Croatia or bust - Taking a motorhome down to Croatia and back, from the UK - review of costs and what we learned

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You can find the start of our posts about our Croatian adventure here: https://wherenexthun.blogspot.com/2026/02/a-motorhome-tour-down-to-croatia-and.html

Motorhome Trip Review: Costs and Insights So Far on our Croatia tour

Total Trip Costs: £2,280 (Average per Day: £52)

As we approach the end of our epic motorhome adventure, it’s time to take stock of our journey’s costs so far. Here’s a breakdown of our spending, based on my calculations (though I’ll leave the final, official numbers to the Boss when she’s finished tallying them next week - because let’s be honest, they’ll be the correct ones!). But for now, here’s a snapshot:

• Fuel: £750
• Tolls: £400
• Campsites: £1,130
• Total: £2,280
• Average per Day: £52

Now, when you compare this to our previous six-week motorhome trips across Europe, the daily average on those was closer to £40-45. So, yes, this time around has been a bit more expensive, mainly due to higher campsite fees.

But, of course, calculating averages like this is always a little tricky, isn't it? There are so many variables to consider, and estimating can sometimes be like trying to predict the weather in the Alps (always a gamble!). For example, on this trip, we had to use multiple toll systems like Bip and Go, GoToll, and DarsGo - which added a little extra to our tolls expenditure. These systems are convenient, but they come with a price.

Fuel: Surprisingly Low Cost

What’s more surprising is that our fuel costs were actually lower than we expected. We spent a lot of time cruising along the motorway network, making long-distance jumps. Keeping our average speed at around 56-60 mph is key to optimizing Bryony’s fuel consumption, so I think that definitely helped keep costs down. Plus, we parked up for a few days at many stops, which meant we weren't always burning fuel.

Campsite Fees: The Real Culprit

However, the real driver behind our higher spending has been campsite fees. As you might expect, the high season lingered a bit longer in certain countries - particularly in Croatia, where we saw some seriously inflated campsite prices well into September. Many of the sites we stayed at in the latter half of the trip were still charging peak-season rates, even as the crowds thinned. So, if you’re planning a motorhome trip to Croatia in late summer or early autumn, be prepared for this!

Wild Camping and Aires: Fewer Options in Slovenia and Croatia

Wild camping in Slovenia and Croatia was more challenging than we anticipated. We didn’t find as many free or low-cost Aires or wild camping spots as we usually do in other European countries. The combination of fewer opportunities for cheap stays and the high-season campsite fees definitely pushed our daily costs up a bit. In fact, the cost of staying at an Aire or campsite in these regions often felt comparable to staying at a fully-equipped, serviced site - so you can see how the numbers started to add up.

Tips for Fellow Motorhomers:

• Fuel: Keep your speed steady at 56-60 mph to optimize fuel efficiency, especially if you’re doing a lot of motorway driving.
• Tolls: Be aware of multiple toll systems in some countries (like Bip and Go and GoToll), which can add a little extra to your total.
• Campsites: The high season can stretch well into September, so plan accordingly. If you're heading to places like Croatia, expect campsite fees to remain high during the shoulder months.
• Wild Camping: It’s always a gamble, but Slovenia and Croatia might not offer as many low-cost or free options for parking up as you might find in France or Spain. It’s worth researching ahead to avoid those surprise costs.

Final Thoughts:

Looking at the total cost of our motorhome journey, it’s clear that this trip has been a bit more expensive than our usual travels - but that’s part of the adventure, right? Every trip is different, and it’s about balancing comfort, experience, and the road ahead. The freedom of exploring Europe in a motorhome is priceless, and even with the added costs, we wouldn’t trade it for anything.