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Planning to go motorhoming or campervanning in Wales? Looking for the best campsites and Wales motorhome sites to stay at and places to visit near them? Want campsites by the sea or near a beach? Here are some of the best campsites in Wales for motorhomes and vans, plus tips to make the most of your Welsh motorhoming or campervanning trip.
Don't forget to grab your free downloadable Wales road trip guide to help you plan your trip.
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Campervanning in Wales Tips
Wales is a wonderful place to take your motorhome or campervan. We actually spent our very first motorhome trip EVER in South Wales- 5 days exploring Pembrokeshire and the Gower Peninsula. It was fantastic.
There are so many incredible places to explore, from the Brecon Beacons to the breathtaking Pembrokeshire coast, then up into the National Park of Snowdonia and the rugged North Wales Coast. If you need ideas, here are some of the best routes for your Wales road trip.
One of the best things about motorhoming & campervanning in Wales is that it's not a particularly large country and is easy to get around- meaning you can see quite a lot in a short space of time.
However, we highly recommend taking your time and seeing as much as you can. Wales has so much incredible history- the castles are some of the best in the UK, plus there are beaches to rival Cornwall, mountain views to rival Scotland and some of the best waterfalls in Europe.
Motorhoming and Campervanning in Wales- route ideas
Did you know that Wales has created 3 national driving routes? Collectively, they're known as the Wales Way and you can drive them all with a motorhome or caravan.
- The North Wales Way covers the north coast and Anglesey.
- The Cambrian Way winds through the centre of the country, including Snowdonia, the Cambrian Mountains and the Brecon Beacons.
- The Coastal Way follows the beautiful west coast around Cardigan Bay
If you want to download your FREE guide to the routes, you can grab it here
Planning a trip to Wales?
Grab your FREE guide to the Wales Way road trip routes, including:
- suggested routes around Wales
- best places to see on your trip
- campsites to stay at along the way
- and other tips for touring Wales
Useful things to know when campervanning and motorhoming in Wales
Here are some useful things to know about touring Wales:
- National language: Welsh (but English is widely spoken)
- You don't need a passport/ ID to cross the border from England into Wales
- Wales drives on the left, just like England and Scotland
- You use GBP in Wales. No other currency is accepted.
How long to go for?
You can easily visit and explore Wales for just a few days or a week and it's quite easy to drive around. Of course, if you have two weeks or longer, you can see a lot more of the country.
How long does it take to drive across Wales?
Wales isn't a huge country and you can drive across it quite quickly if you use the main roads.
As a guide, Cardiff (on the south coast) to Llandudno (on the northern coast) takes about 4 and a half hours if you go through the middle of the country, including the beautiful Brecon Beacons and Snowdonia National Park.
It's also not a wide country. St David's (west coast) to Hay on Wye (on border) is only 112 miles and will take just under 3 hours.
Planning a driving route to Wales
Honestly, it's not hard to find Wales from anywhere in England!
From Dover to the Severn Bridge (Welsh border) takes about 4 hours (200 miles). The quickest route is to use the motorways- A2/M2/M25/M4
Some top tips for route planning:
- Avoid driving in rush hour where possible (usually 7-9am and 4-6.30pm)
- Try to avoid driving on the weekends or on bank holidays- LOTS of traffic
- Alternatively, get up early and do as much driving as possible before the traffic hits, then stop and have a nap somewhere safe- a huge advantage of having a motorhome or campervan with a bed with you!!
- The M25 around London is nearly always slow, especially near the M4 and Heathrow. Try to avoid peak times when driving this bit. There are also cameras on most. motorways- stick to the speed limit to avoid fines.
Can I drive to Wales in the Winter?
Yep. Generally the major routes are open all year. However, the UK is notoriously bad at dealing with snow and adverse weather.
At the first sign of snowfall, expect drivers to do the craziest things, including but not limited to driving at 3mph, driving down the middle of the road, stopping unexpectedly, taking 17 hours to decide if they're turning and generally forgetting all common sense (I'm British, I'm allowed to say this stuff 😉)
Best Wales Motorhome sites
We've now been to Wales many times since, doing a mixture of motorhome wild camping and using campsites.
Here are some of our favourite motorhome sites in Wales, for North and South, including some special ones by the beach. If you're planning to use a campsite in Wales for more than a few nights, it might be worth joining a motorhome club and seeing if you can get a discounted stay at your chosen campsite.
Motorhome sites North Wales
Here are some of our favourite motorhome sites in North Wales- both for the views or for their easy access to some of the best places to visit.
