Touring by caravan is one of the best ways to see the UK at your own pace, whether you're following the coastline of Cornwall, exploring the Scottish Highlands, or hopping between market towns in the Cotswolds. But with so many options out there, from large holiday parks to tiny carparks, finding the right touring caravan campsites for your trip can feel overwhelming.
In this guide, we'll walk through the best ways to find touring caravan campsites across the UK, what to look for before you book, and an exciting update for caravanners: from October, you'll be able to join Brit Stops and access hundreds of caravan-friendly stopovers around the country.
What Counts as a Touring Caravan Campsite?
A touring caravan campsite is simply a site designed to accommodate caravans that travel from place to place, as opposed to static caravan parks where vans remain in one fixed pitch. Touring caravan campsites vary enormously in size and facilities, ranging from:
- Large holiday parks with dozens of serviced pitches
- Certified sites and small rural campsites, often limited to five or fewer caravans, tucked away on farms or in the countryside
- Club sites, run by caravanning organisations, offering a consistent standard of facilities across the UK
- Seasonal and pop-up sites, which open for shorter periods, often around local events or peak season
- Alternative stopovers, such as pub car parks, farms, and vineyards, which increasingly welcome caravans alongside motorhomes
Understanding the type of site you're looking for is the first step in narrowing down your search, particularly if you're after something specific like hook-up facilities, dog-friendly pitches, or a quiet adults-only environment.
Where to Start Looking for Touring Caravan Campsites
1. Dedicated Caravan and Camping Directories
The most obvious starting point is a dedicated caravan and camping site directory. These platforms allow you to search by location, filter by facilities (electric hook-up, showers, laundry, pet-friendly pitches), and read reviews from other caravanners who've stayed there before. Directories are particularly useful when planning a longer touring route, as you can map out several potential stopovers in advance.
2. Caravan Club Membership Sites
If you're a member of a caravanning organisation, you'll usually have access to an exclusive network of club sites and certified locations across the UK. These tend to offer a reliable, consistent standard, with facilities specifically designed for touring caravans, including level pitches, hard standing, and often generous pitch sizes to accommodate awnings and outdoor space.
3. Local Tourist Information and Regional Websites
Regional tourism websites are a great way to discover smaller, independent touring caravan campsites that might not appear prominently in national directories. These are often family-run sites with real local knowledge, perfect for touring a specific area such as the Lake District, Pembrokeshire, or the Yorkshire Dales in depth.
4. Word of Mouth and Online Communities
Caravanning forums and social media groups are packed with first-hand recommendations from fellow tourers. These communities are especially useful for finding "hidden gem" sites, seasonal openings, or word-of-mouth-only stopovers that aren't always listed elsewhere.
5. Alternative Stopover Networks
More and more caravanners are looking beyond traditional campsites altogether, choosing to stay overnight at farms, pubs, vineyards, and other rural businesses instead. These stopovers tend to be simpler, with fewer facilities than a full campsite, but they make up for it with character, flexibility, and often a much lower cost, or no cost at all beyond supporting the host business.
What to Check Before You Book
Whichever route you take to find your touring caravan campsite, it's worth confirming a few key details before committing:
- Pitch size and levelling. Not all touring pitches are suitable for larger caravans or those towing with an awning, so check maximum dimensions in advance.
- Access roads. Some rural sites have narrow lanes or tight turns that can be difficult to navigate with a caravan in tow, particularly for first-time visitors.
- Facilities. Confirm whether electric hook-up, water, and waste disposal are included or come at an additional cost.
- Minimum stays and booking policies. Many sites, particularly in peak season, require a minimum stay of two or three nights, while others offer flexible one-night stopovers.
- Pet and family policies. If you're travelling with pets or young children, check the site's specific rules, as these vary widely between adults-only retreats and family-friendly parks.
Big News for Caravanners: Brit Stops Available Soon
Until now, Brit Stops has been best known among the motorhome community for our nationwide network of farms, pubs, vineyards, and rural businesses offering free overnight stopovers. We're delighted to share that from October, caravanners will also be able to join Brit Stops, opening up access to hundreds of caravan-friendly stopovers right across the UK.
This is a significant step forward for the caravanning community. Rather than being limited to traditional touring caravan campsites, Caravanners can join Brit Stops to be able to stopover at farm shops, pubs, vineyards, attractions, and more that have not previously allowed caravanners.
For caravanners, this means:
- Hundreds of new stopover options beyond conventional campsites
- Greater flexibility for one-night stops between destinations, without the need to book weeks in advance
- Lower touring costs, with many stopovers free or very low-cost
- A more local, authentic travel experience, staying with genuine rural businesses rather than large commercial sites
- Access to the same trusted, vetted network that motorhomers have relied on for years
Whether you're planning a full touring holiday around the UK or simply want more flexible options for the odd overnight stop along your route, joining Brit Stops from October will give caravanners a whole new way to travel. However, it's important to know not all Brit Stops locations will allow caravanners. You will need to filter the map for caravan-friendly locations.
Final Thoughts
Finding the right touring caravan campsites in the UK is easier than ever, thanks to dedicated directories, club networks, and vibrant online communities of fellow caravanners. And with Brit Stops opening its doors to caravanners from October, there's never been a better time to explore beyond traditional campsites, discovering hundreds of caravan-friendly farms, pubs, and rural stopovers across the country.
Ready to expand your touring options? Keep an eye out for Brit Stops membership opening to caravanners this October, and get ready to explore the UK with hundreds of new stopovers at your fingertips.
