Frankfurt's advantage is not the city. It is the intersection of motorways that the city sits on.

The A3 runs northeast to Würzburg and the Romantic Road and southeast to Nuremberg and the Bavarian Alps. The A5 runs south to Heidelberg and the Black Forest and north to Giessen and the Sauerland. The A66 runs west to the Rheingau and Rhine Gorge. The A661 runs north to the Taunus. The A45 runs northeast to the Siegerland and Sauerland. No other campervan depot in Germany has this specific combination of five diverging Autobahn connections covering this range of landscapes within two hours. The consequence for an RV traveller is that Frankfurt functions equally well as a starting point for a Rhine wine and gorge trip, a Romantic Road circuit, a Taunus mountain base, a Black Forest approach, or a multi-country routing west into Luxembourg and Alsace.

Frankfurt Airport (FRA) reinforces the advantage. Landing at FRA, taking the S-Bahn S8/S9 to Frankfurt Hauptbahnhof (15 minutes, €5.10 single, every 15 minutes from 4:30 a.m.), and collecting a vehicle from a Frankfurt pick up centre in the same afternoon is a reliable, tested sequence that thousands of Indie Campers customers use annually as a direct fly-in Europe road trip start. No other German location is connected to its international airport with equivalent frequency and cost.

Unlimited mileage: The Rhine Gorge round trip from Frankfurt covers approximately 300 kilometres. The full Romantic Road from Frankfurt to Füssen and back is 1,200 kilometres. No daily kilometre cap means neither route requires shortened itinerary planning.

One-way hires across 100+ locations: Pick up in Frankfurt, drop off in Amsterdam, Berlin, Munich, Stuttgart, Zurich, or any Indie Campers European location. The Frankfurt-to-Amsterdam one-way (450 km via A3/Dutch A12, 4 hours 30 minutes) is one of the most popular European fly-in one-way combinations in the entire network, connecting Germany's main international hub to the Netherlands' river and tulip field circuit.

24/7 road assistance: Included on every booking. The Mosel valley and Rhine Gorge secondary roads are remote enough that breakdown cover has genuine value; it is not a formality.

Basic Protection Plan included: Active from the first day. Upgrade options available at booking.

Flexible cancellation available: Cancel up to 31 days before pick-up without penalty.

Book now, pay later: Reserve the vehicle today with no immediate full payment required.

Spring (March to May)
Temperatures: 4-18°C (39-64°F)

The Rheingau and Mosel vineyard roads produce the year's first colour change in April as the bud-break runs from valley-floor south-facing slopes upward through March and into late April on the higher slate terraces. The Mosel Weinblüte (vine flowering) in late May produces a sharp anise-and-honey scent that carries across the valley roads; it lasts approximately two weeks. The Rhine Gorge is at its least crowded in April and early May before the river cruise season peaks. The Taunus Feldberg summit is accessible from early April; snow is possible on the summit plateau in March and occasional in April. Black Forest high-altitude sites (for Frankfurt-south routing) open progressively from May 1st.

Best for: Rheingau and Mosel vine flowering, Rhine Gorge before summer cruise crowds, Würzburg Residence without peak queues.
Skip if: You want warm evenings outdoors in the Rhine Gorge. April temperatures drop to 4-8°C after dark; bring layering.

Summer (June to August)
Temperatures: 18-30°C (64-86°F)

The Frankfurt basin runs hot in July and August; city temperatures reach 32-35°C on peak days. The Rhine Gorge campsites at river level are 4-5°C cooler than Frankfurt. The Taunus plateau above 600 metres is 8-12°C cooler than the Main basin, making a Großer Feldberg morning the single best Frankfurt-area summer heat escape. Rhine Gorge river swimming is possible at designated spots near Bacharach and Boppard; the Rhine current is strong enough that designated swimmer entry points (not random riverbank entry) are essential. Mosel water temperature reaches 20-22°C in July and August at the Cochem bend. Bodensee-calibre campsite forward booking applies to the Rhine riverfront sites from Bingen to Koblenz in July and August: book 6-8 weeks ahead.