Tyddyn Du Touring Park
This adults only touring park has been awarded 5 stars by Visit Wales. The touring park has stunning panoramic sea views from Anglesey to the Great Orme at Llandudno. All pitches have 16 amp electric hook-ups and convenient access to water. Elsan points are installed, and Butane and Propane Gas can be purchased. There is Wi-Fi available on site for internet access on your laptop.
Address: Tyddyn Du Touring Park, Conwy Old Road, Penmaenmawr, Conwy, North Wales, LL34 6RE
Dog-friendly? Yes- dog walking area provided
Pitches: Electric, hardstanding
Prices from £26/ night
Cae Mawr Caravan Club Site- Anglesey
Cae Mawr is a Caravan and Motorhome Club Site, only a short drive to the stunning beaches of Anglesey. It's dog-friendly and there are many dog-friendly beaches nearby.
Near to the caravan site is Traeth Bychan, a small but pretty beach with boat launching facilities. This site is a great stopover for anyone needing a stopover before going motorhoming in Ireland.
Please note: This site does not have a toilet block.
Address: Llangefni Road, Marianglas, Anglesey, LL73 8NY, Wales
Dog-friendly? Yes- dog walking area provided
Pitches: Electric, hardstanding
Open Mar- Oct
Prices from £12.50/ night
Want more tips for motorhome life?
Here are some more ideas you might find useful:
- Essential Motorhome accessories every van should have
- Best Sat-nav for motorhomes or campervans
- Motorhome Security– tips for at home and on the road
- How to get Internet & wifi in a motorhome
- Europe- essential gear for travelling to Europe
- Best gift ideas for motorhome and campervan owners
Want FREE checklists, eBooks and additional tips to help? Visit our resource page
Shell Island
Shell Island is one of the largest campsites in Europe, with over 300 acres are available for camping. It's on the site of a farm which dates back to the Doomsday Book (1086) but you'll be pleased to know things have been modernised since then. This site is for motorhomes/ campervans and tents only- no caravans.
It situated in North Cardigan Bay and has shops, a bar, a restaurant and even a snack bar- making it one of the best equipped motorhome sites in North Wales. It's well situated for both the coast and Snowdonia and in Spring and early Summer you can even bottle feed the new animals on the farm.
The campsite is on an island, and the causeway is covered at high tide, so you'll need to take that into account when planning your visit.
Address: Shell Island Llanbedr, Gwynedd, North Wales, LL45 2PJ
Dog-friendly? Yes. There are certain fields where dogs are not allowed. These are sign posted at the entrances to the fields.
Pitches: Grass, hardstanding. There are NO electric pitches- but there is a leisure battery charging facility at the camp shop (for a fee) and electric points in the ladies showers for hair dryers/straighteners etc. You can also charge your phone/ laptop in the Supermarket and the Camp Shop (for a fee). You will need to have your own chargers for these.
BBQs and Fires are allowed as long as they are raised off the ground in something that will catch the ashes, so it does not burn the grass. You can also have them on the beach as long as you clear up after yourselves.
Open Mar- Oct
Plas Gwyn Caravan Park
Set within the grounds of Plas Gwyn House, this small motorhome site in North Wales has just a few spaces for motorhomes on hard standing, but several more on grass- all with electric hookup.
Families are welcome and a space for games is provided.
Address: Llanberis Road, Llanrug, Caernarfon, Gwynedd, Wales. LL55 2AQ
Dog-friendly? Yes
Pitches: Electric and non-electric, hardstanding and grass
Open Mar- November
Prices from £16/ night
Motorhome sites near Snowdonia
Tyn Cornel
Tyn Cornel is located just four miles from Bala in the foothills of the Arenig Mountains in Snowdonia, with a stunning riverside location. The National White Water Centre is just a five-minute walk. It has a mix of hardstanding and grass pitches, with16-Amp electrical hook-ups They even encourage campfires! There is also a shop, playing field and laundry facilities.
Address: Tyn Cornel Camping, Frongoch, Bala, Gwynedd, LL23 7NU
Dog-friendly? Yes
Pitches: Electric and non-electric, hardstanding and grass
Prices from £16/ night
Bala Camping and Caravanning Club site
If you're a Camping and Caravanning club member, there is a club site close to Bala, with 45 level pitches in a pretty and secluded setting.
The site has a good range of facilities including toilets, showers, laundry, a small children’s play area and a small dog walk.
Dog-friendly? Yes
Pitches: Electric and non-electric, hardstanding and grass
Prices from £9.25/ night for members
You can also grab our interactive map and online guide filled with places to visit in Wales- check it out here
Gwerniago Campsite
Gwerniago Campsite is a working farm in southern Snowdonia. The site and farm are family-run, and includes access to a small kitchen with a fridge, freezer and washing up sinks. The site was voted in the top 5 campsites in Wales for kids by Cool Camping Kids. Campfires are permitted.
