CrossRent Rental company category:Standard
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CROSSRENT c/o Auto & Service Autovermietung C. DrodofskyGablonzer Strasse 9, 75181 PforzheimView map
Campervan hire in Pforzheim starts your trip in the “Golden City”, Germany's capital of jewellery and watchmaking, built where the Enz, the Nagold and the Würm meet, right where the Black Forest begins. To the south, the Enz leads up to Bad Wildbad and the Kaltenbronn moors; to the north, the Kraichgau hills lead to Maulbronn Abbey and Bretten; Baden-Baden and the ridge road are about an hour away. 1 partner company and 1 depot: CrossRent, which hands over campervans and motorhomes at the premises of a local car rental firm.
The A8 motorway between Karlsruhe and Stuttgart runs along the north of Pforzheim, so you can head west or east just as quickly.
1 rental partner
Where to pick up your vehicle à Pforzheim?
Road trip ideas
Road trips from Pforzheim
1 The Enz valley, Bad Wildbad and the Kaltenbronn moors
- Pforzheim
- Neuenbürg
- Bad Wildbad
- Enzklösterle
- Kaltenbronn
- Pforzheim
Heading up the Enz, Neuenbürg Castle, perched above a bend in the river, brings Wilhelm Hauff's fairy tale “The Cold Heart” to life. In Bad Wildbad, a long, narrow spa town, a funicular climbs to the Sommerberg, where the treetop walk winds above the fir trees to a viewing tower, next to a long suspension bridge. Higher up, Enzklösterle comes before the upland moors of Kaltenbronn, which you cross on wooden boardwalks.
- Distance
- about 120 km
- Recommended vehicle
- Campervan or compact motorhome
2 Maulbronn, Bretten and the Kraichgau hills
- Pforzheim
- Maulbronn
- Knittlingen
- Bretten
- Eppingen
- Steinsberg
- Sinsheim
- Bruchsal
- Pforzheim
To the north, the Cistercian abbey of Maulbronn, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is one of the best-preserved medieval monasteries in Europe. Knittlingen devotes a museum to Doctor Faustus, said to have been born there; Bretten built the Melanchthon House on the reformer's birthplace. The Kraichgau then leads to the half-timbered houses of Eppingen, the keep of Steinsberg and the Sinsheim museum, whose roof carries a Concorde, before the baroque palace of Bruchsal.
- Distance
- about 180 km
- Recommended vehicle
- All types of motorhomes
3 Baden-Baden and the Black Forest ridge road
- Pforzheim
- Baden-Baden
- Bühlerhöhe
- Mummelsee
- Hornisgrinde
- Favorite Palace
- Rastatt
- Pforzheim
Baden-Baden welcomes you with its thermal baths, the Kurhaus casino and the Lichtentaler Allee, a tree-lined promenade along the Oos; a funicular climbs Mount Merkur. The Black Forest High Road then climbs along the ridges to the Mummelsee, a small glacial lake steeped in legend, from where a trail reaches the Hornisgrinde, the highest point of the northern Black Forest. On the way back, Rastatt shows off its residential palace and, close by, Favorite Palace and its porcelain.
- Distance
- about 220 km
- Recommended vehicle
- Campervan or low-profile motorhome
Weather and seasons
When to go à Pforzheim?
Best time
May, June and September
May to June, September
highs 18 to 23 °C, lows 9 to 14 °C
The best months to set off from Pforzheim: long days, dry Black Forest trails and open campsites, without the summer holiday crowds. In May, the orchards and fields of the Kraichgau turn green around Bretten; in September, the grape harvest begins on the slopes near Maulbronn, and the baths of Bad Wildbad make a fine end to a hike.
High season
July and August
July to August
highs 24 to 25 °C, lows 15 °C
Peak season, when the school holidays of Baden-Württemberg and neighbouring countries fill the motorhome areas of the Black Forest. The ridges around the Hornisgrinde keep cooler nights than the Rhine plain. Book your vehicle and campsites early, and go up to the Bad Wildbad treetop walk early in the morning, before the groups.
