Best campsites in Cornwall: 8 top picks for 2026

Cornwall is one of the most rewarding destinations in England for a campervan or caravan trip, and choosing the right campsite makes all the difference. These 8 best campsites in Cornwall span the county from the sheltered south coast to the wild Atlantic-facing north, covering everything from large family-friendly parks to quiet National Trust sites. If you're planning camping in Cornwall, this guide covers the parks that Camplify's community of owners and hirers rate most highly.

Browse campervans and caravans for hire in Cornwall if you already know your dates.

South coast Cornwall campsites: St Austell and the Roseland

Pentewan Sands Holiday Park

Pentewan Sands Holiday Park sits directly on a sheltered sandy beach between Mevagissey and St Austell, making it one of the most distinctive campsites in Cornwall for anyone who wants to wake up metres from the sea. The setting is genuinely rare: a private beach with calm water, well-suited to families with young children or anyone who wants to swim without driving to a beach first.

The park offers electric hook-up pitches throughout, a heated pool complex, and a range of on-site facilities that make longer stays comfortable. Camplify travellers consistently rate it among the best campsites in Cornwall for families, and it appears at the top of community recommendations for good reason. Hirers who've stayed here highlight the beach access as the standout feature, particularly over the summer bank holiday period when Cornwall's public beaches get crowded.

Camplify owners who know this area suggest arriving with a cool box stocked for the first night, as the village of Pentewan is small and the nearest larger supermarket is in St Austell. Booking well ahead for July and August is essential; the site fills quickly and the beachfront pitches go first.

Quick facts:

• Distance: Approximately 4 miles south of St Austell

• Best for: Families, beach lovers, couples seeking a coastal base

• Key facilities: Electric hook-up, private beach, heated outdoor pool, shop, bar and restaurant, dog-friendly pitches

• Book ahead: School summer holidays and bank holidays from May onwards

Can't tow? Get a campervan delivered to Pentewan Sands Holiday Park.

Tencreek Holiday Park

Tencreek Holiday Park occupies a hillside position on the outskirts of Looe, one of Cornwall's most characterful fishing towns. The park is popular among Camplify travellers as a base for exploring the south-east corner of the county, with Polperro, Fowey and the Looe Valley railway all within easy reach.

Pitches are well maintained, with hardstanding options available for motorhomes and caravans, and electric hook-up across much of the site. The park has its own pool, a bar, and entertainment facilities that make it a reasonable choice for families who want on-site activity alongside coastal exploration. Feedback from Camplify travellers points to the Looe estuary walks and the town's independent seafood restaurants as highlights worth planning around.

If you're interested in the best family campsites in Cornwall more broadly, Tencreek sits alongside Pentewan Sands as a reliable choice for the south coast. The lanes into Looe are narrow, so larger motorhomes and caravans should approach via the A387 rather than through the town centre.

Quick facts:

• Distance: Approximately 1 mile from Looe town centre; roughly 30 miles from Truro

• Best for: Families, couples, south Cornwall exploration

• Key facilities: Electric hook-up, hardstanding pitches, heated pool, bar, entertainment programme

• Book ahead: July and August, Easter weekend

Can't tow? Get a campervan delivered to Tencreek Holiday Park.

Cornwall campsites near Newquay: the north coast

Hendra Holiday Park

Hendra Holiday Park is one of the largest and best-known top campsites Cornwall has to offer, situated just outside Newquay. It's a community favourite on the Camplify platform and consistently draws strong feedback from hirers who want a well-equipped base within easy reach of the surf beaches that made Newquay famous.

The park has invested heavily in its facilities over the years: multiple pools including indoor options, a spa, a range of food outlets, and a dedicated area for touring pitches with electric hook-up. For families making their first campervan trip to Cornwall, Hendra takes away much of the logistical uncertainty. Everything you need is on site, and Newquay town centre and Fistral Beach are a short drive away.

Hirers who've stayed here rate it highly for the range of pitch types available, from grass touring pitches to fully serviced hardstanding bays with motorhome service points. Camplify trip data shows that Hendra is particularly popular for week-long stays during the school summer holidays, with many families returning year after year. If you're comparing camping in Cornwall options for a multi-generational group, this is a strong contender.

