12 top tips to find the perfect campervan pitch
CAMPERVAN ADVICE
How to choose the ideal campsite for your campervan trips
Choosing the right campsite can be the difference between a good holiday and a brilliant break.
Don't risk missing out on the campsite you want for your campervan adventures – follow our advice to find the perfect pitch for your needs.
Here are our 12 top tips for picking the right campsite, whether you're looking for a remote vanlife experience or a bustling site with plenty of activities.
Iain Duff Content Editor: Campervan/Camping
Iain Duff Content Editor: Campervan/Camping
Use Campsite Finder to explore the UK
Featuring hundreds of high-quality destinations, Campsite Finder is our directory of the best campsites in the UK, stretching from Cornwall to the Cairngorms and everywhere in between. Use advanced search filters to explore sites according to your personal criteria, including dog-friendly, adults-only, family-friendly and other popular searches!
Our top tips
1. Look for a campsite near water
The best campsites all seem to be close to water. Fishing, swimming and watersports are all favourite activities for campervanners – but you might just want to sit and listen to the gentle flow of a river or stream. Whether it’s a swimming pool, the sea, a lake or a river, a good campsite will almost certainly have water on site or nearby.
2. Check the campsite location on a map
A campsite well away from the main road or railway lines means you won’t be worrying about traffic noise or being awakened by the 0605 express to London.
3. Find things to do nearby
Look for a campsite with lovely views and easy access to the surrounding countryside. Find out whether there are rainy day options within a reasonable distance – a local cinema, museum or even an indoor games room on the campsite.
4. Check the campsite rules
Some campsites have a families-only, or families and couples-only policy and many have a quiet time starting from around 10.30pm. Check whether you like the sound of any lights-out policy – or lack of one.
5. Make sure the campsite is good for kids
If you’re travelling with kids, make sure the campsite is child-friendly. It doesn’t need to have a formal playground, but make sure there’s lots of space to play ball games and ride bikes, or natural play areas like woods to hide in or rocks to scramble over. And look out for any no ball games or bikes policies.
6. Check the facilities are good quality
Make sure the campsite has good shower and toilet facilities, especially if you don’t have a washroom in your campervan.
7. Look for a local shop
Does the campsite have its own shop or easy access to a local store? You’ll be grateful if you run out of milk and bread…
8. Find the nearest pub/restaurant
If you’re planning to eat out at night rather than cooking in your campervan, a pub on the campsite or within easy walking distance will come in handy.
9. Confirm if campfires are allowed
For many campervanners, no trip is complete without toasting marshmallows over a campfire, so if that’s you, make sure your preferred campsite allows you to build a fire to sit around at night.
10. Check your campsite is pet-friendly
If you’re planning on bringing the family pooch along, make sure the campsite allows dogs.
11. Consider a working farm
Younger kids will enjoy seeing neighbouring sheep, cows and horses, or having free-range chickens and ducks wandering around their tent, so a campsite on a working farm is always a good bet.
12. Make it a collective decision
Get everyone involved in choosing the campsite so no one can complain when they get there. Recommendations from friends can be helpful, too.
Discover campervan-friendly campsites
Campsite Finder is our comprehensive guide to the best campsites in the UK, featuring hundreds of sites across the length and breadth of the country. You can explore campsites that have electric hook-up, fully-serviced pitches, waste empty points and a wide range of other criteria, helping you to find the right site for your campervan.
