Camping begins long before you reach the site
We often associate camping with arriving at the site, setting up, the moment the tent goes up or the campervan settles in. In reality, the experience begins as soon as the engine starts. Campsites are rarely located in the heart of towns. They are found by the sea, in the mountains, deep in valleys or in protected natural areas. This quest for seclusion is part of their charm, but it also means longer journeys. Added to this is a reality often overlooked: once settled in, you continue to get out and about. You explore the surroundings, head to remote beaches, go for hikes, and do the shopping. The vehicle becomes an extension of your holiday.
An invisible but ever-present expense
Fuel doesn’t always seem like a priority in the holiday budget. Yet it creeps into almost every moment of the trip. The journey there and back already accounts for a significant portion. Then come the daily trips, sometimes short but frequent. Finally, there are the unexpected costs, the desire to explore, and the detours that add to the distance without us really realising it. Little by little, the cost of fuel ceases to be a minor detail and becomes an essential part of the trip.
Two ways of travelling, one common constraint
Traditional camping and motorhome travel do not organise the journey in the same way, but both are closely linked. When camping with a car and tent, fuel consumption remains relatively moderate , but journeys can add up without you realising it. The vehicle serves as a logistical base for every trip. With a motorhome, mobility is built into the lifestyle. You live in the vehicle, travel in it, and turn it into a mobile home. This freedom, however, comes with higher and more constant fuel consumption. In both situations, the journey is never neutral. It shapes the trip just as much as the destination itself.
Holidays taking on a new form
As fuel prices rise, a gradual shift in habits is emerging. Distances are getting shorter. Stays are becoming more settled. Complex itineraries are giving way to holidays centred on a single location. We are also seeing a renewed focus on getting around locally. Walking more, cycling, and limiting unnecessary journeys are becoming a way to balance the budget without sacrificing the experience. This is not an abandonment of camping, but a quiet adaptation to a constraint that has become unavoidable.
Travelling differently without losing the spirit of camping
There are various ways to adapt your trip without losing its simplicity. Choosing a closer destination immediately reduces the impact of fuel consumption. Staying longer in one place gives meaning to the initial journey. Prioritising activities accessible without a car also changes the rhythm of the stay. Camping is thus evolving towards a more thoughtful form of travel, less focused on the distance travelled and more on the quality of time spent.
Conclusion
Camping remains a unique way to travel, characterised by simplicity and closeness to nature. But it can no longer be conceived without the road that leads there.
Fuel hasn’t changed the essence of camping; it has changed its invisible framework. That of the kilometres needed to reach freedom, and the cost of every detour that makes it a reality. Ultimately, holidays are no longer just about where you stop, but about how you choose to get there.