Dream campervan roadtrip to the Dolomites
The Dolomites are one of the most popular destinations among our guests—and it’s easy to see why. This stunning region in northern Italy has it all: dramatic mountain peaks, crystal-clear lakes, and picturesque villages. For those who love to travel freely, spend time outdoors, and have their eyes light up at postcard-perfect views, the Dolomites are the ideal choice for a campervan adventure.
In this blog, we’ll share an 8-day itinerary created and experienced by our guests, Oliver and Katarina, in the Gurumobil campervan. They camped outside of campsites and visited the top places in the Dolomites.
You’ll find here useful, no-nonsense tips that will make planning your campervan trip during the summer season and navigating the Dolomites much easier.
Day 1: Journey from Bratislava to Wörthersee
Our adventure begins with a drive from Bratislava to Wörthersee in Austria. After several hours on the road, we arrived in Klagenfurt am Wörthersee, where we decided to spend the night.
Thanks to the park4night app, we found an ideal free parking spot with clean restrooms, providing a comfortable setup for our first night. Before leaving, we filled up the tank since fuel prices in Klagenfurt were more favorable compared to what awaited us later.
GPS location for parking in Klagenfurt am Wörthersee
Day 2: First Impressions of the Dolomites
The second day begins with a drive to Italy, specifically to Lago di Dobbiaco, where we parked at a paid parking lot. From there, we continued to Lago di Landro & enjoyed beautiful views of crystal-clear lakes and surrounding mountains.
Our next stop was Rifugio Auronzo. We recommend planning your arrival either early in the morning or later in the afternoon, as the parking fee is paid at the bottom of the access road, and when the parking lot at the top is full, there can be long queues waiting to enter. We arrived around 5:00 PM and were able to get to the parking lot without delay. The parking fee here was €45 for 12 hours.
Rifugio Auronzo is a mountain hut where you can eat, stay overnight, or use the facilities, but only during opening hours from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM.
From the parking lot, we set out on a short hike (about 40 minutes) to Cadini di Misurina, where we enjoyed a stunning view of the mountains and the sunset.
Day 3: Tre Cime di Lavaredo and Monte Cristallo
The morning began with an early hike around the famous Tre Cime di Lavaredo peaks. The hike was easy and took about four hours, offering truly breathtaking views.
After returning, we drove 15 minutes to Camping Alla Baita, where we treated ourselves to a hot shower and refilled our water supply. Such short stays aren’t allowed in every Dolomite campground, but we got lucky at Alla Baita :). The cost was €7 for the shower and €4 for the water refill.
From there, we continued to a parking lot under Monte Cristallo near the Rio Gere cable car. This spot offers a large free parking area where we spent the night.
Day 4: Hike to Lago di Sorapis and Passo Giau
On the fourth day, we went for a hike to Lago di Sorapis, setting out early (at sunrise) to avoid the crowds. Lago di Sorapis is known for its azure water and stunning natural surroundings. Trail 215 leading to the lake took about two hours and was moderately challenging. There’s a hut at the top where you can rest and take break before the descent.
After the hike, we enjoyed lunch at the Baita Son Zuogo restaurant and continued along winding roads to Passo Giau, where we parked by the roadside under Mount Ra Gusela. This parking area was full of other campers and caravans, but the views were idyllic despite the camping crowd. Nearby is the Berghotel Passo Giau, which has a restaurant & paid restrooms.
Day 5: Cinque Torri and Seceda
We started the day with a walk in the Cinque Torri area, heading out early again due to the popularity of this destination.
The short morning hike was followed by a long drive through (again) winding roads to St. Cristina to the cable car for Mount Seceda—Cabinovia Col Raiser. Parking here costs €1.50 per hour. The cable car ride up cost €20 per person, followed by a chairlift ride to Seceda for €15 per person. The descent took about two hours on foot and was easy. Seceda is another of those super popular spots, so we recommend going early at sunrise or late at sunset, before the lifts close. These times are when the mountains look most beautiful anyway 🙂
After this demanding day, we drove to a parking lot in Castelrotto, located right next to the Piscine Telfen swimming pool. Here we treated ourselves to some well-deserved refreshment—the pool was open until 8:00 PM, entrance costs 8€ and there were showers available too. We stayed here overnight for free.
Day 6: Alpe di Siusi and Zanser Alm
We wake up early to be at the Alpe di Siusi cable car by 8:00 AM. We drive there in our campervan, and the parking under the cable car is free. The round trip on the cable car costs €26.50 per person. After getting off the cable car, we took a walk from the top station to the Tschötsch hut and back. We also did the K loop (Piz Runde). As usual in the Dolomites, the views were breathtaking :).
After the hike, we returned to the Piscine Telfen pool. In the afternoon, finding a parking spot for the camper was quite difficult, but we managed and the refreshment that followed was well worth it.
Feeling fresh, we continued to the Zanser Alm parking area, which serves as a starting point for many hiking trails. The site is well-equipped, including an interactive board with information on hiking options. The parking fee is €16 per day for campervans.
Day 7: Riopratino, Kronplatz and Lago di Braies
We spent the seventh day in the Riopratino area, accessed it via highway, and took the cable car up to Kronplatz.
The drive to Riopratino took about 1 hour and 10 minutes, and the highway section cost €0.70. The cable car round trip to Kronplatz cost €34 per person.
In the area, we also visited the Lumen Museum of Mountain Photography and Messner’s Museum of Mountaineering. The combined ticket cost €22 per person.
After the combination of cultural and nature experience, we drove off to Lago di Braies, where we found parking at P4 for €35 per day. The road to Lago di Braies is open from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM only for those who have pre-purchased a parking spot by the lake (P1-P4). The parking ticket is available online. Overnight stays are only allowed at parking P4, and only after 4:00 PM.
We ended the day with a sunset walk and spent the night by the lake.
Day 8: Hallstatt and the journey home
The last day began with a sunrise at Lago di Braies, where we enjoyed a morning walk and breakfast with the pleasant morning sun on our faces.
After slow breakfast, whether we liked it or not, it was time to head home. We set off towards the Austrian city of Hallstatt. The navigation took us on a toll road, which cost an additional €13.50 on top of the usual Austrian highway sticker.
We landed at a parking lot near Gosaumühle-Hallstatt. Parking is free, and there’s a snack bar with public restrooms and an outdoor shower. And you can also go for a swim in a beautiful lake. The parking lot looked great for an overnight stay, but since we had some time left, we moved into town and parked in a tunnel parking lot on the way to town (90 minutes of free parking, unlimited free parking after 7:00 PM). We walked around the town, and when we started to get tired, we returned to the parking lot at Gosaumühle. Here we spent the last night before heading back to Bratislava.
The trip through the Dolomites in a campervan was an unforgettable experience, full of breathtaking views, adventurous hikes, and beautiful places. A campervan adds an extra sense of freedom, flexibility, and a high level of comfort to the whole journey. We’re already looking forward to the next trip 🙂
On behalf of purecampers, we thank our wonderful guests for this super practical itinerary 🙂 It’s a joy to see our guests return from their trips smiling and full of energy. The Dolomites are calling to us too, and we can’t wait to hop into one of our campervans and head for Italy 🚌🏞️.
PS: The prices, rules & opening hours of the places mentioned in this article might change in the near or far future so be ready to act spontaneously. It might be useful to check your parking spots at the park4night app & read the most recent reviews. We hope you’ll enjoy your trip!
