A one-week campervan route from İzmir to Fethiye
About 760 km in 7 days from İzmir to Fethiye via Özdere, Didim, Bodrum, Akyaka, Marmaris and Ekincik. For each day: approximate distance, driving time, a campsite suggestion, narrow-road warnings and supply stops.
Teknovan Editorial Team ·
You can comfortably get from İzmir to Fethiye by campervan in 7 days, driving 1 to 3 hours a day. The route below stays overnight in Özdere, Didim, Bodrum, Akyaka, Marmaris and Ekincik and ends in Kayaköy on day seven. The total distance is about 760 km. We kept the daily distances short, because with a campervan what really takes time isn't driving but settling in at the campsite, stocking up and finding somewhere to turn round on a narrow village road.
Distances and times are approximate values from map services. Traffic, season and the size of your vehicle change them. In summer, plan with an extra half hour around Bodrum and Marmaris.
The route at a glance
| Day | Stage | Approx. distance | Approx. driving | Night |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | İzmir → Özdere | 60 km | 1 hour | Özdere / Ürkmez |
| 2 | Özdere → Didim | 110 km | 2 hours | Didim, Tavşanburnu |
| 3 | Didim → Bodrum | 160 km | 2.5-3 hours | Gölköy / Gümüşlük |
| 4 | Bodrum → Akyaka | 160 km | 2.5-3 hours | Akyaka |
| 5 | Akyaka → Marmaris | 50 km | 1 hour | Hisarönü |
| 6 | Marmaris → Ekincik | 110 km | 2-2.5 hours | Ekincik |
| 7 | Ekincik → Fethiye | 120 km | 2-2.5 hours | Kayaköy |
Day by day
Day 1: İzmir to Özdere
Leave the city and head down to the coast via Menderes. A short day, ideal for getting into a routine on the first evening: filling up with water, hooking up to electricity, finding where everything goes. If you're collecting your campervan at the airport or in the city centre, this short stage makes a good warm-up.
- Campsite: Kalemlik Orman Kampı or Ürkmez Kamping. Forest campsites may be seasonal, so ask in advance whether they're open.
- Supplies: There are big supermarkets and petrol stations on the way out of İzmir. Sort out gas and your big shop here.
- If you'd like to spend the first night close to the city, the campervan parks in Urla are another option. Details in our İzmir area camping guide.
Day 2: Özdere to Didim
You head south via Kuşadası and Söke. On the way you can set aside half a day for Ephesus or the Dilek Peninsula. The Temple of Apollo in Didim is good for a short late-afternoon visit.
- Campsite: Tavşanburnu Orman Kampı.
- Watch out: Parking a campervan in central Kuşadası and around the port is hard. Pass the town on the ring road.
- Supplies: Söke is the easiest shopping and fuel stop on the way.
Day 3: Didim to Bodrum
You go along the shore of Lake Bafa to Milas and on to the Bodrum Peninsula. One of the two longest days of the week.
- Campsite: If you're looking for a campervan park, Halikarnas Caravan Camp (Gölköy). On the Gümüşlük side, Bodrum Kampı.
- Watch out: The back streets of central Bodrum, Gümüşlük and Türkbükü are narrow and very crowded in summer. Leave the campervan at the campsite and get around by dolmuş. For the whole peninsula see our Bodrum camping guide.
- Supplies: The big supermarkets in Milas and at the entrance to Bodrum.
Day 4: Bodrum to Akyaka
You go via Milas, Yatağan and Muğla down to the Gulf of Gökova. After Muğla the descent of the Sakar Pass begins.
- Campsite: Akyaka Orman Kampı or Azmakbaşı Camping near the Azmak river.
- Watch out: The Sakar descent is long and winding. Go down in a low gear using engine braking. Akyaka's seafront streets are narrow; don't drive into the centre with a campervan.
- Supplies: Muğla is the best fuel and shopping stop of the day.
Day 5: Akyaka to Marmaris
A short stage. Set off before noon, cross to the Hisarönü side and spend the afternoon in the sea.
- Campsite: Marmaris Kerimoğlu Kamp Alanları or Evcan Kamping.
- Watch out: The peninsula road to Bozburun and Selimiye is narrow and winding. Don't do it as a day trip in a large campervan; take a smaller vehicle or a boat tour instead.
- Supplies: The supermarkets at the entrance to Marmaris. For notes on the area see our Gökova, Akyaka and Marmaris guide.
Day 6: Marmaris to Ekincik
You take the main road as far as Köyceğiz and turn off towards Ekincik. From Ekincik you can take a boat to the Dalyan rock tombs and İztuzu beach.
- Campsite: Nomad Ekincik.
- Watch out: The Ekincik road is steep and winding. Before going with a long towed caravan, ask the campsite about the road. If you're not sure, skip this night and go straight to Fethiye.
- Supplies: Köyceğiz. Shopping in Ekincik is limited.
Day 7: Ekincik to Fethiye
You reach Fethiye via Köyceğiz, Dalaman and the Göcek tunnels.
- Campsite: Kayaköy Jungle Camping.
- Watch out: The roads up from Fethiye to Kayaköy are narrow and steep. The road down to Kabak bay isn't suitable for campervans. Details in our Fethiye, Kabak and Patara guide.
- Supplies: Fethiye has everything. Dalaman Airport is also close: you can return a hired campervan here or carry on with the Mediterranean stage.
Road and parking warnings along the route
- Don't take your navigation's shortcut. Especially around the Bodrum Peninsula and Marmaris, shortcuts through villages aren't suitable for a campervan. Look at the satellite view before leaving the main road.
- Go early to ancient sites. Car parks at places such as Ephesus, Didim and Dalyan fill up by midday. Arrive early in the morning, or use a dolmuş or taxi from the campsite.
- Don't drive into town centres with a campervan. Parking is hard to find in central Kuşadası, Bodrum, Marmaris and Fethiye.
- Watch out for crosswinds. On the Gökova and Bodrum side, the wind picks up in the afternoon. Slow down on viaducts and open slopes in a high-sided vehicle.
- Arrive before sunset. Pulling into a campsite in the dark makes setting up harder. Let the campsite know your arrival time.
For licence categories, HGS tolls and speed limits with a trailer, see our post on campervanning on Turkish roads.
Booking and season
In July and August, campsites in Bodrum, Akyaka and Fethiye fill up early. May-June and September-October are the most comfortable time for this route: the sea is warm and the roads are quiet. In winter some forest campsites close, so ask in advance which are open. On Teknokamp you can pick a pitch on the map and book directly at some of these campsites. For the others, just phone, ask and give your vehicle's length.
Frequently asked questions
Can this route be done in less than 7 days?
Yes, but daily driving goes up to 4-5 hours. If you want to shorten it, skip the Ekincik night and go straight from Marmaris to Fethiye.
Which stops are difficult with a large motorhome?
The Ekincik road, the Bozburun peninsula, Bodrum's back streets and the climb to Kayaköy. At these points, ask the campsite about the road.
Where do I empty the campervan's waste water along the route?
At the campsites you stay at. Public disposal points aren't common. Ask about disposal when you book. Details in our post on water, electricity and waste.
Can I spend the night outside a campsite?
The rules depend on the place. Read our wild camping rules post first.
Sources
- General Directorate of Highways (KGM), road conditions and traffic information
- Highway Traffic Regulation, Legislation Information System
- Muğla Provincial Directorate of Culture and Tourism
- Aydın Provincial Directorate of Culture and Tourism
Image credits
Photos illustrate the region; they are not photos of the campsites themselves.
- Kayaköy: Wikitestaccountlogin, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
