Although it’s one of Europe’s smaller countries, motorhome camping in Denmark is at the top of our bucket list. Voted happiest country in the world (several times!), it’s also easy to reach from mainland Europe and its archipelago of more than 400 islands can be explored on wheels, via car ferries. As the landscape is so dominated by sea, a large proportion of its camping spots are within a short distance from a bracing dip – the best way to start a day on the road, we think! In fact, the coastline is 7,000km long at the North and Baltic seas and there are many inviting sandy beaches. Aside from its watery beauty, the mainland is characterised by a hilly, rugged landscape and enchanted forests.
Denmark has around 500 organised campsites, which isn’t bad for a country with a total area of only 43,000km2! Even better, 408 of those are motorhome-friendly, with all the required facilities. These are spread out all over, so you’re never more than approximately 20km from the nearest motorhome site. The choice might seem overwhelming, but we’ve picked our top 5 to make things a little easier for you. Or, you might find that the landscape just begs to be experienced by way of wild camping. Denmark has some rules for wild camping, however, so we’ve also pulled together a few guidelines below to keep you out of trouble and enjoying Danish hygge in your own way on your motorhome trip!
Motorhome Travel Tips
Before you set off on a camping trip in Denmark, there are a few things you need to know. Fuel is about 20p/litre cheaper than in the UK, but prices at stations fluctuated on an hourly basis by as much as 25p, so fill up when you see it cheapest. Fresh water can be obtained at rest areas on motorways, and waste disposal is usually available at the same place. Unlike the fuel, groceries in Denmark are expensive. Many travellers from Europe recommend stocking up in Germany before crossing the border (especially for alcohol). The Danes also have the highest bottle tax in Europe so buying anything in a plastic or glass bottle expensive, and remember to take them back for recycling, so you can get your ‘Pant’ back. Be aware that if your Camper is over 3500kg, there are four environmental zones in Denmark, one of which is Copenhagen. You’ll need a sticker if you’re going into one of these zones, or you can face a hefty fine.
Campsites in Denmark
Despite other Scandinavian prices, camping in Denmark is pretty cheap. According to a study by the ADAC, Denmark is 8th among Europe’s cheapest camping countries, and campsites near Copenhagen tend to be the most expensive. ‘Official’ campsites can be loosely grouped into two types: those affiliated with the Danish Camping Board (Campingrådet or DCU), and frie (independent) campsites. The Danish Camping Board rates its affiliated camping sites with a 1 to 5-star rating based on factors like maintenance and security, the amount of information available for tourists, sanitation standards, reception opening hours and cooking and bathroom facilities. Any site rated with two stars or more will provide facilities for campervans. In order to stay at one these campsites you’ll need a Camping Key Europe card (campingpas), which is essentially an ID card that can be left at campsite receptions instead of your passport. It also gives discounts at campsites all around Europe. The cards can be bought at all Danish Camping Board campsites on arrival and are valid at affiliated campsites all over Europe. They cost around 110DKK. You can also buy one in advance in the UK via The Caravan Club for £5.
Denmark’s independent camping sites are not held to the same standards as the Danish Camping Board sites, but that doesn’t mean the facilities will be any worse. All Danish campsites must be approved by local authorities, so standards are always pretty good. The advantage of choosing an independent campsite is that you don’t have to worry about purchasing the Camping Key or joining a special club. Independent campsites also tend to be a bit more characterful, with their own way of running things. No matter who’s running them, you’ll always find English spoken and they’re often open year-round. It’s also worth knowing that if you hold a CampingCard ACSI (not related to the Camping Key mentioned above!) you can get off-season reductions at 71 campsites around Denmark. For €13, also you get a guide to all the campsites included in the scheme plus a discount card giving reduction of up to 60% on fees at 650 campsites around Europe.
Top 5 Danish Campsites
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DCU-Camping Rørvig Strand
One of Denmark’s DCU camping sites, Camping Rørvig Strand is located in a conifer forest in North Zealand. It’s right next to the Rørvig beach and offers a private route to the beach, and is just a few kilometres away from the town of Odsherreds. You can easily get a ferry to culturally charming Hundested in North Zealand for a day trip, which is worth doing as it’s such a unique mix of modern harbour and with ongoing fishing traditions, where boats bring in the daily catch. There’s a modern brewery with great beer, and a modern art scene aside a traditional boatyard, netmaker and blacksmith’s forge. Nearer to Rørvig, you can entertain yourself at the Anneberg museum or Nykøbing Sommerland amusement park, go fishing on the Isefjord, or crab fishing in Rørvig. There’s onsite play facilities for kids, a fitness room with equipment, an onsite shop, kitchen, covered barbeque areas, and best of all, quiet, secluded motorhome pitches.
High season prices are DKK70 per pitch, 96 per adult, and 30 for electricity.
