McRent Rental company category:Standard
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McRent Erfurt c/o Caravan Rossol GmbHFriedrich-Glenck-Strasse 3a, 99087 ErfurtView map
Hiring a campervan in Erfurt means setting off from the heart of Germany, from the capital of Thuringia, its medieval old town and its inhabited bridge, the Krämerbrücke. The Thuringian Forest and the Rennsteig begin less than an hour to the south, Weimar is just next door, and the Wartburg in Eisenach, the Harz mountains or the cities of Saxony are a single stage away. Two partner companies, McRent and Rent Easy, offer their campervans, camper vans and motorhomes from the city.
Their two depots share the same address, at a caravanning specialist: a single pick-up point, whichever company you choose.
Road trip ideas
Road trips from Erfurt
1 Thuringian Forest, Rennsteig and Wartburg
- Erfurt
- Arnstadt
- Ilmenau
- Oberhof
- Großer Inselsberg
- Eisenach
- Gotha
- Erfurt
To the south, Arnstadt, said to be the oldest town in Thuringia, opens the road to Ilmenau and the wooded ridges. At Oberhof, a major winter sports resort, you join the Rennsteig, a historic trail that follows the ridge line, then the Großer Inselsberg and its panorama. Eisenach and the Wartburg, the listed castle where Luther translated the New Testament, come before the return via Gotha and its Friedenstein Palace.
- Distance
- about 220 km
- Recommended vehicle
- Campervan or camper van
2 Weimar, Leipzig, Dresden and Saxon Switzerland
- Erfurt
- Weimar
- Jena
- Naumburg
- Leipzig
- Dresden
- Saxon Switzerland
- Erfurt
Weimar, the town of Goethe, Schiller and the Bauhaus, is only about twenty kilometres away. You then follow the Saale valley via Jena to Naumburg, its listed cathedral and the Saale-Unstrut vineyards, before Leipzig, the city of Bach. Dresden, its Frauenkirche and the Zwinger, then the sandstone cliffs of Saxon Switzerland round off the trip, before the return along the A4 motorway.
- Distance
- about 550 km
- Recommended vehicle
- All types of motorhomes
3 The Harz, from the Kyffhäuser to Quedlinburg
- Erfurt
- Bad Frankenhausen
- Stolberg
- Wernigerode
- Quedlinburg
- Thale
- Erfurt
Heading north, the Kyffhäuser monument towers over Bad Frankenhausen, then Stolberg lines up its half-timbered houses at the bottom of a Harz valley. From Wernigerode, the Harz steam train climbs to the Brocken, a summit closed to cars. Quedlinburg, an old town on the World Heritage list, and the Bode Gorge at Thale complete a loop of forests, castles and legends.
- Distance
- about 330 km
- Recommended vehicle
- Low-profile motorhome or camper van
Weather and seasons
When to go in Erfurt?
Best time
May, June and September
May to June, September
highs 18 to 24 °C, lows 8 to 13 °C
The best months to explore Thuringia: long days, lush green beech forests and walkable Rennsteig trails. In May, Erfurt's egapark and the parks of Weimar are in bloom; September brings the Saale-Unstrut grape harvest and quieter motorhome areas.
High season
July and August
July to August
highs 25 °C, lows 15 °C
High summer, the warmest time of the year, is still punctuated by showers and thunderstorms. German school holidays then fill the campsites of the Harz and the Thuringian Forest: book your vehicle early and enjoy the cooler heights on hot days.
April and October
April, October
highs 14 to 15 °C, lows 4 to 8 °C
Two cool and changeable shoulder seasons, when a heated vehicle makes the nights comfortable. April sees campsites reopen and orchards blossom; in October, the forests of Thuringia and the Harz take on their autumn colours, on clear roads and at uncrowded sites.
Winter
November to March
November to March
highs 5 to 10 °C, lows -1 to 3 °C
The Thuringian winter is cold and often grey, with snow on the heights of Oberhof and the Rennsteig. It is also Christmas market season, including the one on Erfurt's Domplatz, at the foot of the cathedral, among the most renowned in Germany. A heated vehicle and campsites open all year are essential.
Climate in Erfurt, month by month
Most pleasant months: May to September.
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Sun |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 5 °C | -1 °C | 56 mm | 4 h/day |
| Feb | 7 °C | -0 °C | 48 mm | 5 h/day |
| Mar | 10 °C | 1 °C | 49 mm | 7 h/day |
| Apr | 14 °C | 4 °C | 46 mm | 10 h/day |
| May | 18 °C | 8 °C | 63 mm | 11 h/day |
| Jun | 24 °C | 13 °C | 62 mm | 12 h/day |
| Jul | 25 °C | 15 °C | 61 mm | 12 h/day |
| Aug | 25 °C | 15 °C | 64 mm | 11 h/day |
| Sep | 21 °C | 11 °C | 53 mm | 9 h/day |
| Oct | 15 °C | 8 °C | 58 mm | 6 h/day |
| Nov | 9 °C | 3 °C | 41 mm | 4 h/day |
| Dec | 6 °C | 1 °C | 46 mm | 3 h/day |
Averages 2016–2025 computed from Open-Meteo data (ERA5 reanalysis).
Practical tips
Everything to know before hitting the road
The A71 beneath the Thuringian Forest
Erfurt lies where the A4, linking Eisenach to Dresden, meets the A71, which heads for Franconia through the Thuringian Forest via a series of tunnels, including the Rennsteig tunnel, the longest road tunnel in Germany. Fast, but without a view: for scenery, choose the minor roads via Oberhof or Ilmenau.
