- Cheap Travel
- Family Travel
- Posted: 03/07/2025
Black Forest Road Trip – Roadsurfer Rental
Jenna Carr
The Travel Mum
Ever dreamed of packing up and hitting the open road with your family? Van life is an absolute dream and one of our favourite ways to travel! We recently hired a Roadsurfer campervan and set off on our Black Forest Road Trip in Germany. With the magical Black Forest, the fairy-tale town of Colmar in France, and the epic thrills of Europa Park on our to-do list, it was guaranteed to be an epic trip.
From forest walks and cosy nights in the van to rollercoasters and croissants, this trip had everything. If you’ve ever thought about trying van life with kids, this is your sign – it’s easier (and more fun!) than you think. Let’s dive into the route, the highlights, and all the little moments that made this road trip one to remember.
Why We Chose Roadsurfer for our Black Forest Road Trip
We chose Roadsurfer because they’re reliable, great value, and perfectly family-friendly. We’ve used them before and knew exactly what to expect – flexible van options, easy online booking, helpful customer service, and a smooth pickup experience from start to finish. For this trip, we brought my parents along, so we hired two separate vans: the Family Finca for us, and the Road House for them.
Choosing your Van…
The Family Finca was honestly perfect for our little crew! It’s a spacious, sprinter-style camper that comfortably sleeps 2 adults and 2 children with two fixed beds, so there’s no faffing about with conversions at bedtime (a win after long days exploring). It’s got a proper kitchen, a bathroom with hot water, plus auxiliary heating – so it’s great whatever the weather. With its high fixed roof, there’s full standing space inside (no head bumps for Joao this time!), and it still felt easy to drive even on narrower roads. It gave us the freedom to go totally off-grid, with everything we needed right there.
My parents stayed in the Road House, which is a fab option if you’re after something a little more compact but still super well-equipped. It also sleeps four, with a pop-up roof, integrated kitchen, toilet and shower, and loads of clever storage. It’s slightly more compact than the Finca inside, but the roof bed is roomier. The Finca has a bit more indoor space overall, but the Road House is ideal if you want something nimbler without sacrificing comfort.
Prices start from £75 a night for the Road House, and around £75–£89 per night for the Family Finca in May 2026 – which we think is the perfect time for a spring road trip.
Our Black Forest Road Trip Itinerary
We flew into Stuttgart – the cheapest and most convenient airport for our dates – and hit the road straight away! First stop: Baden-Baden for a peaceful start, followed by the charming town of Freudenstadt tucked in the Black Forest. We hopped over the border to explore the stunning streets of Strasbourg and the fairy-tale vibes of Colmar (croissants and cobbled streets = dreamy). Then it was full-on family fun at Europa Park and Rulantica water park, with thrills for everyone. We squeezed in a ride on the toboggan and scenic chairlift at Steinwasen Park, and ended our trip with one last breath of forest air on the incredible Treetop Walk Black Forest – the perfect way to wrap up an unforgettable road trip.
Life on the Road
The roads around the Black Forest are incredible. Long open roads surrounded by dramatic forests and endless places to stop and take in the phenomenal views.
Travelling with a baby and a 6 year old will always bring a certain level of chaos. Make sure you consider your kids car seat set up and whether you plan to take your own or hire them. We took Lucas’ baby car seat and hired a booster seat for Leo.
We looked for camp sites that had playgrounds to give Leo something to get excited about. It is wild how much a trampoline or a swing set will improve a young child’s mood!
Luca, our 1 year old, can’t walk yet. Containing his endless energy wasn’t easy in a small space! The vans have safety nets on the beds, so we were able to create a makeshift play pen where he could crawl around and not hurt himself. Feeding him wasn’t easy, with hindsight we would have taken the top part of a high chair, or some sort of baby seat, to make meal times less chaotic.
Tips for Planning a Germany Campervan Trip
Planning a campervan adventure through Germany? Here are some helpful tips to make your trip smooth, fun, and stress-free – especially if you’re travelling with little ones! Note that wild camping isn’t allowed in Germany, but you are ok to park up overnight in an appropriate spot, following certain regulations. We only did this once, the rest of the time we stayed on campsites.
Best Time of Year to Go
Spring (April–June) and early autumn (September–October) are ideal times for a Germany road trip – mild weather, fewer crowds, and stunning natural scenery (think blooming wildflowers or golden forests). Summer is beautiful too but can get busy, especially at popular spots like the Black Forest or Europa Park. It is also hot, not ideal when cooped up in a small space with kids!
Driving in Germany
- No tolls on most roads for private vehicles, which makes exploring super budget-friendly.
- Speed limits:
- Urban areas: 50 km/h
- Rural roads: 100 km/h
- Autobahns: No general speed limit, but 130 km/h is recommended (some areas do have limits, so watch for signs).
Campsite Tips
- Use apps like Park4Night, Stellplatz-Radar, or Campercontact to find campsites and free spots to park overnight.
- In high season or near popular attractions (like Europa Park), it’s best to book in advance.
If you’re feeling spontaneous, Germany has a great network of “stellplätze” – simple motorhome stopovers, often free or low-cost.
Packing Essentials
- Layers – the weather can change quickly, especially in mountain regions.
- Compact storage bins or packing cubes – van life is all about staying organised.
- Bin bags! Lots and lots of bin bags.
- Power bank & travel adaptor – handy for charging devices on the go.
- A picnic blanket, and reusable water bottles – for scenic stops and al fresco meals. The vans come with camping chairs and a table.
- Entertainment for kids – small toys, audiobooks, and outdoor games are lifesavers on the road.
Budgeting Advice
- Germany is generally good value, especially with no road tolls.
- Campsite costs vary: free to €40+ per night depending on the location and facilities.
- Groceries are affordable, and you can cook most meals in your van to save money.
- Set aside a bit of extra for parking fees, local attractions, and fuel, especially if you’re covering long distances. We spent £110 on fuel doing the route we did.
Final Thoughts on our Black Forest Road Trip
If you’ve ever dreamed of hitting the road with your family and exploring somewhere new, let this be your sign – it’s so doable and so much fun! Our Black Forest Road Trip (with a detour to the fairy-tale town of Colmar) was packed with magical forests, mountain views, rollercoasters, and croissants… and it was all made easy thanks to Roadsurfer. We’ve used them before and knew we could rely on their friendly service, flexible options, and comfy, well-equipped vans.
Whether you’re going off-grid, park-hopping, or just cruising through the countryside, Germany is a dream to drive through with no tolls, great campsites, and stunning stops at every turn.
This post was written in collaboration with Roadsurfer. All opinions are our own.
Written by: Jenna Carr
The Travel Mum
Our little family is passionate about helping you save money. We are real people who understand the need to make your budget go further. With The Travel Mum we have created a vibrant community of over 650k budget savvy travellers who want to travel more while spending less. No problem is too big or small, together we will do everything in our power to make sure you are making the absolute most of your well earned budget!
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