Best for: Full Mosel and Rhine Gorge campsite availability, Bacharach and Rüdesheim wine festivals, warm Mosel swimming, Städel Museum summer evening openings.
Skip if: You are heat-sensitive and planning extended time in Frankfurt city. Collect the vehicle and go west.

Autumn (September to October)
Temperatures: 8-22°C (46-72°F)

The Riesling harvest on the Rheingau and Mosel runs from late September through late October. The Mosel harvest is later than the Rheingau by approximately 2-3 weeks due to the valley's higher elevation and more northern latitude. Cellar doors across both appellations run Federweißer (partially fermented new wine) tasting from mid-September through October; the Federweißer is served with Zwiebelkuchen (onion tart) at Rhine and Mosel wine taverns from September 1st as a seasonal pairing so specific to the region that restaurants mark it on chalkboards. The Rhine Gorge autumn foliage peaks in mid-October, when the terraced vineyard slopes turn gold and amber above the river. Campsite prices on the Rhine and Mosel drop 25-35% after the first week of September.

Best for: Wine harvest, Federweißer and Zwiebelkuchen at riverside taverns, Rhine and Mosel autumn colour, all Rhine Gorge castle visits without summer queues, Cochem Reichsburg with empty courtyards.
Skip if: You need consistently warm evenings without a fleece layer. October nights on the Rhine drop to 6-10°C.

Winter (November to February)
Temperatures: -2 to 7°C (28-45°F)

The Frankfurter Weihnachtsmarkt on the Römerberg runs from the last week of November through December 23rd, with 200 stalls and glühwein served in the half-timbered square under the Römer city hall gable. The market dates in document form to 1393, making it the oldest city Christmas market in Germany with a continuous recorded history. The Rhine Gorge road is open year-round; snow is rare below 300 metres on the gorge floor but can occur in January and February on the plateau above. The Taunus above 700 metres carries snow reliably from December through February, and cross-country ski trails operate at the Großer Feldberg when snowpack is sufficient.

Best for: Frankfurt Weihnachtsmarkt (one of the oldest in Germany), Würzburg Residence winter opening with smaller crowds, Taunus cross-country skiing in snow years.
Skip if: You plan the Rhine Gorge as your primary destination in January or February. Mosel and Rhine riverside campsite infrastructure is limited in winter; confirm openings before routing.

The most popular months for Frankfurt campervan hires are June, July, August, and September.

3 to 5 Days

Rhine Gorge and Rheingau Circuit (approx. 380 km, 4 days)

• Day 1: Frankfurt city. Städel Museum morning (book at staedelmuseum.de; allow 3 hours minimum). Römerberg and Goethe-Haus afternoon. Sachsenhausen Apfelwein evening before pickup day. Collect vehicle next morning.
• Day 2: Frankfurt west via A66 to Eltville (50 km, 40 minutes). Kloster Eberbach morning (€10 adults, cellar tasting included). Drive the Rheingau Weinstraße to Rüdesheim (25 km, 30 minutes along the river road). Drosselgasse walk. Rhine car ferry to Bingen. Pick up the B9 north toward Bacharach (20 km, 25 minutes). Overnight at riverside campsite near Bacharach.
• Day 3: B9 north through the gorge: Loreley east bank viewpoint (GPS: 50.1344° N, 7.7236° E), Burg Rheinfels, St. Goar. Marksburg Castle (GPS: 50.2693° N, 7.6388° E, €9 adults) in the afternoon. Boppard riverside overnight.
• Day 4: Boppard to Koblenz Deutsches Eck (GPS: 50.3635° N, 7.5938° E, free), the point where the Mosel meets the Rhine beneath the Ehrenbreitstein fortress. Koblenz northwest via A61 to A66 back east to Frankfurt (120 km, 1 hour 15 minutes). Return vehicle.

