Anywhere Campers Rental company category:Standard
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Anywhere Campers KarlsruheKarlsruheView map
Campervan hire in Karlsruhe puts your starting point at the foot of the northern Black Forest, in the Rhine plain, half an hour from the French border. Within an hour's drive you reach the Alb and Murg valleys, the sandstone rocks of the Palatinate or the castles of the Northern Vosges; further afield, the Swabian Jura and Lake Constance make a one-week loop. 2 partner companies offer campervans, converted vans and motorhomes here: Anywhere Campers and McRent.
Anywhere Campers hands over its vehicles in Karlsruhe; McRent welcomes you in Malsch, about twenty kilometres south by road, between Ettlingen and Rastatt.
Observed prices
Rental prices observed in Karlsruhe
| Vehicle | Winter January | Spring April | Summer July | Autumn October |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Campervan | from €80/day median €95/day | from €93/day median €109/day | from €97/day median €130/day | from €80/day median €96/day |
| Low-profile motorhome | from €90/day median €207/day | from €104/day median €223/day | from €130/day median €275/day | from €91/day median €214/day |
| Large motorhome | from €100/day median €125/day | from €115/day median €144/day | from €153/day median €184/day | from €106/day median €128/day |
Daily prices observed on October 19, 2026 for a 15-day rental: CoolDrive selling price, mandatory fees included, 2 rental companies compared. 100% of offers with unlimited mileage. Median excess: €2,000.
Road trip ideas
Road trips from Karlsruhe
1 The Alb, Murg and Nagold valleys
- Karlsruhe
- Ettlingen
- Bad Herrenalb
- Gernsbach
- Forbach
- Lake Schwarzenbach
- Baiersbronn
- Alpirsbach
- Calw
- Hirsau
- Karlsruhe
Via Ettlingen, the Alb valley climbs to Bad Herrenalb and the ruins of its Cistercian abbey, then a winding road drops down to Gernsbach and the Murg valley. After Forbach, the Schwarzenbach reservoir is perfect for a walk before Baiersbronn and the Romanesque cloister of Alpirsbach. The return follows the Nagold through Calw, Hermann Hesse's birthplace, and Hirsau Abbey. Narrow roads and tight bends: a campervan is more at ease here.
- Distance
- about 250 km
- Recommended vehicle
- Campervan or camper van
2 The Wasgau and the Northern Vosges, on both sides of the border
- Karlsruhe
- Bad Bergzabern
- Dahn
- Fleckenstein
- Bitche
- La Petite-Pierre
- Saverne
- Haguenau
- Karlsruhe
Across the Rhine, the road reaches Bad Bergzabern and then the Dahner Felsenland, where red sandstone towers carry castles partly carved into the rock, such as Berwartstein. On the French side, Fleckenstein Castle comes before the citadel of Bitche and the village of La Petite-Pierre, in the heart of the Northern Vosges Regional Nature Park, then Saverne and its Rohan Palace, before heading back via Haguenau and its vast forest.
- Distance
- about 300 km
- Recommended vehicle
- Camper van or low-profile motorhome
3 Maulbronn, the Swabian Jura and the Upper Danube to Lake Constance
- Karlsruhe
- Maulbronn
- Herrenberg
- Tübingen
- Hohenzollern Castle
- Beuron
- Sigmaringen
- Überlingen
- Karlsruhe
Maulbronn Monastery, a World Heritage Site, opens the road to Tübingen and its half-timbered houses on the Neckar; Herrenberg, another departure city of our partners, lies on the way. Hohenzollern Castle then towers over the Swabian Jura, and the Danube winds between the limestone cliffs of Beuron to Sigmaringen. Überlingen, on Lake Constance, closes the loop before the motorway drive back.
- Distance
- about 500 km
- Recommended vehicle
- All types of motorhomes
Weather and seasons
When to go in Karlsruhe?
Best time
May to September
May to September
highs 20 to 26 °C, lows 10 to 16 °C
The best time to set off from Karlsruhe: long days, open terraces in the Black Forest villages and swimming in the lakes of the plain. The Upper Rhine valley is one of the hottest parts of Germany in July and August; the cooler ridges then make a good retreat for nights in a motorhome.
