Fight for the campers: Thuringia's rest areas let travelers down!

Fight for the campers: Thuringia's rest areas let travelers down!

The popularity of camping in Germany is continuously increasing. More than 15 million people prefer traveling within their own country and enjoying freedom and flexibility with the motorhome. However, a current test of the ADAC shows that the rest areas that line Thuringia's highways are not prepared for the needs of campers and motorhomes. This raises questions, especially in view of the increasing user share of these travel options.

In the study, a total of 40 rest areas were checked in 2023 and 2024. The result is sobering: in the three tested rest areas in Thuringia - Eisenach North (A4), Altenburger Land Süd (A4) and Hermsdorfer Kreuz West (A9) - there is no lack of parking spaces and supply systems for motorhomes. These shortcomings are not only annoying, but also a serious obstacle to the growing number of motorhome travelers.

parking situation inadequate

A central problem is the lack of availability of suitable parking spaces. There are neither special parking spaces for motorhomes, nor are there designed parking spaces for teams. This means that camper are forced to park their vehicles across the parking lots, which leads to traffic problems and inconvenience. "The rest areas should be adapted to the increased requirements of the motorhomes," demands Oliver Reidegeld, press spokesman for the ADAC Hessen-Thuringia.

Furthermore, the test emphasizes that important service facilities such as fresh water stations and disposal options are completely missing. Camper who are traveling often has specific needs, such as the opportunity to dispose of their waste or refill water. In order to keep up with the standards in neighboring countries, improvements must be made here.

In addition, the rest areas are insufficient with regard to the technical equipment. Electric motorhomes in particular cannot find any charging stations at the locations tested, which are accessible for charging without the trailer. This could have a negative impact on the choice of travel routes and the safety of the drivers.

growing number of camping vehicles

Statistics of the Federal Motor Transport Authority (KBA) underpin the need for adjustments. The number of camping vehicles has doubled in the past five years. Around 750,000 caravans and over 900,000 residential and motorhomes are currently on German roads. This makes it clear that the rest areas on the highways must be better prepared for the needs of these drivers.

The joint use of the parking space between truck and motorhomes creates additional problems. The crowded rest areas are a challenge, especially for truck drivers who are fighting with a lack of parking spaces anyway. In this context, it is crucial that the infrastructure meets the needs of all road users.

The demand for urgent measures to improve the rest areas is raised loudly and significantly. Motorhome travelers must have the opportunity to park safely and comfortably and to cover the basic care requirements. Further information on this topic can be obtained under adac.de/camper-rastlagen

The tested rest areas in Thuringia are an example of the general challenges that many regions in Germany have with regard to camping tourism. The ADAC expects those responsible to show a rethink soon and toast the investments into the necessary infrastructure in order to meet the camping traveler.