Both the ferries and Le Shuttle take caravans and motorhomes between Dover and Calais. The ferry has plenty of room on the car decks; on Le Shuttle you travel in carriages built for high vehicles. The main thing to watch is gas: the tunnel has strict rules for bottles and tanks.
By ferry with a caravan or motorhome
Dover-Calais is the shortest and fastest ferry crossing to France, which keeps the price of taking a caravan or motorhome down compared with the long overnight routes. It is also a good start for the south of France. P&O Ferries, DFDS and Irish Ferries all carry caravans and motorhomes; our operator comparison shows how they differ on board.
- Book the right size. Give the total length and height, including the tow bar, bike rack and roof box. The size sets the price and the lane you are loaded in.
- No staying on the car deck. You cannot stay in your caravan or motorhome during the crossing; the decks are closed.
- Gas off. Close the valves of your gas bottles before boarding.
On Le Shuttle with a caravan or motorhome
The Eurotunnel is fast and comfortable with a caravan, but usually more expensive than the ferry. Caravans, motorhomes and other vehicles over 1.85 metres travel in single-deck carriages with plenty of room, so there is no tight manoeuvring. Check fares and book on Le Shuttle ↗.
- Gas bottles for cooking or heating: at most 47 kg per bottle and 50 kg in total, with the valves closed.
- Fixed gas tanks may be at most 80% full.
- Vehicles that run on LPG or CNG are not allowed in the tunnel; they take the ferry.
Once in France, a car and caravan combination keeps right like any car, but heavier combinations have lower speed limits. What else changes on French roads is on our driving in France page.
Campsites near Dover
An early sailing? Spend the night before close to the port:
- Folkestone Camping and Caravanning Club Site: plenty of pitches. Note that the gate only opens at 7:00.
- Little Satmar Holiday Park: good reviews and a reasonable number of pitches.
- Hawthorn Farm Campsite: a very large site close to Dover.
Campsites near Calais
Want to stop soon after the crossing? These sites are close to the port and the tunnel:
- Camping Le Grand Gravlot: many pitches and very popular.
- Camping La Bien Assise: the largest campsite in the area.
- Camping du Fort Lapin: very close to the port and the tunnel.
- Camping l’Escale: many pitches and good reviews.
Heading for Brittany, Normandy or the Netherlands? A longer route can save you a day of towing; see our alternatives to Dover-Calais.
Book your caravan crossing
Enter your caravan or motorhome size and compare the ferry fares of P&O Ferries, DFDS and Irish Ferries with Le Shuttle.