October from Santander - recommendations please

[Robert&Catherine]

Hi,
First trip abroad in our California is to start from Santander in mid October and then head for some warmer weather….my wife is a bit anxious (don’t think she has 100% confidence in my navigational or linguistic capabilities). Anyway if anyone has done a similar trip and could share itinerary / campsite recommendations it would go along way to help me sound like I know what I am doing! My rough plan was to head for Madrid then Valencia then follow the coast northwards. Duration will be two weeks with maybe 4 or 5 campsites booked.
Much appreciate the benefit of all your collective wisdom. Thanks

 

[Barbara]

Hi,
First trip abroad in our California is to start from Santander in mid October and then head for some warmer weather….my wife is a bit anxious (don’t think she has 100% confidence in my navigational or linguistic capabilities). Anyway if anyone has done a similar trip and could share itinerary / campsite recommendations it would go along way to help me sound like I know what I am doing! My rough plan was to head for Madrid then Valencia then follow the coast northwards. Duration will be two weeks with maybe 4 or 5 campsites booked.
Much appreciate the benefit of all your collective wisdom. Thanks

Route from Santander via Bilbao and Zaragoza is best to Valencia.

You can also go via Madrid then Alicante then Calpe (signed Calp) is on the way to Valencia
Goggle maps are great for planning.

Camping Calpemar | Tu Camping en la Costa Blanca. A 300 metros de la playa de Calpe, cerca del Parque natural del Peñón de Ifach, un enclave ideal para descubrir las sensaciones del Mediterráneo

www.campingcalpemar.com

Close to the town and beach. South of Valencia.

Not stayed on this site but friends have and it is very popular . Close to sea and town which has lots of restaurants. I visit calpe very often but stay in an apartment.

October is the time of a big event.

Fiestas in Calpe: Moors & Christians (October 2025) | Calpe Fiesta Guide & Calendar 2025 in Calpe

Fiestas in Calpe: Moors & Christians (October 2025) | Calpe Fiesta Guide & Calendar 2025 in Calpe Here are full details of the 2024 Moors and Christians Fiesta Program in Calpe, Costa Blanca, Spain, the main events of which take place from 18-23 October 2025.

www.calpeonline24.com

 

[Robert&Catherine]

Thank you I appreciate the recommendations. Will do some googling

 

[Barbara]

Thank you I appreciate the recommendations. Will do some googling

This is another option for Calpe it is further from the town but still not far from a beach. It only seems to have a facebook link. Camping La Merced Calpe Quieter than nearer the town

Camping La Merced Calpe | Calp

Camping La Merced Calpe, Calp. 515 likes · 6 talking about this · 201 were here. ️ Desde 1970 Situado en Calpe, España, nuestro camping te da la bienvenida a pocos pasos de la playa, en un...

www.facebook.com

Calpe is very easy for cycling as lots of cycle paths, also the local busses are good. There are 2 main beaches , one near the town, and a promenade that runs between them along a curved coast.

There are a few sites just for motorhomes and campervans but the vans are very close together on them I would would not fancy staying on one.

I have attached a picture (taken in May )of camping calpemar. it is behind the low level structure which is a supermarket. This end of town is having a lot of new apartments being built so there is noise during the day.

 

[greenfintry]

Hi,
First trip abroad in our California is to start from Santander in mid October and then head for some warmer weather….my wife is a bit anxious (don’t think she has 100% confidence in my navigational or linguistic capabilities). Anyway if anyone has done a similar trip and could share itinerary / campsite recommendations it would go along way to help me sound like I know what I am doing! My rough plan was to head for Madrid then Valencia then follow the coast northwards. Duration will be two weeks with maybe 4 or 5 campsites booked.
Much appreciate the benefit of all your collective wisdom. Thanks

Depends a lot on the weather.... North coast of Spain can do a passable impersonation of Scotland, but is lovely when the sun is shining.... worth going to campsites along the Cantabrian coast and towards Galicia if sunny... I would suggest an ACSI discount card ... shows which sites are open and gives a discount.... If rubbish weather, go over the mountains to Burgos, where it will be drier and very good scenery but fewer campsite... Salamanca is a good destination especially if camping on the edge and have bikes (or rent) to cycle down the river to the city centre.... Spain is huge, and 2 weeks you need to be careful not just to be driving ... the motorways are fairly empty except round cities but the distances are BIG

 

[Barbara]

As there are 2 of you you should find paying tolls no problem. I travel often by myself so use a tag for the motorways. I have one for Spain and a seperate one for France but that is just due to historical use. You can get one that covers both France and Spain, useful if you plan many trips and your passenger wants to sleep. Without a tag normally you take a ticket then pay with a credit card, just make sure you get the right lane at the booths some are tag only. There seem to be very few maned booths these days but there is an intercom if you have a problem.

https://www.emovis-tag.co.uk/spanish-toll-tag

As you are starting at Santander I assume you will be on Brittany ferries. I enjoy the ferry better than driving all the way. If you can it is worth signing up for the lounge access £83 each but breakfast, lunch and evening there are buffet meals and included there. Wine, water and soft drinks. Cakes seem to be all day. It is also a nice place to sit. Santander port exit is reasonably well sign posted but look on Brittany ferries for port information.