Taunus and Romantic Road Quick Run (approx. 340 km, 3 days)

• Day 1: Frankfurt north via B8 to Großer Feldberg (45 km, 50 minutes). Summit walk and Taunus forest circuit. Saalburg Roman Fort afternoon (GPS: 50.2586° N, 8.5029° E, €7 adults). Overnight at Taunus plateau Stellplatz.
• Day 2: Taunus east via A3 to Würzburg (120 km, 1 hour 15 minutes). Residenz morning. Main river Stellplatz overnight in Würzburg.
• Day 3: Würzburg south via Romantic Road B19 to Rothenburg ob der Tauber (70 km, 1 hour). Town wall walk and St.-Jakobs-Kirche. A7 southwest and A3 back to Frankfurt (200 km, 2 hours). Return vehicle.

7 to 10 Days

Frankfurt Triangle: Rhine Gorge, Mosel, and Eifel (approx. 750 km, 8 days)

• Day 1: Frankfurt city. Städel Museum, Römerberg, Sachsenhausen evening. Provision at Kleinmarkthalle before collecting vehicle.
• Day 2: Frankfurt west to Rheingau (50 km, 40 minutes). Kloster Eberbach morning. Rüdesheim and Rhine ferry to Bingen afternoon. Overnight near Bacharach.
• Day 3: Rhine Gorge B9 north: Loreley viewpoint, Burg Rheinfels, Marksburg Castle, Boppard. Overnight Boppard.
• Day 4: Koblenz Deutsches Eck morning. West via A61 to Cochem on the Mosel (50 km, 40 minutes). Reichsburg Castle afternoon. Overnight Cochem riverside.
• Day 5: Mosel west via B49 to Burg Eltz (30 km, 35 minutes, GPS: 50.2003° N, 7.3361° E, €12 adults). Afternoon west to Bernkastel-Kues (80 km, 1 hour). Marktplatz and cellar door tastings. Overnight Bernkastel-Kues.
• Day 6: Bernkastel north via B53 and B49 to Trier (60 km, 1 hour). Porta Nigra (GPS: 49.7565° N, 6.6417° E, €6 adults), the best-preserved Roman city gate north of the Alps, built approximately 180 AD. Trier Cathedral (GPS: 49.7558° N, 6.6440° E, free exterior, €3 treasury), Germany's oldest bishop's church, consecrated in 380 AD. Overnight Trier Moselle riverside.
• Day 7: Trier northeast via A64/A1/A48 through the Eifel to Nürburg (150 km, 1 hour 30 minutes). Nürburgring Ring Werk museum (GPS: 50.3370° N, 6.9435° E, €15 adults; the 20.8-kilometre Nordschleife circuit is occasionally open for public driving sessions at €33+/lap, check nurburgring.de). Overnight near Nürburg.
• Day 8: Nürburg east via A61 and A3 to Frankfurt (200 km, 2 hours). Return vehicle.

14 Days or More

Frankfurt to Amsterdam One-Way via Rhine and Mosel (approx. 1,300 km, 14 days)

• Days 1-2: Frankfurt city. Städel Museum, Goethe-Haus, Römerberg, Sachsenhausen tavern circuit. Kleinmarkthalle provisioning morning of pickup.
• Days 3-4: Rheingau: Kloster Eberbach, Rüdesheim, Rhine ferry to Bingen.
• Days 5-6: Rhine Gorge north to Koblenz: Loreley, Marksburg Castle, Burg Rheinfels.
• Days 7-8: Mosel: Cochem, Burg Eltz, Bernkastel-Kues.
• Days 9-10: Mosel west to Trier. Roman monuments: Porta Nigra, Amphitheatre (GPS: 49.7467° N, 6.6492° E, €4 adults), Kaiserthermen (GPS: 49.7454° N, 6.6379° E, €4 adults). Luxembourg City (50 km northwest via A64 and Luxembourgish A6, 40 minutes): the Luxembourg Bock promontory fortifications (GPS: 49.6122° N, 6.1344° E, €10 adults; 23 kilometres of rock-cut casemate tunnels dug from 1644 onward by Vauban's military engineers).
• Days 11-12: Luxembourg north via Belgian E25 to Ardennes: Bastogne War Museum (GPS: 49.9954° N, 5.7094° E, €15 adults), covering the 1944 Battle of the Bulge and the 101st Airborne Division winter encirclement in December and January 1944-45. Overnight near Bastogne or in the Ourthe valley.
• Days 13-14: Ardennes northwest via Belgian A26 and E40 to Brussels (150 km, 1 hour 30 minutes). Brussels Grand-Place (GPS: 50.8467° N, 4.3522° E, free), the most complete Baroque guild hall square in Northern Europe. Brussels to Amsterdam via Belgian and Dutch A16/A4 (200 km, 2 hours). Drop off at the Indie Campers Amsterdam depot.

