Short answer: the Snowdonia 360 campervan route is a 360-mile loop through Eryri (Snowdonia), round the Llŷn Peninsula, across Anglesey and along the North Wales coast. You can start anywhere on the loop; Bala makes a good gateway from England. Allow four to seven days. Eryri does not allow overnight stays in car parks, so book campsites, and keep big vans to the main roads.
At a glance
| Thing | Detail |
|---|---|
| Length | About 360 miles (579 km), a loop |
| Start and finish | Anywhere on the loop. We use Bala, coming in from England |
| Days | Four to seven to enjoy it; it has been driven in one or two |
| Best for | Mountains, castles, beaches, slate heritage, railways |
| Roads | A496 coast north of Barmouth, A498 and A4086 through the mountains, A55 along the north coast |
| Van-size watch-outs | Narrow, steep lanes to some beaches and villages. Mountain passes are busy in summer. The A55 is the easiest section for big vans |
The Snowdonia 360 campervan route, stop by stop
The official site describes the Snowdonia 360 as a 360-mile route through Snowdonia, Anglesey, the Llŷn Peninsula and the North Wales coast. It does not fix a start point, and its own itineraries are split into six parts that you can do in any order. Here is a clockwise version that works well in a van.
- Bala. The gateway from the England side. Bala Lake Railway runs from Llanuwchllyn along the lake.
- Barmouth. Beach and town on the coast. Dog restrictions apply on part of the beach between 1 April and 30 September.
- Harlech. North on the A496 past Harlech beach and its castle.
- Portmeirion and Porthmadog. Portmeirion sits at the mouth of the River Dwyryd. Cross the Cob into Porthmadog. Black Rock Sands nearby is a beach you can drive onto.
- Criccieth and the Llŷn Peninsula. An easy coastal arc round the peninsula. Detours include Porthdinllaen and Nant Gwrtheyrn near Llithfaen on the north coast.
- Caernarfon. The castle is part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Inigo Jones Slate Works is nearby.
- Anglesey. Cross the Menai Strait by the Britannia or Menai bridges. Benllech is a good beach day, and Beaumaris has another castle.
- Bangor, Conwy and Llandudno. Along the A55. STORIEL museum in Bangor, Conwy's castle, Llandudno's seafront, and the Welsh Mountain Zoo near Colwyn Bay.
- Betws-y-Coed and the mountains. Swallow Falls on the A5, Bodnant Garden and Castell Dolwyddelan nearby. The A4086 runs close to Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon); Llanberis has the National Slate Museum.
- Beddgelert and Blaenau Ffestiniog. The A498 south of Beddgelert is a lovely riverside stretch. Llechwedd slate mine is at Blaenau Ffestiniog. Then back to Bala.
How many days
Some guides say the loop can be driven in a day, or two with a night on Anglesey. We think that misses the point. A relaxed pace is two nights on the coast around Harlech or Porthmadog, one or two on the Llŷn, two on Anglesey or the north coast, and one in the mountains. The Caravan and Motorhome Club's own trip used several bases and day trips from each, which suits a van well: set up once, explore, move on.
The official site has a trip planner where you build your own days. Roam's ready-made routes are coming, not built yet; when they launch the plan is to have routes like this saved offline with stops in order. Join the waitlist to hear first.
Where to sleep
This is the part to get right. Eryri National Park says plainly that "staying overnight at a car park in a campervan or caravan is not permitted in Eryri National Park", and asks visitors to avoid camping on roadsides or in laybys. It recommends booking an official campsite. Wild camping in a vehicle in Wales generally needs the landowner's permission, and most of Eryri is privately owned farmland and forestry.
- Campsites: there are many around Harlech, Porthmadog, the Llŷn, Anglesey and Conwy. Summer weekends fill quickly, so book ahead.
- Club sites: the Caravan and Motorhome Club used sites in Gwynedd, eastern Anglesey and Conwy as bases on its trip.
- Council motorhome stopovers: local councils have trialled paid overnight stopovers for self-contained motorhomes in some towns. These change from year to year, so check the council's current list before you count on one.
For the full picture, read our wild camping in the UK guide. Rules change; check the Eryri page before you go.
Van-size warnings
The main roads on the loop are fine for most vans. The Caravan and Motorhome Club found the main route suitable for touring, with the A55 dual carriageway the easiest driving for caravans and larger motorhomes. The trouble is the last mile: some approaches to Welsh beaches use narrow lanes or steep drops, and its writer went to those beaches without the caravan.
- Check any beach or village detour on a map before you commit, especially on the Llŷn.
- The mountain roads through Eryri are busy in summer, with walkers and parked cars at the trailheads. Go early.
- If your van is long, choose campsites near the main roads and use local buses or bikes for the tightest villages.
- Black Rock Sands lets you drive on the beach. Know your tides and your tyres, and do not try it in a heavy van on soft sand.
Fuel and water
The loop passes plenty of towns, so fuel is easy, but the Llŷn and the mountain stretches have longer gaps. Our habit is to fill up when we are below half a tank before heading onto the peninsula or into the mountains. Campsites are the place to fill fresh water and empty waste. Never empty a toilet cassette or grey water anywhere else.
Looking for something gentler or shorter? Try the Wye Valley, or see our weekend campervan trips guide. If steep passes appeal, read our honest take on the Hardknott and Wrynose passes first.
If you only have a weekend
You do not have to do the whole loop at once. The official site splits its itineraries into parts, from the Nantlle Valley to Llandudno, the Llŷn Peninsula, Llanberis, the Conwy Valley, Anglesey and Porthmadog. Pick one and stay put. Our favourite short version is two nights near Porthmadog: Saturday on the Llŷn coast and Criccieth, Sunday at Portmeirion and Black Rock Sands, then home via Beddgelert and the A498. If you are coming from the north west, two nights on Anglesey with a day trip to Conwy is just as good.
If the weather turns, slate heritage is the answer. The National Slate Museum in Llanberis, Llechwedd at Blaenau Ffestiniog and the Inigo Jones Slate Works near Caernarfon are all on or near the loop, and the Bala Lake Railway and Talyllyn Railway from Tywyn are good wet-day options too.
Before you go
- Book campsites early. Eryri itself warns that campsites book to capacity quickly in busy periods.
- Know your van. Height, width and length, written on a sticker on the dashboard. You will want them on the Llŷn lanes.
- Download maps offline. Mobile signal in the mountains and on parts of the peninsula can be patchy. This is our experience, not a published figure.
- Plan the busy bits. The roads near Yr Wyddfa get very busy on fine summer weekends. Go early or midweek.
- Carry a bit of Welsh. Signs are bilingual, and place names on your map may be in Welsh first: Eryri for Snowdonia, Yr Wyddfa for Snowdon.
Questions
How long is the Snowdonia 360?
About 360 miles (579 km). It is a loop, so you can join it anywhere.
Where does the Snowdonia 360 start?
There is no fixed start. Bala works well coming from England, and the A55 is handy coming from the north west.
Can I sleep in my campervan in Eryri car parks?
No. Eryri National Park says overnight stays in campervans and caravans in car parks are not permitted. Book a campsite.
Is the Snowdonia 360 suitable for motorhomes?
The main roads are, especially the A55. Some beach and village detours use narrow, steep lanes, so check those before you go and leave the big van at the campsite if in doubt.