Camping: minimum distance, reservation – these are the rules of the federal states

If you thought that this year's vacation had to be put on hold because of the Corona crisis, there is now good news for you: The easing that the federal and state governments have announced allows them to go on vacation in Germany – you can finally camp again .

To do this, however, the operators of camping sites have to meet certain requirements – but holidaymakers also have rules that may differ depending on the federal state. An overview tells you when and where campsites open again – including guidelines that you need to consider when planning your next camping trip.

Country guidelines continue to apply

In general, the corona measures differ from state to state. This applies to school operations as well as contact restrictions and events. Of course, these rules also apply to campsites. If major events are prohibited in Bavaria, for example, no events may take place on campsites. If contact is only permitted with members of another household, this also applies to camping holidays.

As the Federal Association of the Camping Industry in Germany explains, there may also be deviations at the district level. So you should be sure to contact the respective campsite before planning a trip.

Camping Association also lists other rules that you should follow:

  • Book first, then arrive
  • Use your own utilities if possible
  • Follow applicable regulations on the system
  • Take contact and hygiene regulations seriously and follow them
  • Be considerate of each other and keep calm
  • Reading tip: You can read all the new developments on the outbreak of the corona virus in the news ticker

The camping rules of the federal states

Baden-Württemberg: start self-catering

  • since May 18: Opening for "self-catering" because community facilities remain closed for now. That means: toilet, shower and cooking facilities must be on board. That is why Accommodation is only possible in caravan or mobile home spaces – classic camping is not yet allowed.
  • from May 29th: Opening of the sanitary facilities on campsites subject to conditions. Camping is then allowed again. But guests cannot be accepted indefinitely, since a safety distance must be maintained.

Bavaria: Campsites open on May 30th

  • 30th May: Opening of the campsites with a hygiene concept

Berlin

  • 25. May: Estimated opening of the campsites

Brandenburg

  • since May 15: Opening for "self-catering", community facilities such as the sanitary area remain closed.
  • from May 25th: Estimated opening of community facilities

Bremen

  • since May 18: Opening of the campsites with a hygiene and security concept

Hamburg: keep your distance at the campsite

  • since May 13: Campsites open under hygiene requirements, maximum 60 percent occupancy. In addition, people must keep a distance of 1.5 meters from each other in the areas shared by guests.

Hessen: Swimming pools remain closed

  • since May 15: Opening of the campsites subject to conditions. Operators are currently not allowed to open shared areas such as sauna, swimming and wellness areas. You must also follow hygiene measures in accordance with the recommendations of the Robert Koch Institute and put up notices on the necessary clearance and hygiene measures. Campsite visitors must also wear a face mask as soon as they cannot keep the minimum distance of 1.5 meters from other campers.

Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania: watch out for campers!

  • since May 18: Campsites open to guests from Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. The load factor is limited to 60 percent.
  • from May 25th: Guests from all over Germany can travel.

Danger: Campsite operators in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania are not allowed to accept guests who, according to the Robert Koch Institute's daily status report, live in a district or an independent city, in or in which the number of new infections per person in the seven days prior to arrival 100,000 residents is over 50. This also applies to campers who do not have one before arrival binding booking for at least one night have made.

Lower Saxony

  • since May 11: Opening with a maximum occupancy of 50 percent. This applies to overnight offers on campsites, mobile home parking spaces and boat berths.

North Rhine-Westphalia

Rhineland-Palatinate

  • since May 18: Campsites open with a maximum occupancy of 50 percent. Campers must have their own sanitary equipment as no shared showers may be used. Toilets are open.

Saarland: 50 percent occupancy

  • since May 18: Opening of the campsites with a hygiene and safety concept, the occupancy rate is 50 percent and is to be increased to 75 percent from May 25th. If the development of the infection is positive, full utilization is expected again from June 2. Camping is not allowed, the use of the sanitary facilities is restricted.

Saxony

  • since May 15: Opening of the campsites with a hygiene concept

Saxony-Anhalt

  • since May 15: Campsites must be open to guests from Saxony-Anhalt, campers must be self-sufficient in the mobile home and caravan.
  • from May 28th: Campsites open to guests residing in Germany

Schleswig-Holstein

  • since May 18: Opening of the campsites with a hygiene concept

Thuringia

  • since May 15: Opening of the campsites with a distance and hygiene concept. Operators and vacationers must adhere to the applicable rules.

* The rules and opening dates of campsites in the individual federal states are subject to change and can change at any time depending on the change in the infection rate.