Fuel Stations

Frankfurt city prices consistently undercut Autobahn service stations by 8-12 cents per litre. Fill in the city or at the city fringe before any Autobahn leg.

• Jet, Hanauer Landstraße, Frankfurt-Ostend: East of the city centre on the A661 approach; accessible for campervans, competitive pricing.
• Aral, Mörfelder Landstraße, Frankfurt-Sachsenhausen: South of the Main on the airport corridor approach; pull-through accessible for large vehicles.
• Before the Rhine Gorge: Fill at Bingen (A60 junction, several stations within 500 metres of the B9 entry). No fuel stations on the B9 between Bacharach and St. Goar; fill before descending to the gorge road.
• Before Switzerland (if routing south to Stuttgart and onward): Fill at Singen (A81, 30 km north of the Swiss border). Swiss pump prices run approximately €0.25-0.35/litre above southern German prices.
• Luxembourg: Diesel approximately €0.15-0.20/litre cheaper than Germany; fill at any Luxembourg motorway service station if routing west.
• Average fuel price in Germany (2025 estimate): €1.75-1.90/litre diesel; €1.80-1.95/litre petrol.

LPG/Propane Refill

• Aral, Hanauer Landstraße, Frankfurt-Ostend: LPG available.
• Shell, Mörfelder Landstraße, Frankfurt-Süd: LPG available.
• Before the Rhine Gorge B9: LPG at Bingen. No LPG on the gorge road between Bacharach and Koblenz; fill before descending.
• Mosel routing: LPG at Koblenz and Trier. Confirm station addresses via ADAC app before departure.
• Average LPG price in Germany: approximately €0.70-0.85/kg (2025 estimate).

Dump Stations (Entsorgungsstationen)

• All ADAC-rated Rhine Gorge riverside campsites between Bacharach and Boppard include grey and black water dump stations.
• Mosel riverside Stellplätze at Cochem and Bernkastel-Kues include dump facilities at the pitch.
• Taunus plateau Stellplätze at Bad Homburg and Königstein.
• Use Park4Night and Camping.info to locate Entsorgungsstationen along your specific route.

Essential Apps

• Park4Night: Highest-density Stellplatz database for the Rhine Gorge, Rheingau, and Mosel regions; essential for legal overnight spots off the main campsite network.
• Camping.info: Primary German campsite database for ADAC-rated Rhine and Mosel sites; filter by vehicle length and hookup type.
• ADAC App: Real-time traffic including A3 Frankfurt-to-Würzburg Friday afternoon congestion and fuel pricing across Frankfurt stations.
• Outdooractive: Best trail mapping for the Taunus (Feldberg summit trails and the Rothaarsteig); download the Hessen section before leaving Frankfurt.
• Google Maps offline (Hessen, Rhineland-Palatinate, Mosel Valley, Luxembourg, Netherlands): Download all relevant state maps before departure. Cell service drops on the Mosel B49 in the deeper valley bends between Cochem and Trier.
• vignette.ch: Swiss motorway vignette (CHF 40) if routing south. Not required for the Rhine and Mosel circuit within Germany.

Age and Licence Requirements

Minimum hire age: 21 years.

EU licence holders: Valid in Germany, Switzerland, Austria, France, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, and Belgium without additional documentation.

