I Explored the Dolomites (Twice!) by Camper — Here’s Everything You Need to Know

Traveling through the Italian Dolomites in a camper is a dream come true. Winding roads, incredible jagged peaks, crystal-clear streams, and campgrounds that rival luxury resorts.

A camper rental is the perfect way to see this incredible UNESCO World Heritage region at your own pace. You can park near trailheads and save money by skipping the expensive hotels. Plus, cooking your own meals, brewing coffee, and stocking up on beers make exploring and hiking even easier.

We’ve been to the Dolomites twice with two different camper rental companies: Roadsurfer and Indie Campers. This has become one of our favorite places in the world, and we believe it’s best seen by camper.

Here’s how you can copy our trips.

Why Explore the Dolomites by Campervan

As a van lifer in the United States, I love the freedom and flexibility associated with camper travel. You can come and go as you please without worrying about a hotel reservation. Plus, a camper is both your home AND your rental car, which ends up saving money in the long run. Here’s why we’d thoroughly recommend renting a camper to see the Dolomites.

Freedom and Flexibility

The Dolomites encompass a vast area with attractions scattered across multiple valleys. Staying in one hotel means driving hours every day, which wastes precious daylight hours.

Your campervan lets you sleep near trailheads and adjust plans based on weather conditions. Mountain weather in the Alps changes rapidly, so flexibility becomes essential for maximizing good conditions.

You can chase the best light for photography without worrying about hotel check-out times. Popular spots like Tre Cime di Lavaredo and Lago di Braies require early morning visits to avoid crowds.

It’s Easy to Find Camping

We’ve never made a reservation at a single campground when touring the Dolomites by campervan rental. We’ve also gone in September, which is a slower season than the summer months. Most campgrounds are not full this time of year, and there are tons to choose from. Plus, there are “area sostas” spread throughout the Dolomites which have dozes of parking places for campers. I love that no reservations are required!

No Moving Your Stuff Around from Hotel to Hotel

We love traveling by camper because you only have to organize your stuff one time. Hotel or Airbnb stays require movement, repacking and unpacking. It’s nice having all my stuff in one place for the duration of my trip.

Cooking Your Own Food

We stop at grocery stores and stock up on the essentials, which makes a camper trip to the Dolomites cheaper than staying in a hotel, where you have to buy food, coffee and drinks every day. Our fridge and freezer hold a lot of food and drinks, and camper rentals come stocked with everything you need to cook.

Where to Rent a Camper to Explore the Dolomites

There are two main cities where I’d recommend renting a camper for your Dolomites camping trip: Milan and Venice.

We’ve done both.

When we did our Roadsurfer camper trip, we landed in Milan, picked up our camper, and drove to Lake Garda for our first night. This was a two-hour drive, and another two hours to reach Alpi di Suisi in the Dolomites. Milan is slightly farther from the Dolomites, but is a great stop if you want to see Lake Garda or Lake Como on your way.

Our Indie Campers trip was out of Venice, which is much closer to the Dolomites. You only have to drive a little over two hours to reach the south-eastern edge of this stunning mountain range. For our second trip, we opted to fly into Venice so we could head straight to our favorite luxury campground to recover from jet lag: Caravan Park Sexton.

Both Indie Campers and Roadsurfer offer rentals out of either Milan or Venice, the perfect jumping-off points for an epic Dolomites road trip adventure.

Which Size Camper Should You Choose for a Dolomites Trip?

There are two sizes of campers we’d recommend for touring this spectacular area: the semi-integrated camper (more Class B Plus size), and the campervan (like a Dodge Promaster or Sprinter-style van).

My very favorite for two people is the larger Class B Plus-style camper (called a semi-integrated camper here), as it’s more spacious for full-time living. Plus, it’s a welcome change from my Sprinter van in the U.S.

For Roadsurfer, this style of camper is called the Cozy Cottage. With Indie Campers, it’s called the Comfort Compact. But they are essentially the same style of camper.