Umweltzone and green sticker
Some German cities, such as Leipzig, restrict their centre to vehicles displaying the green sticker (grüne Plakette) in an Umweltzone, while others have lifted theirs in recent years. Hire vehicles registered in Germany usually carry one: check the rules in force in Erfurt and in each city on your route.
Stellplätze in Thuringia and the Harz
Wohnmobilstellplätze, areas reserved for motorhomes, are plentiful near the historic centres, spa towns and trailheads of Thuringia and the Harz. Paid or free, with or without electricity, they mostly work without booking: in summer, arrive in the afternoon in Weimar, Wernigerode or Quedlinburg, which are in high demand.
Visiting Erfurt without the motorhome
Erfurt's medieval centre, its cobbled lanes and squares are best explored on foot, and spaces suited to large vehicles are rare there. Leave the vehicle at a motorhome area or a park-and-ride on the outskirts and take the tram, which serves the whole old town in a few minutes.
What travellers ask
Your questions about a road trip in Erfurt
Where can I pick up a campervan in Erfurt?
McRent and Rent Easy, Erfurt's two partner companies, hand over their vehicles at the same address: Friedrich-Glenck-Strasse 3a, 99087 Erfurt, on the premises of a caravanning specialist. Your company's name, the exact address and the time of the handover appointment are given in your booking confirmation: check them before you travel.
How much does it cost to hire a campervan in Erfurt?
The price varies with the season, the length of hire, the type of vehicle and the companies' availability. Run a search with your departure and return dates: available offers are shown with their total price, mandatory fees included, and can be booked straight away. Summer and the Christmas market period are the most in demand.
Can I do a one-way trip from Erfurt to Leipzig?
Leipzig, about 130 km away by road, is one of our partners' departure cities, as are Gera and Fulda: a one-way trip is therefore possible depending on the offers. Enter the return city when you search; any one-way fee is then included in the price shown.
What should I see in Erfurt before or after the trip?
The Krämerbrücke, a medieval bridge lined with houses and shops, St. Mary's Cathedral and St. Severus' Church, side by side above the Domplatz, the Petersberg Citadel and its view over the rooftops, and the Old Synagogue, one of the oldest in Europe, are the essentials. One day is enough to see them all.
Verified customer reviews
They rented in Erfurt with CoolDrive Nomad
4.3
818 reviews
Quick and professional support from your operator - Marléne. We leave a message on the answering machine, and we get a call back at the scheduled time and date. The exchanges and responses are clear.
F.
Germany · Apr 2024
Trustpilot
This is our first rental of a modified vehicle, Marléne was very attentive to answer all our questions in preparing for our trip. The follow-up on the file went very well, we can't wait to start our journey. Thank you!
M.
Germany · Apr 2024
Trustpilot
Follow-up and kindness of contact personnel.
J.
Germany · Jul 2023
Trustpilot
Frequently asked questions
FAQ — Campervan and motorhome hire in Erfurt
What licence do I need for a motorhome in Germany?
A category B licence is enough for campervans, camper vans and motorhomes with a maximum authorised weight of up to 3.5 tonnes, which covers most hire vehicles; above that, category C1 is required. Drivers holding a non-European licence may need to show an international driving permit, and each company sets its own minimum age.
Do I have to pay tolls on German motorways?
Not for motorhomes under 3.5 tonnes: German motorways, such as the A4 and A71 around Erfurt, charge these vehicles neither tolls nor a vignette. For a detour to Austria or the Czech Republic, however, a motorway vignette is required: buy it before crossing the border.
Can I spend the night outside motorhome areas in Thuringia?
Wild camping is banned, but one night's rest in a public car park not signposted as forbidden is generally tolerated, as long as nothing is set up outside. In the Harz National Park and nature reserves the rule is strict; elsewhere it can vary from one municipality to another: follow the signs.
Can I drive in the Thuringian Forest in winter?
Yes, but snow and ice are common on the heights of Oberhof and the Rennsteig. Germany requires winter tyres whenever the road is snowy or icy: check that the hired vehicle is fitted with them and ask the company whether snow chains are provided before heading up to the resorts.
How do I get to Erfurt by train or plane?
Erfurt's main station is a major hub of the ICE network, about two to two and a half hours from Berlin, Frankfurt or Munich. Erfurt-Weimar airport has few connections; Leipzig/Halle and Frankfurt airports are better served, then linked to Erfurt by train. A taxi then takes you to the depot.
When should I book a campervan in Erfurt?
Several months ahead for July and August, during the German school holidays, and from the autumn for the Christmas market period. In spring and September, a few weeks are often enough, but with only two companies departing from Erfurt, the choice of vehicles shrinks quickly: don't wait too long.
About us
Why start a motorhome trip from Erfurt
Erfurt enjoys a rare position in the centre of Germany: in less than two hours' drive you can reach the wooded ridges of the Thuringian Forest, the Harz mountains, the Saale-Unstrut vineyards or the great cities of Saxony. Weimar, Eisenach and Gotha, steeped in history, mark the first stages, and both the Wartburg and Quedlinburg are World Heritage sites.
McRent and Rent Easy, the city's two partner companies, grouped at a single address, offer campervans, camper vans and motorhomes of different sizes. Leipzig, Gera and Fulda, other departure cities of our partners, open the way to one-way trips towards Saxony or Hesse. Between May and September, Thuringia is at its best, before the Christmas markets of winter.