National Parks are the highest level of nature protection in Spain, and bring together some of the country's most spectacular landscapes. Visiting them by motorhome is a dream, but it means knowing the rules: as heavily protected spaces, overnight parking and access are usually regulated. Here's a guide to discovering and enjoying them respectfully. There are fifteen in total.
Some of the big ones
- Picos de Europa: high mountains between Asturias, Cantabria and León (see the Picos).
- Ordesa y Monte Perdido: the jewel of the Pyrenees (see Ordesa).
- Sierra Nevada, Doñana, Las Tablas de Daimiel, Cabañeros, Aigüestortes, Sierra de Guadarrama, Garajonay (La Gomera), Teide (Tenerife)...
The key: regulated access and overnight parking
Being under the highest protection level, many parks restrict vehicle access (with shuttle buses at peak times, as in Ordesa or the Lakes of Covadonga) and ban overnight parking and free camping within their boundaries. The general rule: check each park's regulations, park and sleep at the authorised sites and campsites nearby, and follow the signage to the letter. That's what keeps these places as they are (see overnight parking areas).
How to enjoy them by camper
The strategy that works: use the motorhome as a base camp around the edges of the park, and go in on foot, by bike or on the shuttle buses. Get up early to avoid crowds and heat, bring suitable gear and respect the flora and fauna.
Practical tips
- Check beforehand the rules and shuttle services of each park.
- Spring and autumn are usually the best times.
- Leave no trace: maximum respect for fragile environments.
- Autonomy and water: the surrounding areas tend to be rural.
In summary
The National Parks bring together Spain's best nature, with heavily regulated access and overnight parking. The step you can take today: use the camper as a base camp on the outskirts of the park you're visiting, check its shuttle services and rules, and go in on foot or by bike early in the day; respecting the rules is what keeps these places as they are. Combine it with the routes through Spain.