Motorhome trips from Almuñécar – viewpoints, mountain roads and overnight stays

← All articles about motorhomes

Before you set off: three things that apply everywhere

• Park yes, camp no. In Spain a motorhome may generally park wherever a car may – but chairs, an awning, levelling legs and waste water turn it into camping. The rules are in Do's & don'ts for motorhomes.
• The nature parks are stricter. In nature parks and protected areas the park's own rules apply, and fines are issued. Sleep at a campsite or a designated área.
• Google Maps does not know your vehicle. The car navigation in Google Maps does not show height, weight or width limits. See roads and parking for motorhomes, and keep an eye on the signs.

Emptying grey and black waste water, water and gas are covered in emptying, water and gas. The sites along the coast are listed in motorhome sites on the coast.

The coast: Cerro Gordo and Maro (7–13 km)

The shortest trip is the old coast road, the N-340, west of Almuñécar. It runs past La Herradura and up over the cliffs to Mirador de Cerro Gordo, a viewpoint with a restaurant and views along the cliffs towards Maro and Nerja. The cliffs belong to the protected area Acantilados de Maro-Cerro Gordo – read more in Maro-Cerro Gordo.

• Distance: Mirador de Cerro Gordo approx. 7 km, Maro approx. 13 km as the crow flies from Almuñécar.
• Overnight stay: Not at the viewpoint. According to users on Park4night (checked 02-11-2026), the car park is for daytime use only, has room for just a few vehicles, and a sign bans motorhomes – so stop briefly or park outside. The nearest campsite is Villa del Mar – Camping Nerja on the N-340 km 296–297 in Maro, the only campsite near Nerja and Maro. It takes motorhomes and, according to Park4night, is open all year. Price: ask the campsite. More sites to the west are listed in the article on the coast.
• Pitfalls: Never drive down towards the small coves – in the protected area it is forbidden to drive motor vehicles down to the beaches. The old N-340 is winding; the A-7 is the quick route.
• Season: All year. Morning and late afternoon give the best light.

Frigiliana: park outside (approx. 19 km)

The white village above Nerja is a must, but not by motorhome inside the village. The old town has steep steps and narrow streets, and Calle Real is the only street in the old town you can drive along. The underground car park beneath Plaza de las Tres Culturas has a headroom of 2,20 m – a motorhome cannot get in. Everything about the village is in Frigiliana.

• Overnight stay: According to Los Pueblos Más Bonitos de España (checked 02-11-2026), the municipality has a free overnight area for 3 motorhomes by the MA-5105 road on the edge of the village, with drinking water. We have not been able to confirm it on the municipality's own website. Otherwise: the campsites on the coast.
• Day parking: According to users on Park4night, there is a free day car park at the entrance to the village, which fills up – come early.
• Season: Spring and autumn. At the end of August there is a festival and it gets very busy.

Carretera de la Cabra and Suspiro del Moro (12–38 km)

The A-4050, which everyone calls the Carretera de la Cabra ("the goat road"), is the old road from Almuñécar to Granada. It is 59,13 km long and runs from Almuñécar through Torrecuevas, Jete and Otívar, into the Sierras de Tejeda, Almijara y Alhama nature park, over Puerto de la Cabra and on to the Puerto del Suspiro del Moro pass near Granada. Above Otívar lies the Mirador de la Cabra Montés viewpoint with a small car park. The history and the legend of the Moor's sigh are in the motorbike trips and the fruit valleys.

• Distance: Mirador de la Cabra Montés approx. 12 km, Suspiro del Moro approx. 38 km as the crow flies.
• Pitfalls: The road has two lanes but is narrow and winding, with no verge from Venta del Fraile and on through the nature park (Wikipedia), and there are tunnels blasted into the rock. We have not found official height, width or length limits. A cycling website describes the surface as very rough between approx. 1.000 and 1.200 m. In a small motorhome or a campervan the trip is an experience; in a large vehicle the A-44 via Motril is the safe choice.
• Overnight stay: We have not found a legal motorhome area along the road. Stay overnight in Granada (see below) or drive back to the coast.
• Season: Spring and autumn. Avoid the road in snow and ice in winter and in the dark.

Alpujarra: Lanjarón, Órgiva and the Poqueira gorge (28–47 km)

The white mountain villages of the Alpujarras are the top must for motorhomers. The route follows the A-7 and A-44 and then either past Rules reservoir on the A-346 or via Lanjarón on the A-348 to Órgiva. From there the A-4132 climbs about 42 km up through the Poqueira gorge with Pampaneira, Bubión and Capileira and on to Trevélez. The villages, the Thursday market in Órgiva and the spa in Lanjarón are covered in Alpujarras.