International visitors (non-EU): An International Driving Permit (IDP) alongside your national licence is recommended for Germany and required in Switzerland for non-EU licence holders. Obtain your IDP before departure.

Credit Card and Deposit

A credit card in the primary driver's name is required at pickup. The security deposit amount varies by vehicle class and protection plan.

Reservation Systems

• German campsites: Camping.info or ADAC Camping portal; Rhine Gorge sites often book directly through their own websites.
• Städel Museum: Book at staedelmuseum.de. Thursday evening visits (until 9:00 p.m.) are the least crowded.
• Kloster Eberbach tasting: Book at kloster-eberbach.de for group cellar tours; individual tasting is walk-in during opening hours.
• Marksburg Castle guided tour: Runs hourly; walk-in admission at the castle gate.
• Burg Eltz: Walk-in admission April through November; arrive before 10:00 a.m. on summer weekends to avoid group tour queues.
• Bernkastel-Kueser Weinfest (early September): Campsite booking 4-5 months ahead for this window.

Speed Limits

• Frankfurt city (within the A5/A66/A661 ring): 50 km/h standard; 30 km/h in Tempo-30 zones covering most residential streets and an expanding number of the Sachsenhausen and Westend district roads.
• Rural B-roads (Rhine Gorge B9, Mosel B49, Rheingau Weinstraße): 100 km/h on open sections; 50 km/h through village zones.
• Autobahn: Advisory 130 km/h; no statutory limit on unrestricted sections; 80-120 km/h in construction zones and managed-speed sections.
• Campervans over 3.5 tonnes: 80 km/h on rural roads, 100 km/h on Autobahn. Verify your vehicle's registered weight at depot pickup.
• Switzerland: 80 km/h on rural roads, 100 km/h on expressways, 120 km/h on Autobahn. Enforcement is significantly stricter than in Germany; the Swiss threshold before a fine is issued is 10 km/h over the limit.

Road Conditions

• A3 (Frankfurt to Würzburg, Frankfurt to Cologne via Koblenz): Four lanes, excellent surface. The Frankfurter Kreuz interchange (A3/A5) has managed-speed sections during peak hours; follow electronic signage.
• A5 (Frankfurt to Heidelberg and south): Four lanes, good surface. Ongoing construction sections near Darmstadt; check ADAC app before southbound departure.
• A66 (Frankfurt to Rheingau and Rhine Gorge approach): Four lanes to Wiesbaden, two lanes west of Wiesbaden toward Rüdesheim; good surface throughout.
• Rhine Gorge B9 and B42: Two lanes, good paved surface, year-round. Village passages require reduced speed and width awareness. No restrictions on the riverside road outside village sections.
• Mosel B49 and B53: Two lanes, good surface. Village passages at Beilstein, Alken, and Ediger-Eller have sub-3-metre width points in the old town lanes; remain on the riverside B49 throughout.
• Taunus approach roads (B8, B275): Paved, good surface, 10-12% gradient on the upper Feldberg approach. All standard campervans handle this grade in second gear.

Driving Culture

The Autobahn right-lane rule (§7 StVO): right lane when not overtaking, return immediately after passing. Hessen (Frankfurt's Bundesland) is consistent in Autobahn enforcement; tailgating in the left lane is a §6 StVO offence with a €100 minimum fine.

Frankfurt's city tram network (U-Bahn and Straßenbahn) has surface crossings on Schweizer Straße, Berger Straße, and the Sachsenhäuser Ufer riverbank road where campervans must yield before completing turns; trams have unconditional right of way on surface crossings.

Rhine ferry note: The Rüdesheim-Bingen ferry handles standard campervans. Approach the ferry ramp at low speed; the ramp gradient is approximately 8-10% onto the car deck. The ferry attendant will position your vehicle; follow their instructions rather than self-positioning.

