Guides
Driving to Europa-Park: access, parking and what it really costs
A car settles the timing question. It raises three others — including one nobody plans for: getting out of the car park at closing time.
Europa-Park's car park holds around 15,000 spaces and costs €10 a day, €15 for a campervan. ReserveParken, closer to the entrance, is €22. Parking is free for guests of the park hotels, and charging points are available in the main car park. No German emissions sticker is needed. Figures recorded in September 2026 — check before you travel.
The route, and the emissions sticker question
The A5 motorway runs directly past Rust; exit 57b serves the resort. Coming from Alsace, you take the A35 south, cross the Rhine — the Pierre-Pflimlin bridge south of Strasbourg, or Marckolsheim further down — then join the A5. On the emissions sticker, the answer is clear and reassures most visitors driving in from France: it is not needed. Baden-Württemberg's low-emission zones are in Stuttgart, Pforzheim and Ludwigsburg, motorways are excluded from them anyway, and the exit serving Rust lies in none of them.
Hiring a car, or not
This is where the arithmetic usually goes wrong. A hire car makes sense if you plan to tour Alsace and the Black Forest for several days. For a return trip to the park, it adds the rental itself, fuel, the car park, and driving on the right after a full day of rides — for two journeys. Add the pickup and drop-off at the airport, and the comparison against a fixed transfer fare narrows sharply.
What nobody plans for: getting out
Fifteen thousand spaces is a small town. In the morning they fill gradually, over three hours. At closing time they empty all at once. Add the state you are in after eight hours of walking and rides, with tired children in the back and an hour's drive ahead. That is the moment a car stops being an advantage — and it is the one moment you cannot move.
If you would rather not drive
| Town | Distance | Journey time | Saloon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Strasbourg | 55 km | 50 min | 135 € |
Distances and journey times calculated on the actual road route, excluding traffic. Prices include VAT, cover the vehicle, and are fixed before you book. Parking figures recorded in September 2026 — check with the park.
Frequently asked questions
How much is parking at Europa-Park?
€10 a day in the main car park, €15 for a campervan, and €22 for ReserveParken closer to the entrance. Parking is free for guests of the park hotels. Figures recorded in September 2026.
Do you need a German emissions sticker for Europa-Park?
No. The motorway exit serving Rust is not inside a low-emission zone, and German motorways are excluded from them in any case. The zones in Baden-Württemberg are in Stuttgart, Pforzheim and Ludwigsburg.
Are there EV charging points at Europa-Park?
Yes, in the main car park. Given around 15,000 spaces, it is worth not making your return journey depend on one being free.
Which motorway exit for Europa-Park?
Exit 57b Rust on the A5, which serves the resort directly. There are no tolls on the route.
Prefer a private transfer?
From Strasbourg: picked up where you are, and a return that works after the park closes.
See the transfer from Strasbourg