Your first campervan trip comes with plenty of excitement, but also with some very natural questions: is it hard to drive? how many kilometres a day are OK? how many people travel comfortably?
In this guide you will find simple steps, explained in plain language, so that you have a relaxed and comfortable experience, a holiday you will look back on fondly, not an exhausting race.
In our experience, two things make the difference between “wow, we want to do it again” and “that was a bit hard”:
- your travelling pace (realistic planning, no marathons) and
- comfort & privacy (the right number of people).
Fancy setting off from Cluj in a campervan? Tell us your dates and how many of you there are, and we will recommend the right vehicle + an easy itinerary for a first trip.
1. Is a campervan hard to drive the first time?
The question we hear most often is: “Is it hard to drive?”
The short answer: it is not hard, but it is different from a car. Most people get used to it quickly if they keep three things in mind:
– You drive more calmly
Acceleration and braking are gentler, and you keep a bigger gap to the car in front. Within half an hour or so, the feeling of driving a “big vehicle” fades a lot.
– Dimensions matter (height, width and length)
The most important things at the start are:
- height (underpasses, branches, entrances)
- width (staying in lane, narrow roads, car parks)
- length (take corners wider at junctions and roundabouts, and watch how the vehicle tracks in the mirrors)
A good habit: before any manoeuvre in a tight spot, slow down and give yourself a safety margin.
– Take manoeuvres step by step (no rush)
Parking or turning around “in one go” is not the goal. Do it in 2–3 moves. If you have a passenger, you can ask them to guide you from outside.
2. Do not drive at night: this is a holiday, not an endurance race
One very important point for a first trip: avoid driving at night.
Why do we recommend this?
- tiredness builds up faster than during the day
- visibility drops and manoeuvres become riskier
- the chance of surprises goes up (poor roads, obstacles, narrow entrances)
- you miss the best part: the scenery, the spontaneous stops, the relaxation
In short: this is a holiday. It is far more pleasant to drive in daylight and enjoy the road.
3. The golden rule: a maximum of ~300 km/day on average
Many beginners imagine that travelling by campervan is just like travelling by car. That quickly leads to fatigue and a holiday spent “on the run”.
Our “golden” tip: plan your itinerary so that you keep to an average of up to ~300 km/day.
A campervan means more frequent stops, a calmer pace and breaks that are genuinely part of the holiday.
If you load your days with too many kilometres, you risk seeing nothing but motorway and missing the very places you set off for.
4. How many people travel comfortably in a campervan / motorhome?
The question “how many people fit?” comes up a lot, but for us something else matters: how many people can genuinely enjoy the holiday, in comfort and with privacy. If those two are lost, the holiday becomes tiring, exactly the opposite of what it should be. “We'll all fit” does not mean “it's comfortable”.
Our recommendation (real comfort, not right at the limit)
- Campervans are comfortable for 2 adults, or at most 2 adults + one small child.
- Motorhomes are ideal for a maximum of 2 adults + 2 children.
For that reason, we do not run motorhomes with more than 4 berths: we prefer to give our customers a premium experience, one where the day flows naturally, with no sense of overcrowding.
What we do NOT recommend (from experience)
We do not recommend travelling with 4 adults in a motorhome. Even though “on paper” it looks “feasible”, in practice privacy drops sharply, and comfort turns into a string of compromises: the shared space is in constant use, the daily routine (meals, toilet, shower) becomes harder, and relaxation disappears.
A campervan holiday should mean freedom, quiet and quality time. Privacy and comfort are not worth compromising, especially on a first trip.
5. Where you can stay with a campervan: designated parking, campsites and wild camping
On a campervan holiday there are three main ways to spend the night. The difference between them comes down to what is allowed in that place, rules and safety.
– Parking in a designated place (a stopover area for campervans)
As a rule, this means parking up in a dedicated space (a “stellplatz”, an “aire”, a “parking camper”), where the purpose is parking up, not camping in the classic sense.