March, April and October
March to April, October
highs 11 to 16 °C, lows 2 to 8 °C
Cool, changeable but quiet shoulder seasons: Maulbronn Abbey and the Jewellery Museum can be visited without queuing, and the beech trees of the Enz valley turn golden in October. At Kaltenbronn and on the ridge road, frost and snow are still possible in March and at the end of October: a well-heated vehicle is a must.
Winter
November to February
November to February
highs 5 to 9 °C, lows -1 to 3 °C
Winter is grey and damp in town, often snowy on the heights of the northern Black Forest, where cross-country ski trails are groomed around Kaltenbronn and along the Black Forest High Road. The thermal baths of Bad Wildbad and Baden-Baden then give the trip its full meaning; in December, Pforzheim sets up its Christmas market in the centre.
Climate à Pforzheim, month by month
Most pleasant months: May to September.
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Sun |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 5 °C | -1 °C | 84 mm | 4 h/day |
| Feb | 8 °C | 1 °C | 70 mm | 6 h/day |
| Mar | 11 °C | 2 °C | 65 mm | 8 h/day |
| Apr | 14 °C | 5 °C | 66 mm | 10 h/day |
| May | 18 °C | 9 °C | 82 mm | 11 h/day |
| Jun | 23 °C | 14 °C | 75 mm | 12 h/day |
| Jul | 24 °C | 15 °C | 67 mm | 12 h/day |
| Aug | 25 °C | 15 °C | 62 mm | 11 h/day |
| Sep | 20 °C | 12 °C | 67 mm | 9 h/day |
| Oct | 16 °C | 8 °C | 75 mm | 7 h/day |
| Nov | 9 °C | 3 °C | 66 mm | 5 h/day |
| Dec | 6 °C | 1 °C | 74 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 Gablonzer Straße depot
CrossRent has no desk at the station: the depot is at Auto & Service Autovermietung, a Pforzheim car rental firm on Gablonzer Straße. From the main station, a taxi takes you there with your luggage. The appointment time is in your confirmation; allow time for the handover of the heating, water and gas before you hit the road.
The A8 and the Enz valley
The A8, which skirts Pforzheim to the north, is one of the busiest routes in south-west Germany, and its widening has long meant roadworks, especially where it crosses the Enz valley. On summer Fridays and at rush hour, check the traffic before leaving; towards the Black Forest, the B294 runs straight up the Enz valley to the south.
A rebuilt centre best seen on foot
Almost entirely destroyed in the bombing of 23 February 1945, Pforzheim's centre was rebuilt after the war around shopping streets, partly pedestrianised, that are poorly suited to large vehicles. Park on the outskirts and finish on foot or by bus. Also check whether a low-emission zone still applies on your dates: these rules have changed several times in the region.
At the start of the great Black Forest trails
Pforzheim is the starting point of the three great north-south trails of the Black Forest, the Westweg to Basel, the Mittelweg to Waldshut and the Ostweg to Schaffhausen, all of which begin at the Kupferhammer, on the banks of the Enz. With a motorhome, you can walk sections as day hikes and get back to the vehicle by train or bus.
What travellers ask
Your questions about a road trip à Pforzheim
Where can I pick up a campervan in Pforzheim?
CrossRent is our partner company in Pforzheim, with a single depot at 9 Gablonzer Straße (75181 Pforzheim), hosted by Auto & Service Autovermietung C. Drodofsky. Pick-up and return take place there, unless a one-way trip to another depot is accepted. To compare more vehicles, widen your search to Karlsruhe or Stuttgart, where other rental companies operate.
How much does it cost to hire a campervan in Pforzheim?
The rate depends on the season, the length of hire, the model and the options, and summer as well as the May and June bank holidays push prices up. Run a search with your pick-up and return dates in Pforzheim: you get the real price of each available vehicle, mandatory fees included, with its conditions, bookable straight away.
Can I do a one-way trip from Pforzheim?
