How Much Does it Cost to Road Trip Through Europe from the UK? [2024]

 Wondering how much it will cost you to road trip Europe from the UK? Here's a detailed breakdown a 24-day road trip, including costs and tips to help you budget for your own journey.

Pre-Trip Costs for a Europe road trip

Before hitting the road, we took care of a few essentials in the UK. First, we filled up our campervan with fuel in the UK to start the journey with a full tank. We also did a big grocery shop to ensure we were well-stocked with food for the trip and so we could enjoy ourselves when we got over to Europe rather than needing to go food shopping. 

Additionally, we bought European breakdown cover, we bought annual cover as this 2 weeks was part of a 7 month road trip. However, we have checked on the RAC and their breakdown cover would cost around £100 for a two-week trip. Breakdown cover will give  peace of mind in case of any vehicle issues. 

To get from the UK to France, we booked a ferry from Dover to Calais, which cost us £169. Since we were unsure of our return dates, we opted for a one-way ticket, but if you know your travel dates in advance, buying a return ticket could save you money.

The Road Trip

Our Europe road trip spanned 24 days, covering Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany, and Switzerland. If your trip is shorter, you can adjust the costs accordingly. Traveling in our campervan saved us on accommodation and we always found free camping spots by using Park4night, and our fuel costs covered most of our transport. 

For those without a campervan, consider traveling by car and camping in a tent to keep accommodation costs low and enjoy the outdoors.

Belgium

Our first stop was Belgium, where we visited the beautiful cities of Bruges and Ghent. While there, we indulged in some Belgian delicacies, including chocolate waffles, Belgian fries and beer, which cost us £33.29. 

We found a lovely wild camping spot by the river between Bruges and Ghent, allowing us to stay for free. Additionally, we did a bit of food shopping at Lidl, which cost £18.79.

Luxembourg

Next, we had a brief stay in Luxembourg, where we spent a day in the Upper Sure National Park and another day exploring the city of Luxembourg.

Our only expense in Luxembourg was £2 for parking in the city, but we also took advantage of the cheaper fuel prices, spending £102.90 to fill up the tank.

Germany

In Germany, we explored the Black Forest, enjoying activities such as hiking the tallest peak, Feldberg, and swimming in lakes Titisee and Schluchsee. 

We love finding free activities to keep our costs low, and hiking in the Black Forest was a perfect fit. We spent £6.66 on some German beers, £39.42 on groceries from Lidl, and £75.51 on fuel.

Switzerland

Switzerland was the country where we spent the most time, nearly two weeks, and also the highest costs on our Europe road trip. Despite its higher costs, the experiences were worth it. 

We spent £307.48 on mountain transport, including the cable car up First mountain in Grindelwald and the steepest funicular in the world up Stoos mountain, to access some of the stunning mountain views. We also spent £16.30 on train tickets in Interlaken. 

To save money, we mostly avoided eating out, spending only £38.48 on coffees and treats. Parking fees totaled £27.74, mainly for hikes and visiting Zurich. Our grocery bill in Switzerland came to £171.56, and we spent £16.19 on laundry. Fuel costs in Switzerland were the highest of the trip so we only topped up a little bit and opted to fill up fuel again when we left Switzerland, amounting to £74.86.

Return to the UK

After our time in Switzerland, we continued our Europe road trip as this was part of a long-term 7 month road trip. However, we have included our return costs from the end of our trip to estimate how much a 2 week trip would cost. 

We filled up with fuel in France for £150.37, to get us back across France to the ferry port. For our return journey, we took the Eurotunnel from Calais to Folkestone, which cost £166.

Total Costs for a 2 week Europe road trip

So, how much does a 2 week road trip from the UK to Europe cost? Our 24-day road trip cost £1375.18 for two people. This breaks down to:

• £57.30 per day for two people
• £28.65 per person, per day

Considering the variety of places we visited and experiences we had, this cost is quite reasonable. For the same amount, you might only get a week at an all-inclusive resort, whereas our road trip offered much more adventure and flexibility.

If you would like to know the costs for a longer road trip, be sure to check out our blog on how much it cost for a 7 month Europe road trip.

Tips for Budgeting Your Europe Road Trip

1. Travel Off-Peak: Avoid peak seasons to save money, often activities and transport are more expensive at this time. 
2. Stock Up: Buy groceries in cheaper countries to avoid higher costs elsewhere.
3. Free Activities: Opt for hiking and nature-based activities to minimise expenses.
4. Wild Camping: When possible, find free camping spots to save on accommodation.
5. Fuel Up Wisely: Fill your tank in countries with lower fuel prices.

Enjoy your European road trip and safe travels!