Caravan and Camping Club

If you have searched for the "caravan and camping club," you have probably noticed something confusing: there is more than one. In the UK, two large, long established membership organisations dominate touring, and knowing how they differ is the fastest way to decide whether a club membership is worth it for the way you actually travel.

What people mean by "the caravan and camping club"

The phrase is a bit of a catch all. Most searchers are looking for one of two established British organisations, and the two are genuinely different bodies with their own sites, apps, and membership schemes.

The first is The Camping and Caravanning Club. It was founded in 1901, originally as the Association of Cycle Campers, and one of its founding figures was the "father of modern camping" Thomas Hiram Holding. It is a not for profit organisation with over 730,000 members and is headquartered in Coventry. It welcomes tents, trailer tents, caravans, motorhomes, and campervans alike, so it tends to attract a broad mix of members.

The second is The Caravan and Motorhome Club. It was founded in 1907 as The Caravan Club of Great Britain and Ireland, was renamed The Caravan Club in 1959, and took its current name in February 2017. It represents close to a million members and leans, as the name suggests, toward towed caravans and motorhomes rather than tents.

If you are still deciding whether touring is for you at all, it is worth reading our broader guide to caravanning and our overview of camping as a whole before you commit to any subscription.

How the two clubs compare

Both organisations follow a similar model, so the differences are in emphasis and network size rather than in the basic idea.

• The Camping and Caravanning Club operates nearly 100 club sites of its own plus over 1,100 small "certificated sites" across the UK. Because it embraces tents, it is often the more natural home for mixed households where some trips are under canvas and some are in a van.
• The Caravan and Motorhome Club runs around 200 main club sites plus more than 2,200 smaller "certificated locations" (CLs), the well known five van sites tucked onto farms and in gardens. Its larger main network appeals to caravan and motorhome owners who tour often.

Neither is simply "better." A tent owner may prefer the first, a full time motorhomer may value the second's denser main site network, and plenty of people eventually join both.

What membership actually gets you

Club perks vary year to year, but the categories are stable. Broadly, a paid membership tends to include:

1. Discounted pitch nights at the club's own managed sites, which is where regular tourers recover the fee.
2. Access to the members only small sites (certificated sites or CLs) described above.
3. Booking apps and site directories that make trip planning and availability checks easier.
4. Touring support, which can include advice lines, magazines, overseas travel services, and insurance products offered to members.

Treat any specific figure you see online as a starting point, not gospel. Fees, discounts, and pitch prices change every season and vary by site grade, pitch type, and time of year, so always confirm current numbers on the club's own website before you count on a saving.

What a club membership typically costs

Annual membership for these UK clubs generally falls in a modest range, on the order of a few tens of pounds per year, with variations for age, payment method, and add on packages. On top of that you pay per night when you stay, usually with a member discount applied.

The honest way to judge value is a simple sum. Add the annual fee to your expected pitch nights at member rates, then compare that with what the same nights would cost at independent parks. If you tour more than a couple of weeks a year, the discount plus small site access usually tips the maths in the club's favour. If you camp once a summer, it may not.

Because prices move, use realistic ranges when you budget and confirm the exact totals at the point of booking. For a wider look at how touring costs stack up, our complete guide to caravans walks through the running costs beyond pitch fees.

Club sites versus independent parks

Club managed sites are known for consistency: tidy pitches, reliable facilities, and clear rules. Independent parks and holiday sites can offer more character, more on site entertainment, or waterfront locations that clubs do not cover. Many tourers mix both, using club sites as dependable stopovers and independents for destination holidays.

When you are hunting for a pitch in a specific area, it pays to compare club and non club options side by side. Our directory style guides to caravan sites and finding caravan parks near you explain how to weigh location, hookups, and facilities without relying on marketing claims.

Who benefits most from joining

A club membership is not a universal must have. It rewards certain travel patterns more than others.

• Frequent UK tourers who rack up enough nights for the discount to clear the fee.
• People who love quiet, small sites and want access to the members only certificated locations.
• New tourers who value predictable standards and support while they learn the ropes.
• Overseas travellers who want the clubs' European booking and ferry services.

If you camp rarely, travel mostly to independent destination parks, or prefer wild and off grid stays, you may get little from a subscription. Be honest about your real habits rather than your aspirational ones.

How to choose between them (a simple method)

Rather than agonising, work through a short checklist:

1. List your kit. Tent owners lean toward the club that welcomes canvas. Caravan and motorhome only households can weigh either.
2. Map your favourite regions. Check which club has more sites where you actually go.
3. Estimate nights per year. Multiply by the member discount to see if the fee clears.
4. Value the small sites. If quiet, members only pitches excite you, that access alone can decide it.
5. Try before committing long term. Join for a year, tour your normal pattern, then judge the renewal on real experience.

For newcomers still choosing a touring style, our guide to touring caravan sites pairs well with this one and covers what to expect at your first few stops.

Frequently asked questions

Is the caravan and camping club one organisation or two?

It is two. In the UK the name usually refers to either The Camping and Caravanning Club, founded in 1901, or The Caravan and Motorhome Club, founded in 1907 and formerly called The Caravan Club. They are separate bodies with their own sites and memberships.

Do I need to join a club to go camping or caravanning?

No. Anyone can camp at independent parks and many public campsites without any membership. A club mainly adds discounts and access to members only small sites, so it is optional and best judged against how often you tour.

How much does club membership cost?

Annual membership for these UK clubs generally sits in the range of a few tens of pounds, with variations by age, payment method, and package, plus per night pitch fees when you stay. Prices change each season, so confirm the current figure on the club's own website before joining.

What are certificated sites and CLs?

They are small, members only sites, often just a handful of pitches on a farm or in a garden. The Camping and Caravanning Club calls its network certificated sites, while The Caravan and Motorhome Club calls its five van versions certificated locations, or CLs. Non members cannot book them.

Which club is better for tents?

The Camping and Caravanning Club has historically welcomed tents, trailer tents, and all touring units, which makes it the more natural fit for households that sometimes camp under canvas. The Caravan and Motorhome Club focuses more on towed caravans and motorhomes.

Can I be a member of both clubs?

Yes. The memberships are independent, and some frequent tourers join both to maximise site choice across the UK. Whether that is worth two fees depends on how many nights you spend and how much you value the wider small site access.