In short, here:
- you are allowed to stop and stay under the conditions of the site (time limit, fee, posted rules)
- you do not settle in as you would on a campsite: you do not roll out the awning, and you do not get out the table, the chairs or other camping gear
- you follow the signage and the rules of the site
Camping in a designated place (campsite)
Staying on a campsite is the more comfortable and more predictable option, especially for a first trip. Here you have clear rules and facilities that make your holiday easier.
On a campsite, as a rule:
- you can set up an outdoor seating area next to your campervan
- you have access to utilities (electricity/water, toilet blocks and sometimes pools and a spa)
- the atmosphere is more reassuring for beginners, because everything is organised
Wild camping (outside designated areas)
Wild camping can be wonderful, but it comes with one important condition: it is not allowed everywhere.
That is why, before you go for this option, our recommendation is to check whether the legislation of that country and the local rules allow camping in the area you have chosen. What is accepted in one country may be banned in another.
Wherever you choose to stay, put safety first:
- choose places where you feel comfortable, especially on your first trip
- try to arrive in daylight, so you can size the spot up without rushing
- respect the rules and the context of the area (signage, access, neighbours)
In the end, how you behave matters in all three cases.
6. What to take with you: pack smart, not heavy
On a first campervan holiday, the most common mistake is packing too much “just in case”. In reality, comfort goes up when you keep the space airy and organised. Less, but well chosen means a more relaxed holiday.
The simple rule
Take things that are practical, easy to use and easy to store. Avoid bulky items that take up space without bringing any real value.
The minimum list we recommend (for your first trip)
- Documents: ID card/passport, driving licence, hire documents
- Clothing: in layers (the weather can change), comfortable clothes
- Footwear: one comfortable pair + one pair for rain/wet ground
- Indoor slippers (for the inside of the campervan)
- Light & power: a torch, charging cables (inside the campervan you will find plenty of USB ports and 230V sockets)
- Health: personal medication + a small first-aid kit
What we recommend you avoid (for comfort)
- large hard-shell suitcases and bulky luggage
- too many duplicates (“I'll take one more, just in case”)
- things you will not realistically use
- excess food supplies
9) Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
No. It is different from a car, but most people get used to it quickly if they drive calmly, take their time over manoeuvres and keep an eye on height, width and length
We do not recommend it for a first trip. Driving in daylight is more relaxed, you get a much better feel for the campervan's dimensions and you reduce fatigue. This is a holiday, not an endurance race.
For a relaxed pace we recommend an average of up to roughly 300 km/day. That way you have time for breaks and stops, and you reach your destination without rushing.
A campervan is comfortable for 2 adults, or at most 2 adults and one small child.
A motorhome is ideal for a maximum of 2 adults and 2 children. We do not recommend 4 adults if you want comfort and privacy.
A designated parking area means stopping in a dedicated space (a stellplatz, an aire, a camper stop), without settling in: you do not roll out the awning and you do not get out the table, the chairs or other camping gear. On a campsite you can settle in properly, with far more space and facilities
No. It depends on the country's legislation and on local rules. We recommend reading up in advance about the area where you want to stay.
Keep the pace calm, avoid driving at night and do not load your days with too many kilometres. A campervan holiday is about time, not rushing.
Documents, layered clothing, comfortable shoes, indoor slippers, a torch, a power bank and your personal medication.
Not quite. A campervan travels at a different pace. If you plan too aggressively, you will feel the fatigue and you will miss the sights. That is why we recommend balanced daily stages and arriving while it is still light.
Conclusion
A campervan trip can be truly memorable if you prepare properly. At SMP Travel Cluj we offer modern motorhomes and campervans, plus support and route recommendations for Romania and the rest of Europe.
Don't forget one golden rule: respect nature! Take your rubbish with you, use resources responsibly and leave behind nothing but good memories. That is the only way we can all keep enjoying the spectacular places we choose to camp in.
Get in touch for availability, prices and personalised advice for your holiday!