Skærbyvej 2, 4500 Nykøbing Sj. +45 59910850
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Randbøldal Camping & Cabins
Randbøldal Camping & Cabins is situated in a scenic forested valley and is a particularly popular spot for couples, unsurprising given its magical location. Its own 5000m² freshwater lake has a 50 yard-long water slide and sunbathing lawn. Other activities on offer are table tennis, ‘moon buggy’ rides, and trampolines. The onsite Café Skjulestedet serves meals and cold drinks, which can be enjoyed on their terrace, and the shop sells groceries, magazines, sweets and souvenirs. The Legoland theme park is 15-minutes’ drive away, Billund town centre is 8.1 miles away, and Givskud Zoo is about 30 minutes’ drive. Otherwise, it’s well-rated as a place to relax after time spent exploring Denmark’s cities. You can choose your own pitch - lakeside, near the toilet facilities, or out of sight beneath the trees - and opt-in for a breakfast made to order from their Café. Dreamy!
Other facilities washrooms with family and disabled access, outdoor fireplaces and barbeque areas, picnic areas and outdoor furniture, a communal kitchen, washing and laundry services, and there are tourist information and currency exchange facilities at the reception desk.
High season prices are DKK80 for the pitch and 80 per adult per night. Mid-season prices are DKK40 for the pitch and 65 per adult per night. Low season prices are DKK15 for the pitch and 55 per adult per night. It’s always an extra DKK40 for tourist tax and 40 for electricity. Showers and WiFi are free to use.
Dalen 9, 7183 Randbøl, Denmark
3. Hvidbjerg Strandvek Holiday Park
Hvidbjerg Strandvek is a high-comfort, motorhome-friendly campsite, and its beachside luxury vibe is matched with such a friendly, welcoming, and attentive custom that campers return here year after year. Facilities include a seafront restaurant, wellness spa, indoor pool, grocery store, fishing lake and bike rental. Of course, there are the usual toilet and shower facilities, though probably classier than most campsite toilet’s you’ve seen before, family-friendly and fully accessible for visitors with disabilities. Though set in the dunes, there are tiled or wooden pathways all across the site and even right down to the beach. There are also fully-equipped kitchens for campers, and the site is pet friendly.
Located in Blåvand, it’s in the middle of Denmark’s largest recreational area, with over 40km of white sandy beach between the mainland and the sea. The area is ideal for long bike rides or with hiking boots on, and even by horseback. Hvidbjerg Strand also offer a lot of family-friendly experiences for the whole family at the campsite and throughout the holiday park. Whilst staying here, experience the Black Sun murmurations or go on an oyster safari on the wide beaches of Jutland’s Wadden Sea national park, a UNESCO World Heritage site, get up close to real Viking rune stones at Jelling, or eat honeycakes and gingerbread at Europe’s best preserved Moravarian city.
DKK245 for a comfort pitch for one night.
Hvidbjerg Strandvek 27, DK 6857 Blåvand, +45 75 27 90 40
4. Camp Møns Klint
This is our favourite location for one of Denmark’s camping sites. Just under 2 hours south of Copenhagen is one of the country’s biggest and most attractive natural landforms, Møns Klint: 70 million-year-old chalk cliffs are gentling crumbling into the Baltic Sea on the island of Møn. It’s best to stay at Camp Møns Klint to experience the best of this area, also known as the ‘cold Caribbean.’ They claim to be Denmark’s best outdoor campsite, which is a strong claim, but then again, they’ve been in the business of ‘bringing people back to nature’ since 1954, so they know what they’re doing. There are no designated pitches, so you can find the space that suits you and your vehicle perfectly. Activities available on-site include kayaking, sailing – the regal white cliffs of Møns Klint are best admired from the blue waters of the Baltic – fishing, bike tours and mountain biking, horse-riding, hiking, and when all that’s done, gazing up at the densely packed starry sky in Denmark’s only Dark Sky Park.
Facilities include three service buildings and a small extra kitchen, a washing and drying room, an outdoor heated swimming pool (in summer), and outdoor entertainment such as a mini-golf course, playground, football and tennis court. There’s a fenced forest for dog walking 200m from the site, and also a washing area with hot water intended for dogs. There’s a small shop, a restaurant that sells breakfast and snacks, WIFI internet that covers most of the area and all of these are free to use.
The example price for a motorhome pitch is DKK497 per night in the high season and 442 in the low season, which includes 2 adults, 1 child under 12, a motorhome pitch, electricity, and an environmental supplement charge.
Camp Møns Klint, Klintevej 544, 4791 Borre, +45 55 81 20 25
5. Blushøj Camping
Near to Ebeltoft and just one hour from Aarhus, Blushøj Camping is the ideal destination for those who want to explore two of the most beautiful cities in Denmark whilst enjoying a break at the countryside at the same time. Ebeltoft has all the ingredients you need for a summer getaway: cobblestone streets lined with half-timbered houses, a historical warship, and white-sand beaches, and the pretty surrounds of a national park. Nearby Aarhus was the 2017 European Capital of Culture and still stands up to this accolade with a number of cool museums, galleries, and a wide range of modern Nordic food and drink, all within a compact walkable city centre. With views over the Kattegat (‘cat’s throat’) strait between Denmark, Sweden and Norway, this site offers peace, countryside, and plenty of fresh sea air. The spacious pitches are perfectly private, and the reception can offer multilingual information on the many walking and cycling routes surrounding it.
