In-depth guide · CampingSpirit
About 215 km along the Abruzzo Adriatic coast: from Pescara via Ortona, San Vito Chietino and Fossacesia to the dunes of Punta Aderci and on to Vasto, then inland to Lanciano and Chieti – trabocchi, olive groves and the mountains of the Majella as a backdrop.
The spirit of the route
The Costa dei Trabocchi is not a stretch of coast for those in a hurry. Here stand the trabocchi, wooden fishing platforms on stilts with long arms from which nets hang into the sea – structures whose origins go back to the 18th century and some of which now serve as restaurants. The road leads from Pescara through Ortona, where a battle raged in 1943, to San Vito Chietino with its olive slopes, to Fossacesia with the Abbey of San Giovanni in Venere above the sea, and to the wild dunes of Punta Aderci. From the sliding door you see the Majella, snow-capped, in the morning and orange light over the Adriatic in the evening. Part of the old railway line is now a cycle path: the Via Verde. Anyone travelling here eats brodetto, arrosticini and trabocco fish.
Stage-by-stage plan
1Stage 1: Pescara to Ortona (approx. 25 km)
- The drive
- From Pescara on the SS16 Adriatica south, along the sea via Francavilla al Mare and the coastal towns to Ortona. A well-built coast road, a lot of traffic in season; about 40 minutes.
- Highlights & must-sees
- Pescara: Ponte del Mare, the Lungomare and the birthplace of Gabriele D’Annunzio.
- Francavilla al Mare: a beach town with an old-town core and the Michetti Museum.
- Ortona: the Cathedral of San Tommaso with the relics of the Apostle Thomas and the Castello Aragonese above the sea.
- CampingSpirit overnight tip
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Official campsite or RV park: Around Ortona and Francavilla al Mare several campsites are listed according to map portals. Electricity, sanitary facilities and servicing are usually available; check the status beforehand; season mostly spring to autumn.
Free camping or nature tip (where legal): At the coastal car parks from Pescara to Ortona, overnighting with a motorhome outside campsites is mostly prohibited; the municipalities patrol, especially in summer.
- Insider tip for campers
- Ortona has a narrow old town, and the coast road is heavily used in season; set off early. Ortona’s old town and Pescara’s centre have ZTL zones.
2Stage 2: Ortona to San Vito Chietino (approx. 15 km)
- The drive
- On the coast road, winding along the sea to San Vito Chietino. Narrow, with tight bends and climbs between the towns; about 30 minutes.
- Highlights & must-sees
- Trabocchi near San Vito: the stilt structures, for example at Punta Turchino.
- San Vito Chietino: an old town on the hill, with a view of the coast and the Majella.
- Olive and wine slopes on the hillside.
- CampingSpirit overnight tip
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Official campsite or RV park: Near San Vito a campsite is listed according to map portals; further sites lie near Ortona (see stage 1). Check facilities and season beforehand.
Free camping or nature tip (where legal): Around San Vito and at the trabocchi overnighting outside campsites is not allowed; the municipality patrols coastal car parks.
- Insider tip for campers
- Some trabocchi are restaurants: book early, especially in summer. The access to the stilt structures is often narrow and unsuitable for motorhomes; use the car parks on the coast.
3Stage 3: San Vito Chietino to Fossacesia (approx. 15 km)
- The drive
- On along the coast to Fossacesia; the road is winding in places, about 25 minutes.
- Highlights & must-sees
- Abbazia di San Giovanni in Venere: an abbey on a hill with a view of the sea.
- Fossacesia Marina: beach and harbour with the trabocchi between Fossacesia and Rocca San Giovanni.
- Via Verde: part of the old railway line, now a cycling and walking path.
- CampingSpirit overnight tip
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Official campsite or RV park: Near Fossacesia and Rocca San Giovanni several campsites are listed according to map portals. Check facilities, status and season beforehand.
Free camping or nature tip (where legal): Around the abbey and at the beaches overnighting outside campsites is not allowed; the municipality patrols car parks.
- Insider tip for campers
- Rent a bike and ride the Via Verde; it is the most relaxed way to experience the coast. The abbey opens at fixed times; check the current state beforehand.
4Stage 4: Fossacesia to Vasto (approx. 35 km)
- The drive
- Via the SS16 and the coast road past Torino di Sangro and Casalbordino to Vasto. A well-built road with coastal sections; about 45 minutes.
- Highlights & must-sees
- Torino di Sangro: the Riserva Naturale Lecceta di Torino di Sangro, an oak wood on the coast.
- Vasto: old town with the Loggia Amblingh, Castello Caldoresco and Palazzo d’Avalos.
- Marina di Vasto: beach and promenade.
- CampingSpirit overnight tip
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Official campsite or RV park: Near Vasto and Vasto Marina campsites are listed according to map portals. Check facilities, status and season beforehand.
Free camping or nature tip (where legal): In Vasto and at the beaches wild camping is not permitted; the municipality patrols coastal car parks and overnighting is fined.
- Insider tip for campers
- Vasto lies on a hill above the sea; the old town has narrow alleys and a ZTL. Park below and walk. For the coast take the road to Vasto Marina.
5Stage 5: Vasto to Punta Aderci (approx. 15 km)
- The drive
- From Vasto north to the coast, finally on a side road to the car park at the reserve. Winding, about 25 minutes.
- Highlights & must-sees
- Riserva Naturale Punta Aderci: dune landscape, shingle coves and hiking trails along the coast.
- Faro di Punta Penna: a lighthouse about 70 metres high, one of the tallest in Italy.
