Motorhome getaways from Barcelona: 7 ideas for 3 to 4 days

How many days do you need for a getaway?

The minimum rental depends on the season. In low season, roughly November to March except Christmas and Easter, you can rent from 3 days (€125 a day, VAT included). In mid season, approximately April to June plus September and October, the minimum is 4 days (€150 a day).

In July, August, at Christmas and at Easter the minimum rises to 7 days, so those dates suit longer trips. The exact dates of each season are shown in the booking calendar, so check it before you settle on a plan.

Mileage is rarely an issue on a short break. Rentals of 3 to 6 days include 300 km per day, which means 900 km over three days and 1,200 km over four. None of the ideas in this guide comes close unless you string several together; extra kilometres cost €0.40 each.

Leaving without crossing Barcelona

You collect your Segimon Rental motorhome in Les Franqueses del Vallès, next to Granollers and 5 minutes from the AP-7 and C-17. Within minutes you are on the motorway towards Girona and France or on the Vic road towards the Pyrenees, without touching Barcelona's ring roads. It takes about 30 minutes to reach us from central Barcelona and about 35 from the airport.

Collections are in the afternoon and returns in the morning. On a short break, keep the first leg brief: an hour's drive or less, a relaxed dinner and bed. That way your first full day already starts at your destination.

Mountain and inland getaways

Montseny (about 40 minutes). The closest escape and ideal for getting to know the motorhome: beech and chestnut woods and villages such as Viladrau, Arbúcies and Montseny itself. The roads up into the massif are narrow and twisty, so take them slowly. In autumn, with chestnuts and turning leaves, it is especially lovely.

Garrotxa (around 1 h 15). Volcanoes, woodland and stone villages: Olot, the Fageda d'en Jordà beech forest, Santa Pau, Castellfollit de la Roca and Besalú. There are easy walks for all levels and everything is close together, so you barely need to move the van. To stretch it out, see our full Garrotxa route.

Cerdanya (around 1 h 45). A wide, sunny valley in the heart of the Pyrenees, with Puigcerdà, Llívia and Bellver de Cerdanya, reached through the Cadí tunnel. In winter it pairs well with snow; in summer, with hikes and mountain lakes. It fits neatly with our Andorra and Cerdanya route.

Priorat (about 2 h). Terraced vineyards, wineries and clifftop villages such as Siurana and Gratallops, plus the Escaladei charterhouse. Roads are winding and some villages have very narrow streets: park at the entrance and walk in. In September and October, during the grape harvest, the landscape is at its best.

Coast and cross-border getaways

Costa Brava (around 1 h). Coves, clifftop paths and the medieval villages of the Empordà: Begur, Calella de Palafrugell, Pals and Peratallada. Outside summer it is far more enjoyable and much easier to park. In coastal villages, leave the motorhome outside the centre and walk. If you want more, see our Costa Brava route.

Ebro Delta (around 2 h 15). Rice fields, huge beaches, lagoons and thousands of birds. It is completely flat, perfect for cycling: the bike rack is included and you can add e-bikes. Spring and autumn are good times to go; in high summer, expect mosquitoes.

Collioure and Cap de Creus (around 1 h 45). Cross the border and in just over an hour and a half you are on the French coast: Collioure, Banyuls-sur-Mer and, on the way back, Cadaqués and Cap de Creus. The coast road between Portbou and Cerbère is full of bends, so allow time. Let us know before collection if you plan to leave Spain.

When to go

Spring and autumn are the best seasons for short breaks: pleasant temperatures, fewer people and mid-season rates. May and June are ideal for the coast before the crowds arrive; September and October for Priorat, Garrotxa or Montseny.

Winter has its own charm and is low season, with a 3-day minimum. The motorhome is built for the cold, with Truma heating and a heated grey water tank, so Cerdanya or a snowy Montseny are good options. If you are heading into snow, you can add snow chains as an extra.

For July, August, Christmas or Easter, with a 7-day minimum, a longer trip makes more sense, such as Catalonia in 7 days or the south of France.

Making the most of a long weekend or bank holiday

Long weekends and Spanish bank holiday "puentes" are the classic time for a getaway, but also when everyone else hits the road. A few tricks make all the difference:

• Book early: on holiday weekends the motorhome and the most popular campsites fill up first.
• Check the season for your dates in the calendar: the minimum rental is 3 days in low season and 4 in mid season.
• Set off on collection day and sleep nearby to miss the first-day holiday traffic.
• Pick one or two destinations at most: less driving, more time to explore.
• On the last night, stay within an hour of Granollers so the return is stress-free.
• Avoid driving into the Barcelona area at peak time on the last day of the holiday.
• Bring food for the first day and buy the rest at local markets and shops.

Where to sleep and what to bring

Wild camping is generally not permitted in Catalonia, and natural parks have extra restrictions. You may park a motorhome wherever any vehicle may park, as long as you are not camping: no awning, chairs or levelling chocks out and no emptying of water. For a quiet night, a campsite or an authorised motorhome area is the easiest choice; apps such as Park4Night or Campercontact help you find them.

The kitchen kit, table and chairs, awning, bike rack, hook-up cable and hose are all included, and the gas bottles are handed over full. If you would rather not pack sheets and towels, you can add bedding (€25 per bed) and towels (€15 per person). Then all you need is clothes and food.

Frequently asked questions