UK Ferry Crossings for Motorhomes
There are eighteen significant ferry routes between the UK, Ireland and mainland Europe. The right one for your trip depends on where you are starting, where you are heading, and how much of the journey you want to do in a ferry cabin rather than behind the wheel. Use the route finder below to jump straight to your crossing.
Booking a ferry with a motorhome
Ferries price by vehicle length and height as well as by passenger count. Before you book, measure your motorhome from front bumper to rear bike-rack and nose to aerial tip --- operators charge bracketed fees and understating your length causes problems at check-in. Adding a cabin on longer sailings is usually cheap compared to the exhaustion of arriving on the far side after a sleepless night on a reclining seat.
At the terminal
Check-in for a ferry is significantly earlier than for a tunnel: anything from 60 to 120 minutes before sailing. Turn up with passports and booking reference ready. Border checks are normally on the UK side going out; on the return from EU ports you clear UK passport control before boarding.
On board
- Your vehicle is parked on a car deck. You cannot return to it during the crossing on most routes.
- Gas bottles off, handbrake on, keep doors unlocked (required by many operators for fire safety).
- Pets on overnight crossings stay in pet-friendly cabins or on-board kennels --- book these at the same time as your ticket, they sell out.
- Fridge will run on 12V for short crossings. For overnight sailings, be aware your leisure battery will be discharged by morning.
Route finder
| Route | Operators | Crossing time |
|---|---|---|
| Dover to Calais | P&O Ferries, DFDS | 90 min |
| Dover to Dunkirk | DFDS | 2 hr |
| Newhaven to Dieppe | DFDS | 4 hr |
| Portsmouth to Caen (Ouistreham) | Brittany Ferries | 6 hr day / 7.5 hr night |
| Portsmouth to Le Havre | Brittany Ferries | 5.5 hr day / 8 hr night |
| Portsmouth to St Malo | Brittany Ferries | 10-11 hr (usually overnight) |
| Portsmouth to Cherbourg | Brittany Ferries | 3 hr fast / ~9 hr overnight conventional |
| Portsmouth to Bilbao | Brittany Ferries | 24-32 hr |
| Plymouth to Roscoff | Brittany Ferries | 6 hr day / 8-9 hr night |
| Plymouth to Santander | Brittany Ferries | 20 hr |
| Poole to Cherbourg | Brittany Ferries | 4.25 hr fast / ~8 hr conventional |
| Harwich to Hook of Holland | Stena Line | 7 hr (usually overnight) |
| Hull to Rotterdam (Europoort) | P&O Ferries | 11 hr overnight |
| Newcastle to IJmuiden (Amsterdam) | DFDS | 15 hr overnight |
| Holyhead to Dublin | Irish Ferries, Stena Line | 3.5 hr |
| Liverpool to Dublin | P&O Ferries, Stena Line | 8 hr overnight |
| Fishguard to Rosslare | Stena Line | 3.5 hr |
| Pembroke Dock to Rosslare | Irish Ferries | 4 hr |
Routes in detail
Dover to Calais
Operators: P&O Ferries, DFDS
Crossing time: 90 min
Check-in: 90 min before departure
Frequency: Up to 23 sailings per day (combined)
UK terminal: Dover (CT17 9TG) --- M20 / A20 to Eastern Docks
EU terminal: Calais (62100 Calais) --- A16 from Calais port
Tips: Busiest crossing. Book ahead in summer.
Dover to Dunkirk
Operators: DFDS
Crossing time: 2 hr
Check-in: 90 min before departure
Frequency: Up to 12 sailings per day
UK terminal: Dover (CT17 9TG) --- M20 / A20 to Eastern Docks
EU terminal: Dunkirk (59279 Loon-Plage) --- A16 exit 53
Tips: Slightly longer crossing than Calais but often cheaper and quieter.
Newhaven to Dieppe
Operators: DFDS
Crossing time: 4 hr
Check-in: 75 min before departure
Frequency: Up to 3 sailings per day
UK terminal: Newhaven (BN9 0BG) --- A26 to Newhaven Port
EU terminal: Dieppe (76200 Dieppe) --- N27 from Dieppe port
Tips: Short drive from London to Newhaven; good alternative to Dover congestion.
