From Alpine Passes to Lakeside Campsites – Your Guide to Exploring Austria by Campervan

Austria is one of Europe’s most enchanting motorhome destinations — a country where alpine peaks, turquoise lakes, lush valleys, vineyards, glaciers, and storybook villages blend into a landscape so beautiful it feels almost unreal.

Whether you wake up beside a quiet mountain lake, drive across legendary alpine passes, stroll through historic towns, or spend the evening in a cozy Gasthaus, Austria delivers a mix of nature, culture, comfort, and adventure that few countries can match.

For motorhome travelers, the infrastructure is outstanding: clean, well-organized campsites, excellent mountain roads, a simple vignette toll system, and a strong camping culture that makes traveling here incredibly smooth.

This guide gives you everything you need to plan the perfect motorhome trip through Austria — including travel routes, the best camping spots, mountain passes, wild-camping rules, and insider tips for summer and winter.

2.1 Arriving with Your Own Motorhome

Most travelers enter Austria by road from one of the neighboring countries. Border checks are usually quick and straightforward.

Main entry routes include:

• Germany → Tirol, Salzburg, Upper Austria, Vorarlberg
  Wide, modern roads and the easiest access for most European travelers.

• Switzerland → Vorarlberg or Tirol
  Ideal if you're coming from the Alps or Lake Constance region.

• Italy → Tirol or Carinthia
  Stunning but mountainous routes over the Brenner Pass or through South Tyrol.

• Slovenia → Carinthia or Styria
  Beautiful green landscapes and easy driving.

• Czech Republic / Slovakia → Upper Austria or Vienna region
  Smooth approaches with excellent highways.

Austria’s geography means that even short distances may involve tunnels, steep climbs, sudden rain showers or snowfall, and winding roads. That’s part of the adventure — just make sure your motorhome is equipped for alpine terrain.

2.2 Toll System (Vignette + Extra Fees)

Austria uses a vignette system for motorways and expressways.
If you drive a motorhome under 3.5 t, you must purchase a vignette before entering the motorway.

The Vignette

• Cost: €11.50 (10-day), €29 (2-month), €96.40 (1-year)

• Required for all vehicles under 3.5 t

• Available:

  • At the border

  • At fuel stations in neighboring countries

  • Online as a digital vignette

Once you have it, you can use Austria’s excellent motorway network without stopping at toll booths.

Additional tolls

The vignette does not cover certain alpine routes, tunnels, and scenic roads, such as:

• The Großglockner High Alpine Road

• The Gerlospass

• The Tauerntunnel

• Several mountain tunnels in Tirol and Vorarlberg

2.3 The Großglockner High Alpine Road

One of Europe’s most spectacular mountain drives — and a bucket-list experience for motorhome roadtrippers.

• Day ticket: €43 for motorhomes

• Motorhomes over 3,500 kg pay a surcharge

• Open only May to October

• Closed in winter due to heavy snow

If you travel between November and early May, it’s better to stay on the motorway, for example:

Graz → A10 motorway → Innsbruck (instead of crossing the alpine passes).

The scenery in summer, however, is unforgettable: glacier views, dramatic hairpins, waterfalls, marmots, and the famous Kaiser-Franz-Josefs-Höhe viewpoint.

3.1 Documents

Austria is part of the Schengen Area.

You need:

• Passport or national ID card

• Vehicle registration

• Insurance (green card recommended)

• For pets: EU Pet Passport + microchip + valid rabies vaccination

3.2 Currency & Payments

Austria uses the Euro (€).

Good to know:

• Cards are accepted almost everywhere

• Many campsites allow online check-in and contactless payment

• Parking meters increasingly support card payments and mobile apps

Driving in Austria is pleasant — roads are well built, signage is excellent, and traffic outside major cities is calm. But alpine terrain demands attention and respect.

4.1 Speed Limits

• 50 km/h – towns

• 100 km/h – rural roads & expressways

• 130 km/h – motorways

Motorhomes over 3.5 t often have lower limits, depending on road category.

Speed cameras are frequent, and fines can be high - Austria takes safe driving seriously.

4.2 Mountain Roads & Passes

Driving through the Alps is magical, but you should expect:

• Narrow cliffside roads

• Sharp hairpin bends

• Sudden fog or storms

• Steep gradients

• Temperature differences of 10–15°C within an hour

Famous passes suitable for experienced motorhome drivers include:

• Grossglockner High Alpine Road

• Gerlos Pass

• Fern Pass

• Arlberg Pass

• Silvretta High Alpine Road

• Nockalm Road

Always check:

• Weather reports

• Road closures

• Brake and tire condition

• Fuel level (keep at least 1/3 tank in the Alps)

4.3 Weather

Alpine weather changes fast. A warm valley can turn into a snowy mountain within minutes.
Always check GeoSphere Austria (Austrian weather service) before crossing high passes.

