📊 Day 10 Quick Trip Stats
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Distance Covered: 200 Miles (Andermatt to Innsbruck)
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Countries Crossed: 3 (Switzerland ➔ Liechtenstein ➔ Austria) in under 1 hour!
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Major Landmark: 15.5 km Arlberg Tunnel (Arlbergtunnel)
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Travel Companions: The crew, Steven, Suzanne, Frankie & Tilly 🐶🐶
Morning Observations: Crossing Switzerland on Route 8
We kicked off Day 10 of our European motorhome adventure leaving the high-mountain pass town of Andermatt, Switzerland, bound for Innsbruck, Austria. Cruising along Route 8 across Switzerland offered scenery that was nothing short of spectacular, immaculate chalets, serene alpine lakes (often dubbed the Swiss Riviera), and pristine mountain slopes.
One thing you notice instantly while touring Switzerland is the proud local culture: every village, town, and city is adorned with Swiss flags. But equal to the scenery is the motoring culture. The sheer volume of sports cars and motorbikes whipping around the mountain passes was unbelievable! In a single convoy, we spotted a Lamborghini, Ferrari, Porsche, and Aston Martin tearing up the mountain bends alongside Ducati and BMW motorbikes.
"We wouldn't even know how to travel on these roads in Britain, they'd be blocked up! The road engineering here is built purely for purpose: efficient, clean, neat, and smooth from A to B."
3 Countries in Under an Hour & The Arlberg Tunnel
The absolute headline highlight of today’s drive was crossing three countries in less than an hour! We journeyed from Switzerland into Liechtenstein—a tiny alpine principality—and then directly into Austria.
It sparked a lively debate in the motorhome about Liechtenstein's unique status as a sovereign country versus a regional territory (like Catalonia). Crossing into Austria brought an immediate visual shift in architecture and housing compared to the traditional Swiss chalets.
Another major milestone was driving through the massive 15.5-kilometre Arlberg Tunnel (Arlbergtunnel) in Austria. Navigating a 7.5 meter motorhome through subterranean mountain passages is always an exciting experience!
Motorhome Road Trip Travel Tips & Lessons Learned
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Fuel Gauges & Range Anxiety: Always keep your fuel tank topped up when crossing remote borders in the Alps. Diesel prices averaged around €2.25/L in Austria.
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Motorhome vs. Caravan: Navigating steep mountain passes is vastly easier in a motorhome than towing a caravan, no burning brakes on steep descents!... if you have some sort of retarder!
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Campsite Pitching Quirks: Popular alpine hubs like Innsbruck can operate on a first-come, first-served "bun fight" system.
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Cash Savings: Pitch fees for larger motorhomes (over 7m) can reach £70 (€80)/night, but paying in cash saved us money down to £65/night.
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Off-Grid Power: Utilizing solar panels, leisure battery setups, and inverters allows you to recharge laptops, phones, and devices smoothly.
Arriving in Innsbruck: Campsite Quirks & Unwinding
By 18:00, we safely checked into our campsite near Innsbruck after a full 200-mile leg. Finding a spot for our motorhome was a bit of an adventure, but once parked, Steven cooked up a delicious BBQ. After walking the dogs (Frankie and Tilly) near the river and pouring a cold gin and tonic with plenty of ice, it was time to relax.
What’s Next for Day 11? Exploring Innsbruck
Tomorrow’s plan is simple and scenic: a 4 km walk (50 minutes) along the riverside straight into the heart of historic Innsbruck. After tiring out the dogs, we'll stop for lunch in town, explore the alpine city, and check out the local mountain ski slopes!
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