Easy along the coast, slow going inland

The Marche are crossed north to south without difficulty: the Adriatic motorway and the coastal railway run side by side the length of the region, and from both you come out near the sea. The difficulty begins when you turn right and climb inland.

By car and motorhome

From the coast you leave at Pesaro, Fano, Senigallia, Ancona north and south, Loreto, Civitanova, Porto San Giorgio, Grottammare, San Benedetto. From the west you come from Perugia on the fast road to Fano, which passes through the Furlo gorge in a Roman tunnel, or from Rome on the Salaria to Ascoli.

There are no motorways inland: you go up the valleys on dual carriageways and main roads, and the links between one valley and the next are narrow and full of hairpins. With a long vehicle, plan one valley at a time and do not cut across the ridges.

By train

The Adriatic line stops in nearly every seaside town, often a few hundred metres from the campsites: it is the simplest way to move along the coast without taking the vehicle. Inland there are two lines; the one to Urbino no longer exists.

By plane

Ancona Falconara airport is small and sits on the coast, halfway down the region. For more flights, look to Bologna or Perugia, both two hours away. Car hire is easy at Falconara; for motorhomes, book ahead.