From Vesuvius to the Amalfi Coast and Cilento, departing from Naples and Salerno
Campervan hire in Campania gives you access to the most spectacular part of southern Italy: the Bay of Naples overlooked by Vesuvius, the ruins of Pompeii and Herculaneum, villages clinging to the cliffs of the Amalfi Coast, then the beaches and wild hills of Cilento. Our rental partners welcome you in Naples and Salerno, as well as in Acerra and Sant'Anastasia, on the outskirts of Naples.
The two cities are just 46 km apart as the crow flies: Naples opens onto the ancient sites and the islands of the bay, Salerno onto the Amalfi Coast and the south of the region. From two-berth models to motorhomes sleeping five, everyone can find a vehicle to tour Campania in a week or combine it with Rome and Puglia.
Choose your departure city: the map shows where rental companies hand over their vehicles.
From Salerno, the Amalfi road winds high above the sea: Vietri sul Mare and its ceramics, Ravello perched above its gardens, Amalfi and its cathedral, then Positano and its tumbling houses. The way back to Naples runs via Sorrento, facing the bay, and the excavations of Pompeii.
Parking is scarce in the villages: campsites around Sorrento and Salerno make good bases, and boats link Salerno with Amalfi and Positano in the warmer months.
Around Naples, two thousand years of history fit into a few dozen kilometres: Lake Avernus and the remains of Baia and Cumae in the Phlegraean Fields, then Herculaneum, the crater of Vesuvius and the streets of Pompeii. The depots in Sant'Anastasia, on the northern slope of the volcano, make a natural starting point.
The Phlegraean Fields are an active volcanic area under monitoring: check civil protection notices. On Vesuvius, the access road is narrow and tickets for the crater path are sold online: check the arrangements before driving up.
South of Salerno, the Sele plain leads to the Greek temples of Paestum, among the best preserved in the Mediterranean world. The Cilento coast then strings together Agropoli, Castellabate, Acciaroli and Cape Palinuro, before the route climbs inland to the charterhouse of Padula, in the Vallo di Diano.
This is the quietest part of Campania, with seaside campsites and hill roads that are easier than on the Amalfi Coast. On the way back, the Vallo di Diano connects directly to the motorway towards Salerno.
Away from the sea, inland Campania holds the royal palace of Caserta and its gardens, the village of Sant'Agata de' Goti on its tufa spur, Trajan's Arch in Benevento, then the wine-growing hills of Irpinia around Avellino. Above Mercogliano, the sanctuary of Montevergine overlooks the valley. A loop that fits easily between arriving in Naples and heading down to the coast, far from the summer crowds.
The ideal time to combine ancient sites, hiking on the Path of the Gods and swimming: the sea reaches 24 to 25 °C in June and stays between 23 and 26 °C in September and October. Those last two months are, however, wetter, with sometimes violent storms: keep a spare day in hand.
High summer is hot and almost dry in both Naples and Salerno, with the sea at 27 to 29 °C. Around 15 August, Ferragosto fills campsites, beaches and coastal roads, and queues grow at the entrances to the sites: book your pitches and start your visits early in the morning.
The quietest season, mild on the coast but rainy: November is the wettest month in both Naples and Salerno. Herculaneum and the centre of Naples can be visited without crowds, but many campsites on the Amalfi Coast and in Cilento close: check their opening dates.
Naples, Acerra or Sant'Anastasia for the bay, Vesuvius and the ancient sites; Salerno for the Amalfi Coast and Cilento. As the two cities are close together, a loop from either one is enough to cover the whole region.
Check the mileage, the bedding and kitchenware provided, insurance and the amount of the excess, as well as permission to leave Italy or take a ferry: these conditions vary from one rental company to another.
Put the Amalfi Coast at the start or end of your trip depending on your departure city and plan short stages: distances are small, but roads remain slow between city traffic, hairpin bends and village crossings.
Driving licence, the main driver's bank card and ID: check the documents required and the exact address of the depot, often outside the centre, as in Sant'Anastasia or Acerra. Ask whether a transfer from Naples airport or railway station is available.
Naples, Salerno, Sorrento, Amalfi and Benevento protect their historic centres with limited traffic zones monitored by cameras. Driving through the gate without a permit leads to a fine sent to the rental company, which may pass it on with an administration fee: park on the outskirts before entering town.
The Circumvesuviana railway links Naples with Herculaneum, Pompeii and Sorrento. From a campsite in Pompeii or Sorrento, it saves you driving into central Naples, where traffic is heavy and spaces for a motorhome almost impossible to find. Leave no valuables in sight on board.