Austria offers some of the best camping experiences in Europe — clean, organized, scenic, and perfectly suited for motorhomes. The country has over 600 official campsites, dozens of alpine holiday parks, and a growing number of RV stopovers.

5.1 Official Campsites

Austrian campsites feel more like well-run holiday resorts. You’ll find:

• Sanitary blocks

• Heated shower rooms

• On-site restaurants or bakeries

• Lakeside beaches

• Mountain views everywhere

• Bike rentals, wellness areas, indoor pools

• Direct access to hiking trails or ski lifts

Typical prices:

• €25–€45 low season

• €45–€70 high season

• €80–€120 premium spa campsites (e.g., in Tirol or Salzburger Land)

The quality is exceptional — Austria invests a lot in tourism, and it shows.

5.2 Motorhome Stopovers (Stellplätze)

Austria’s network of Stellplätze is growing rapidly. These are simpler than full campsites but perfect for overnight stays:

Usually available:

• Fresh water

• Greywater & toilet disposal

• Electricity (often)

• Waste bins

• Scenic locations near towns or nature

Cost: free to €25 per night

Many Stellplätze are located:

• At marinas

• Near lakes

• At cable-car stations

• Next to thermal spas

• In charming alpine villages

They offer the peaceful feeling of wild camping — without breaking the law.

5.3 Wild Camping

Wild camping in Austria is complicated and regulated at the provincial (state) level.

General rules:

• Wild camping is mostly prohibited, especially in forests, national parks, and near lakes.

• Some provinces enforce strict fines.

• One-night emergency rest is usually tolerated in public car parks, if no camping behavior occurs.

If you want the wild-camping feeling legally, use:

• Mountain hut parking

• Farm-based Stellplätze

• Winery camps

• Rural campsites with large natural plots

5.4 Winter Camping in Austria

Winter camping in Austria is a highlight for many travelers. Unlike other countries where most campsites close, Austrian winter campsites are superb, especially in Tirol, Salzburg, Kärnten, and Vorarlberg.

Many winter camping resorts offer:

• Saunas, steam baths, and wellness areas

• Heated floors in sanitary buildings

• On-site restaurants

• Ski bus connections or direct access to slopes

• Dry rooms for ski gear

• Cozy taverns and après-ski spots nearby

This makes winter camping incredibly comfortable — even luxurious.

To winter camp safely, your motorhome should have:

• Good insulation

• Plenty of gas or diesel for heating

• Winter tires (mandatory)

• Snow chains

• A frost-proof water setup

Austria's winter campsites deliver true alpine magic: snowy mountain mornings, steaming saunas, and a warm camper at night.

Austria’s service infrastructure for motorhomes is excellent.

Water & Waste Disposal

You can find V+E (fresh water + greywater + chemical toilet disposal) at:

• Almost all campsites

• Many Stellplätze

• Numerous fuel stations

• Tourist information centers in alpine regions

• Cable car parking areas

• Lakeside recreation zones

Everything is well-marked, modern, clean, and easy to use.

Gas

Austria uses its own bottle system.

• Foreign bottles cannot always be exchanged

• LPG refilling is widely available, especially along motorways

• For longer stays, consider buying an Austrian gas bottle
  

Groceries & Shopping

Supermarkets are excellent:

• Spar / Eurospar / Interspar – wide range

• Billa – popular and good selection

• Hofer (Aldi) – cheapest

• MPreis – common in Tirol

Farm shops and weekly markets offer local cheese, cured meats, fresh bread, alpine honey, jams, schnapps, herbs, and seasonal produce.

Internet & Connectivity

Austria has very strong 4G/5G coverage.

• EU roaming works with most providers

• Campsites almost always offer Wi-Fi

• Remote valleys may have short dead zones behind mountains

Austria is not the cheapest destination, but the quality is excellent.

Expected costs:

• Campsites: €25–€110

• Stellplätze: €0–€25

• Motorway vignette: €11.50–€96

• Diesel: higher than EU average

• Groceries: moderate

• Eating out: mid-to-high

• Coffee: €3–€5

Money-saving tips:

• Travel in May, June or September

• Use Stellplätze instead of big campsites

• Shop at Hofer (Aldi)

• Drink tap water (excellent)

• Avoid toll roads when possible

Austria is a very safe travel destination, but alpine travel requires awareness.

Be mindful of:

• Rapid weather changes

• Road closures in winter

• Strong alpine winds

• Narrow passes

• Ice on shaded mountain roads

• Wheel chocks on sloped parking

• Fuel availability in remote valleys

Emergency number: 112