Short answer: the best weekend campervan trips are close enough that you arrive on Friday evening with energy left. From London, try the North Norfolk coast or the Wye Valley. From Manchester, the Lake District or North Wales. From Birmingham, the Wye Valley or Eryri. From Bristol, the Wye Valley or the Atlantic Highway. From Leeds, the Lake District or the North Wales coast. Book a campsite before you go.
The three-hour rule
We have tried the "let's just go for it" weekend, five hours each way, and spent most of it looking at the back of a lorry. Now we keep to a simple rule of thumb: about three hours of driving from home, less if we are leaving after work on Friday. That leaves Saturday as a full day and Sunday for a walk, a slow lunch and the drive back.
Drive times below are rough guides from city centres in normal traffic, not promises. Friday rush hour and bank holidays can add a lot, and vans are slower than cars on hills and motorways. Check your own route before you leave.
Weekend campervan trips from London
| Destination | Why it works for a weekend |
|---|---|
| North Norfolk coast | Flat, easy driving along the A149 from Hunstanton to Cromer, big beaches and salt marsh. The whole coast road is short enough to do properly in two days. |
| Wye Valley | Straight down the M4 and over the Severn to Chepstow. Castle, Tintern Abbey and the river in one gentle day, with Monmouth for Sunday. |
Norfolk has one catch for vans: North Norfolk District Council does not allow overnight sleeping in its car parks, so book a campsite. The Wye Valley is often nearer three hours than two from London, so it suits a Friday afternoon getaway.
From Manchester
| Destination | Why it works for a weekend |
|---|---|
| Lake District | Up the M6 and you are in the fells in a couple of hours. Base at one campsite and walk from the door. If you fancy the famous passes, read our Hardknott and Wrynose guide first. |
| North Wales coast and Eryri | The A55 runs along the coast to Conwy and Anglesey, and the mountains are just inland. A weekend covers one chunk of the Snowdonia 360 loop. |
In both places, overnight stays need a campsite. The Lake District National Park says formal campsites are the only legal places for campervans to stay overnight, and Eryri does not allow overnight stays in car parks.
From Birmingham
| Destination | Why it works for a weekend |
|---|---|
| Wye Valley | Down the M50 towards Ross-on-Wye and you are on the river quickly. Monmouth, Tintern and Chepstow make an easy Saturday, with Hay-on-Wye as an alternative for Sunday. |
| Eryri via Bala | Bala is a gateway to the Snowdonia 360 from the England side. A lake, a little railway, and the coast at Barmouth and Harlech within reach for Sunday. |
From Bristol
| Destination | Why it works for a weekend |
|---|---|
| Wye Valley | Chepstow is just over the Severn, so this is close enough for a Friday night arrival even after work. Go further and try Hay-on-Wye on the Saturday. |
| Atlantic Highway | Down the M5 to Barnstaple, where the A39 Atlantic Highway starts. A weekend covers Bideford, Clovelly and Bude; save the Cornish half for a longer trip. |
From Leeds
| Destination | Why it works for a weekend |
|---|---|
| Lake District | Across the Pennines and up the M6. Pick a valley, book a campsite, walk. Large vans should treat the steep passes as a no and use the main roads. |
| North Wales coast | Over the M62 and onto the A55. Conwy, Llandudno and Anglesey make a good coast weekend, and the A55 is easy driving even in a big van. |
How we plan a weekend
A few habits that have saved us a lot of stress:
- Book the campsite first. Everything else follows from where you are sleeping. Popular coasts book up for summer weekends.
- Pack on Thursday. Water tank filled, gas checked, bedding in, food bought. Friday is just driving.
- One base, not three. On a two-night trip, staying put means more time doing things and less time packing up.
- Check your van against the route. Height, width and length matter on narrow coastal lanes and mountain roads. Our height barriers guide covers car parks.
- Have a rainy-day plan. A castle, a museum or a café with a view. The UK will test you.
First time away? Our first campervan trip guide covers the basics. Roam's ready-made routes, and trip planning that knows your van's size, are coming, not built yet. Join the waitlist and we will tell you when they launch.
Where to sleep
In England and Wales, sleeping in your van on land you do not own needs the landowner's permission. Parking somewhere is not the same as being allowed to stay the night. Councils and National Parks spell this out in the places on this page: North Norfolk District Council bans overnight sleeping in its car parks, the Lake District says formal campsites are the only legal places for campervans to stay overnight, and Eryri does not permit overnight stays in car parks. Book a campsite and check the local rules before you go. Our wild camping in the UK guide has more.
A weekend packing list
A weekend needs far less than a fortnight. This is roughly what lives in our van for a two-night trip, on top of what is fitted:
- Full fresh water tank, and an empty waste tank and toilet cassette before you leave.
- Gas checked, or a spare bottle if you are close to running out.
- Food for two breakfasts, two dinners and lunches, plus one easy backup meal in case you arrive late.
- Bedding, towels, warm layers and waterproofs, whatever the forecast says.
- Walking boots, a head torch and a printed or offline map.
- Levelling ramps, a hook-up cable if your campsite has electric, and a phone charger that runs off the leisure battery.
- Your campsite booking and the site's arrival times. Many sites have a latest arrival time, which matters on a Friday night.
Our campervan checklist has the full version.
Picking the right weekend
Spring and autumn are our favourite times for short trips. Campsites have space, roads are calmer, and you are less likely to be stuck in holiday traffic on Friday evening. Summer works too, but book early and leave earlier. In winter, check that your campsite is open and that your heating and water will cope with a cold night. Bank holiday weekends are the hardest: the motorways are busy and popular coasts fill up, so either book well ahead or choose somewhere less obvious.
Questions
Where can I go for a weekend in a campervan from London?
The North Norfolk coast and the Wye Valley both work well. Norfolk is flat and easy; the Wye Valley gives you castles, an abbey and a river.
How far should I drive for a campervan weekend?
Our rule of thumb is about three hours each way, less if you leave after work on Friday.
Do I need to book a campsite for a weekend trip?
Yes, especially in summer. Wild camping in vehicles is not generally allowed in England and Wales without the landowner's permission.
What is the easiest weekend trip for a big motorhome?
The North Wales coast along the A55 or the North Norfolk coast with a single campsite base. Both avoid mountain passes, though Norfolk has some narrow village sections.