The A1 to Rome, the A16 to Avellino and Puglia, and the A30 and A3 between Naples and Salerno are toll roads, payable at the barriers in cash or by card. South of Salerno, the A2 heading to Calabria is toll-free. Plan your route to avoid missed exits in the Naples conurbation.
The islands of the bay heavily restrict traffic for non-residents' vehicles, especially in season, and the rental company must in any case authorise any ferry crossing. Leave the motorhome on the mainland, at a campsite or in a guarded car park, and board as a foot passenger from Naples, Pozzuoli or Sorrento.
In Naples, Anywhere Campers welcomes customers in the city, while Motorhomes Italy and Rent Easy share a depot in Sant'Anastasia, at the foot of Vesuvius. Blurent offers pick-ups in Acerra, a town near Naples, and in Salerno, at the start of the Amalfi Coast. The exact meeting point is confirmed when you book.
Yes with a van or small campervan, provided you are comfortable on a narrow, winding road shared with buses. Large vehicles are subject to restrictions there, and alternating traffic measures have been introduced in high season: check the orders in force, or park in Salerno or Sorrento and continue by bus or boat.
Narrow streets and coastal roads favour short vehicles: the two-berth models offered in Naples are enough for a couple. For families, a low-profile motorhome such as the Adria Matrix, with five seats and five berths, or the four-berth Carado T-447, brings more comfort for Cilento and the interior, where driving is easier.
Yes: Rome is only 188 km from Naples as the crow flies, via the A1 motorway, and Matera 155 km from Salerno, across Basilicata. Many travellers link Rome, Campania and Puglia. Before planning to return the vehicle somewhere other than your starting point, ask the rental company about one-way hire and its conditions.
A week is enough for the Bay of Naples, Pompeii and the Amalfi Coast. With ten days, you can add Paestum and the Cilento coast; two weeks give you time to visit Caserta, Benevento and Irpinia, or to push on to Matera without spending your days behind the wheel.
Good and quick communication, easy to book and easy to follow all the instructions.
Cooldrive was very attentive and very responsive in all situations. We received valuable assistance in the steps to be taken. I highly recommend it.
The person answered my questions before I confirmed the booking. The van matched my order well with extras. During my trip, I had a little issue that had nothing to do with Cooldrive. I appreciated that the person took the time to call me back. No bad surprises, only good ones. Highly recommended.
Rental motorhomes up to 3.5 tonnes can be driven with a category B licence. If your licence was issued outside the European Union, check with the rental company: an International Driving Permit or an official translation may be required on top of your national licence. Minimum age and years of driving experience: see the rental company's conditions.
Rules vary from one municipality to the next, and many coastal towns ban motorhomes from parking overnight, especially in summer. Ask locally and choose campsites and aree di sosta, which are plentiful around Pompeii, Sorrento and in Cilento. In the national park, overnight stays are governed by their own rules.
In Italy, any load that sticks out at the rear, such as a loaded bike rack, must carry a reflective red and white striped sign, or you risk a fine at a roadside check. Ask the rental company whether it supplies one with the bike rack; otherwise, you can find it in supermarkets or motorhome accessory shops.
In the vast majority of offers surveyed in Naples, yes: unlimited mileage is the rule rather than the exception. Some packages do, however, cap the daily distance and charge for extra kilometres: if you plan to link Campania, Rome and Puglia, check this point before booking.
Campsites and car parks lie a few minutes' walk from the site entrances, making Pompeii the easiest stop in the region. Buy tickets online if possible and check opening hours, as visitor numbers are high. Allow a full day, wear good shoes and bring plenty of water in summer.
From winter for July and August: vehicles and coastal campsites go quickly, especially for the second half of August. For Easter and the May bank holidays, allow a few weeks' notice. From November to March, a few days are often enough, except around Christmas and New Year.
Campania packs into a small area the most famous sights of southern Italy: Naples and its historic centre, Vesuvius, the buried cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum, the Amalfi Coast, the temples of Paestum and the unspoilt Cilento coastline. By campervan, you move from one site to the next without depending on train timetables, sleep close to the excavations to be there at opening time and choose your beach for the day.
Pick-ups in Naples, Acerra, Sant'Anastasia and Salerno place the vehicle at the heart of the region. Campanian cuisine, from Neapolitan pizza to buffalo mozzarella from the Sele plain, accompanies every stage, while Rome, Basilicata and Puglia extend the journey to the rest of the South. Distances are short enough to leave time for lingering: a morning in the alleys of Naples, an afternoon swim near the temples of Paestum.
