If you are planning a trip to Gibraltar, or perhaps are considering adding it as a pit stop on a more extensive road trip, there is one thing you must consider. There is nowhere to park overnight legally (in a campervan/ motorhome/ RV) in Gibraltar.
Gibraltar is not campervan-friendly at all. First and foremost, the roads are narrow and can be extremely busy with mopeds whizzing around. Furthermore, there are some unavoidable tunnels that have a max height of 2.8m! Also, most of the island is a one-way system so it can be difficult to get places especially if you accidentally miss a turning. And of course, there is a complete lack of places to park overnight in Gibraltar.
Before crossing the border to Gibraltar
Prior to crossing the border into Gibraltar, you will be asked if you intend on sleeping in your vehicle whilst in Gibraltar. If you say yes, you may be prevented from entering as this is not allowed.
If you do intend on being cheeky and attempting to wild camp, simply say you do not intend on staying in your vehicle. However, we absolutely do NOT recommend this.
Where to park IN Gibraltar
Although we advise against attempting to park overnight and camp in Gibraltar, there are 2 spots where you could potentially stay.
Europa Point Car Park
This spot is on the southerly tip of Gibraltar, it is a small bay car park with 52 spaces. The car park is well lit and even has a public toilet nearby. The spaces are flat and don’t require chocks, and there are also bins nearby. Although this car park does boast good views, it is not scenic and is in fact quite utilitarian.
This spot is extremely peaceful overnight. However, it can be quite noisy throughout the day as flocks of tourists make their way here to enjoy the view and learn a bit about Gibraltar’s history. If you choose to use this car park we recommend arriving in the evening as it will be at its quietest.
One downside of this spot is its proximity to the centre of Gibraltar.
If you want to visit the town centre, or even just want to climb the rock of Gibraltar, you will find that it is quite the commute. It is a 45-minute walk to the cable cars up the rock or nearer an hour to the town centre.
There is a local bus that will take you into the town centre from Europa point if you are not up for walking.
There are signs stating that campervans/motorhomes are not allowed to park in this spot
Location
Europa Point Car Park, GX11 1AA, Gibraltar
36.1109795, -5.345494
Price
Free
Toilets
Yes
Water
No
Bins
Yes
Signal / 4g
Good 4G and signal.
Europa Pool Car Park
Not to be confused with the last spot, this spot is located a little closer to the centre of Gibraltar. You will find this spot a mere stone’s throw away from Camp Bay Beach, one of the few sandy beaches in Gibraltar
Fun Fact: Camp Bay is Europe’s first artificial reef and has since become a haven for marine life. It is also a hotspot for divers too.
This spot is a simple bay car park, however, it looks onto a waterfall and is much quieter than the previous spot. This spot does have some bins nearby, and even a toilet within a 5-minute walk.
If you visit this spot during summer there are even some beach showers that you can use. Unfortunately, these are not free.
The commute from this spot to the centre of Gibraltar is a 38-minute walk and 30-minutes to the cable cars 30-minutes.
There are signs stating that campervans/motorhomes are not allowed to park in this spot
Location
Keightley Way Rd Gibraltar null, GX11 1AA, Gibraltar
36.1166904, -5.3500471
Price
Free
Toilet
Yes (5-min walk)
Water
No
Bins
Yes – small bins
Signal / 4G
Good 4G and signal.
Where to park NEAR Gibraltar
Without a doubt, we firmly believe you should leave your vehicle in Spain if you want to visit Gibraltar. This will save you a lot of hassle and stress.
The only time we recommend taking your vehicle into Gibraltar is to fill up on fuel – which we believe is a MUST!
There are several places just out with Gibraltar that we believe are much better.
There are several paid secure car parks that can be found just before you cross the border. Although we don’t doubt that they are providing a reasonable service, we found them to be overpriced for what they provide.
Street Parking (wild camping)
There are several free street parking options just outwith Gibraltar, many of which boast views of the sea and even the rock of Gibraltar!
The best place to park is on the Mediterranean side (North East of Gibraltar). Here you will find a combination of staggered bay parking spots and standard street parking (if you prefer something a little roomier).
We spent one night in a bay parking spot. As a 6m long van with a bike rack we did feel a little too big to comfortably enjoy the spot. With that being said, we did fit… just! The next night we moved into a standard street parking spot, which was better, as we weren’t worrying that our vehicle was sticking out into the road!
We would recommend a bay spot for any vehicle smaller than 6m as it is slightly closer to Gibraltar. However, for 6m+ we think it’s best to use the street parking spots.
Both of these wild camping spots near Gibraltar are reasonably flat, making a comfortable night’s sleep. Although we wouldn’t describe the traffic as heavy, it certainly isn’t a quiet road.
Despite its beachfront location, this spot isn’t scenic and we wouldn’t recommend staying longer than one or two nights. Then again, we also wouldn’t recommend visiting Gibraltar for that long either!
Location
Le Línea de la Concepción, 11200, Cadiz, Spain
36.156381, -5.339076
Price
Free
Toilets
No
Water
No
Bins
No
Signal / 4G
Good 4G and signal.
Campsite Sureuropa
If you are looking to stay in a secure campsite with a plethora of facilities near Gibraltar, you must check out Campsite Sureuropa.
We stayed here for a night in February 2022 and had a pleasant time.
Price
First and foremost, the campsite is reasonably good value for money. The epitome of cheap and cheerful. For 15.50€ you will receive a fairly private pitch, electrical hook up, and access to all the facilities on the site (fresh water, grey water, bins, and HOT SHOWERS!).
Pitches/Facilities
The pitches are reasonably level and surrounded by well-groomed foliage. Most pitches are shaded by trees, perfect for avoiding the summer sun. The pitch next to ours even had room to string up a hammock.
Overall the campsite is kept in a lovely condition, the shower blocks are clean and the grounds are well maintained.
One slightly disappointing thing about this campsite is their lack of a designated grey water disposal area. You are simply instructed to mount a curb and drain the grey water into the gravel.
Note: this campsite is not pet friendly.
Location
This campsite is located 7km from Gibraltar. It is a simple commute by bike as you essentially follow one road the whole way there. However, not ideal if you wish to walk.
Location
Campsite Sureuropa, s/n, 11300 La Línea de la Concepción, Cádiz, Spain
36.191603, -5.334662
Price
15.50€ per night (based on 2 people, 1 van)
Toilets
Yes
Water
Yes
Bins
Yes
Signal / 4G
Good 4G and signal.
Gibraltar is arguably the most difficult place we have been in our van. Not only is Gibraltar not very accommodating to van dwellers, but the roads are also hellish to drive on. For that reason, we do NOT recommend driving your vehicle into Gibraltar unless it’s to get some cheap tax-free fuel.
Throughout the duration of our stay in (and around) Gibraltar, we enjoyed the campsite the best. The facilities were excellent, the price was low, and it was extremely convenient. Furthermore, the commute to Gibraltar by bike was not too taxing.
If you are on a budget, the street parking will suffice. It’s not pretty, but it does the trick.
However, we firmly believe in asking yourself if it is really worth visiting Gibraltar prior to going, as we personally found it to be extremely anti-climatic. To find out more about it click the link below.