Why go skiing in a motorhome
A ski week usually means a hotel, an apartment or hours of driving each day. With a motorhome your bed, kitchen and a warm place to change are always to hand, and you can move between resorts depending on the snow or the forecast.
From our base in Les Franqueses del Vallès, next to Granollers, the Pyrenees are roughly 1 h 30 away and Andorra about 2 h 15, without crossing Barcelona. As collections are in the afternoon (16:00 to 19:00), you can set off on a Friday after work, sleep close to the snow and be skiing the next morning; in low season the minimum rental is 3 days.
Ski resorts within reach of Granollers
Distances are approximate and in winter depend heavily on road conditions. As a rough guide, from nearest to furthest:
- La Molina and Masella (Cerdanya): the closest, around an hour and a half away. You reach them over the Collada de Toses pass or through the Cadí tunnel, which is tolled.
- Vall de Núria: there is no road into the valley. Park in Ribes de Freser or Queralbs and ride up on the rack railway, a relaxed, family-friendly option.
- Grandvalira and Pal Arinsal (Andorra): about 2 h 15 to Andorra. Andorra is outside the EU, so carry your passport or ID card and let us know before pick-up so we can check the insurance. To combine snow and valley, see our Andorra and Cerdanya route.
- Port Ainé and Espot (Pallars Sobirà): further away, with a final mountain stretch best driven in daylight.
- Baqueira Beret (Vall d'Aran): the furthest on this list. Plan it as a stay of several days rather than a there-and-back trip.
Where to sleep near the slopes
Rules for staying overnight in ski resort car parks vary a lot: some have designated motorhome areas, others only allow daytime parking and some ban it outright. Check each resort's website and the local council's by-laws before you go, because what applies at one resort may not apply at the next.
Where parking is allowed, you can park a motorhome like any other vehicle as long as you are not camping: no awning, chairs, levelling chocks or emptying of waste water. In winter, the most comfortable option is to combine campsites that open during the ski season with authorised motorhome areas that offer electric hook-up. Weekends and bank holidays fill up, so book ahead. Apps such as Park4Night or Campercontact help you find them.
Heating and water below freezing
The Sunlight V66 Adventure is ready for snow: Truma Combi 4 heating with EisEx, which stops the flue outlet from icing up, and a heated grey-water tank. The golden rule is not to switch the heating off while you ski if it is freezing outside; leave it on a moderate setting.
Heating is by far the biggest gas user. Check the bottles every evening and use mains hook-up whenever you have it. For more on the battery, gas and frost, see our guide to motorhoming in winter.
Boots, wet gear and condensation
The real challenge of a ski trip in a motorhome is not the cold but the moisture. Four boots, two jackets and a pair of soaked gloves in a small space will steam up the windows within an hour.
- Knock the snow off outside and take your boots off at the door, on a mat or a tray.
- Dry gloves and liners near the warm air from the heating, but never cover the outlets or the ventilation grilles.
- Use the shower tray to let the wettest clothes drip.
- Air the van for a few minutes several times a day and leave the roof vents slightly open.
- If the campsite has a drying room or ski storage, use it: you will gain space and comfort.
- On the road, secure skis and poles so they cannot slide forward under braking.
Roads, snow and chains
Snow chains are an optional extra (€20). For a ski trip, take them and practise fitting them before you leave: doing it at home is very different from a frozen hard shoulder in the dark. When signs make chains compulsory, only equipped vehicles may continue, and mountain passes can close temporarily.
Check road conditions before setting off and drive smoothly: a 3,500 kg motorhome needs a longer distance to stop, and on descents it is better to use engine braking in a low gear than to ride the brakes.
Weekend or midweek: when to go and what it costs
Saturdays, Sundays and bank holidays bring lift queues, full car parks and fully booked campsites. Midweek, the resorts are far quieter and it is much easier to find somewhere to sleep.
What is more, most of the ski season falls in our low season, which runs roughly from November to March, except Christmas and Easter. For example, five midweek days in January, if they fall in low season, come to 5 × €125 = €625, VAT included. The exact dates of each season are shown in the booking calendar.
Rentals of 3 to 6 days include 300 km per day, so 1,500 km over five days: more than enough to reach the Cerdanya or Andorra and move between resorts.
Frequently asked questions
Can I sleep in a ski resort car park in a motorhome?
It depends on each resort and each municipality: some have motorhome areas and others forbid it. Check before you go and, in winter, prioritise campsites or authorised areas with electric hook-up.
Which ski resort is closest to Granollers?
La Molina and Masella, in the Cerdanya, are the closest, roughly an hour and a half away. Vall de Núria is also nearby, although you go up by rack railway from Ribes de Freser or Queralbs.
Do I need snow chains for a motorhome ski trip?
They are strongly recommended. You can add them as an optional extra when booking, and it is worth practising fitting them before you leave.
When is it cheapest to hire a motorhome for skiing?
Midweek and in low season, which runs roughly from November to March except Christmas and Easter, at €125 per day. Check the exact dates in the calendar.