Nearby there are cycling routes, river walks and many outdoor activities, plus Machynlleth, a mediaeval historic market town (market on Wednesday). The harbour village of Aberdyfi is a 15 minutes' drive away and offers blue flag beaches and sand dunes.
It's also within a 15 minute drive of:
- Henningham Chip Shop – (Voted Best Chip shop in Wales)
- Cambrian Line Railway – (Top 10 railways in the world by the Guardian)
Address: Gwerniago Campsite, Pennal, Machynlleth, Powys, SY20 9JX
Dog-friendly? Yes- on leads as it is a working farm
Pitches: Electric and non-electric, hardstanding and grass
Prices from £16
Motorhome sites South Wales
Here are some of our favourite motorhome sites in south wales (campervans and caravans are accepted at most too.)
Freshwater East Caravan Club Site
Pembrokeshire has some of the best beaches in Wales and this park is located within easy reach of several of them (including some dog-friendly ones.) There are a mixture of grass and hardstanding tiered pitching areas to choose from.
It's a brilliant location for exploring Pembroke, Manorbier or Carew (all with castles), Tenby (with the colourful harbour) and even a boat trip to Caldey Island.
Address: Trewent Hill, Freshwater East, Pembroke, Pembrokeshire, SA71 5LJ, Wales
Dog-friendly? Dogs are welcome- there's a dog walk on site
Pitches: Electric and non-electric, hardstanding and grass
Prices from £15.80 for club members
Open from March- end of October
National Showcaves Campsite – Brecon Beacons
We loved this campsite- mainly because we were blown away by the caves of Dan Yr Ogof (as you can see in the video below.) Voted one of the top 25 caravan parks in Britain by a national newspaper, it was peaceful, clean, well-run and the stars were incredible.
The campsite is a 5-minute walk from the caves- kids will love the animal petting zoo and the dinosaurs. Adults will love the caves and the cafe, which does an AMAZING breakfast.
Address: Gwerniago Campsite, Pennal, Machynlleth, Powys, SY20 9JX
Dog-friendly? Dogs are welcome, but don't take them into the caves.
Pitches: Electric and non-electric, hardstanding and grass
Prices from £25 for a van with up to 4 occupants
Open from Easter- end of October
Motorhoming in Wales- See around the National Showcaves campsite:
Watch a video of our visit to the National Showcase campsite with our motorhome as part of our Welsh motorhome tour.
We hope you found the video useful. If you did, we'd love it if you followed us on Youtube. New videos with tips for motorhoming and campervanning in the UK and Europe are released weekly.
Best motorhome site near Cardiff- Cardiff Caravan Park
Cardiff Caravan Park is the best motorhome sites in Wales for anyone wanting to visit the city of Cardiff- it's only half a mile away! Yet it manages to feel rural, despite its proximity to the city.
The campsite has 43 individual ‘grasscrete' pitches, each with its own water supply and 16 amp electric hook up points. There are also some grass pitches and non-electric pitches. There are also toilet/ shower blocks, laundry facilities and a family games room.
The site has full 24hr CCTV, and there are plenty of shops, bars and restaurants nearby.
Address: Pontcanna Fields, Fields Park Rd, Cardiff CF11 9XR
Pitches: Electric and non-electric, hardstanding and grass
Price starts from: £27/ night without electric
Open: All year
Wyeside- Central Wales
If you want to be based nearer the middle of the country, Wyeside is a brilliant option. It's a Camping and Caravanning club site, with wonderful views and facilities.
Located just outside the market town of Rhayader in Powys, on the banks of the River Wye, it's the perfect place to relax and enjoy some outdoor activities. There's hiking, cycling, horse riding and bird watching all nearby.
Please note that mobile and TV reception are poor – satellite is required.
Address: Powys, LD6 5LB
Dogs welcome
Pitches: Electric and non-electric, hardstanding and grass
Price starts from: £7.55 for members
Open: All year
Best Motorhome campsites in Wales near a beach
I know, we all want to stay somewhere with incredible views- and Wales most definitely does not disappoint. Here are a few of our favourite campsites in Wales near a beach or with a sea view.
Caerfai Bay
Caerfai Bay has 25 touring caravan/motorhome pitches all with electric hook-ups (10 amp / 2.5kW maximum) and beautiful views overlooking the Pembrokeshire coast. There are also grass pitches available.
They only accept 7 night bookings (or multiples of) during the main holiday season, with arrivals on Saturday. Outside of school holiday time, shorter stays are bookable.
