CrossRent Rental company category:Standard
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CROSSRENT c/o Schärli Bossert AGHackenrüti 10, Wolhusen 6110View map
Hiring a campervan in Wolhusen means setting off from a small Lucerne town on the Kleine Emme river, where the valley opens onto the Entlebuch, a UNESCO-recognised biosphere reserve. The peat bogs of Sörenberg, the Brienzer Rothorn, the Napf hills and the farms of the Emmental all lie less than an hour's drive away, far from the crowds of Lake Lucerne. Our partner company CrossRent hands over its vehicles at a garage in the Hackenrüti district.
Wolhusen is also a railway junction: the lines from Lucerne to Bern and to Willisau split here, which makes arriving without a car easy.
1 rental partner
Where to pick up your vehicle à Wolhusen?
Road trip ideas
Road trips from Wolhusen
1 Sörenberg, Brienzer Rothorn and the Obwalden passes
- Wolhusen
- Entlebuch
- Schüpfheim
- Flühli
- Sörenberg
- Glaubenbielen Pass
- Giswil
- Sachseln
- Sarnen
- Glaubenberg Pass
- Wolhusen
The road follows the Kleine Emme up through Entlebuch and Schüpfheim, then branches off towards Flühli and Sörenberg, at the foot of the Schrattenfluh and its limestone pavements. From Sörenberg, a cable car lifts visitors to the Brienzer Rothorn, a balcony over Lake Brienz and the Bernese Alps, while the Salwideli plateau invites you to walk among the raised bogs.
The Glaubenbielen Pass then drops down to Giswil, on the shore of Lake Sarnen; Sachseln is the resting place of Nicholas of Flüe, whose Ranft hermitage hides in a gorge nearby. Return to the Entlebuch over the more wooded Glaubenberg Pass. Two narrow mountain roads, closed in winter: a campervan is more at ease there.
- Distance
- about 130 km
- Recommended vehicle
- Campervan or camper van
2 The Napf, gold panners and Willisau
- Wolhusen
- Romoos
- Willisau
- Luthern
- Luthern Bad
- Huttwil
- Wolhusen
A few kilometres from Wolhusen, Romoos is the village of gold seekers: in the streams running down from the Napf, gold-panning workshops teach you to sieve flakes torn from the rocks of the massif. Willisau, a small medieval town closed by its gates, is the home of the "Ringli", very hard ring-shaped biscuits, and hosts a renowned jazz festival every late summer.
Through the Luthertal you reach Luthern Bad, a place of pilgrimage at the end of the road, from where a path climbs to the summit of the Napf, a viewpoint over the Jura and the Alps. Return via Huttwil, already in the canton of Bern, then through the hills of the Lucerne hinterland.
- Distance
- about 100 km
- Recommended vehicle
- Camper van or low-profile motorhome
3 The upper Emme valley and covered bridges
- Wolhusen
- Wiggen
- Marbach
- Schangnau
- Kemmeriboden-Bad
- Eggiwil
- Lützelflüh
- Hasle-Rüegsau
- Trubschachen
- Wolhusen
Through the Entlebuch, you leave the main road at Wiggen for Marbach and Schangnau, in the upper Emme valley, beneath the long rock face of the Hohgant. At the end of the road, the Kemmeriboden-Bad inn is known throughout the country for its meringues with double cream. You then follow the Emme down via Eggiwil to Lützelflüh, where the pastor Jeremias Gotthelf wrote about the valley's peasant life.
A little further down, the covered bridge of Hasle-Rüegsau crosses the river in a single wooden arch. Return via Langnau and Trubschachen, where the biscuit maker Kambly welcomes visitors to its shop, then through the Entlebuch.
- Distance
- about 160 km
- Recommended vehicle
- All types of motorhomes
Weather and seasons
When to go à Wolhusen?
Best time
Late spring and September
May to June, September
highs 17 to 22 °C, lows 7 to 12 °C
The most pleasant months for the Entlebuch: cotton grass turns the bogs white in June, and September brings steadier skies, the cattle coming down from the alpine pastures and quiet campsites. May and June are still very wet, however, and the Glaubenbielen and Glaubenberg passes often only open at the end of spring.
