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Kids at Home

Best Family Campsites: UK and USA

written by DaddiLife 22nd August 2020
best family campsites, best family campsites UK, best child friendly campsites USA, best child friendly campsites UK

­With family camping trips becoming ever more popular, you might think picking a tent is the most important factor. In truth, much of your hopes and dreams for the perfect family camping trip can be completely undone with the wrong campsite. Whether you’re hoping for an authentic woodland trip, or one that offers plenty of activities for the children, it’s important to pick the right location.

In this guide we go into what to look for in a campsite, and share our 10 best family friendly camping sites from across the UK and USA.

Table of contents
What to look for in a child-friendly camp site?
The 10 best campsites for families
Camping sites in the UK
   1.    Cashel Campsite, Loch Lomond, Scotland
   2.    Alton, The Star Club Site, Staffordshire  
   3.     Kingsbury Water Park Club Site, West Midlands
   4.     Roundhill Campsite, New Forest, Hampshire
   5.     Cardigan Bay Club Site, Ceredigion, Wales
   6.     Adgestone Club Site, Sandown, Isle of Wight
   7.     Loch Ness Shores Club Site, Inverness, Scotland
   8.     Bracelands Campsite, Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire
Camping Sites in the USA
   9.     Diaper Bag Backpack for Mom&Dad, Large Capacity
   10.    Lower Pines Campground, Yosemite National Park, California
Stories from the best family camping sites

What to look for in a child-friendly camp site?


There are 2 key considerations when you're choosing a child friendly camping site:

  •  1: What kind of holiday you need. Firstly, you need to consider the type of camping holiday you want. If you’re camping with a baby, you probably need a site with more amenities – power supply, toilet/changing facilities, perhaps even an on-site store. If you’re camping with a toddler, however, you might want an action-packed site with plenty of play areas and activities to keep them entertained. Or, for slightly older children, you might want to introduce them to the wonders of the wild – a site with very little to offer other than its superb location and the wilderness around it.
  •  2: The time of year when camping. If you’re camping during the summer, you may want to look for a site or particular pitch with plenty of tree cover to protect the little ones from the heat while they’re playing. And sites with larger pitches are always ideal for families, giving the children space to play without concerns over creeping on the neighbours’ space.


The 10 best campsites for families


Camping sites in the UK


   1.    Cashel Campsite, Loch Lomond, Scotland

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Photo credit: campingintheforest.co.uk

Why we love it

“You might find plenty to do near the camp, but you won't beat the views on offer as you settle down on site."


Set on the banks of the stunning Loch Lomond in the south of Scotland, Cashel Campsite is a superb spot that has a bit of everything for all of the family. There is plenty of space for children to explore, and a dedicated play area offers to safe place to play on site. Facilities include toilets, showers, drinking taps, washbasins, laundry, dish washing, shaving sockets and an on-site shop.

Sitting right on the bank of the Loch, campers can launch their own boats straight into the water or hire a short walk away. The Queen Elizabeth Forest Park offers fantastic walks, while Go Country Adventure Park is a 40 minute drive away for activities like cliff jumping, gorge walking, kayaking, clay pigeon shooting and plenty more.

  • Dates open: March – October
  • Power supplied: Extra charge
  • Pet friendly: Yes


   2.    Alton, The Star Club Site, Staffordshire  

best campsites uk, best family campsites, best child friendly campsites, best family campsite US

Photo credit: The Camping & Caravanning Club

Why we love it

“A great alternative to a dull hotel if you’re heading to Alton Towers with plenty to do in its own right."


If you’re planning a trip to Alton Towers, but want something more adventurous than a local Travelodge, Alton, The Star Club Site is the perfect alternative. If rollercoasters and Cbeebies Land aren’t your thing, it is ideally located for walking trips in the Peak District, nearby Kingsley Bird and Falconry Centre, Peak Wildlife Park and Monkey Forest.

Campers benefit from gas cylinders, ice pack freezing, battery charging facilities, showers, a dedicated parent and baby room, storage facilities and washing machines. Located just a mile away from the theme park, the camp site offers a large dedicated play area for children with plenty of tree cover for those hot summer days. There is plenty of space for ball games and dedicated paths for dog walks.

  • Dates open: March – October
  • Power supplied: Extra charge
  • Pet friendly: Yes


   3.     Kingsbury Water Park Club Site, West Midlands

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Photo credit: The Camping & Caravanning Club

Why we love it

“A brilliant range of activities and facilities make it a real winner for families."

 

Despite being near the very heart of the industrial Midlands, this campsite really is a lovely, quiet getaway. From water sports at the nearby Kingsbury Water Park, to cycling, birdwatching and walking trails, it’s an option that really offers something for all the family. The site is home to two dedicated play areas, a small train and even a children’s farm.

