German rest areas,"to stay or not to stay"- please help!

[mondeoman]

Hi we're travelling from Calais to Innsbruck in July and will be splitting the journey over two days. Is it possible to stay overnight in any of the German rest areas with a caravan (we'll be two adults and two kids), if so, does anybody know of any say around Frankfurt, if not, does anyone know where I can find info on sites close to the motorway that cater for overnighters?
Thanks in anticipation!

 

[BarryB]

Hi there
There are many people who will stay for a night in the service areas. In magazines and on forums there are also many comments regarding the dangers of staying on such places. It is something we have not done and always aim to get to a site. The relatively small cost (compare to the whole holiday ) is worth it for some security and the ability to leave the 'van or outfit and walk into the town or village for a drink or a meal. The choice is yours. I hope this web link may be of use to you, it gives lists of sites near to the main motorways.
http://users.telenet.be/leo.huybrechts/snelweg.htm
Happy travels BarryB

 

[DavidKlyne]

A lot of German rest areas are no more than off motorway parking areas so will be very noisy. The bigger ones with facilities are better but I am not sure whether you can stay in them like you can in France. Also be aware that at the weekends they will be pretty full so finding a spot can be difficult. Quite a few campsites near motorways are geared up for people staying overnight and often have special areas. This one about 35kms south of Kolblenz http://www.davidklyne.co.uk/Camping_Schinderhannes.htm might suit as might this one http://www.davidklyne.co.uk/camping_waldpark_hohenstadt.htm

David

 

[DianneT]

Have you got the ACSI Camping Card if so Camping Waldpark, Hohenstadt as David mentions above is excellent for nights stop. This year we are going down to Innsbruck way on our journey to Southern Austria via Berchtesgaden. We are stopping at Oberweis near to Bitburg, Karlsruhe for one night and Fussen for 2 or 3 nights, all ACSI CC sites, as I want to go back to Fussen area have not been there for about 10 years.