Several of our partners' departure cities are close by: Herrenberg, where CrossRent also has a depot, Karlsruhe and Malsch, Stuttgart and Sindelfingen, Heilbronn, Riederich at the foot of the Swabian Jura, and Kehl, opposite Strasbourg. Enter the return city in your search: the offers that accept a one-way trip are shown with any fees already included in the price.
What is there to see in Pforzheim before setting off?
The Jewellery Museum, housed in the Reuchlinhaus, displays ancient adornments, Renaissance jewels and contemporary pieces; the Technical Museum of the jewellery and watchmaking industry shows the old workshops. In a former gas holder, the Gasometer presents a huge 360-degree panorama by the artist Yadegar Asisi. The Wallberg, a hill formed from the rubble of 1945, offers a memorial and a view over the city.
How do I get to Pforzheim by plane or train?
Stuttgart Airport is the closest, less than an hour away on the A8; Karlsruhe/Baden-Baden Airport, mostly served by European flights, is a similar distance. Frankfurt, better connected for long-haul flights, is about two hours' drive. By train, Pforzheim main station is served from Karlsruhe and Stuttgart, notably by the S5 tram-train from Karlsruhe.
Verified customer reviews
They rented à Pforzheim 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 Pforzheim
Which licence do I need to drive a motorhome hired in Pforzheim?
A category B licence covers campervans, vans and motorhomes with a maximum authorised weight of 3.5 tonnes, which means most rental vehicles. If your licence was issued outside the European Union, bring an international driving permit or a recognised translation. CrossRent also sets a minimum age and a minimum number of years holding a licence, given in the offer conditions.
Are roads around Pforzheim tolled?
No: the A8 to Karlsruhe and Stuttgart, the A5 to Baden-Baden and the Black Forest roads are free for motorhomes, which do not pay the truck toll. Above 3.5 tonnes, lower speed limits apply. If your trip continues into Switzerland or Austria, however, a motorway vignette is compulsory there.
Where can I stay overnight in a motorhome around Pforzheim?
The spa towns of the Enz valley and many Kraichgau villages offer motorhome areas, often near the baths or the old centres, and campsites dot the Black Forest. Wild camping is forbidden in Germany, and overnight parking is strictly regulated in the Black Forest National Park, next to the Mummelsee: follow the signs.
Do I need winter tyres for the northern Black Forest?
Yes, as soon as the road is snowy, icy or slippery: German law then requires tyres marked with the alpine symbol, a mountain with a snowflake. On the Black Forest High Road and at Kaltenbronn, these conditions return every winter, sometimes as early as November. For a departure between November and March, have the rental company confirm the equipment and check the road weather before each stage.
Can I drive to France or Switzerland from Pforzheim?
Strasbourg and Alsace are about an hour and a half away via Karlsruhe and the A5, and Basel, the gateway to Switzerland, just under three hours. Before planning a border crossing, check in the offer conditions that the insurance covers the countries you will visit, and find out about the Crit'Air sticker required in several French cities.
When should I book a campervan in Pforzheim?
With a single depot in town, the available fleet remains limited: for July, August and the two-week Whitsun holidays in Baden-Württemberg, book several months ahead. In May, June or September, a few weeks are often enough if you stay flexible on dates. In winter, the choice is generally wide.
About us
Why start a motorhome trip from Pforzheim
Pforzheim offers a convenient starting point where two landscapes meet: the wooded valleys of the northern Black Forest begin at the edge of town, while the farming hills of the Kraichgau stretch to the north. In a few short stages, you go from the baths of Bad Wildbad to the Kaltenbronn moors, from the cloister of Maulbronn to the half-timbered houses of Eppingen, then from the avenues of Baden-Baden to the ridges of the Hornisgrinde. The city itself, a goldsmiths' town rebuilt after 1945, deserves half a day for its museums.
CrossRent, our partner company, hands over its vehicles at a local car rental firm, so you can choose your route as soon as you leave the depot. Karlsruhe, 25 km as the crow flies, Stuttgart, Herrenberg and other departure cities of our partners make a one-way trip possible. From May to September, the climate suits every route; in winter, snow on the heights and warm baths take over.