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Eurotunnel with a caravan: prices and how it works
Towing a caravan to Europe? The Channel Tunnel is the easiest way across. You drive on at Folkestone with your caravan still hitched, cross to Calais in 35 minutes, and drive straight off, with no reversing at any point.
Yes, you can take a caravan through the Channel Tunnel on LeShuttle. You keep it hitched to your car the whole time: you drive on at Folkestone, stay with your car and caravan for the 35-minute crossing, and drive straight off in Calais. The biggest advantage over the ferry? You never have to reverse or unhitch. Use the price checker below to get the exact fare for your car and caravan, then read on for how it works.
Can you take a caravan on the Eurotunnel?
Yes. Caravans are welcome on LeShuttle, and the tunnel is one of the most popular and least stressful ways to tow one to the continent. You do not book the caravan on its own, you book your car with a caravan, giving the total length of the combination. Your car and caravan stay hitched together throughout, and you stay with them during the crossing.
This is different from a motorhome or campervan, which is a single vehicle you drive. If you are towing a caravan behind a car, this is the right page. If you drive a motorhome, see our motorhome and campervan guide instead.
The big advantage: no reversing, no unhitching
Anyone who has towed a caravan onto a ferry knows the stress of manoeuvring and reversing into a tight parking deck. On LeShuttle there is none of that. You drive forwards into the carriage with your caravan still attached, and you drive forwards off the other end in Calais. No reversing, no unhitching, no tight turns.
Caravans travel in the tall, wide single-deck carriages, which have plenty of room for a car and caravan combination. Staff guide you in and out. For most caravanners, this alone makes the tunnel far more relaxing than the ferry.
How much does it cost to take a caravan on the Eurotunnel?
A car with a caravan costs more than a car on its own, because the fare is based on the total length of your car and caravan together. There is no fixed surcharge, the extra depends on the combined length, your travel date and time, and how busy the crossing is.
As a guide, expect to pay somewhere between about 1.3 and 2 times the standard car fare, in line with what we see for other large vehicles. The surcharge is smallest on quiet weekdays and largest at busy weekend and holiday times. The only way to get your exact price is to enter your car plus caravan length in the booking module above.
| What you book | Fare basis | Guide |
|---|---|---|
| Car only | Standard car fare | from £69 |
| Car + caravan (off-peak) | Based on total length | about 1.3–1.5× car fare |
| Car + caravan (peak) | Based on total length | up to about 2× car fare |
Caravan prices are a guide only and depend on the combined length of your car and caravan, the date and demand. Always check the booking module above for your real fare. For all car fares in detail, see our tickets and prices page.
Just like other large vehicles, the caravan surcharge is much smaller on a quiet weekday than at a busy weekend. Travelling off-peak saves you twice: a lower base fare and a smaller length premium. Measure your car and caravan together and book the correct length so there are no surprises at check-in.
How it works: driving on with your caravan
The process is simple and the caravan stays attached throughout.
- At check-in, your booking and passports are scanned. Make sure you booked a car with a caravan and gave the correct total length.
- Follow the lane signs. Cars with caravans are directed to the tall single-deck carriages.
- Drive forwards into the carriage with the caravan still hitched, as guided by staff. Apply the handbrake.
- Stay with your car and caravan for the 35-minute crossing. You can step out and stretch your legs.
- On arrival in Calais you drive straight forwards off the train and onto the A16 motorway.
What is the cheapest way to take a caravan to France?
If keeping costs down is your priority, the cheapest way to take a caravan to France comes down to a few simple choices, and they can save you a lot.
- Travel midweek and off-peak. This is the single biggest saving. The length surcharge on a car and caravan is far smaller on a quiet weekday than at a busy weekend or in the holidays.
- Book well in advance. Fares rise as the train fills, and spaces for longer combinations are limited, so early booking gets the lowest price.
- Book a return in one go. A return booked together unlocks the cheaper short-stay rates, rather than paying for two singles.
- Compare the tunnel with the ferry. On some dates a ferry works out cheaper for a caravan, and ferry lines often run caravan deals. The tunnel wins on speed and no reversing, but for the lowest price it pays to check both. See Channel Tunnel or ferry.
Whichever you choose, the price checker above compares LeShuttle fares and ferry alternatives side by side, so you can see the cheapest option for your dates at a glance.
If your trip takes you towards the Netherlands rather than France, there is a ferry offer worth knowing about. This is a different route, Harwich to Hook of Holland, not Dover to Calais or the tunnel, but for a caravan or motorhome heading into the Netherlands and onward across Europe, the savings can be significant:
- Caravan travels free on Hook of Holland to Harwich day sailings, on departures up to 31 March 2027.
- Motorhome for the same price as a car on those day sailings, up to 31 March 2026.
- Up to 50% off the caravan fare on selected Irish Sea sailings between Great Britain and Dublin, Rosslare or Belfast. Book at least 24 hours before departure.
Offers valid until further notice. See the Stena Line caravan and motorhome offers.
Rules for caravans
- You book a car with a caravan, based on the total length of the combination.
- Gas bottles in the caravan must be turned off and declared at check-in. LPG as a vehicle fuel is not permitted. See Channel Tunnel safety.
- Measure your car and caravan together, including the tow bar, and book the correct length.
- Very long combinations may fall outside standard limits, check before booking.
- Pets are welcome when booked, see travelling with pets.
Caravan by tunnel or by ferry?
For a caravan, the tunnel's no-reversing advantage is a big draw, and the crossing is just 35 minutes. That said, ferries can be cheaper on certain dates and often run good caravan and motorhome deals, and some people do not mind the longer sailing. If price is your main concern, it is worth comparing both. See our full Channel Tunnel or ferry comparison, and for the cheapest fares overall, our cheap tickets guide.
Frequently asked questions
Can you take a caravan on the Eurotunnel?
Yes. You book a car with a caravan, keep it hitched, and drive on at Folkestone. You stay with your car and caravan for the 35-minute crossing and drive off at Calais, with no reversing at any point.
How much does it cost to take a caravan on the Eurotunnel?
More than a car alone, because the fare is based on the total length of your car and caravan. As a guide, expect roughly 1.3 to 2 times the car fare, smaller on quiet weekdays and larger at peak times. Enter your combined length in the booking module for the exact price.
Do I have to reverse or unhitch the caravan?
No. You drive forwards into the carriage with the caravan still attached and drive forwards off the other end. There is no reversing and no unhitching, which is a big advantage over the ferry.
What is the cheapest way to take a caravan to France?
Travel midweek and off-peak, book early, and book your return in one go. Also compare the tunnel with the ferry, as ferry lines sometimes run caravan deals. The price checker above compares LeShuttle and ferry fares side by side.
What is the difference between a caravan and a motorhome booking?
A caravan is towed behind your car, so you book a car with a caravan by total length. A motorhome is a single vehicle you drive, booked on its own. If you drive a motorhome, see our motorhome and campervan guide.
Can I take gas bottles in my caravan?
Yes, but they must be turned off and declared at check-in. LPG used as a vehicle fuel is not permitted. See our safety guide before travelling.
Towing a caravan through the Channel Tunnel is the easy, low-stress way to reach Europe: drive on at Folkestone with the caravan hitched, cross to Calais in 35 minutes, and drive straight off, with no reversing or unhitching at any point. Fares are based on the total length of your car and caravan and depend on the day, so travel midweek where you can, measure accurately, and use the price checker above for your exact fare.