Facilities include an extensive onsite shop, chemical waste disposal, family-friendly heated toilet facilities, showers and washing areas, and washing machines and dryers for an extra price. Dogs are allowed and you can hire bikes on site.
They only charge for the number of people on the pitch, which is DKK85 for an adult in the low season and 110 in the high season. For children, this is DKK48 or 60, and electricity is DKK35.
Blushøj Camping, Ebeltoft, Elsegardevej 55, 8400 Ebeltoft, Denmark +45 86 34 12 38.
Wild Camping in a Motorhome: Can I roam free in Denmark?
If none of the above options say ‘adventure’ loudly enough to you, camping in Denmark can be also be more basic and totally free! However, there is no ‘right to roam’ law permitting free camping in Denmark. More densely populated than its Nordic neighbours, there’s a lot of privately owned land that is off limits to would-be wild campers, such as farmland and privately owned forests: around 2/3 of forests in Denmark are privately owned! This impacts what you can do there as a visitor. Walkers and cyclists must stay on the paths, and can only enter these forests between 6 am and sunset. Furthermore, some areas may be reserved for military or hunting use. These out-of-bounds areas will always be clearly marked with signs. Fear not, if you’re determined to get off the beaten path and wake up in the wild, there are a few different options available.
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‘Primitive Camps’
There are small, wild, and free of charge campsites in remote areas. They often have a basic shelter or lean to, water and primitive toilet facilities. However, they are inaccessible by vehicle (don’t worry, there are more options for free motorhome camping in Denmark below!). If you are leaving your camper behind for a few days trekking, find a camp on udinaturen.dk. Just be aware that you can’t book these in advance, and they are not designed for large numbers of occupants.
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‘Free Tenting’ Spaces
Scattered amongst Denmark’s public forests are fri teltning zones, which provide an even more rustic free camping experience in Denmark than the primitive camps. For example, in the gorgeous Hvidbjerg Plantation in Thy National Park. You can pitch up at these without any booking, payment, or service fees, and spend the night left to your own devices. Of course, this means you have to come fully prepared and with enough drinking water, and there are some rules (see below) but this is as wild as camping gets in Denmark. Unfortunately, again, sleeping in campers is not allowed, as motorised vehicles not allowed on the forest roads. Tents are also not allowed on the beach and dunes, connected to some forest areas, but if it’s warm enough, you can take a sleeping bag and sleep out on the sand. Just beware of the tides and changeable weather conditions!
Free Camping Rules
- You can only spend one night in the same spot. Even if you just move one kilometre every day, be sure to pack your bags and move on in the morning.
- Don’t pitch up in groups of vehicles or tents, or you may get unwanted attention.
- If you’re pitching tents, don’t use anything bigger than 3 man.
- Pitch up out of sight of buildings and roads.
- Only light open fires within designated areas. A sign will usually make this clear. Camping stoves with enclosed burners must be used.
- Take any litter with you.
- Do your business away from walking trails, and 50m from the nearest water source. Ideally, dig a hole and bury any evidence for number twos!
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Laybys (Rasteplads)
Vehicles can normally pull into a roadside layby (the layby will often have a sign with the word rasteplad on it). Sleeping in campers is tolerated, as long as you don’t put up a tent or awning. Some laybys are out of bounds for camper sleeping, so look out for signs that may warn against overnight parking.
4. Car Parking Areas
In many coastal and other holiday destinations, there are parking areas in towns where campers can be parked during the day and slept in at night, for a small charge. Local tourist information offices can provide further information, or you could try searching this Danish map.
5. Stay with Locals (Bondegårdscamping)
Camper drivers can also try staying on local farms – a process known as bondegårdscamping – where farmers allow overnight stops. Farms with camper parking can be found at bondegaardsferie.dk.
6. Gardens
Danes are very open and hospitable people, and more and more have opened their gardens to provide free pitches for campers. You’ll recognise such pitches by signs that have a white heart with two footprints inside a green circle. Of course, be sure to talk to the owner and ask permission first!
7. Camping Discounts
If you just need somewhere to shut your eyes for a few hours before continuing your journey, many camping sites offer a transit pass at reduced prices if you arrive and depart again between 8pm and 10am, so it’s worth calling ahead to check whether your intended overnight stop offers this.
Whether you’re going wild camping in Denmark or sticking to some creature comforts, taking to the woods or going island-hopping, getting out into the open or admiring its urban charms, we highly recommend making the drive to Scandinavia this year! Start by checking out our campervans for hire.
Will this be your first motorhome trip? Then you better check out our full motorhome packing list!