However, I think any size camper would be suitable for this region. Sure, some of the roads are narrow and windy, but large buses do it, which means any camper can, too. That being said, most camper rentals in Italy are smaller than what you see in the United States. There are rarely those massive Class A or even Class C campers here.

The Three Campervan Rental Companies I Recommend for a Dolomites Trip

I’ve had great experiences with Indie Campers, Roadsurfer, and Anywhere Campers and I’d highly recommend any of these companies for your trip to the Dolomites. You’ll just have to compare the costs associated with each company, and be aware that Roadsurfer and Indie will require extra purchases like bedding and propane bottles, while Anywhere Campers come fully-equipped.

Indie Campers

Indie Campers offers one of the most comprehensive networks for campervan rental in Italy with unlimited mileage and free cancellation options. Their fleet includes modern vehicles specifically designed for mountain terrain like the Dolomites.

There is a wide variety of campers to choose from with Indie. While the initial prices might look low, be aware that you’ll need to add on extras for your trip, such as bedding, a propane bottle, chemical tabs for your cassette toilet, and outdoor table/chairs.

Roadsurfer

Roadsurfer also has a large number of campers at its depots in Milan and Venice. With Roadsurfer, you will have to add on bedding as an extra, but things like the propane bottles, chemical tabs, and outdoor table and chairs are included. This makes Roadsurfer’s price point a little easier to interpret than Indie Campers.

Read my Roadsurfer review here.

Anywhere Campers

Anywhere Campers is the most luxurious of the three, and the most expensive. You’ll have to get a custom quote from this company and rates vary widely on availability and time of year. This camper rental company provides the ultimate flexibility, as their drivers bring the vehicle to your chosen location and collect it when you’re finished. This eliminates travel time to pickup locations and works perfectly if you’re flying into Venice or other airports near the Dolomites.

You could use Anywhere Campers to start in Venice and end in Munich for an epic one-way trip through the Dolomites and southern Germany, for example.

Read my Anywhere Campers review here.

Best Time of Year to Book Your Dolomites Campervan Rental

Peak season runs from June through September when rental companies can sell out quickly. Book 3-4 months ahead during these months to secure better rates and vehicle selection.

Spring and fall offer better availability and pricing, though weather becomes more unpredictable. May and October provide good compromises between cost and driving conditions in the Dolomites. We’ve taken two trips in September, and one was warm and sunny, and the other colder and rainier. You never know what will happen in September!

Winter bookings require special considerations. Many higher elevation roads close between November and April. However, you’ll find the lowest rental rates and can access winter activities in lower valleys. You can ski out of some campgrounds here in the Dolomites.

Where to Stay: Campsites and Wild Camping in the Italian Dolomites

The Dolomites offer numerous established campgrounds across three provinces, while wild camping faces strict regulations and significant fines. Official campsites provide the most reliable and legal option for campervan travelers exploring this UNESCO World Heritage region.

Overview of Dolomites Campgrounds

The Italian Dolomites span 350,000 acres across South Tyrol, Trentino, and Belluno provinces, offering 34 established campgrounds throughout the region. These facilities accommodate campervans, motorhomes, and caravans with full hookups including electrical, water, and gas connections.

Popular campground locations include:

• Alpe di Siusi area: Camping Alpe di Siusi sits at the foot of Mt. Schlern. We’ve also camped for free at the ski lift parking lot here
• Alta Badia region: Camping Sass Dlacia operates as the highest campground in the Dolomites at 1,680 meters.
• Lago di Braies vicinity: Camping Olympia provides forest camping along the Rienz River
• Sexton and Val Fiscilina: We love Caravan Park Sexton, which includes an extensive sauna wellness center
• Val Fassa area has Camping Vidor, which also includes a wellness park with saunas and an indoor swimming area

Most facilities offer modern amenities including Wi-Fi, heated showers, restaurants, and mini-markets. Many campgrounds also provide rental options for those without campervans.

We use the app Park4Night to find camping opportunities in the Dolomites. In this app, you can read reviews, see pictures, and click links to see campground websites.