Don't worry about ability to speak Spanish the Spanish are very forgiving and it seems all young people want to practice english. You should have a great time and look out for my blue califonia as we will be in Spain in October as well.

 

[Robert&Catherine]

Depends a lot on the weather.... North coast of Spain can do a passable impersonation of Scotland, but is lovely when the sun is shining.... worth going to campsites along the Cantabrian coast and towards Galicia if sunny... I would suggest an ACSI discount card ... shows which sites are open and gives a discount.... If rubbish weather, go over the mountains to Burgos, where it will be drier and very good scenery but fewer campsite... Salamanca is a good destination especially if camping on the edge and have bikes (or rent) to cycle down the river to the city centre.... Spain is huge, and 2 weeks you need to be careful not just to be driving ... the motorways are fairly empty except round cities but the distances are BIG

Thank you for all the advice - I think I will tone down the number of miles and will definitely buy an ACSI card. Off to google your location recommendations now!

 

[Robert&Catherine]

As there are 2 of you you should find paying tolls no problem. I travel often by myself so use a tag for the motorways. I have one for Spain and a seperate one for France but that is just due to historical use. You can get one that covers both France and Spain, useful if you plan many trips and your passenger wants to sleep. Without a tag normally you take a ticket then pay with a credit card, just make sure you get the right lane at the booths some are tag only. There seem to be very few maned booths these days but there is an intercom if you have a problem.

https://www.emovis-tag.co.uk/spanish-toll-tag

As you are starting at Santander I assume you will be on Brittany ferries. I enjoy the ferry better than driving all the way. If you can it is worth signing up for the lounge access £83 each but breakfast, lunch and evening there are buffet meals and included there. Wine, water and soft drinks. Cakes seem to be all day. It is also a nice place to sit. Santander port exit is reasonably well sign posted but look on Brittany ferries for port information.

Don't worry about ability to speak Spanish the Spanish are very forgiving and it seems all young people want to practice english. You should have a great time and look out for my blue califonia as we will be in Spain in October as well.

 

[Robert&Catherine]

I really appreciate your help. We were deliberating about the lounge but will book it now.

 

[CaliforniaCylus]

Have a look here. North West Spain can be really nice September / October but weather isn't hot hot.

We spent 5 or 6 weeks just along the top left corner.

2024 North West Spain – Caravan Ramblings

If the weather is bad you can head inland to the Monfrague National park, Hervas, Caceres, Merida, Salamanca, Burgos, Haros etc.

Further afield there are lots of other details on our blogs.

 

[Lambeth Cali]

We’ve been 4 times on the ferry to Spain. It’s a great holiday. The weather September October could be better than rainy August on the north coast.

The only thing that jumps out at me is I think some sites may be shut in October. I remember going to one site at the end of September and it was deserted. The shower blocks had their taps removed like a ghost town. Not secured you could just drive in. You might want to reserve all places.

We went here recently and had a great bike ride into Pamplona

https://maps.app.goo.gl/YZKdw9ARFvgLweeUA?g_st=com.google.maps.preview.copy

 

[JuanVecino2023]

The drive through the Picos mountains from
Potes (very cool little mountain walking town with loads of cafes and restaurants), to San Vincente de la Barquera is one of the most spectacular roads I have driven anywhere in the world.

There is a spot at the top of the route where you could definitely wild camp - you’ll know it when you see it! I’ll see if I can get coordinates. We would have stayed a night if we were in the van.

Comillas has some great beaches. We were there last October and the weather was great.

If you go to Bilbao (well worth a jaunt), Gure Toki had hands down the best pinxtos.

 

[BrugseB]

Depends a lot of what you like to see, how many hours of road you want to tackle... We stayed 2 weeks only in Basque County/La Rioja and still have the feeling we missed a lot, but what a beautiful region that is! Some inspiration (turn on Google translate) on https://carobart.wordpress.com/2024/12/26/atlantische-kust-en-baskenland-part-2-2024/

 

[Kayleigh]

The Zaragoza campsite is a convenient place to stay on the way back. I would personally call it a stop over site. The bar/restaurant was ok for evening meal.

Camping de Zaragoza - Camping de Zaragoza

Disfruta de la naturaleza y la ciudad en Camping Ciudad de Zaragoza. Ofrecemos bungalows, albergues, parcelas y una gran variedad de actividades.

zaragozacamping.com

 

[Robert&Catherine]

The Zaragoza campsite is a convenient place to stay on the way back. I would personally call it a stop over site. The bar/restaurant was ok for evening meal.

Camping de Zaragoza - Camping de Zaragoza

Disfruta de la naturaleza y la ciudad en Camping Ciudad de Zaragoza. Ofrecemos bungalows, albergues, parcelas y una gran variedad de actividades.

zaragozacamping.com

Thank you…I didn’t see this one on searchforsites but it looks ideal to break the journey for the way back