Rules reservoir is a dam on the River Guadalfeo near Vélez de Benaudalla – the dam is 118 m high, and the lake covers about 345 ha when full (Wikipedia). According to Komoot it has been only partly full in recent years because of the drought. We have not found a motorhome area by the lake, so enjoy it from the road.

Where you can stay overnight

The information on Pampaneira, Capileira and Trevélez comes from the association Los Pueblos Más Bonitos de España, which says the municipalities run the areas. We have not been able to confirm it on the municipalities' own websites. The association advises emptying your toilet in Órgiva or on the way back down to the coast, as there is no emptying point in Pampaneira.

• Pitfalls: The mountain roads are narrow and very winding for the last 15–40 km. The campsite guide Alan Rogers describes the road to Trevélez as twisting, very narrow in places and unsuitable for large vehicles. We have not found any official length or width limits. Never drive into the villages' old streets – in many places they are too narrow even for an ordinary car.
• Season: Spring and autumn. In winter there can be snow and ice; in summer it is hot in the middle of the day.

Sierra Nevada: high up in the snow (approx. 48 km)

The A-395 is the road from Granada up to the ski resort of Pradollano (approx. 2.100 m). The public road ends at Hoya de la Mora at approx. 2.500 m. The last 10 km or so up towards Veleta have been closed to traffic since 1989; only vehicles with a permit may pass the checkpoint (Wikipedia). Skiing, hiking, weather, snow chains and buses are covered in Sierra Nevada.

• Overnight stays: Unclear as of November 2026. In 2026 the ski resort company Cetursa put part of the Los Peñones car park out to tender as a professional motorhome area for overnight stays, with access control, electricity, water and waste disposal (the draft mentions 48 spaces). According to Nevasport (September 2026), the Las Sabinas car park is no longer to be used by motorhomes, but Los Peñones will be. We have found no final decision or opening date. Users on Park4night report that the police issue fines if it looks like camping. Ask Cetursa before you go, or stay overnight in Granada or the Alpujarra.
• Pitfalls: In winter you must carry snow chains or have winter tyres – see Sierra Nevada about the road and chains. Drive down before it gets dark and the road freezes. Check the weather on AEMET's mountain forecast.
• Season: The ski season usually lasts until April (see Sierra Nevada for the start). In summer Hoya de la Mora is the starting point for hikes.

Granada and the Alhambra (approx. 44–50 km)

Granada makes a long day trip or a two-day visit. Do not drive into the old town – the Albaicín and the streets around the Alhambra are no place for a motorhome. Everything about the Alhambra, tickets and the city is in Granada and the Alhambra.

• Overnight stays: Camping Reina Isabel in La Zubia south of Granada is open all year according to camping.info. According to users on Campercontact, the bus to Granada stops right opposite the site, and a 2026 reviewer recommends taking the bus to the Alhambra because the hill is steep. Users also say the pitches are narrow. Granada's tourist office says there is a motorhome car park by the Alhambra where you may stay overnight without water or electricity – but other sources say overnight stays are not allowed. Ask at the car park before you count on it.
• Pitfalls: Narrow streets in the centre and around the Alhambra. On low-emission zones and parking in Granada: see roads and parking.
• Season: Spring and autumn. In summer it is very hot, and Alhambra tickets sell out – book well in advance.

Antequera and El Torcal (80–85 km)

El Torcal de Antequera is a limestone landscape shaped like stacked slabs and "mushrooms". It has been protected as a paraje natural since 1989, covers 1.171 ha and in 2016 became part of UNESCO World Heritage together with the dolmens (megalithic tombs) in Antequera (Wikipedia). There are trails from the visitor centre at Torcal Alto.

• Overnight stays: Área de autocaravanas Antequera on Calle Miguel de Cervantes in town is free and run by the municipality. According to OpenStreetMap it has 16 spaces, water and waste disposal. Users on Park4night say it is often full, that it slopes so you may need levelling chocks, and that the service point is hard to get to.
• Not in El Torcal: According to users, a sign at the entrance prohibits overnight stays for caravans and motorhomes throughout the protected area. Drive up during the day. Next to the motorhome area in town there is an entrance to a car park with a 2 m height limit (OpenStreetMap) – not for you.
• Season: Spring and autumn. The road up to Torcal Alto is steep and winding.

