Cornwall is the UK's most popular campervan destination outside Scotland — and for good reason. Over 400 miles of coastline, 300 beaches, pasty shops on every corner, and a microclimate that's genuinely warmer and sunnier than the rest of Britain.
The downsides: the A30 is a car park from July to September, campsite prices in Cornwall are among the most expensive in the UK, and many coastal roads were built for horses, not 6-metre vans. This guide covers the practical logistics of touring Cornwall in a campervan — where to park, where to stay, and how to avoid the worst of the crowds.
Parking in Cornwall: The Honest Truth
Cornwall has a serious campervan parking problem. The county council and several district councils have introduced restrictions over the past few years in response to locals complaints about wild camping.
What you need to know:
- The Cornwall-wide Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) covers several high-traffic areas. Parking overnight in a vehicle on public highways in restricted zones can get you a £100 fixed penalty notice.
- Newquay, St Ives, Padstow, and Bude all have specific PSPOs prohibiting overnight campervan parking within designated areas. Maps are available on each council's website.
- Porthcothan, Treyarnon, and Harlyn Bay — the stretch of coast between Padstow and Newquay — is heavily enforced. Do not risk parking overnight in these car parks.
- Beaches with "No Overnight Parking" signs mean exactly that, even if the car park is otherwise empty at midnight.
Where You CAN Park Overnight
Despite the restrictions, there are still plenty of legal places to park overnight in Cornwall.
South West Coast Path car parks — some National Trust and local council car parks permit overnight campervan parking for a fee. Look for signs that say "Campervans welcome" or check the Park4Night app. Notable examples:
- Porthchapel (near Land's End) — NT car park, £5 overnight, honesty box
- Porthpean (St Austell) — council car park, £8 overnight, payment via RingGo
- Godrevy (near Hayle) — NT car park, no campervans in summer but fine in winter
- Tintagel — the main visitor car park allows overnight stays in winter only
Farm campsites — Cornwall has hundreds of small farm campsites that charge £10-20 a night with basic facilities. They are cheaper than commercial sites and often have the best coastal views. Search for "camping and caravanning club certified location" in the area you're visiting.
Pub stops — Cornwall has a strong culture of pub stopovers. The Cornish Arms in Pendoggett, the Old Success Inn in Sennen Cove, and the Crown Inn in Lanlivery all welcome campervans for a small fee if you eat dinner there. Call ahead to check.
Campsites Worth Booking
| Site | Location | Price | Why Go |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tregoad Holiday Park | Looe | £32 | Excellent facilities, walkable to coast |
| Tremorvu | Constantine | £18 | Basic farm site, stunning views over Helford River |
| Perran Springs | Perranporth | £25 | Direct access to three-mile beach |
| Sea View International | Bude | £30 | Heated pool, close to town |
| Treloan Coastal Farm | Portscatho | £22 | Roseland Peninsula, quiet and beautiful |
Book ahead in summer. Cornwall campsites fill up weeks in advance between June and August. If you can't find a pitch, try calling directly — many smaller sites don't update their online booking systems.
Driving in Cornwall: What Nobody Tells You
- The A30 is the only dual carriageway and it's single carriageway from Bodmin to Penzance. A 50-mile journey can take 2 hours in summer.
- SatNavs will send you down roads that are too narrow for vans. The B3306 between St Just and St Ives is beautiful but has steep drops with no barriers. Take the A3071 instead if you're in a large van.
- Fuel is expensive. Supermarket prices in Cornwall are typically 5-10p per litre more than the national average. Fill up at the Tesco in Bodmin or Camborne before heading to the coast.
- Parking in St Ives is a nightmare. The park-and-ride at St Erth (free parking, £5 return train) is the only sensible option between Easter and October. Even campervans get turned away from the main car parks.
The Best Campervan Route: 5 Days in West Cornwall
Day 1 — The Lizard: Start at the most southerly point of mainland Britain. Lizard Point has a large car park (£5 all day). Walk the coast path to Kynance Cove (30 minutes, stunning beach). Overnight at Tregoad Holiday Park.
Day 2 — Penwith Peninsula: Drive west to Land's End. Skip the theme park (£12 entry) and walk the coast path from Sennen Cove — it's free and better. Overnight at Tremorvu farm site.
Day 3 — St Ives to Newquay: Park at St Erth for St Ives. Drive up the coast to Godrevy Beach (free parking near the lighthouse). Overnight at Perran Springs.
Day 4 — Padstow via Camel Trail: Park at Wadebridge and cycle the Camel Trail into Padstow (5 miles, flat, traffic-free). Rick Stein's fish and chips from the takeaway (£12), eat on the harbour wall. Overnight at Treloan Coastal Farm.
Day 5 — North Coast to Bude: The B3263 from Camelford to Bude is a beautiful drive through the moors. Stop at Boscastle (free parking at the visitor centre, NT members free). Overnight at Sea View International.
Cornwall on a Budget
- Beach parking — from October to March, most Cornwall beaches have free parking. Even in summer, many NT car parks are free for members.
- Fish and chips — avoid the harbour-front chippies in St Ives and Padstow (£15-18). Walk 200m inland and pay £10-12.
- Surf hire — Gwithian beach hires boards and wetsuits for £15 a day (£25 in St Ives). Harlyn Surf School does a 2-hour lesson for £35 including gear.
- Supermarket fuel — Tesco/Bodmin, Morrisons/Penzance, Sainsbury's/ Camborne — always cheaper than coastal village petrol stations.
Seasonal Guide
April-May: Spring blooms, quieter roads, campsites open. Still cold at night (single digits). Surf season starts.
June-August: Peak season. Book campsites a month ahead. A30 traffic is heavy. Water stays cold (14-16°C) even in August. The best chance of wall-to-wall sunshine.
September-October: The best time for campervan touring. Road traffic halves after the school holidays end. Water is warmest in September. Campsite prices drop after September 1. Surf season peaks.
November-March: Quietest time. Most campsites closed or reduced facilities. Many coastal car parks free. Rough seas for dramatic photographs. The pub stops are the main social scene.
Wild Camping in Cornwall
Strictly speaking, wild camping is not legal in Cornwall (as in the rest of England) without landowner permission. But there's a thriving informal scene among campervan owners who know what they're doing.
If you wild camp in Cornwall:
- Park on the Rosenannon or Breney Common area (part of the Cornwall Downs) — the commons have spaces with rudimentary shelter
- The Goss Moor car park on the A30 — a large truck-stop style parking area used by campervans and motorhomes. Noisy (A30 traffic), but legal and common
- Laybys on the Bodmin Moor A30 section — you'll see other campervans there. Arrive late
- Park at Walmsley Sanctuary (near Wadebridge) — the wildlife trust car park allows overnight stays for a £5 donation
What gets you evicted:
- Putting out chairs, tables, windbreaks, or awnings
- Litter, spills, or cassette dumping
- Loud music or generators after 10pm
- Parking on double yellow lines or in passing places
