Campsites

Authorized Campsites in Romania: A Practical Overview

Published: May 2, 2026 Last updated: May 2, 2026 8 min read

Caravan and camping site with pitches and facilities

Romania's campsite network is larger than most caravan travelers expect. As of early 2026, the national tourism registry maintained by the Ministry of Tourism lists over 320 authorized camping areas, distributed across all eight development regions. The challenge is not finding a campsite — it is distinguishing authorized sites with documented facilities from informal or seasonally operated locations that appear on general mapping applications.

The registration system

Romanian camping areas are classified under Order no. 65/2013 of the Ministry of Regional Development and Tourism, which defines two primary categories relevant to caravan travelers:

Category 1 (starred campsites): Must provide paved access road, individual electrical hookups (minimum 10A), dedicated grey water disposal, ablution blocks with hot water, and a minimum pitch size of 80 m². As of 2025, 94 sites hold Category 1 status.
Category 2: Requires a trafficable access road and basic sanitation facilities. Electrical hookups are optional. Pitch size minimum is 60 m². Over 230 sites are registered at this level.

Sites operating without registration are not permitted to accept caravans under Romanian tourism law. In practice, enforcement varies by region, so cross-referencing the official registry before booking is advisable.

Transylvania region

Transylvania holds the highest concentration of Category 1 campsites in Romania, driven by sustained tourism infrastructure investment since 2018. The Prahova Valley corridor — running from Sinaia north toward Predeal and Busteni — accounts for roughly 18 Category 1 sites within a 40-kilometer stretch. Access roads here are generally suitable for caravans up to 8 meters, though the DN1A between Cheia and Maneciu involves switchback gradients that require caution with units above 3.5 tonnes.

The Apuseni region (western Transylvania) has seen notable campsite development around Rimetea, Arieșeni and Padiș plateau. Arieșeni specifically now hosts three Category 1 sites with 16A hookups, GPS coordinates published in the official registry, and year-round access via DN75. Padiș-area sites operate seasonally (late May through early October) and road access above 1,100m is not recommended for caravans over 6 meters due to unpaved final approach sections.

Near Sibiu, the Marpod and Sighisoara corridors have several new registrations from 2024, including one site adjacent to a Saxon fortified church that has become a reference point in caravan travel forums.

Moldova and Bucovina

Northeastern Romania remains less developed for caravan infrastructure than Transylvania, but several well-equipped sites exist near the painted monasteries circuit. The cluster around Gura Humorului — within 20km of Voronet, Humor and Moldovita monasteries — includes two Category 1 sites open from April through October. Both offer gravel pitches with hookups and are reachable via DN17, a national road with gradients acceptable for standard caravan configurations.

The Bicaz Gorge and Lacu Rosu area presents a different scenario: scenic but access-restricted. Caravans over 7 meters are effectively excluded from the gorge road (DN12C) due to the tunnel section. Sites on the Piatra Neamt side of Bicaz can be reached without entering the gorge section and provide a practical base for day visits.

Dobrogea and the Danube Delta

The Dobrogea region, covering the Black Sea coast and Danube Delta approaches, operates a year-round campsite network. Coastal sites between Vama Veche and 2 Mai remain open through winter with reduced facilities; sites closer to Eforie Nord and Costinesti operate June through September and fill quickly in July and August.

Danube Delta access by caravan is limited to the mainland Tulcea side. Three authorized sites near Tulcea city provide full hookups and are used as staging points for boat-based delta excursions. Murighiol and Sf. Gheorghe villages have informal camping areas accessible by ferry, but these are not listed in the official registry and lack caravan-grade infrastructure.

Muntenia and Oltenia

The southern regions contain fewer dedicated caravan sites, but several well-positioned spots exist along the Olt Valley corridor and near Retezat National Park. The Retezat area sites (Cârnești, Nucșoara) are Category 2 with basic facilities; the access road to Câmpu lui Neag is paved to the village level but becomes unpaved at the final 4km approach — manageable for light caravans, inadvisable for units above 2.5 tonnes towed weight.

Along the Transfagarasan (DN7C), caravan access is technically permitted during summer opening (late June to mid-October) but the road's tight hairpins between km 104 and km 121 are challenging for units over 6 meters. Several sites near Bascov and Curtea de Arges provide full hookup facilities and serve as practical alternatives for caravan travelers wishing to visit the Transfagarasan by day vehicle.

Standard facilities checklist

When evaluating any registered Romanian campsite for caravan use, the following points are worth confirming directly with the operator before arrival:

Maximum caravan length and towed weight accepted
Electrical hookup amperage (10A vs 16A; European CEE 17 connector standard)
Grey water disposal point location and capacity
Fresh water tap accessibility from pitch
Chemical toilet disposal (ELSAN point or equivalent)
Road surface type and last recorded maintenance date
GPS coordinates from the registry vs. what mapping apps show (discrepancies are common)

Seasonal availability notes

The Romanian campsite calendar runs roughly from Easter weekend (late March / early April) through October 31 for most Category 1 mountain sites. Coastal Dobrogea sites follow a tighter June–September window aligned with beach tourism. Year-round operation is found mainly at lower altitudes in Prahova Valley and at sites near major cities (Cluj-Napoca, Brasov, Sibiu) that serve transit travelers.

Spring opening dates are not always published in advance. A call or email to the operator in early April confirms current status more reliably than checking the registry, which is updated annually rather than in real time.