Motorhome Campsites – What to Do and Expect

The motorhome is packed up and ready to go, but where will you stop for the night? You could wild camp, but your preference this trip is formal campsites. There is a wide choice of sizes and types to explore.

What to Expect and Do at a Motorhome Campsite. Campsites come in all shapes and sizes, from a single pitch, up to some which number into the hundreds. Each offers a unique experience and you will find them in all corners of the UK and Europe.

You have decided on your destination for the night and now it is time to book a campsite pitch for your campervan or motorhome. However, how do you do that and what can you expect to find when you arrive?

Let’s dive in.

What is a Motorhome Campsite?

In simple terms, a place to rest your head for the night in your campervan or motorhome.

The variety of campsites is enormous and no two are alike. Depending on your destination, you may be able to choose from a full facility campsite which is almost a destination in itself, through to a quiet spot in a field with no more than four other pitches.

Most sites are somewhere in between and may also accept caravans and tents.

You will generally be able to choose between a grass pitch or hard standing. The latter can be on a concrete block surrounded by grass or bushes, or loose shale and stones. Not all pitches will be flat, and some will need wheel ramps to level up.

Some pitches will be described as ‘serviced’, which generally means there is an electric hook-up point (EHU) and sometimes a fresh water tap and a grey waste drain. These serviced points will generally be more expensive.

Other pitches may have access to an electric point, but many sites don’t have electricity everywhere.

Once you are checked in and parked-up, your time is your own. Remember, if you leave your van, to secure it as you might at home.

This is a good time to check the various facilities on-site and a quick read of any rules. Open the roll-out canopy, put up the awning and break out that bottle of wine!

What Facilities Can I Expect?

Facilities at motorhome campsites will vary, as each one is different and run in different ways from others. That’s all part of the fun!

As a minimum, you should expect fresh water taps, a place to drop your grey water waste and somewhere to empty and rinse your toilet cassette.

Some individual pitches will have an electric point (EHU) for you to connect your cable.

Some sites will have toilet facilities and showers. Showers are often free, but some sites do make an extra charge. There may also be washing machines and dryers, although these will always be an extra cost and some dryers are, frankly, useless and eat money. The washing machine and dryers will be self-service and the charge may be in coins or tokens. If the latter, tokens can be purchased from the site reception.

In Europe, campsite toilet blocks generally don’t come with toilet paper, so remember to take your own.

Sites will generally provide bins for rubbish, with some recycling options. Always use the recycling points, as sites can be fined if potentially recycle-able items are dumped in general waste.

The reception office for the site will be open at various times, sometimes just for a couple of hours a day.

How Much do They Cost?

How long is a piece of string?

Every site will be different. Some charge per motorhome per night, with others charging extra per adult, child, and pet. There are sites where there is a minimum stay and you can expect weekends to be more expensive than weekdays. Basic facilities will be included, but some sites that have showers will make an additional charge for their use.

Location and the time of year will make a difference to the price charged.

Expect popular destinations to be comparatively expensive at peak times, especially summer and bank holiday weekends. Much as people complain about pricing, it is no different to air flights and hotels in peak season. And most places will be quite full at those times in any case – supply and demand in action.

Certified Locations, or CLs (see below) will always be cheaper than main campsites and often charge the same rate throughout the year.

Are Motorhome Campsites Open All Year?

Many campsites are open year-round, it that is by no means always the case.

Sites often close over the winter months. This can be due to being 100% grass which isn’t suitable in poor weather, or simply because the owners only run the site as a business in the spring and summer months.

The site website and national club handbooks will indicate opening and closing times for each site, which can change year by year.

Websites such as Search for Sites and Park4Nights will usually have opening dates shown but be aware that these are supplied by users and may not be 100% accurate.

The best way to find whether a campsite is open is to pick up the phone.

How do I Find Campsites?

Many motorhome campsites are owned and run by the national clubs and details will be on their website and in the printed handbooks. You don’t always need to be a club member to book on one of these sites, but you will be charged a premium price.

There are hundreds of independent campsites not affiliated to clubs. Most will have their own websites, although the quality of the website varies. As a minimum, you should be able to locate a phone number to call.

A web search with Google for the area you want to visit is a good way to find locations. There are several Facebook groups where you can ask for recommendations but expect some levels of disagreement between those who respond!

Again, both Search for Sites and ParkNight website and their apps are good places to explore for sites.

Are all Campsites the Same?

No, every campsite is different and each one has its own unique character.

You could end up in a small family-owned site in a beautiful peaceful orchard setting, with plenty of space between each pitch. At the other end of the spectrum, there are very large sites where motorhomes, caravans, and tents are crammed quite close together and are full of noisy children. The fun is in the exploration!

Facilities will vary between sites as well. You may find a simple site with only grass standing, and facilities for fresh water, grey waste and black waste – and that is it. At another site, there may be high-quality wi-fi, a well-stocked shop, gas cylinder exchange, swimming pool, play areas for the kids, a club room and bar, cafe and a full restaurant.