Address: Ffordd Caerfai, St Davids, Haverfordwest SA62 6QT, United Kingdom
Dog-friendly? Yes
Pitches: Electric and non-electric
Prices in peak season: £28.50/ night inc electric (for 2 people with motorhome) with sea view.
Min Y Don Caravan Club Site
Min Y Don Club Site is set along the beach, with the backdrop of Snowdonia. The views of the mountains, sand dunes and floodlit 13th century Castle are breathtaking. The beach is sandy and safe for all ages and is reached via a short walk, across the adjoining famous Royal St David's Golf Course.
A short walk from the site will take you into Harlech, with plenty of pubs, restaurants and shops. If you want to venture further, the site is conveniently located to the main train line to Pwllheli, Criccieth, Barmouth and Aberdovey.
Address: Ffordd Caerfai, St Davids, Haverfordwest SA62 6QT, United Kingdom
Dog-friendly? Yes
BBQs allowed
Pitches: Electric and non-electric, hardstanding and grass
Open March to November
Three Cliffs Bay, Gower
Three Cliffs Bay has one of the best locations for any motorhome site in south Wales. The views across the Gower peninsula onto Three Cliff Bay are BREATHTAKING.
The site has been awarded 5 stars by Visit Wales and welcomes, tents, caravans, campervans and motorhomes.
There are a range of pitches including sea views and electric hookup points
There's a motor home service point, Elson facilities and several warm water dog showering points.
Address: North Hill Farm, N Hills Ln, Penmaen, Swansea SA3 2HB
Dog-friendly? Yes. They are also allowed on the beach 12 months a year. We now have dog walking areas on-site.
BBQs off the ground are allowed and firepits available for hire
Open April- October
Prices from £33.50/ night
Motorhome Wild Camping in Wales
Motorhome wild camping in Wales is a little bit more complicated than wild camping with a motorhome in Scotland.
Having said that, we've wild camping in Wales on several occasions- and only had an issue once. If you'd like to learn more about the legalities of wild camping with a motorhome or campervan in Wales, these posts will help:
- Motorhome Wild Camping in the UK– Everything you need to know
- Motorhome and campervan parking laws in the UK
- How to find FREE overnight motorhome parking places in the UK and Europe
Want to stay off-grid with your motorhome?
Grab our FREE wild camping checklist and make it easy for yourself. Everything you need to do, bring or remember when you stay off-grid.
Motorhoming and Campervanning in Wales -motorhome hire
If you want to go campervanning or motorhoming in Wales and need to hire a motorhome or campervan for your trip, make sure you do your homework in advance and ask the right questions to make sure you know what you're getting.
To rent a vehicle in Wales you must:
- be at least 21 years old, (certain car categories may require older) Some hire companies have a maximum age limit of 75.
- have had a driving licence for more than one year
- show identification (identity card for EU citizens or a valid passport for other nationalities)
You can expect to pay from around £50/ day for a small campervan in June out of peak season. Many of the van rental periods ask for a minimum of 5 nights, so be sure to ask the right questions so you know what to expect from your motorhome or campervan rental
NOTE: The UK and Wales use 230 V and the frequency is 50 Hz. All power sockets are type G 3-pin. Remember to bring appropriate adaptors for your electronic devices.
Want to rent a vehicle for your road trip?
These might help:
READ: 10 essential questions to ask before you rent a motorhome
Useful things to know when campervanning in Wales
Bringing a dog/ pet into Wales
If your dog is England or Scotland based, you can travel with them into Wales without any paperwork, although we always recommend carrying microchip details and details of their inoculations, just in case.
If your dog is NOT UK based, you will need to carry:
- Microchip details
- Proof of rabies vaccination/ Pet Passport
- Proof of Tapeworm treatment – must be given between 1 and 5 days before crossing into Britain. The treatment is not necessary if you travel DIRECTLY from Finland, Ireland, Malta or Norway. You do NOT need a second tapeworm treatment for travelling into Wales if you have already been in England or Scotland for more than 5 days.
READ MORE: Taking your dog into Europe after BREXIT- new rules to follow
Speed limits in Wales
Motorway signs are blue with white writing. Other road signs are green or brown for places of interest.
Speed Limits for vehicles under 3.05t are as follows (unless otherwise signed!)
- Motorways- 70mph (112km/h)
- Major roads/ dual carriageways- 70mph (112km/h)
- Outside built-up areas- 60 mph (96 km/h)
- Built up areas- 30 mph (48 km/h)
Many residential areas have speed limits as low as 20mph 32 km/h), especially near schools.