March, April and October
March to April, October
highs 12 to 17 °C, lows 3 to 9 °C
Transition months, cool in the morning but often pleasant in the afternoon. In spring, the asparagus season, with Bruchsal as one of its capitals, livens up the local inns; in October, the grape harvest in the Ortenau and the Palatinate and the golden forests make up for more frequent rain. Some campsites only open at Easter or close in early November: check their dates.
Winter
November to February
November to February
highs 6 to 10 °C, lows 0 to 4 °C
Winter is grey and damp in the plain, and snow regularly whitens the heights of the Black Forest. In December, the Christmas market on Friedrichsplatz and the one in Baden-Baden are worth a short trip. On slippery roads, German law requires winter tyres bearing the three-peak mountain symbol: ask the rental company whether the vehicle has them.
Climate in Karlsruhe, month by month
Most pleasant months: May to September.
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Sun |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 6 °C | 0 °C | 85 mm | 4 h/day |
| Feb | 9 °C | 1 °C | 67 mm | 6 h/day |
| Mar | 12 °C | 3 °C | 64 mm | 8 h/day |
| Apr | 16 °C | 6 °C | 60 mm | 10 h/day |
| May | 20 °C | 10 °C | 82 mm | 11 h/day |
| Jun | 25 °C | 15 °C | 71 mm | 12 h/day |
| Jul | 26 °C | 16 °C | 63 mm | 13 h/day |
| Aug | 26 °C | 16 °C | 54 mm | 11 h/day |
| Sep | 22 °C | 13 °C | 62 mm | 10 h/day |
| Oct | 17 °C | 9 °C | 80 mm | 7 h/day |
| Nov | 10 °C | 4 °C | 70 mm | 5 h/day |
| Dec | 7 °C | 2 °C | 78 mm | 4 h/day |
Averages 2016–2025 computed from Open-Meteo data (ERA5 reanalysis).
Practical tips
Everything to know before hitting the road
Getting to the Malsch depot
The McRent depot is on Daimlerstrasse in Malsch, a town on the Rhine valley railway line. From Karlsruhe main station, a regional train gets you there quickly; then plan a taxi for the last stretch, with your luggage. Confirm the vehicle handover time with the rental company before you arrive.
A fan-shaped city to visit without a motorhome
Karlsruhe was laid out like a fan around its palace: the streets radiate from the tower, and the centre, around Kaiserstraße, pedestrianised since the tram went underground, is ill-suited to large vehicles. Park on the outskirts near a tram stop and explore the city on foot.
The Maxau bridge, a bottleneck towards the Palatinate
The Maxau bridge, the main road crossing of the Rhine at Karlsruhe, towards Wörth, is often jammed at rush hour. Towards Alsace, the Wintersdorf bridge near Rastatt avoids this bottleneck; towards the northern Palatinate, use the Germersheim bridge. Karlsruhe long required the green sticker in its low emission zone: check the rules currently in force.
What travellers ask
Your questions about a road trip in Karlsruhe
Where can I pick up a campervan in Karlsruhe?
Two partner companies welcome you. Anywhere Campers hands over its vehicles in Karlsruhe itself; the exact address is in your booking confirmation. McRent is based in Malsch, south of the city, towards Rastatt and Baden-Baden: a convenient starting point to head straight for the Black Forest without crossing the centre.
How much does it cost to hire a campervan in Karlsruhe?
Our searches in October 2026, for 15-day rentals, found prices from €80 per day, mandatory fees included, across 92 offers from two companies. A campervan was available from €80 per day for a January departure and from €97 in July; a large over-cab or A-class motorhome from €100 and €153. Run a search with your dates to see current rates.
Which airport should I choose for a trip from Karlsruhe?
Karlsruhe/Baden-Baden Airport, known as Baden-Airpark, is about 40 km south-west and mainly served by European flights; Malsch lies on the way. For long-haul flights, Frankfurt Airport is linked to Karlsruhe main station by direct ICE trains in about an hour. Stuttgart and Strasbourg are other options, about an hour's drive away.
Can I drive to France with a campervan hired in Karlsruhe?