RV-Specific Notes

Frankfurt city centre car parks: Clear 1.9-2.2 metres. Do not attempt the Taunus Anlage underground parks or the Römerberg parking structures with a campervan. Park at the Messe Frankfurt parkhaus (western fringe) or at P+R facilities on the S-Bahn fringe and use the S-Bahn for city centre access. A RMV day ticket (€8.10) covers unlimited S-Bahn, U-Bahn, and tram travel within Frankfurt city zones.

Height: The Frankfurt underpass network on the Baseler Straße and Hanauer Landstraße has sections clearing 2.8-3.2 metres; check your vehicle height at depot pickup and use the above-ground route on the B3 ring road for any campervan over 3 metres.

Length: Standard Indie Campers campervans up to 7.5 metres are suitable for all main routing from Frankfurt. Rhine Gorge Stellplatz access tracks vary; check Park4Night for vehicle length limits at individual sites.

Weight: The Römerberg area cobblestoned surface is not load-rated for campervans. Do not drive into the pedestrianised Römerberg square regardless of navigation instructions.

RV hire: €700-1,800 (varies by vehicle size and season; July and August add 20-35% above shoulder-season rates; book 2-3 months ahead for peak-season dates)

Fuel: €120-220 (diesel approximately €1.85/litre; typical weekly distance on a Rhine Gorge and Rheingau circuit is 500-700 km; 50-70 litres at current prices)

LPG/Propane: €10-30 (single mid-trip refill if needed; fill in Frankfurt or Bingen before the gorge road)

Tolls: €0-80 (€0 on all German Autobahn; Swiss motorway vignette CHF 40 / approximately €41 if routing south toward Stuttgart and Switzerland; Austrian vignette from €9.90/10 days if routing to Vorarlberg; Luxembourg and Netherlands: no tolls; France A35: no toll on Strasbourg approach)

Campgrounds: €105-350 (€15-50/night x 7; Taunus and Rheingau Stellplätze at the low end €5-15/night via Park4Night; Rhine Gorge and Mosel riverside ADAC-rated sites at the higher end in July and August)

Food: €175-450 (self-catering from Kleinmarkthalle and Rewe approximately €35/day; mixed cooking and Rhine or Mosel wine tavern evenings approximately €60/day; full restaurant meals €90+/day)

Activities: €30-120 (Städel €18; Goethe-Haus €10; Römerberg/Dom free; Marksburg €9; Loreley viewpoint free; Burg Rheinfels €5; Burg Eltz €12; Kloster Eberbach €10; Saalburg Roman Fort €7; Königstein Fortress €8)

Parking: €0-20 (Rheingau, Rhine Gorge, and Mosel Stellplätze €5-15/night; Frankfurt city centre not practical for campervans; P+R on S-Bahn fringe €2-5/day)

Budget: approx. €900 -- Compact vehicle, self-catering from Kleinmarkthalle and Kaufland, Stellplätze on the Rheingau wine route and Rhine Gorge at €5-15/night via Park4Night, German-only routing with no Swiss or Austrian vignette, free attractions (Loreley viewpoint, Römerberg, Burg Rheinfels exterior, Rhine and Mosel riverbank walks), one Städel Museum entry.

Mid-range: approx. €1,750 -- Mid-size vehicle, mix of self-catering and three Rhine or Mosel wine tavern evenings, Rheingau and Rhine Gorge ADAC campgrounds with hookups, one Mosel riverside site, Marksburg and Burg Eltz castle entries, Kloster Eberbach tasting, Kleinmarkthalle provisioning.

Premium: approx. €3,000+ -- Larger motorhome, restaurant meals including Mosel fish evenings and Rüdesheim Weingut tasting dinners, Rhine Gorge prime-season lakefront pitches, Swiss motorway extension to Basel or Zurich, Luxembourg and Belgian Ardennes extension, Würzburg Residence and Romantic Road full itinerary, one-way drop-off in Amsterdam or Berlin.

Frankfurt trips sit at the mid-to-lower end of German RV trip costs: no Alpine road tolls on the domestic circuit, Rhineland-Palatinate campsite pricing is competitive with Bavaria, and the Mosel Stellplätze network is among the most affordable and densest in Central Europe. The cost rises when extending south into Switzerland or west into Luxembourg and Belgium.

