How to Choose a Family-Friendly Campsite
Choosing the right campsite can make just as much difference to a family camping holiday as choosing the right tent. Some families want a quiet countryside site with plenty of space, while others prefer a larger holiday park with swimming pools, entertainment and activities.
Neither is necessarily better — the important thing is finding somewhere that suits your family and the type of holiday you’re planning.
Before booking, look beyond the photographs and check the practical details. Pitch size, facilities, location and campsite rules can all affect how much you enjoy your stay.
Think About the Type of Holiday You Want
Start by deciding what you actually want from your camping holiday.
You might be looking for:
- A quiet countryside break
- A traditional seaside holiday
- Walking and cycling
- Days on the beach
- Family attractions
- On-site activities
- A base for exploring the local area
- Somewhere to simply relax
A campsite with extensive entertainment may be ideal for one family and completely wrong for another.
Knowing what you want from the holiday makes narrowing down the choices considerably easier.
Check the Pitch Size
Family tents can occupy a substantial amount of space, particularly larger tunnel tents, air tents and multi-room designs.
Before booking, check whether the campsite can accommodate your tent.
You may need space for:
- The main tent
- Guy lines
- A porch or extension
- Your vehicle
- Outdoor chairs and tables
Some campsites provide clearly defined pitches, while others use more open camping fields.
If your tent is particularly large, contact the campsite before booking rather than assuming it will fit.
Look at the Toilet and Shower Facilities
Good washing facilities become particularly important when you’re camping with children.
Check what the campsite provides and whether the facilities are appropriate for your family.
Depending on your needs, look for:
- Hot showers
- Toilets
- Family shower rooms
- Baby-changing facilities
- Accessible facilities
- Washing-up areas
- Laundry facilities
The distance from your pitch can matter too.
Being at the far end of a large camping field might provide more peace and quiet, but that can feel less convenient when a younger child needs the toilet during the night.
Decide Whether You Need Electric Hook-Up
Not every family needs electricity while camping.
If you’re happy using battery-powered lighting and portable charging equipment, a non-electric pitch may be perfectly suitable.
An electric hook-up can be useful if you want to run suitable camping equipment or regularly charge devices.
If you choose an electric pitch, make sure you have the correct campsite electrical equipment and understand the site’s requirements.
Don’t assume every pitch includes electricity. It is often a separate booking option.
Consider Facilities for Children
Children don’t need a campsite packed with organised entertainment to enjoy themselves.
A safe outdoor space can often provide plenty to do.
However, depending on their ages, useful facilities might include:
- Playgrounds
- Swimming pools
- Sports areas
- Games rooms
- Children’s activities
- Bike-friendly areas
- Open spaces for playing
Older children may value a little independence around the campsite, while younger children may be happier with a playground close to your pitch.
Choose facilities your children are actually likely to use rather than simply selecting the campsite with the longest list.
Look at the Campsite Layout
The overall layout can affect how relaxed your holiday feels.
Check where camping pitches are positioned in relation to:
- Toilet and shower blocks
- Play areas
- Campsite roads
- Reception
- Shops
- Entertainment areas
- Bars or restaurants
- Lakes, rivers or other water
A pitch next to a playground can be extremely convenient with younger children but may also be noisier.
Likewise, being close to campsite facilities can save a lot of walking but usually means more people passing your tent.
Think about the balance that works for your family.
Check the Campsite Rules
Campsites have different rules, and it’s worth understanding them before booking.
These may cover:
- Arrival and departure times
- Quiet hours
- Vehicle movements
- Barbecues
- Campfires
- Dogs
- Gazebos or additional shelters
- Group bookings
- Electric equipment
If you intend to take a large tent extension, additional shelter or other equipment, check that it’s permitted.
Understanding the rules beforehand avoids unwelcome surprises when you arrive.
Think About Food and Shopping
You don’t necessarily need a campsite shop, but knowing where you can buy food and essentials is useful.
Check whether the campsite has:
- A small shop
- Café
- Restaurant
- Takeaway
- Food vans
Also look at the surrounding area.
A supermarket or village shop within a short drive can be more useful than a small campsite shop, particularly on a longer holiday.
Having somewhere nearby to buy an easy evening meal can also be very welcome after a full day out.
Consider the Location
A beautiful campsite isn’t necessarily the right choice if you spend most of the holiday driving everywhere you want to visit.
Think about the activities you’re planning and where the campsite sits in relation to them.
For example, you might want to be close to:
- Beaches
- Walking routes
- Cycle trails
- Family attractions
- Towns and villages
- National parks
- Public transport
If you expect to spend most days away from the campsite, location may be more important than extensive on-site facilities.
Check Whether Dogs Are Welcome
If your dog is part of the family holiday, check the campsite’s rules carefully.
Some sites welcome dogs throughout, while others restrict the number allowed or designate particular camping areas.
Look for information about:
- Dogs on pitches
- Lead requirements
- Exercise areas
- Restricted areas
- Additional charges
Also check whether nearby beaches, attractions and walking areas are suitable for dogs during the dates you’re visiting.
Read Recent Reviews Sensibly
Reviews can provide useful information that isn’t always obvious from a campsite’s website.
They may help you understand:
- How clean facilities are
- Whether pitches are spacious
- How noisy the site becomes
- Whether staff are helpful
- How well facilities are maintained
However, don’t let one unusually negative or positive review make the decision for you.
Look for patterns across several recent reviews, particularly comments about things that matter to your family.
Don’t Assume Bigger Is Better
Large holiday parks can provide an enormous range of facilities and activities.
For some families, that’s exactly what makes a great camping holiday.
Others may prefer a small campsite with little more than clean toilets, hot showers and plenty of countryside.
A smaller site can offer:
- A quieter atmosphere
- Fewer vehicles
- More relaxed surroundings
- Less temptation to spend money on activities
- A simpler camping experience
Think about what your family genuinely enjoys rather than assuming more facilities automatically means a better holiday.
Book Popular Campsites Early
Good family campsites in popular destinations can become busy during school holidays.
If you need a large pitch, electric hook-up or specific facilities, booking early can give you considerably more choice.
This is particularly important during:
- Easter
- Bank holiday weekends
- Summer school holidays
- Popular local events
Outside peak periods, you may have much greater flexibility.
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Final Thoughts
The best family-friendly campsite isn’t necessarily the one with the most facilities.
It’s the one that provides the right combination of location, pitch space, practical facilities and atmosphere for your family.
Think about how you’ll actually spend the holiday, check that your tent fits comfortably and make sure the facilities you consider important are available.
Get the campsite choice right and you’ll have a comfortable base from which the whole family can relax, explore and enjoy being outdoors together.