Twycross Zoo, Birmingham Sea Life Centre and Cadbury World are all within a 40-minute drive, making it a fantastic base to branch out from.

As well as a large family shower room, the site offers ice pack freezing, gas cylinders, washing machines, battery charging and site WiFi (although rural location and weather conditions can affect coverage).

  • Dates open: All year round
  • Power supplied: Extra charge
  • Pet friendly: Yes


   4.     Roundhill Campsite, New Forest, Hampshire

best family campsites, best family campsites US, best family campsites UK, best child friendly campsites

Photo credit: campingintheforrest.co.uk

Why we love it

“Perfect for a more authentic camping trip."


With wide open spaces, a lake and secluded spots, Roundhill offers a more stripped-back camping experience for families with children old enough to be kept busy by the natural world around them. What it lacks in facilities, it more than makes up for with its stunning surroundings and huge choice of pitches.

The New Forest offers miles and miles of routes for cycling and walking right on your doorstep, while its ponies are often found roaming the campsite. The nearby village of Beaulieu does provide more in the way of facilities and activities, with a motor museum, children’s driving circuits, go karts, play areas, coffee shops and more.

  • Dates open: April - September
  • Power supplied: No
  • Pet friendly: Yes


   5.     Cardigan Bay Club Site, Ceredigion, Wales

best family campsites, best family campsites UK, best family campsites US, best child friendly campsites

Photo credit: The Camping & Caravanning Club

Why we love it

“Plenty of fantastic beaches a short drive away."


Cardigan Bay Club Site is the perfect base for exploring the beauty of the west Wales coast. With plenty on-site for the children, including great play areas, space for ball games and large pitches and just a short drive to several beaches, you’ll have no concerns about keeping them entertained.

New Quay is home to the more traditional seaside environment, with chip shops, ice cream stalls and corner shops selling buckets and spades, while smaller beaches like Aberporth and Mwnt offer a quieter opportunity to play and explore. And boat trips into Cardigan Bay offer the chance to spot dolphins.

Site facilities ensure a family’s needs are well catered for with large family showers, storage, washing machines, ice pack freezing, gas cylinders and more.

  • Dates open: March - November
  • Power supplied: Extra charge
  • Pet friendly: Yes


   6.     Adgestone Club Site, Sandown, Isle of Wight

best family campsite, best family campsite uk, best child friendly campsites, best campsites US

Photo credit: Campsites.co.uk

Why we love it

“Plenty of fantastic beaches a short drive away."


In addition to the opportunity to explore the delights of the Isle of Wight, Adgestone Club Site does more than most when it comes to providing on-site fun and entertainment for little ones. It is home to an open-air, heated swimming pool as well as a separate children’s paddling pool. It also has two separate play areas; one for younger children and one for older children with table tennis, giant jenga, outdoor chess and boules. The shop makes it easy to stock up on essentials while the on-site takeaway gives everyone a chance to have a break and really relax. 

Off site, Sandown, Shanklin, Ventnor, Cowes and Ryde beaches are all close by, with several walking and cycling routes heading out of the camp. Dinosaur Isle, Shanklin Chine, the Needles and Blackgang Chine are also fantastic days out just a short distance away.

  • Dates open: April - September
  • Power supplied: Extra charge
  • Pet friendly: Yes


   7.     Loch Ness Shores Club Site, Inverness, Scotland

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Photo credit: coolcamping.com

Why we love it

“It’s Loch Ness!"


It may be the most expensive campsite on our list, but the chance to stay on the shore of Scotland’s most famous loch makes it more than worthwhile. Activities including archery, bushcraft, den building and wildlife walks available for the children during school holidays. The site is also one of the few places around Loch Ness with direct access to the shoreline meaning motor boats and kayaks are available to hire.

It’s arguably the most family-friendly campsite with the staff priding themselves on excellent service and making families feel welcome and relaxed. Play area, recreation hall, parent and baby rooms, shop and takeaway are just some of the facilities on offer for family campers.

  • Dates open: All year round
  • Power supplied: Extra charge
  • Pet friendly: Yes


   8.     Bracelands Campsite, Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire

best family campsites, braceland camping site, best family campsites UK, best family camp sites US

Photo credit: campingintheforest.co.uk

Why we love it

“Watching the sunset or sunrise through the forest is the perfect way to cap a fun-filled day."