How Do I Book?

This will vary from site to site. The first way to book, is by telephone, although not all sites have telephone cover all day, as staff may be out and about fulfilling other duties.

Many sites have websites and some of those will have a booking facility which checks availability and will take a deposit.

I have come across a couple of sites who will only accept booking by email.

Depending on the site and how long you stay, a deposit or the full payment may be required by card when you book.

Not all sites accept credit and debit cards, so be prepared with enough cash. Ask when you book, how payment should be made so as not to be caught out.

What Happens at Check-in?

As you draw up to a site for the first time, you could be met with a closed barrier and nobody in sight at the reception office. There should be a phone number displayed for you to call and the warden will appear to check you in.

Sites can sometimes be very strict on the earliest time you can check-in. I once arrived at a site four minutes before the earliest check-in time and was refused entry until the exact moment stipulated.

Some sites are more relaxed than others and you may be able to choose a pitch first, then return to the reception to make your payment. In other places, you will be allocated a numbered pitch.

You may be asked for identification and a driving licence is generally fine for that, although this isn’t too common.

Payment for your stay is due at check-in unless you pre-paid before arrival. Most sites will accept a debit or credit card, but others will be cash-only, so check this point when you book.

If there is a toilet or shower block, you could be asked for a cash deposit for any key required, which can also apply to a gate or barrier.

8 Ways to Find the Best Motorhome Campsites

Website search
Club handbooks
Search for Sites App
Park4Night app
Facebook groups
Personal recommendation
Motorhome magazines
Passing a sign at the roadside

Are There Campsite Rules?

All sites will have their own set of rules and regulations.

When you arrive, you will often be given a printed set of rules. Some sites are far more restrictive than others.

For instance, many of the larger national club sites demand you park exactly where they want you on the pitch. People have often been asked, (make that ordered), to move their motorhome two inches to the right, as it wasn’t in the centre of the pitch and made the campsite look ‘untidy’. You could be asked to turn your van around, as the habitation door or roll-out awning is on the ‘wrong’ side, even if you say the awning won’t be used.

Other rules are likely to specify times when music, radios, television or other noise should be silenced, or quiet enough so the sound can’t be heard outside the van. You may find at some sites, that using an awning is only permitted on the hard-standing and not the grass, where others are fine about grass.

Some sites restrict children or pets to specific areas and at some sites neither are permitted at any time.

The final rule will be the time that you need to vacate your pitch on the day you leave.

The rules are there for a purpose and are generally sensible and for the comfort of everyone sharing the space.

What is a Certified Location?

Generally abbreviated to CL, a certified location is a small site which caters for a maximum of five places. These can be a mixture of caravans, tents, campervans, and motorhomes, although not every site accepts the full set.

CLs are usually run by people who own a grass field or some space where there is hard standing. Each CL is a member of one or more of the national clubs are you are expected to be a paid-up member. That said, I have only been asked for a club membership number on around 10% of the certified locations where I have stayed.

The sites are generally licenced by a local authority and the clubs do inspect them from time to time to ensure certain standards are maintained.

Facilities at a CL will generally be very limited. You should find a fresh water tap to fill your tank. However, not all will have a facility to dump your black water from the toilet cassette. Very few have grey water drains, but you may be invited to ‘treat the grass’ but do ask first.

You may be fortunate to find a certified location with toilet facilities or showers, but these are few and far between.

You should always call ahead to book a CL, as with just five spaces they can fill up quickly. Payment is almost always in cash.

Most CL owners are very friendly and are often interested in your travels.

You can find lists of CLs in the various club handbooks, which will show details of any facilities and especially opening times, as many are closed over the winter period. Another place to find details is in the Search for Sites iOS and Android app and their website.

Campsites for Large Motorhomes

Not every campsite has facilities for a full-sized American 14 metre RV.

The same can apply to standard sizes vans towing a trailer or a car.

Some sites can only manage a limited number of vans over six metres on pitches, which is why you will often be asked for your van length when making a booking. I have come across sites where six metres is too long for some pitches, which are designed for small camper vans.

If you do have a longer motorhome or are towing a trailer, it is always wise to ask if there are suitable pitch spaces and whether the access road or gate can cope with your vehicle.

Can I take Children or Pets to a Campsite?

Certain campsites are designed as adult-only, where children are not able to stay overnight. Some will allow children to visit during the day, but this is not always the case with an adult-only campsite.

Pets are allowed on many sites, although can be restricted to a couple per van. Pet owners are expected to keep their dogs, cats (or ferrets) on a lead always and to clear away all their ‘poo’.

Can I Run a Generator at a Campsite?

Check the rules for individual sites, as some allow generators, while others don’t.

If generators are permitted, they will usually be restricted to a couple of hours and there will be a morning start time and an evening stop time.

A generator can annoy other campers, so it is wise to be aware of and courteous to your neighbours.

Safe travels!