# Following the Roman roads: Via Appia, Via Domitia and more

> Where Roman roads can still be walked, cycled or followed by camper, from the Appian Way near Rome to Hadrian’s Wall and the Alps.

Source: https://camping-spirit.com/magazine/eu-roman-roads/

*By CampingSpirit Editors, 2026-09-05*

Roman roads were built to move legions, officials and goods quickly, and the best of them were engineered to last: a firm bed of stones, a drained and cambered surface, and straight alignments wherever the terrain allowed. Two thousand years later, some of those lines still carry traffic. Modern national roads in Spain, France and Italy follow them closely, and short stretches survive as footpaths, archaeological sites or protected parks.

For a camper trip this gives two ways to travel. The first is to drive the modern road that follows the ancient line and stop at the places where the old surface is exposed. The second is to park, then walk or cycle a preserved section. The routes below were checked against official or reference sources; opening details and access rules change, so confirm them before you set out.

## Via Appia: the queen of roads

The Via Appia was begun in 312 BC under the censor Appius Claudius Caecus. It first linked Rome with Capua, about 195 km, mainly to move troops during the wars against the Samnites, and was later extended to Brindisi on the Adriatic, giving a total length usually given as roughly 540 km. On 31 July 2024 the World Heritage Committee inscribed the Via Appia Regina Viarum on the UNESCO list, including the original line and Trajan’s variant of AD 109.

The best-known stretch lies just south of Rome in the Appia Antica Regional Park, where the old paving, tombs and monuments line the way. Further south the road crossed the Pontine Marshes on a causeway of about 31 km, which needed constant maintenance. Many parts today are walking or cycling routes among archaeological remains. Rome limits large vehicles in its centre, so the practical approach is to stay at a campsite or pitch outside the city and reach the park by public transport or on foot.

## Via Domitia and Via Augusta

The Via Domitia, named after the Roman commander Gnaeus Domitius Ahenobarbus, was the first Roman road in what is now France. It ran from the Alps at Briançon over the Col de Montgenèvre, down the Durance valley, across the Rhône at Beaucaire and through Nîmes to Narbonne, then southwest to La Jonquera on the Spanish border. Visible remains include the Pont Ambroix near the oppidum of Ambrussum, and in Narbonne a section of the paved road is exposed in the Place de l’Hôtel de Ville.

At La Jonquera the Via Domitia joined the Via Augusta, the longest and most important Roman road in Hispania, running about 1,500 km from Gades (Cádiz) to the Pyrenees. Augustus had it built or rebuilt between 8 and 2 BC. Much of the modern N-340 and the A-7 motorway follow its route, and surviving features include Roman milestones, bridges and the Arc de Berà north of Tarragona. Taken together, the two roads form a continuous Mediterranean corridor that a camper can follow almost end to end.

## Via Claudia Augusta over the Alps

The Via Claudia Augusta is the classic Roman Alpine crossing. It builds on a Celtic route that Nero Claudius Drusus used, and under the emperor Claudius around AD 46 to 47 it was developed into a trade road between the Danube and the Adriatic. The route runs about 820 km from Donauwörth to Venice and Altinum, over the Fern Pass and the Reschen Pass, down the Vinschgau valley through Merano and Bolzano and on to Trento, where it splits into western and eastern branches.

Little of the Roman surface remains, so the route works best as a themed itinerary on modern roads and a well-signed cycle path. Both passes carry normal traffic, though winter conditions and local restrictions can affect large vehicles, so check current road information before crossing. A good plan is to base yourself at one of the campsites in the Vinschgau or around Merano and make day trips on foot or by bike to the town museums and Roman finds.

## Hadrian’s Wall and the military road

Hadrian’s Wall in northern England, ordered around AD 122 and 118 km long, is part of the UNESCO property Frontiers of the Roman Empire. It is a frontier rather than a road, but its forts were linked by Roman roads, and the area is the best place in Britain to walk in Roman footsteps. About four-fifths of the wall run through open country, and the central 45 km are in exceptionally good condition. The Hadrian’s Wall Path National Trail runs 84 miles (135 km) from Wallsend to Bowness-on-Solway.

## Practical notes for campers

Walkers usually need about a week for the whole Hadrian’s Wall Path; the best season runs from May to October, and the 23-mile (37 km) section between Chollerford and Birdoswald has the most ups and downs. Most campers will prefer a base and day walks, using the local bus services or a short drive between points. Remember that historic stretches, whether at Rome or in the Alps, are often paved with uneven stone or protected, so do not take a motorhome onto them unless the access is explicitly signed.

Concretely: pick a base near each route, check the official page of each site for opening hours and vehicle rules, carry water and a hat for the sunny Mediterranean sections and rain gear for Northumberland, and allow at least half a day for every stretch you want to see on foot. Roman roads were built to be fast, and following them rewards the opposite pace.

## Sources

- [Via Appia Regina Viarum: UNESCO World Heritage Site (Turismo Roma)](https://turismoroma.it/en/news/appia-regina-viarum-unesco-world-heritage-site)
- [Frontiers of the Roman Empire: Hadrian's Wall (UNESCO World Heritage Centre)](https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/430)
- [Hadrian's Wall Path (National Trails)](https://www.nationaltrail.co.uk/en_GB/trails/hadrians-wall-path/)
- [Via Domitia (Wikipedia)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Via_Domitia)
- [Via Augusta (Wikipedia)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Via_Augusta)
- [Via Claudia Augusta (Naturns / Merano Südtirol)](https://www.merano-suedtirol.it/en/naturns/relaxation-active-holidays/cycling-mtb/via-claudia-augusta/1207.html)