Bracelands Campsite is an excellent base for exploring the wonderful Forest of Dean. Expansive with plenty of room to play, the site is surrounded by miles and miles of walking and cycling paths. Further afield, just a 10 minute drive away are Clearwell Caves and Symonds Yat Rock. Both are perfect for the adventurers, while various spots along the River Wye offer water sports and boat trips. And just 20 minutes away is Go Ape with courses for all ages.

Facilities include large showers, laundry service, dishwashing, chemical disposal points, battery charging and more.

  • Dates open: All year round
  • Power supplied: Extra charge
  • Pet friendly: Yes


Camping Sites in the USA


Whether it’s sat around a fire, toasting marshmallows in front of a canvas tent, or standing over a high-end BBQ in front of an RV big enough to be a house, some might argue that with its vast array of mountains and forests, the US is the true home of camping. 

Something to bear in mind: A lot of campsites in the US will operate a booking system on most of its pitches, but reserve some for purchase on a first-come, first-served basis. The more popular campsites can be fully booked several months in advance.


   9.     Wilderness Campground, Heart Lake, Elba, New York State

best family campsites USA, Heartlake, best child friendly campsites

Photo credit: adk.org

Why we love it

“A truly peaceful location to spend your trip in."


The state of New York may not be the first place that springs to mind when thinking of camping in the US, but located in the north of the state just a few hours away from the Canadian border, Wilderness Campground at Heart Lake offers plenty to do and stunning views with a more secluded stay.

Located near the more famous Lake Placid, campers are just a stone’s throw away from the excellent and varied activities and facilities provided by the town that hosted the 1980 Winter Olympics. There are guided hikes, cycling and kayaking tours, with a variety of trails to explore on your own.

Facilities include wash houses with showers and underfloor heating, fire rings and picnic tables at each pitch, and, to ensure a real break from your everyday life, there is no electricity and you won’t even get a phone signal.

  • Dates open: All year round
  • Power supplied: No
  • Pet friendly: Yes


   10.    Lower Pines Campground, Yosemite National Park, California

best family campsites USA, best family campsites, best child friendly campsites,

Photo credit: adk.org

Why we love it

“You’ll be waking up and going to bed in one of the most beautiful places on Earth."


Lower Pines is widely considered to be the best campsite in the incredible Yosemite National Park. Pitches offer a lovely riverside spot with simply spectacular views of the 8,839ft tall Half Dome, waterfalls, deep valleys and vast fields. Compared with the UK sites listed above, it’s light on facilities, but still provides flushing toilets, drinking water, picnic tables, fire rings, food storage and an Amphitheatre.

The popularity of Yosemite Valley means there are plenty of facilities, including shops, restaurants and more, within walking distance or a free shuttle bus. Its miles of trails and river offer everything from hiking and cycling to horseback riding and rafting. Note, the 15+ mile trek to the top of Half Dome requires a permit to be secured in advance.

  • Dates open: April - October
  • Power supplied: No
  • Pet friendly: Yes


Stories from the best family camping sites


There's nothing we love more than seeing dads with their children and wider family across the very best campsites. Here are some of the stories we've loved and been inspired by. 

View this post on Instagram

#campbuddies #imgointobracelands #bracelands

A post shared by Lucy Thomas (@theresonly1mrst) on Aug 7, 2016 at 7:46am PDT

View this post on Instagram

We’re tent-camping! Sorta. . . . Our rig is too big to fit in any of the campgrounds in the valley and we don’t have a generator, and it’s 90 degrees, so... we’re hybrid tent-camping. Becks and I are tent-camping, Rem is (supposed to be) tent-napping and the hubs is making the trek out of the park every night with Rem and Brody to sleep at “home”. I know we will do this differently next time, but trying to make the best of it, because, Yosemite!!!

A post shared by Perfecting The S’more (@perfectingthesmore) on Sep 21, 2019 at 8:55pm PDT

View this post on Instagram

#lochnessshores #lochness #vwt4 #vwbus #vwtransportert4 #scotland #fortaugustus #fortaugustusscotland #inverness #invernessscotland

A post shared by Robert Hunter (@robbhdj) on Sep 14, 2019 at 12:15pm PDT

View this post on Instagram

Wilderness Campground Trip 2020 🏕👨‍👩‍👧🐟🦋🐛🐢🐶🌻♥️ . . . . #familyvacation #wisconsin #wilderness #camping #cabin #sociallydistant #relaxing #fishing #trails #swimming #cooking #overthefire #bonfire #fairydust #funtimes #roadtrip #familyiseverything #lillyannruth #wildernesscampground #montello #sunnydays #powerspartyof3 #311cruisetowel

A post shared by Sheila (@one_kindafit_mom) on Jul 31, 2020 at 2:23pm PDT

Best Family Campsites: UK and USA was last modified: August 26th, 2021 by DaddiLife

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