9 camping destinations near Stuttgart

Holidays in your own area. Haven't we heard and done that all too often in recent years? Maybe. But we also think that home is the most beautiful place. And we don't mean our own four walls. We simply replaced them with four walls you can take on the road: a camper. This turns a holiday in your own area into a real road trip adventure!

We show you what Stuttgart's surroundings have to offer. There's a lot to discover - and all that with just one full tank! This means you can travel low-budget despite rising fuel prices. Furthermore, compared to a flight you'll leave a vanishingly small ecological footprint and will have so much fun.

So the next adventure is only a tankful away. Our largest camper model, the VW Grand California, has a capacity of 80 litres of fuel. If you drive in an environmentally friendly way you can travel over 900 km.

And within this radius you'll find a lot of places around Stuttgart that have so much to offer - from vineyards to lakes to Strasbourg in France and back to Stuttgart via the Swabian Alb and various fairytale castles. Are you ready for our 9 destination tips near Stuttgart?

There are three lakes not far away from Stuttgart and they are the perfect destinations for your trip: Lake Bärensee, Lake Neue See and Lake Pfaffensee. The three reservoirs are nestled in an idyllic park with birch trees and weeping willows and are perfect for a day trip from Stuttgart. There are several swimming opportunities and the extensive landscape is perfect for cycling as well.

Adjacent to the lakes is a park for red deers and wild boars. You can watch the animals on an extensive walk and then enjoy the lake view with a cup of coffee and cake in the ´Bärenschlössle`.

You haven't been to Stuttgart if you haven't gone on a hike through a vineyard! Instead of the popular routes near Stuttgart we'll give you an insider tip: the Felsengarten tour near Besigheim.

Only 33 km from Stuttgart the hike winds through the vineyards along the Neckar promenade through breathtaking gorges and impresses with sweeping views of the vine and rock scenery. You can take a break in the rustic Besigheim to enjoy a glass of wine and Maultaschen. The tour is approx. 18 km long and you should take abound 5 hours.Click here for the exact directions.

Get out of the city and into the countryside! The Black Forest is 60 km away from Stuttgart and is a versatile destination. Bad Wildbad is located in the north of the Black Forest and is the perfect starting point for various excursions.

For active campers, there are around 250 km of signposted hiking trails in the area. Some of them can also be explored by bike. If you're travelling with children you should definitely visit the tree-top walk. Here you're even closer to the sun and walk over the majestic treetops of the Black Forest. Bad Wildbad offers a lot of thermal baths that invite you to relax.

Camping tip: There are also pitches near town which are located in an idyllic part. So you're practically at the gates of the city and yet in the countryside.

The trip from Stuttgart to Strasbourg is the longest with 150 km - but you get rewarded with French cheese and wine. The small town in Alsace is one of the most popular destinations in Europe and is the link between German and French culture. This is also reflected in the extraordinary architecture. In addition to Strasbourg Cathedral you should definitely cross the 21 bridges and footbridges in the Tanners' Quarter, stroll through the New Town and take a raft trip through the wetland Le Grand Ried.

Camping tip: We recommend to camp in the urban nature park.

Back in Baden Württemberg, Tübingen is one of the most popular destinations near Stuttgart. The lively atmosphere in the student city is infectious and there are many attractions and hidden corners to discover in the half-timbered old town. If you want to go out into the countryside you can take a trip to the Schönbuch Nature Park. It's particularly beautiful in spring when flowers are blossoming but it's worth a trip at any time of year.

Camping tip: The camping site Neckar Camping is located at the waterfront and not far from Tübingen.

If you want to see the mountains you don't have to travel far. The Swabian Alb is basically on Stuttgart's doorstep...48 km away.

Here, you can go on a hike to the waterfall in Bad Urach. You can leave your camper or car at the Maisenbach car park and start the 4 km hike from there - the route is also suitable for families with children and dogs. If you're up for a bigger challenge you can extend your tour as well.

The waterfall at Bad Urach is one of the most impressive ones in Germany with a height of 37 m. The water makes its way through mossy rocks and then down into the valley and you can also marvel at the natural stone stairs.

Camping tip: You can park your camper at the camper site or campsite in Bad Urach. Click here for more information.

You can go on wonderful hikes at the Hohenurachsteig which is situated 45 km from Stuttgart. Several tours start from the Park & Ride car park in Bad Urach. We recommend the 7.5 km round trip to the castle ruin. The route winds across meadows, through forests and over rocks up to the ruins. At the top you can enjoy the breathtaking view over the valley.

The hike should take about 2.5 hours but you can also take more time to have a picnic next to the castle and enjoy the sun.

Camping tip: It's best to combine the hike with a visit to the waterfall and stay overnight at one of the campsites mentioned above.

The majestic Hohenzollern Castle lies the midst of the Swabian Alb at an altitude of over 800 metres. It's one of the highlights that can easily be reached from Stuttgart.

In the 19th century, Friedrich Wilhelm IV of Prussia built the castle as a family residence. Today, the castle is still privately owned by the Hohenzollern dynasty. Therefore, all the rooms are still in the best condition. A visit feels like being on a journey back to the era of kings and princesses.

Let's move on and talk about food: We can recommend the castle's own café/restaurant. It serves local dishes and in spring and summer you can sit outside in one of the most beautiful beer gardens in the area.

Camping tip: You can stay at the Zollernalbcampingcampsite and enjoy a nice view of the castle.

Lichtenstein Castle should definitely be on your to-do list of places to visit near Stuttgart! It's located near Hohenzollern Castle and just 60 km from Stuttgart. It is rightly called the fairy-tale castle of Württemberg. The late-romantic style castle was built on a rock in the middle of the 19th century, based on a novel. You can marvel at the rooms on a 30-minute guided tour and enjoy the view afterwards.

Camping tip: You can stay overnight at the Lichtenstein car park which lies below the castle.

Our conclusion: There are nice places close to home! You can stay close to Stuttgart and can have a nice holiday with various things to do: You can see beautiful towns, go hiking in varied landscapes and visit fairytale castles. If you combine all 9 destinations you'll travel approx. 500km and can still extend your road trip if you feel like it. So nothing stands in the way of your road trip around Stuttgart with just one full tank!