Portsmouth to Caen (Ouistreham)
Operators: Brittany Ferries
Crossing time: 6 hr day / 7.5 hr night
Check-in: 90 min before departure
Frequency: Up to 3 sailings per day
UK terminal: Portsmouth (PO2 8QN) --- M275 to Portsmouth International Port
EU terminal: Caen (Ouistreham) (14150 Ouistreham) --- D514 from Ouistreham port
Overnight sailing: yes (cabins recommended)
Tips: Drops you 14 km from Caen; good gateway to Normandy and Brittany.
Portsmouth to Le Havre
Operators: Brittany Ferries
Crossing time: 5.5 hr day / 8 hr night
Check-in: 90 min before departure
Frequency: Up to 2 sailings per day
UK terminal: Portsmouth (PO2 8QN) --- M275 to Portsmouth International Port
EU terminal: Le Havre (76600 Le Havre) --- A29 from Le Havre port
Overnight sailing: yes (cabins recommended)
Tips: Fast onward routes to Paris, Normandy, and the Loire.
Portsmouth to St Malo
Operators: Brittany Ferries
Crossing time: 10-11 hr (usually overnight)
Check-in: 90 min before departure
Frequency: Daily
UK terminal: Portsmouth (PO2 8QN) --- M275 to Portsmouth International Port
EU terminal: St Malo (35400 Saint-Malo) --- D168 from Saint-Malo port
Overnight sailing: yes (cabins recommended)
Tips: Long sailing but walks you straight into Brittany with minimal driving.
Portsmouth to Cherbourg
Operators: Brittany Ferries
Crossing time: 3 hr fast / ~9 hr overnight conventional
Check-in: 90 min before departure
Frequency: Up to 3 sailings per day in season
UK terminal: Portsmouth (PO2 8QN) --- M275 to Portsmouth International Port
EU terminal: Cherbourg (50100 Cherbourg) --- N13 from Cherbourg port
Overnight sailing: yes (cabins recommended)
Tips: Day fast ferries most reliable in summer; overnight options in shoulder season.
Portsmouth to Bilbao
Operators: Brittany Ferries
Crossing time: 24-32 hr
Check-in: 120 min before departure
Frequency: 2 sailings per week
UK terminal: Portsmouth (PO2 8QN) --- M275 to Portsmouth International Port
EU terminal: Bilbao (48508 Zierbena (Bilbao)) --- A8 from Bilbao port
Overnight sailing: yes (cabins recommended)
Tips: Skip the French drive; land directly in Spain. Book cabins well ahead.
Plymouth to Roscoff
Operators: Brittany Ferries
Crossing time: 6 hr day / 8-9 hr night
Check-in: 90 min before departure
Frequency: Up to 2 sailings per day
UK terminal: Plymouth (PL1 3EW) --- A38 to Plymouth Millbay Docks
EU terminal: Roscoff (29680 Roscoff) --- D769 from Roscoff port
Overnight sailing: yes (cabins recommended)
Tips: Ideal for touring Brittany and the Atlantic coast from the West Country.
Plymouth to Santander
Operators: Brittany Ferries
Crossing time: 20 hr
Check-in: 120 min before departure
Frequency: 2 sailings per week
UK terminal: Plymouth (PL1 3EW) --- A38 to Plymouth Millbay Docks
EU terminal: Santander (39004 Santander) --- A67 from Santander port
Overnight sailing: yes (cabins recommended)
Tips: Drops you on the Spanish north coast; book a cabin.
Poole to Cherbourg
Operators: Brittany Ferries
Crossing time: 4.25 hr fast / ~8 hr conventional
Check-in: 75 min before departure
Frequency: Up to 2 sailings per day
UK terminal: Poole (BH15 4AJ) --- A350 to Poole Port
EU terminal: Cherbourg (50100 Cherbourg) --- N13 from Cherbourg port
Overnight sailing: yes (cabins recommended)
Tips: Quieter terminal than Portsmouth; easier approach from the M27.