Booking recommendations:

• Reserve pitches in advance during peak season
• If you are there in late September or early October, you most likely will not need reservations, but be aware that some campgrounds start closing during this time
• Check availability through Booking.com for many Dolomites campgrounds
• Consider staying near Cortina d’Ampezzo for first-time visitors

Regulations for Wild Camping and Overnight Parking

Wild camping is prohibited throughout Italy’s nature parks, which cover most of the Dolomites region. Violators face fines ranging from €100 to €500 in 2025.

Limited exceptions exist:

• Bivouac camping allowed above 4,900 feet (1,500 meters)
• Some ski hills and ski lift areas allow camper parking in parking lots
• We have heard you can request parking at rifugios, but we haven’t tried this yet

Popular Dolomites Highlights and Must-See Spots

Tre Cime di Lavaredo stands as the most iconic landmark in the Dolomites. These three distinctive peaks provide excellent hiking opportunities and photography spots. You can camp either at Caravan Park Sexton on the eastern side of this mountain range, or there are two camping options in the Misurina area. We’ve stayed at both places, and both offer stunning access to this mountain area.

Here are some other spots to see:

Lago di Braies offers crystal-clear waters surrounded by towering mountains. The lake creates perfect reflections during calm morning hours.

Val di Funes features the famous St. Johann church with dramatic mountain backdrops. Spring wildflower blooms make this valley particularly photogenic.

Seceda provides panoramic mountain views accessible by cable car. The ridgeline offers some of the best viewpoints in the Alps.

Alpe di Siusi represents Europe’s largest high-altitude plateau. Rolling meadows contrast beautifully with jagged Dolomite peaks.

Lake Carezza displays emerald waters that reflect surrounding forests. Autumn colors create spectacular scenery around this smaller lake.

Passo Giau delivers dramatic mountain pass views at 2,236 meters elevation. Sunset lighting transforms the peaks into golden sculptures.

Lake Sorapis is one of the more popular hikes in the Dolomites, as it leads to a milky blue lake high in the mountains with a rifugio nearby where you can take a break and get snacks and a beer

Cinque Torri is a gorgeous circuit through otherwordly standing rocks, with a World War 1 museum awesome views, and a delicious rifugio where I had some of the best pasta of our trip

How Much Does it Cost to Rent a Camper to See the Dolomites?

Campervan rentals in the Dolomites typically cost €80-150 per day, depending on vehicle size and season. Additional expenses include fuel at €1.50-1.70 per liter, highway tolls averaging €10-40 for regional travel, and camping fees ranging from €0-65 per night. You may also need to pay for parking to reach popular hikes. For example, we paid €22 for parking while we hiked to Tre Cime via Val Fiscalina. But this is a parking fee you’d have to pay anyway if you had a rental car.

Keep in mind that the initial price you see on a camper reservation isn’t usually the final price. You’ll need to add bedding kits for both Roadsurfer and Indie Campers. And with Indie, you’ll have to add a propane bottle, chemical tabs, and outdoor seats and a table if you want those part of your reservation.

Make sure you read the fine print and see what you need to add. Also, if you get full insurance on your rig, that cost can really skyrocket your overall rental price.

Is a Campervan Rental to See the Dolomites Worth It?

I’d give this answer a resounding “yes”!! Instead of staying in hotels and Airbnbs which lock you to a city, a camper rental lets you stay right next to trailheads and right in the mountains. If you are budget-conscious, you can often find free places to stay in ski hill parking lots, or cheap “area sostas”, or rest areas that are €20-45 per night. If you are traveling in the off-season, you are more likely to find free places to stay.

A camper rental offers the ultimate flexibility as its both your accomodations and your rental car. Plus, if you get a semi-integrated camper like the one we prefer, you’ll have a spacious living area for two people. If you’re traveling with a family, get a semi-integrated camper with a pull-down bed, or a pop-top camper.

Driving in the Dolomites is one of life’s greatest pleasures, as the views from the road are absolutely stunning.

I hope you have a wonderful time touring the Dolomites by camper!