Speed limits for vehicles over 3.05t
- Motorways- 70mph (112km/h)
- Major roads/ dual carriageways- 60 mph (96 km/h)
- Outside built-up areas- 50 mph (80 km/h)
- Built up areas- 30 mph (48 km/h)
Speed limits for vehicles towing a caravan or trailer
- Motorways- 60 mph (96 km/h)
- Major roads/ dual carriageways- 60 mph (96 km/h)
- Outside built-up areas- 50 mph (80 km/h)
- Built up areas- 30 mph (48 km/h)
You can see speed limits for all vehicle categories in the UK here
Speed cameras in Wales
There are many speed cameras in Wales. Pay attention to your speed- fines are not as severe as if you were campervanning in Switzerland, but they are still pretty high.
Drink driving laws
Driving under the influence of alcohol is taken very seriously in Wales and the UK. Wales only allows 80 milligrams of alcohol per 100 millilitres of blood. As always, don't drink and drive.
Petrol/ Diesel
There are plenty of fuel stations across Wales, although they are less common in rural areas. We recommend not letting your tank drop below half-full and filling up when you can if you are driving into remote areas, like around the Brecon Beacons. As with everywhere, you'll find the prices slightly higher on the motorways.
Petrol – Unleaded 95 ‘premium unleaded’ /unleaded 97 ‘super unleaded’. Green handles on pump
Diesel is called… diesel. Black or yellow handles on pump
Some places are 24h pay at the pump (mainly near cities), but many require you to go into the shop and pay the cashier either in advance or after you've filled up- there will be a sign to tell you what to do. (Leave your car in front of the pump and make a note of the pump number.)
You can pay using cash or a credit card. European visa cards are usually accepted- remember you will pay the exchange rate. Many places do NOT take American Express.
Getting LPG in Wales
LPG (GPL) can be found at a few selected petrol stations. If buying from a petrol station, you may need to wait for an attendant to turn the system on for you.
You can find places which sell LPG using MyLPG.eu
Remember, if you don't have refillable gas bottles, you will be unable to buy a gas bottle which fits straight onto a European system- you will need a UK pigtail.
UK filling stations mostly use a bayonet-type attachment which requires an adaptor for use with other European LPG vehicle connectors. Make sure that you have a suitable adaptor before travelling.
LEARN MORE: Learn how we find LPG in Europe for our motorhome
More useful things to know when campervanning in Wales
Some more tips to help you enjoy your time touring in Wales.
Phone Dialling Code: +44
Capital: Cardiff
Emergency Numbers: 999 will get you police, fire, ambulance and coastguard. Also, 112 (the European emergency number) will also work in the UK
Language– The official language of Wales is Welsh and English
Currency– GBP (£ sterling) You can exchange money at banks or many post offices or travel agents. There are also a multitude of ATMs available.
Cards– most major credit and debit cards are accepted. American Express is only taken in large stores (often not at fuel stations)
Timezone– GMT. During summer, the country adopts British BST – Summer Time (UTC +1), which usually ends in the last week of October. Timezone is ALWAYS the same as the rest of the UK.
Tipping- Tipping is not expected but appreciated. 5% – 10% in restaurants is standard if you are happy with the service.
Shops– Many normal shops close at 5.30pm, with bigger supermarkets often open until 10pm. Many small shops will not be open on Sundays, but bigger supermarkets and garages may be open for about 6 hours (often from 10-4pm)
Campervanning in Wales- security
We highly recommend paying extra attention to your motorhome security when travelling in Wales. You might even wish to fit an extra camper habitation door lock and never leave your vehicle unattended in an unsecure area.
READ MORE: Essential tips for protecting your van at home and on the road
Touring Wales with a dog
Wales is pretty dog friendly and there are plenty of places to walk with them both on and off-lead. They're allowed inside many restaurants, pubs and cafes- usually just ask if there isn't a clear sign.
They are not allowed into public places like museums, but are usually welcome on trains and most public transport with a lead.
Don't forget how hot it gets in summer and to make sure your dog is comfortable. Do NOT leave them in your motorhome or camper on a sunny day- vans heat up just like cars do. Here are some tips to keep your dog cool on a road trip.
Using a drone in Wales
You are allowed to take and fly your drone in Scotland, but it is a legal requirement for all drones weighing between 250g and 20kg to be registered and flown by competent pilots.
The UK Civil Aviation Authority works hard to balance drone users with other airspace users and have lots of information and tools to help. Find out more here.
READ MORE: What's the best travel drone (and how to choose)
We also recommend getting the Drone Assist app on your phone or iPad, which will tell you where you can/ cannot fly.