Harwich to Hook of Holland
Operators: Stena Line
Crossing time: 7 hr (usually overnight)
Check-in: 90 min before departure
Frequency: 2 sailings per day
UK terminal: Harwich (CO12 4SR) --- A120 to Harwich International Port
EU terminal: Hook of Holland (3151 HS Hoek van Holland) --- A4 / A20 from Hook of Holland
Overnight sailing: yes (cabins recommended)
Tips: Book a cabin for overnight crossings; cheapest fares midweek.
Hull to Rotterdam (Europoort)
Operators: P&O Ferries
Crossing time: 11 hr overnight
Check-in: 120 min before departure
Frequency: Nightly
UK terminal: Hull (HU9 5PQ) --- A63 to Hull King George Dock
EU terminal: Rotterdam (Europoort) (3198 LG Rotterdam Europoort) --- A15 from Europoort
Overnight sailing: yes (cabins recommended)
Tips: Historic route; terminal is Europoort not Hook of Holland despite common naming.
Newcastle to IJmuiden (Amsterdam)
Operators: DFDS
Crossing time: 15 hr overnight
Check-in: 120 min before departure
Frequency: Nightly
UK terminal: Newcastle (NE29 6EE) --- A19 to North Shields terminal
EU terminal: IJmuiden (Amsterdam) (1975 AG IJmuiden) --- N202 from IJmuiden port
Overnight sailing: yes (cabins recommended)
Tips: Destination is IJmuiden, not Hook of Holland despite the key name. 25 min by bus/car to central Amsterdam.
Holyhead to Dublin
Operators: Irish Ferries, Stena Line
Crossing time: 3.5 hr
Check-in: 60 min before departure
Frequency: Up to 8 sailings per day combined
UK terminal: Holyhead (LL65 1DQ) --- A55 to Holyhead Port
EU terminal: Dublin (D01 Dublin Port) --- East Wall Road from Dublin Port
Tips: Essentially a ferry bus across the Irish Sea; frequent sailings.
Liverpool to Dublin
Operators: P&O Ferries, Stena Line
Crossing time: 8 hr overnight
Check-in: 90 min before departure
Frequency: Nightly
UK terminal: Liverpool (L20 1BG) --- A5036 to Liverpool Gladstone Dock
EU terminal: Dublin (D01 Dublin Port) --- East Wall Road from Dublin Port
Overnight sailing: yes (cabins recommended)
Tips: Overnight to Dublin from the north-west; cabins recommended.
Fishguard to Rosslare
Operators: Stena Line
Crossing time: 3.5 hr
Check-in: 60 min before departure
Frequency: Up to 2 sailings per day
UK terminal: Fishguard (SA64 0BU) --- A40 to Fishguard Harbour
EU terminal: Rosslare (Y35 PH4X Rosslare Harbour) --- N25 from Rosslare
Tips: Good option for south-west Ireland tours.
Pembroke Dock to Rosslare
Operators: Irish Ferries
Crossing time: 4 hr
Check-in: 60 min before departure
Frequency: Up to 2 sailings per day
UK terminal: Pembroke Dock (SA72 6TR) --- A477 to Pembroke Dock
EU terminal: Rosslare (Y35 PH4X Rosslare Harbour) --- N25 from Rosslare
Tips: Alternative south-Wales crossing; slightly longer than Fishguard.
UK duty free allowances on your return
Personal allowances when returning to the UK from any EU country. For personal use, not resale.
- Beer: 42 litres
- Still wine: 18 litres
- Spirits: 4 litres OR sparkling wine: 9 litres (4 litres of spirits OR 9 litres of sparkling wine/fortified wine (not both at max))
- Cigarettes: 200 OR tobacco: 250 g
- Other goods: up to GBP 390
Full details: gov.uk duty-free guide.
Travelling with your dog
Microchip, rabies vaccination and a current Animal Health Certificate are required outbound. On the return leg, tapeworm treatment must be administered by a vet 1 to 5 days before boarding for the UK --- keep the signed certificate. Book pet-friendly cabins or kennels at the point of booking on any overnight sailing. See our guide to travelling with your dog for the full checklist.