High season
July and August
July to August
highs 23 °C, lows 14 °C
The height of summer, with the warmest days but also the wettest: storms often break in the afternoon over the Napf and the Schrattenfluh. The Rothorn, the alpine cheese dairies and the Sörenberg campsites are very busy at this time; set off early for hikes.
Shoulder seasons: March, April, October
March to April, October
highs 10 to 14 °C, lows 0 to 6 °C
Transition months: the Obwalden passes stay closed in spring and close during the autumn, but the valley roads to Willisau and the Emmental are clear. October turns the Napf forests golden; in March and April, snow can still fall in Sörenberg and nights come close to freezing.
Winter
Winter, from November to February
November to February
highs 4 to 8 °C, lows -3 to 1 °C
Sörenberg becomes a small family ski resort and the Entlebuch roads are often snowy, while fog readily settles over the Swiss Plateau. A heated motorhome fitted with winter tyres and a campsite open all year are essential; the biosphere's snowshoe trails are well suited to short stays.
Climate à Wolhusen, month by month
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Sun |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 4 °C | -3 °C | 108 mm | 5 h/day |
| Feb | 7 °C | -2 °C | 86 mm | 6 h/day |
| Mar | 10 °C | 0 °C | 93 mm | 8 h/day |
| Apr | 13 °C | 3 °C | 126 mm | 10 h/day |
| May | 17 °C | 7 °C | 179 mm | 10 h/day |
| Jun | 22 °C | 12 °C | 163 mm | 12 h/day |
| Jul | 23 °C | 14 °C | 190 mm | 12 h/day |
| Aug | 23 °C | 14 °C | 162 mm | 11 h/day |
| Sep | 19 °C | 10 °C | 128 mm | 9 h/day |
| Oct | 14 °C | 6 °C | 115 mm | 7 h/day |
| Nov | 8 °C | 1 °C | 107 mm | 5 h/day |
| Dec | 5 °C | -2 °C | 110 mm | 5 h/day |
Averages 2016–2025 computed from Open-Meteo data (ERA5 reanalysis).
Practical tips
Everything to know before hitting the road
Pick-up at the Hackenrüti garage
CrossRent hands over its vehicles at the Schärli Bossert garage, Hackenrüti 10, in Wolhusen. The appointment time is in your confirmation: allow an hour for the inspection and handover, and ask the company how to reach the garage from the station if you arrive by train.
Vignette for the A2 motorway
The cantonal roads of the Entlebuch and the Napf are toll-free, but the A2 motorway, which you join near Lucerne or Sursee, requires the Swiss vignette for vehicles up to 3.5 tonnes. A Swiss-registered rental normally has one: check at handover, and find out about the charge that replaces it above 3.5 tonnes.
Supplies before heading up the valley
Beyond Schüpfheim, shopping is limited to a few village stores, and fuel stations become scarce on the roads of the Napf and the Obwalden passes. Fill up with fuel and supplies in Wolhusen before setting off, especially if you plan several nights at altitude in Sörenberg.
Biosphere produce
In the Entlebuch, the regional label "Echt Entlebuch" marks alpine cheeses, dried meats, honey and herbal teas produced in the biosphere. You will find them in village cheese dairies and small farm shops, handy for stocking the motorhome fridge before an evening at the campsite.
What travellers ask
Your questions about a road trip à Wolhusen
Where can I pick up a campervan in Wolhusen?
Our partner CrossRent, the only company present in Wolhusen in our searches, hands over its vehicles at Schärli Bossert, Hackenrüti 10, 6110 Wolhusen. The handover slot and the documents to bring are in the booking confirmation; let the company know about any train or flight delay so that the appointment can be moved.
How much does it cost to hire a campervan in Wolhusen?
The price varies greatly with the season, the rental length and the size of the vehicle; summer, when the passes are open, is usually the period in highest demand. Run a search with your exact dates: it shows CrossRent's real rates, mandatory fees included, which you can book directly.
Can I do a one-way trip from Wolhusen?