Caminito del Rey and El Chorro (approx. 97–98 km)

The Caminito del Rey is a walkway fixed to the cliff walls of the Desfiladero de los Gaitanes gorge. The boardwalks themselves are over 3 km long, and with the access paths the walk is about 7,7 km. It reopened in 2015, and tickets must be bought in advance (Wikipedia). The walk ends at El Chorro, where there are trains and buses.

• Overnight stays: According to stellplatz.info, the private sites Finca La Campana (5 motorhome spaces, max. 14 nights, about a 15-minute walk to the Caminito del Rey) and Casa La Paz (approx. 25 € (≈ 186 kr.) with electricity, vehicles up to 9 m long, up to 30 nights) have spaces in El Chorro. Prices are not confirmed. We have not been able to confirm whether Camping El Chorro is open – one source says it is closing temporarily.
• Pitfalls: Users on Webcampista advise against driving all the way down to El Chorro in a large vehicle because the road is narrow. According to users, the car park at the entrance in Ardales is for day use only and is closed off with a chain at night.
• Season: Spring and autumn. In summer it gets hot in the gorge.

If you would rather paddle here, see kayaking at El Chorro.

Cabo de Gata – the long trip (approx. 129–134 km)

The Cabo de Gata-Níjar Natural Park east of Almería is desert, volcanic cliffs and coves – and the longest trip in this article. By road it is a good deal further than as the crow flies, so plan on an overnight stay.

• Overnight stays: Camping Cabo de Gata with the motorhome area Camper Área Cabo de Gata on the AL-3115 km 10 in Pujaire (Níjar). According to Park4night and Promobil it has a gravel surface, up to about 60 spaces, water and grey and black waste disposal. Promobil gives 13 € (≈ 96,98 kr.) per night – undated and not confirmed.
• Fines in the natural park: The Junta de Andalucía and Níjar council have moved motorhomes out of the natural park and closed car parks at Isleta del Moro and El Playazo, and in August 2026 around 100 motorhomes were fined for staying overnight on the beaches (Euro Weekly News 31-08-2026). Only sleep at a designated site.
• Season: Spring, autumn and winter. In summer it is very hot and crowded.

Four suggested trips

Cabo de Gata can be added as a fifth trip of 2–3 days with an overnight stay at Camping Cabo de Gata.

Videos

Videos from other motorhomers on YouTube (mostly in Spanish, English or German). Prices and rules in the videos may be out of date – always check the figures in the article.

• Pampaneira in the Alpujarra – a motorhome tripEscapadas Blogger
• Granada in three days by motorhome: Sierra Nevada and the AlhambraViajando con Manuela
• Antequera by motorhome: the service area, El Torcal and the townViajando con Manuela
• Cabo de Gata by motorhome – the best spotsViajar por el Mundo

Maps and routes

The map shows all the destinations and overnight sites in the article. The buttons below the map open the routes in Google Maps, so you can navigate straight from your phone. Remember: Google Maps' car navigation does not show height, weight or width restrictions – and it will happily send you the shortest way through narrow village streets. Choose the main roads yourself (A-7, A-44, A-45, A-92) and follow the signs.

Red star = Playa Tropical. Click on a point for the name and distance. Map data © OpenStreetMap.

Good advice

• Book your overnight stays in high season. The small municipal areas in the Alpujarra have only 3–8 spaces and fill up at weekends and on public holidays.
• Empty and fill up on the coast. There is not a service point everywhere in the mountains – see emptying, water and gas.
• Park outside and walk in. Old towns such as Frigiliana, Pampaneira, Capileira and Granada's Albaicín are no place for a motorhome.
• Drive in daylight in the mountains. The roads are narrow and winding, and in winter they freeze in the evening.
• Chains in winter. For the Sierra Nevada you need snow chains or winter tyres that fit your vehicle.
• Never sleep in the natural parks outside designated sites. This applies especially to Cabo de Gata, El Torcal and Maro-Cerro Gordo.
• Check the site before you go. Prices and rules change. Call or write to the site, and use apps such as Park4night only to find places – see wintering about apps.

We have not found any official height or width limits on the A-4050 (Carretera de la Cabra) or the roads up into the Alpujarra. The fact that Google Maps shows no sign does not mean there is room. If in doubt, take the motorway.

Krone amounts are converted at 1 € ≈ 7.46 kr. and rounded.