Where to Park Your Motorhome: UK Stopovers & Campsites
Parking up for the night can be a bit of a minefield, so keep on the right side of the law and parking wardens by knowing where you can and cannot park.
Where Can You Park Your Motorhome?
Part of the attraction of having a motorhome is the flexibility – you can take off on a whim, and spend your weekends and holidays exploring the countryside. Parking up for the night can be a bit of a minefield though, so keep on the right side of the law and parking wardens by knowing where you can and cannot park.
Official Campsites
The obvious place to park the motorhome is on an approved campsite. These are plentiful and spread across the UK but the only potential downside is that during peak season, it may be difficult to find a space at the more popular sites. Campsites also vary in what they offer; many will have shower blocks, toilets and electricity hook up points, but others will be far more basic. Price will also vary according to what the campsite offers and according to the time of year, but around £20 – £30 a night is average for busy periods.
Private Carparks
Large parking companies such as NCP often have car parks which are open 24 hours, and may be happy for you to park up and stay there overnight as long as you have paid the appropriate charges, which vary enormously. This can be a good way of getting somewhere to park up in a city centre, but remember that you will have none of the facilities such as showers and electric points which you find in a campsite. Some private car parks will explicitly ban staying overnight and the only way of finding out is to check the signs on arrival. Remember too that many car parks have height restrictions to stop larger vehicles from entering.
Council Car Parks
Especially in tourist areas, many car parks run by the local Council will have a dedicated section for people wanting to park up for the night. If there are restrictions on the length of stay or overnight parking, this should be clearly stated. Most local Councils have lots of information on their websites giving information about where you can park your motorhome, so do some research before leaving home and plan your route. Don’t risk parking illegally in a car park where overnight stays are not allowed – you will most probably end up with a parking ticket.
Lay-Bys
On a long journey, the easiest thing is often to pull off the road and park up in a layby. But you need to be aware of the laws if you are parking in a motorhome. You are not allowed to pull into a layby which is just separated from the road by a white line and stay there overnight. You are allowed to park overnight in a larger layby, which has an entrance and exit lane, and is separated from the road by a raised kerb. The only problem is that this type of layby is also popular with lorry drivers who are taking their rest breaks. Depending on the road layout, it could be very noisy too.
Pub Stopovers
There are over 1500 pubs in the UK which allow motorhomers to park up overnight in their carparks or other land. Bear in mind though, it is not your right to park in the car-parks and you should always respect the privacy of the land-owners and pub landlords and management.
Frequently Asked Questions About Motorhome Parking and Overnight Stays
Is it legal to sleep overnight in a layby in the UK?
There's no specific law that makes it illegal to sleep in a vehicle at a layby, but it exists in a legal grey area rather than being an explicit right. Local bylaws, Traffic Regulation Orders and “no overnight parking” signage can make a specific layby off-limits, and enforcement varies by council. Treat a layby as a short, considerate overnight stop rather than a campsite - don't put out chairs, awnings or barbecues - and always check for local signage first.
Can I park and sleep in my motorhome or campervan anywhere in the UK?
No - all land in the UK is owned by someone, so parking and sleeping “anywhere” isn't a legal right. On the public highway (including laybys and many car parks), there's generally no specific law against sleeping in your vehicle unless signage or a Traffic Regulation Order says otherwise, but on private land you need the landowner's permission. Scotland's “right to roam” under the Land Reform Act does not extend to motorised vehicles, so the same caution applies there too.
Is it illegal to sleep in a campervan on a public road or residential street?
Not automatically - but many residential streets are covered by parking restrictions, resident permit schemes or Traffic Regulation Orders that specifically prohibit overnight stays or “camping” in a vehicle, and some housing developments have restrictive covenants against parking large vehicles. If in doubt, check local signage or your council's parking rules before staying overnight on a residential street.
Can I sleep in my motorhome on my own driveway, or park it outside my house long-term?
Generally yes, on your own driveway or private land, provided your property deeds or any leasehold agreement don't contain a restrictive covenant against it. Parking a motorhome on the street outside your house is usually fine for reasonable periods, subject to any local parking restrictions, but leaving it in the same spot on a public road for an extended, continuous period can attract council attention in some areas.
Can I park a motorhome or campervan overnight in a supermarket car park?
Only with the landowner's permission, whether that's explicit or reasonably implied. Most supermarket car parks are private land with signage limiting stays to a few hours and prohibiting overnight parking or “camping” - overstaying can result in a parking charge notice from a private parking enforcement company, even though it isn't a criminal offence.
Can I sleep in a motorhome at a motorway service station?
Motorway services are designed for short breaks rather than overnight stays, and most have signage or time-limited parking that discourages or prohibits sleeping overnight. Some services do tolerate a short rest stop if you're too tired to drive safely, but you shouldn't treat a service station as a planned overnight stop.
Can I park my motorhome on my own land in the UK?
Yes, in most cases - as the landowner (or with the landowner's permission), you're generally free to park and stay in a motorhome on your own land, though local planning rules can apply if you intend to live there permanently or place the vehicle in one fixed spot indefinitely rather than using it as a genuine, movable vehicle.
Can passengers sleep or move around in a motorhome while it's being driven?
For safety, every passenger should be seated and belted while the vehicle is moving - most modern motorhomes only have forward-facing seatbelts fitted in the cab and dinette area for use while travelling, and moving around, using the toilet, or lying down in the living area while the vehicle is in motion isn't safe practice, regardless of the exact legal position.
How much does it cost to park a motorhome on a campsite?
Campsite prices vary hugely depending on location, season, facilities and hook-up availability - typically from around £15–£20 a night for a basic site up to £40–£50+ a night for a premium coastal or peak-season pitch with full services. Certified Locations (small, simple sites) tend to be cheaper, at roughly £10–£18 a night.
