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How to Find Motorhome Campsites and Legal Overnight Stops

Planning where to stay is one of the most important parts of a motorhome holiday. This guide explains how to find proper campsites, designated motorhome stopovers and lawful overnight parking across the UK, including Scotland and the North Coast 500.

Important: parking a motorhome does not automatically give permission to sleep in it overnight. Signs, local restrictions and landowner rules always apply. Check the current rules before travelling and have a backup site, particularly in busy periods.

Campsites, stopovers and parking: what is the difference?

Full campsites

Touring campsites normally offer allocated pitches and may provide electric hook-up, fresh water, toilets, showers and chemical-waste disposal. They are the most dependable choice for longer stays, families and anyone who wants facilities.

Designated motorhome stopovers

A designated stopover or aire permits motorhomes to stay overnight under stated conditions. Facilities vary widely: some are simple parking areas, while others provide water, waste disposal or electric hook-up. Always check vehicle-length limits, arrival times, charges and whether advance booking is required.

Ordinary car parks and lay-bys

A car park that allows daytime parking may still prohibit sleeping, camping or overnight occupation. Never assume that an absence of a barrier means an overnight stay is permitted. Do not use passing places, block gates or entrances, or put out awnings, chairs and cooking equipment in an ordinary parking area.

Reliable ways to find a campsite

  • Official destination websites: national and regional tourism websites often maintain touring-site directories and responsible-travel guidance.
  • Camping and motorhome organisations: the Caravan and Motorhome Club and the Camping and Caravanning Club provide searchable site networks. Some locations require membership, so check before relying on them.
  • Independent campsite directories: useful for comparing facilities and locations, but confirm the final details on the campsite’s own website or by telephone.
  • Local authority information: council websites and signs are the best sources for current parking restrictions and authorised local schemes.
  • Direct confirmation: contact the site if vehicle length, pets, late arrival, accessibility or seasonal opening could affect your stay.

What to check before booking

  • Maximum motorhome length, height and weight
  • Hardstanding or grass pitch
  • Electric hook-up and connector requirements
  • Fresh-water and grey-water points
  • Toilet and chemical-waste disposal
  • Pet rules and any dog-walking restrictions
  • Arrival and departure times
  • Seasonal opening dates
  • Mobile signal or Wi-Fi if it matters to your journey
  • Access-road width, gradients and low bridges
  • Cancellation terms and whether advance booking is essential

Motorhomes and “wild camping” in Scotland

Scotland’s outdoor-access rights are often misunderstood. Responsible lightweight camping on foot is covered by the Scottish Outdoor Access Code, but those rights do not create a general right to park or sleep overnight in a motor vehicle. Motorhomes should use campsites, designated stopovers or locations where the landowner has clearly granted permission.

Forestry and Land Scotland operates a Stay the Night scheme at selected car parks for qualifying self-contained motorhomes and campervans. Participating locations, availability, vehicle-size restrictions and rules can change, so use the official map immediately before travelling.

VisitScotland also provides an official caravan and camping directory.

Planning an NC500 motorhome trip

The North Coast 500 is popular, but remote roads and limited pitches mean that advance planning matters. Divide the route into manageable areas—Inverness and the Black Isle, Easter Ross, Caithness, the north coast, Durness and Assynt, Ullapool and Wester Ross—then identify a preferred campsite and a lawful backup for each night.

The official NC500 organisation recommends using campsites wherever possible and provides current motorhome and campervan advice. Its guidance also warns that Bealach na Bà is not suitable for large motorhomes, caravans or inexperienced drivers, and recommends an alternative route. The B869 between Lochinver and Kylesku can also be difficult for large vehicles.

Useful established campsites around the route

The following are starting points for research, not a guarantee of availability. Check each site’s own current information before setting off.

Seasonal opening, booking arrangements and facilities can change. Being listed here does not mean Yorkshire Motorhome Rentals operates, endorses or guarantees any third-party campsite.

Responsible overnight stays

  • Arrive and leave quietly
  • Use proper waste-disposal points—never drains, verges or waterways
  • Take litter away when bins are full
  • Keep dogs under control and follow livestock notices
  • Do not light fires or disposable barbecues where prohibited
  • Avoid running engines or generators unnecessarily
  • Do not empty fresh-water tanks where it could damage the ground
  • Support local shops, cafés, attractions and campsites
  • Move on if a location is full rather than creating another space

Have a backup plan

Remote areas can have poor mobile reception, full campsites or weather-related disruption. Save booking confirmations and directions offline, carry more than one lawful stopping option, and avoid leaving the search for an overnight pitch until late in the evening.

Start your motorhome journey from Yorkshire

Our motorhomes are collected and returned at Moorends, Doncaster DN8 4SP. Yorkshire Motorhome Rentals offers pet-friendly vehicles with unlimited mileage, insurance and breakdown cover included. European travel is available at no extra charge, and what you see is what you pay—there are no added extras hidden at checkout.

View our motorhomes, explore our Yorkshire motorhome-hire guide or contact us to discuss your trip.