Wolhusen is CrossRent's only depot in Switzerland in our searches; its other depots are in Germany, for example in Lauchringen, near the border. Enter a different return city when searching to find out whether a one-way trip is offered. In Lucerne and Bern, other companies also have their depots.
How do I get to Wolhusen from Zurich Airport?
By train, allow about an hour and a half to two hours from Zurich Airport, with at least one change in Lucerne, from where regional trains reach Wolhusen in about twenty minutes. By road, the journey takes a little over an hour. Bern-Belp and Basel-Mulhouse airports are other options, depending on your flights.
Can I visit Lucerne from Wolhusen?
Yes: Lucerne, another departure city of our partners, is only about twenty kilometres down the Kleine Emme. Rather than driving into the centre in a motorhome, take the train from Wolhusen station: in about twenty minutes you arrive at the lakeside, a short walk from the Chapel Bridge.
Verified customer reviews
They rented à Wolhusen with CoolDrive Nomad
4.3
818 reviews
Very good value for money. Spacious and well-equipped.
(anonymous)
Switzerland · Oct 2021
Avis Vérifiés
First rental of this type of vehicle in a professional context where the rental must take place from France to Canada. Many questions and Cooldrive (Marlène) has been a valuable support in guiding my choices. Efficiency and responsiveness beforehand, and on-site a vehicle and service that met our expectations. No complaints. Great!
Alain L.
Canada · Oct 2025
Avis Vérifiés
Too rigid computer system
Eric L.
Portugal · Oct 2025
Avis Vérifiés
Frequently asked questions
FAQ — Campervan and motorhome hire in Wolhusen
When are the Glaubenbielen and Glaubenberg passes open?
These two roads between the Entlebuch and Obwalden are only open in the warmer months, generally from late spring to autumn, depending on snow. They also cross a military training area and may be closed on certain days: check the road conditions published by the cantons of Lucerne and Obwalden before setting off.
Where can I sleep in a motorhome in the Entlebuch?
The biosphere's bogs are protected and overnight stays in a motorhome are not allowed there; elsewhere, the municipalities set the rules. Aim for campsites and the few signposted motorhome areas in the valley, and ask the owner's permission before any night on private land or an alpine pasture.
What licence do I need for a motorhome hired in Wolhusen?
A category B licence is enough for most rental motorhomes and campervans, which weigh less than 3.5 tonnes. If your licence was issued outside Europe, an international driving permit may also be required. The company also sets a minimum age and a minimum number of years of driving, stated in the offer conditions.
Are the Entlebuch roads suitable for large motorhomes?
The main road from Lucerne to Bern, via Wolhusen, Schüpfheim and Escholzmatt, is wide and easy. The small roads to Romoos, Luthern Bad or the Obwalden passes, on the other hand, are narrow and steep, with tricky passing points: a campervan or compact low-profile model is more comfortable there than a large over-cab motorhome.
Can I drive to Germany with a motorhome hired in Wolhusen?
The German border is a little over an hour's drive away, towards Basel or Waldshut, and the Black Forest makes a good extension. The company sets the authorised countries and any surcharges: check the insurance cover in the offer conditions before crossing the Rhine.
When should I book a motorhome in Wolhusen?
With only one company on site, the choice shrinks quickly: book several months ahead for July, August and the Swiss school holidays. In the shoulder seasons, a few weeks are often enough, but the large family models always go first. Booking early also leaves time to arrange the handover appointment.
About us
Why start a motorhome trip from Wolhusen
Wolhusen is a low-key departure point, away from the main circuits: in a day's drive you go from the raised bogs of the Entlebuch biosphere to the Brienzer Rothorn, from the gold-bearing streams of the Napf to the farms and covered bridges of the Emmental, with Lake Sarnen on the other side of the passes. The town also has its history: during the Peasant War of 1653, the rebel Lucerne countryside gathered here to swear an alliance.
Our partner CrossRent hands over its vehicles at a local garage, a simple solution for anyone arriving by train via Lucerne. To compare other companies, Lucerne, Bern, Aarau and Zurich, other departure cities, remain within reach. Ideally go between June and September, when the Obwalden passes are open and highs reach 22 to 23 °C at the height of summer.
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