- Spiaggia di Punta Penna: a beach with a view of the lighthouse and the coast.
- CampingSpirit overnight tip
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Official campsite or RV park: Near Punta Aderci and on the coast at Vasto campsites are listed according to map portals; clarify whether they exist, their facilities and season beforehand.
Free camping or nature tip (where legal): In the Riserva Punta Aderci camping and overnighting are prohibited; fires are forbidden. Car parks are for visitors.
- Insider tip for campers
- In high season the car parks at the reserve fill up quickly, and access is sometimes regulated; check the current state beforehand. The trail through the dunes needs protecting, so keep away from the plants.
6Stage 6: Vasto to Lanciano (approx. 55 km)
- The drive
- From Vasto on country roads (SS 16, SS 84 Frentana) inland to Lanciano. A well-built country road, about an hour.
- Highlights & must-sees
- Lanciano: the Ponte di Diocleziano, the cathedral and the centre with the Eucharistic Miracle.
- The old-town district of Lancianovecchia with narrow alleys.
- A view of the Majella from the hills around Lanciano.
- CampingSpirit overnight tip
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Official campsite or RV park: In Lanciano an area di sosta is listed according to map portals; check status, facilities and fees beforehand.
Free camping or nature tip (where legal): In Lanciano wild camping is not permitted; the municipality patrols car parks.
- Insider tip for campers
- The centre has a ZTL; park outside and walk. The drive inland is a good chance to leave the coast and see the Majella.
7Stage 7: Lanciano to Pescara (approx. 55 km)
- The drive
- From Lanciano inland to Chieti and through the Pescara valley back to Pescara; alternatively on the tolled A14. Well-built roads; about 1 hour.
- Highlights & must-sees
- Chieti: the Museo Archeologico Nazionale d’Abruzzo La Civitella and a view over the Pescara valley.
- Pescara: the Lungomare and Pescara Vecchia.
- The Majella skyline in the rear-view mirror.
- CampingSpirit overnight tip
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Official campsite or RV park: For the last night the campsites near Francavilla or Ortona (see stage 1) are suitable; check facilities and season beforehand.
Free camping or nature tip (where legal): In Pescara and Chieti wild camping is not permitted; the municipalities patrol car parks.
- Insider tip for campers
- Pescara has an airport and long-distance coach connections; the A14 and A25 are tolled. Fill up with fuel in Pescara before returning the vehicle.
Camping practice & local rules
Wild camping & overnight parking
- Italian law (Codice della Strada, Art. 185) distinguishes parking (“sosta”) from camping (“campeggio”): a motorhome may stand and stay overnight wherever parking is allowed, as long as only its wheels touch the ground. Chairs, tables, awnings, levelling legs, wedges and draining grey water are not allowed, and many municipalities also ban overnight stays by local ordinance.
- In the Abruzzo and on the Costa dei Trabocchi municipalities often ban overnighting at coastal car parks by ordinance; fines in the three-figure range and towing are possible.
- The reserves Punta Aderci, Lecceta di Torino di Sangro and Grotta delle Farfalle have their own rules; camping is prohibited there.
- Useful apps: park4night, CamperOnline (Italian, with up-to-date user reports) and Campercontact; check the current status in advance.
Waste disposal & supplies
- Servicing is called “camper service” or “carico e scarico”. You will find stations at campsites, at many aree di sosta and at some agriturismi; the apps show current user reports, because broken or locked stations are common.
- Empty grey water and the toilet cassette only at a station; illegal dumping is a main reason why municipalities introduce new motorhome bans.
- Tap water is usually drinkable, look for “acqua potabile”. Public fountains (“fontanella”) are often good places to fill up in Italy, but in dry summers there can be restrictions.
- Gas: German exchange cylinders cannot be swapped in Italy. Refillable cylinders and gas tanks are filled at GPL filling stations with the Italian adapter (Dish); often only the staff do the filling, and in rural regions GPL stations are few and far between. Arrive with full cylinders.
Vehicle size & traffic rules
- Speed limits: motorhomes up to 3.5 t 90 km/h outside built-up areas, 110 km/h on expressways, 130 km/h on motorways; over 3.5 t 80 km/h outside built-up areas and 100 km/h on motorways. Caravan combinations: 70 km/h outside built-up areas, 80 km/h on motorways. Dipped headlights are required outside built-up areas, even in daytime.
- ZTLs with camera monitoring exist in Pescara, Vasto, Lanciano and Chieti, among other places; entry without a permit is prohibited, fines arrive by post.
- Tolls: the A14 Adriatica and the A25 are tolled; the SS16 Adriatica and the coast roads are toll-free.
- If a load projects beyond the rear, for example bikes on a rear carrier, the red-and-white warning panel (50 × 50 cm) is compulsory. Alcohol limit 0.5, for new drivers and professional drivers 0.0; mobile phone at the wheel only with a hands-free kit. From 15 November to 15 April winter equipment (snow chains or winter tyres) may be required on many routes – follow the signs.
CampingSpirit packing & preparation checklist
- Bikes or e-bikes for the Via Verde, the old railway line along the coast.
- Swimwear and water shoes for the shingle coves at Punta Aderci and Fossacesia.
- Sun protection and a hat for the dunes of Punta Aderci, hardly any shade.
- Insect repellent for the evenings by the sea.
- Level 2 wheel ramps for the sloping pitches.
- A reservations book or an app for the trabocchi restaurants – without a reservation there is often no table at weekends.
As of 2026-09. Closures, fees and booking rules change: check official sources before you go.
