and taller. In exchange for that extra bulk, you gain more room inside and, usually, a full bathroom. But you lose agility: parking gets harder, small roads become intimidating, and moving something that size takes it out of you.
There's no better option in the abstract. There's a better option for how you travel.
Where you can park and where you can get to
This is where the campervan wins hands down if your plan involves moving around a lot. With the size of a van, you can reach coves, viewpoints, towns with impossibly narrow streets, and mountain tracks where a motorhome simply can't get through or find anywhere to stop. And when it comes to spending the night legally, a campervan that looks like a parked car has an easier time of it than a large vehicle that stands out for miles (if you want the full picture, we cover it in where it's legal to sleep in a campervan).
The motorhome shines in the opposite scenario: if you're planning to settle into a campsite or one spot and make it your base for several days, that extra room and your own bathroom really pay off.
Driving and fuel consumption
The campervan drives like a large car, needs no special licence, and uses about what you'd expect from a diesel van: roughly 7.5 to 8.5 litres per 100 km. The motorhome demands more respect at the wheel due to its size and height, and drinks more fuel. On a long route, that difference in consumption and driving comfort adds up, and you'll feel it both in your legs and in your wallet.
Interior space: the motorhome's strong point
Let's be fair: in square metres, the motorhome wins. If there are a lot of you travelling, you spend a lot of time indoors because of the weather, or having your own bathroom is non-negotiable, that extra space is a real advantage. A campervan makes clever use of every corner, but it won't give you the living room of a large motorhome.
That said, the honest question is: how many hours will you actually spend inside? If the plan is to live outdoors, drive, stop in beautiful spots and use the van mainly for sleeping and cooking, that extra space matters less than you'd think.
So, which one should you choose?
To sum it up straight:
- Campervan if there are few of you, you want to move around a lot, stop somewhere different every day, reach small hidden spots, and park without any drama. It's the option for genuinely touring Spain.
- Motorhome if you're a large family after more fixed space and your own bathroom, and you'll be basing yourselves in just a few places without moving around much.
At beWinkle, we do the first one, properly: VW campervans seating 3 to 5, inspected and spotless, built for a trip where you just keep stopping wherever takes your fancy. If that's how you like to travel, it'll fit you like a glove.
Check out the models and seating capacity of each Winkle, take your time comparing, and when you're ready, pick your dates and book. And if you're not sure which of our campervans is the one for you, message us on WhatsApp and we'll point you in the right direction based on your trip.
And if you've already made up your mind and want to run through the requirements, the price and how booking works in one go, here's the full guide to renting a campervan in Spain.
Which campervan to choose
If you're going for the campervan, compare all four models (seats, water, kit and price) in the full comparison of the 4 Winkles.
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Before you book
Go over the requirements, price and how booking works in the guide to renting a campervan in Spain.
Got it all clear? Pick your dates and book →
Frequently asked questions
What's the real difference between a campervan and a motorhome?
A campervan is a converted van set up for sleeping and cooking, with the size of a large vehicle: it parks like a car and fits where a motorhome can't. A motorhome is bigger and taller, with more interior space and usually a full bathroom, but it's harder to park and manoeuvre, and more expensive to run.
Which one lets me park and move around towns and cities more easily?
The campervan, without a doubt. Since it's the size of a van, it parks in normal spots (you just need to mind the height) and handles narrow roads, coastal routes and mountain passes where a motorhome really struggles. If you're travelling a lot and stopping in different towns, the campervan wins hands down.
Which one uses less fuel?
The campervan, due to its size and weight. A diesel campervan sits at around 7.5 to 8.5 litres per 100 km, compared with the higher consumption of a large motorhome. On a long trip, that difference in fuel really adds up.
How many people does each one suit?
For a couple or a small group travelling a lot and stopping somewhere different each day, the campervan is ideal (our Winkles seat 3 to 5). For larger families after more fixed space and their own bathroom, who move around less, a motorhome might suit better. It's more about how you travel than how many of you there are.