Frankfurt → Amsterdam (450 km, 4 hours 30 minutes via A3 and Dutch A12): The most popular Frankfurt one-way in the Indie Campers network. The A3 northwest via Cologne to the Dutch border, then the A12 to Amsterdam. Natural stops: Cologne Cathedral (GPS: 50.9413° N, 6.9583° E, free exterior, tower €6 adults, 180 km from Frankfurt via A3, 1 hour 45 minutes), the Rhine Gorge north section, and the Dutch tulip field corridor in April and May. Drop off at the Indie Campers Amsterdam.

Frankfurt → Berlin (550 km, 4 hours 45 minutes via A5/A9 or A3/A9): Northeast via Nuremberg (230 km, 2 hours) and the A9 north. Natural stop: Nuremberg Kaiserburg (GPS: 49.4582° N, 11.0819° E, €9 adults), the largest medieval imperial castle complex in Germany. Drop off at the Indie Campers Berlin.

Frankfurt → Munich (400 km, 3 hours 30 minutes via A3 or A9): East via Würzburg and Nuremberg, or southeast via the A5 and A96. The Würzburg Residence (UNESCO, €9 adults) and Rothenburg ob der Tauber make the A3 routing the more scenic choice. Drop off at the Indie Campers Munich.

Frankfurt → Stuttgart (200 km, 2 hours via A5 or A6/A81): South through Heidelberg or the Kraichgau corridor. Heidelberg Schloss (GPS: 49.4099° N, 8.7153° E, €9 adults; 90 km from Frankfurt via A5, 55 minutes) as a half-day stop before the Stuttgart depot drop-off. Drop off at the Indie Campers Stuttgart.

Frankfurt → Zurich (440 km, 3 hours 45 minutes via A5 and Swiss A3): South through the Black Forest to Basel and the Swiss A3. Natural stop: Freiburg im Breisgau (GPS: 47.9952° N, 7.8524° E, 290 km from Frankfurt, Freiburger Münster free exterior, tower €2 adults). Swiss motorway vignette required (CHF 40). Drop off at the Indie Campers Zurich.

One-way fees vary by route and season. Confirm availability and pricing at indiecampers.com at the time of booking.

Two arguments. The airport and the geography.

FRA is where more international travellers arrive in Germany than at any other airport. If you are flying in from North America, East Asia, or the Middle East to start a European road trip, your most likely first ground in Europe is Terminal 1 or Terminal 2 at Frankfurt Airport. The S-Bahn takes 15 minutes and €5.10 to put you in the city centre. From there, the depot is your next stop and the Rhine Gorge is 50 minutes of driving beyond it. No other European campervan hub has an equivalent fly-in-to-driving sequence in terms of friction removed.

The geographic argument is the Rhine. From Frankfurt, you are upstream of the entire Middle Rhine UNESCO site, with the current running in your direction (west, toward the gorge) and the best Rhine valley campsite inventory in Germany strung along the 65-kilometre gorge at 15-kilometre intervals. Turn west out of Frankfurt and you reach the single most densely castle-populated river valley in the world within the first hour of driving. Turn northeast and you reach the Romantic Road gateway at Würzburg in the same hour. Turn northwest and you are in the Mosel within 75 minutes.

The morning before departure, walk to the Kleinmarkthalle when it opens at 8:00 a.m. Buy Frankfurter Würstchen, Rheingau Riesling by the bottle, and the seven-herb Grüne Soße mix from the herb stall. Without traffic, the drive from the Kleinmarkthalle to the first Rhine Gorge viewpoint near Bacharach takes 55 minutes on the A66 and B9. You will be parked above the river by mid-morning with the Loreley cliff visible across the current and the castle towers on both banks above you. That sequence is specific to a Frankfurt pickup, and it is the specific reason to collect the vehicle on day one rather than spending day one on a train to somewhere else.