Yes: the border is half an hour's drive away, towards Lauterbourg or Wissembourg, and Kehl, opposite Strasbourg, also has depots of our partners. Check in the offer conditions that the insurance covers France. If your route goes through Strasbourg or another large French city, find out about its low emission zone and the Crit'Air sticker.
What should I see in Karlsruhe before setting off?
The Baroque palace, around which the city was founded, houses the Badisches Landesmuseum, and its park extends into the Hardtwald forest. The ZKM, a centre for art and media set in a former munitions factory, is one of the most original museums in Germany. To the east, Durlach's old town and the Turmberg hill offer a view over the whole Rhine plain.
Can I do a one-way trip from Karlsruhe?
Our partners also have depots in Pforzheim, Heidelberg, Kehl, Mannheim, Herrenberg and Heilbronn, between 25 and 61 km away as the crow flies. Returning the vehicle to one of them lets you, for example, end an Alsace tour in Kehl or a Swabian loop in Herrenberg. Enter the return city in your search: options and any one-way fees appear with the offers.
Verified customer reviews
They rented in Karlsruhe with CoolDrive Nomad
4.3
818 reviews
very good service from Cool Drive. A strong point is the possibility of payment by holiday vouchers.
(anonymous)
Germany · Jun 2019
Avis Vérifiés
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
Frequently asked questions
FAQ — Campervan and motorhome hire in Karlsruhe
Which vehicle should I choose for the northern Black Forest?
In the narrow Murg and Alb valleys, a short vehicle is easier to handle: the Compact ranges we found offer two to four berths. Families will find the Adria Matrix M670SL, with five seats and five berths, in manual or automatic, or the Family ranges. The Carado T-447 low-profile, with four berths, is a good compromise for the ridge roads.
Is mileage unlimited from Karlsruhe?
All the offers found in our October 2026 searches in Karlsruhe included unlimited mileage, leaving you free to add a detour to Lake Constance or the Northern Vosges. Conditions still depend on the rental company, the vehicle and the length of hire: check the mileage line in the details of each offer before confirming.
How much excess should I expect?
Across the offers found in October 2026, the median excess was €2,000, an amount that may remain payable by you in case of damage. Mountain roads and the narrow car parks of Black Forest villages make minor scrapes more likely: compare the cost of the excess reduction options offered with the peace of mind they bring on a long trip.
Where can I stay overnight with a motorhome around Karlsruhe?
Motorhome areas, called Wohnmobilstellplätze, are plentiful in the Murg and Alb valleys as well as in the Palatinate, and many campsites close in winter. In the Black Forest National Park, overnight parking is strictly regulated; elsewhere, Germany bans wild camping. On the Northern Vosges side, use the municipal motorhome areas or campsites.
What licence do I need to drive a motorhome hired in Karlsruhe?
A category B licence is enough as long as the maximum authorised mass does not exceed 3.5 tonnes, which covers campervans and most rental motorhomes, in Germany as in neighbouring Alsace. Licences issued outside the European Union sometimes need to be accompanied by an international driving permit or a translation. Each company also sets a minimum age and years of driving experience.
When should I book a campervan in Karlsruhe?
For July and August, book several months ahead: summer holidays in Baden-Württemberg start late and run until mid-September, and local families also travel during the Whitsun holidays. Outside these periods, a few weeks' notice is often enough; with only two rental companies, however, automatic models go quickly.
About us
Why start a motorhome trip from Karlsruhe
Karlsruhe lies where the Rhine plain meets the northern Black Forest: in less than an hour you leave the city's avenues for the wooded Alb and Murg valleys, and both the Palatinate and northern Alsace begin just across the river. The A5 motorway runs to Basel and Switzerland, the A8 to Stuttgart, the Swabian Jura and Bavaria.
Two partner companies, Anywhere Campers in the city and McRent in Malsch, offer campervans, low-profile motorhomes and large motorhomes, with prices observed from €80 per day in October 2026. With six other departure cities of our partners within 65 km, from Pforzheim to Heilbronn, and a pleasant climate from May to September, Karlsruhe suits a first trip as well as a long tour to Lake Constance.