Caravan Sites

Caravan sites range from a farmer's field with a water tap to a full facility holiday park with pools and restaurants, and the word covers all of it. This complete guide explains the types of caravan sites, what they cost, how to choose one, and how to book with confidence, whether you tour with your own caravan or want to rent a static for a week away.

What a caravan site actually is

A caravan is a trailer towed behind a vehicle to provide sleeping and living space that is more comfortable than a tent. A caravan site, then, is simply a place licensed to pitch or park caravans, but that simple definition hides a huge range. At one end sit tiny five pitch sites on farmland with minimal facilities. At the other sit large holiday parks with hundreds of pitches, hardstanding, electric hookups, shower blocks, shops, pools, and organized entertainment.

In the United Kingdom in particular, caravanning is a major leisure activity, and the industry supports two long established member organizations, the Camping and Caravanning Club, founded in 1901, and the Caravan and Motorhome Club, founded in 1907. Membership often unlocks access to a large network of sites and discounted pitch fees, which is worth factoring into your budget if you tour regularly.

The main types of caravan site

Understanding the categories is the fastest way to narrow your search.

• Touring sites are for caravans you tow and pitch for a few nights or weeks, then take away. They range from basic to luxurious. Our touring caravan sites guide goes deeper on this style.
• Holiday parks with statics keep permanently sited caravans and lodges that you rent by the night or week, or buy as a holiday home. These lean toward facilities and family entertainment. See the static caravan guide for how ownership works.
• Small certificated sites are compact, often rural pitches limited to a handful of caravans. They trade facilities for peace, space, and low cost, and are a favourite of experienced tourers.
• Club and network sites are run by the major clubs to consistent standards, offering reliable facilities and member pricing.

If you are new to the whole activity, the broader caravanning complete guide covers towing, kit, and etiquette before you pick a site.

Facilities: what to expect at each level

Facilities are the biggest differentiator between caravan sites, and they map directly to price.

1. Basic sites may offer only a water point and a waste disposal area. You bring and manage everything else. Cheapest, quietest, most self sufficient.
2. Standard sites add electric hookups, toilet and shower blocks, and often a chemical disposal point and laundry. This is the sweet spot for most tourers.
3. Full facility parks layer on shops, cafes or restaurants, play areas, pools, and sometimes entertainment. Convenient and family friendly, at a premium.

Match the level to your trip. A couple seeking a quiet week rarely needs an entertainment complex, while a family with young children may consider a pool and playground essential.

What caravan sites cost in 2026

Pitch fees vary by season, location, facilities, and hookup, so honest advice is to think in ranges rather than fixed prices. Basic rural pitches sit at the lower end, standard sites with hookups in the middle, and full facility holiday parks at the top, especially in peak school holidays and prime coastal or national park locations. Renting a static caravan for a week is priced more like accommodation than a pitch fee and rises sharply in high season.

Expect possible extras for additional occupants, awnings, dogs, premium pitch positions, and electricity where it is metered rather than included. Club membership can reduce nightly fees if you tour often. Whatever the headline rate, confirm the full total and what is included when you book, since inclusions differ from site to site. For quick local options, see our directories of caravan sites near you and caravan parks near you.

How to choose the right caravan site

With the types and costs clear, choosing comes down to matching a site to your trip. Work through these questions.

• Touring or static? Are you towing your own caravan or renting a fixed one? This single answer eliminates most of the search.
• Facilities or peace? Rank what you actually need: hookups, showers, a pool, dog friendliness, adult only, or family entertainment.
• Location and access. Consider the towing route, road access for larger outfits, and proximity to the attractions you came for.
• Season and availability. Popular sites book out months ahead for summer and bank holidays, so plan early or travel off peak for better prices and space.
• Reviews. Recent, specific reviews reveal cleanliness, noise, and how well the site is run, which no brochure will tell you.

Booking and etiquette

Most sites take bookings online or by phone, and clubs manage their networks through a single membership account. Read the cancellation and refund terms before paying, and note arrival and departure times, since many sites enforce them. On site, good etiquette keeps everyone happy: keep to the marked pitch and spacing, observe quiet hours, drive slowly, clean up after pets, and use waste and chemical disposal points correctly. These unwritten rules matter as much as any facility.

If you fancy a change of scene abroad, European holiday parks work similarly. Our review of Eurocamp covers the mobile home holiday model on the continent.

Touring caravans versus statics: which suits you

The deciding question for many people is whether to tour or to base at a static. Touring gives freedom and variety: you move between sites, follow the weather, and pay pitch fees rather than accommodation rates, but you take on towing, setup, and the cost of owning and storing a caravan. A static, whether rented or owned, offers a comfortable fixed base with no towing, ideal for repeat visits to a favourite area, at the cost of flexibility. Neither is better in the abstract. Match it to how you like to travel. Our guide to the caravan itself helps you weigh ownership.

Frequently asked questions

What are the different types of caravan site?

The main types are touring sites for caravans you tow, holiday parks with static caravans and lodges you rent or buy, small certificated sites with minimal facilities and low cost, and club or network sites run to consistent standards with member pricing.

How much do caravan sites cost per night?

Pitch fees vary by season, location, facilities, and hookup. Basic rural pitches are cheapest, standard sites with hookups sit in the middle, and full facility holiday parks cost the most, especially in peak holidays. Renting a static is priced like accommodation. Confirm the full total and inclusions when you book.

Do I need to join a caravan club to use caravan sites?

No, many sites are open to anyone. However, in the United Kingdom the Camping and Caravanning Club and the Caravan and Motorhome Club offer large networks of sites and discounted pitch fees, which can be worth it if you tour regularly.

What facilities do caravan sites usually offer?

Basic sites may offer only water and waste disposal. Standard sites add electric hookups, toilet and shower blocks, and often laundry. Full facility parks add shops, cafes, play areas, pools, and sometimes entertainment. Facilities rise with price.

Should I choose a touring caravan or a static caravan holiday?

Touring gives freedom to move between sites and pay pitch fees, but involves towing and setup. A static offers a comfortable fixed base with no towing, ideal for repeat visits to a favourite area, at the cost of flexibility. Choose based on how you like to travel.