Quick facts:

• Distance: Approximately 2 miles from Newquay town centre; around 14 miles from Truro

• Best for: Families, first-time campervan hirers, multi-generational groups

• Key facilities: Electric hook-up, hardstanding pitches, motorhome service point, indoor and outdoor pools, spa, restaurants and takeaway, dog-friendly pitches

• Book ahead: School summer holidays from February; bank holiday weekends sell out early

Can't tow? Get a campervan delivered to Hendra Holiday Park.

Trevella Park

Trevella Park occupies a quieter spot near Crantock, a short drive south of Newquay. It's a well-regarded park that suits those who want the convenience of being near the north coast's beaches and surf schools without the scale of a large resort site.

The park centres on a small lake, which gives it a distinctive character among campsites in Cornwall. There are pedalos, a fishing area, and a relaxed pace that appeals to families with younger children as much as couples looking for a gentler base. Electric hook-up is available across the touring areas, and the facilities are well maintained. Crantock Beach, one of the most appealing and least frantic beaches on the north Cornish coast, is about a mile away on foot.

Camplify's community of owners and hirers highlights Trevella as a good alternative to the larger Newquay parks when you want a bit more breathing room, particularly outside school holidays. The local pub in Crantock village is worth the short walk, and Newquay's restaurants and nightlife are close enough to dip into without committing to staying in the middle of it.

Quick facts:

• Distance: Approximately 3 miles from Newquay; 16 miles from Truro

• Best for: Families, couples, those seeking a quieter Newquay-area base

• Key facilities: Electric hook-up, lake with pedalos, heated pool, shop, dog-friendly pitches

• Book ahead: July and August; Crantock Beach fills quickly in fine weather

Can't tow? Get a campervan delivered to Trevella Park.

Perranporth and the mid-north coast: camping in Cornwall's surf country

Haven Perran Sands Holiday Park

Haven Perran Sands Holiday Park backs directly onto a three-mile stretch of sand at Perranporth, one of the most impressive beaches on the Cornish Atlantic coast. The scale of the beach sets it apart from many other Cornwall campsites: even at peak summer, there's room to find your own space.

The park is large and well-organised, with touring pitches offering electric hook-up and a full range of Haven's standard facilities, including pools, an indoor activity area, and food outlets. It works well as a base for families, and the proximity to Perranporth town means you have independent cafés, surf hire shops and the coastal path within easy reach. Camplify travellers recommend it particularly for bank holiday camping, when the combination of reliable facilities and the open beach gives you genuine flexibility whatever the weather does.

Hirers who've stayed here note that the touring pitches closest to the beach access points book up fastest, and that arriving with a surf or bodyboard saves considerable cost compared to hiring on site. For those travelling from Cardiff or Bristol, the drive to Perranporth is around three to four hours, making it achievable on a Friday evening to maximise a long weekend.

Quick facts:

• Distance: Directly on Perranporth beach; approximately 8 miles from Truro

• Best for: Families, surfers, bank holiday groups

• Key facilities: Electric hook-up, direct beach access, outdoor and indoor pools, club and entertainment, shop, dog-friendly areas

• Book ahead: Bank holidays from January; August pitches go very early

Can't tow? Get a campervan delivered to Haven Perran Sands Holiday Park.

Henry's Campsite

Henry's Campsite is a small, independent site at the Lizard Peninsula, perched near the southernmost tip of mainland Britain. It's a quieter proposition than the larger parks on this list, and that's precisely why it appears in community recommendations from Camplify travellers who want something closer to off-grid camping without giving up all facilities.

The site is simple but well-run, with electric hook-up available and a friendly atmosphere that suits couples and small families looking to explore the Lizard's cliffs, coves and coastal path rather than spend time on site. The Lizard village is a short walk, and Kynance Cove, one of the most photographed spots in Cornwall, is a few miles away. Hirers who've stayed here consistently mention the clarity of the water at Kynance and the relative peace of the Lizard compared with the more tourist-heavy north coast.

For those interested in 5 best Brecon Beacons campsites or other slower-paced destinations, Henry's fits a similar mood: proper countryside and coastline, without the noise of a resort park. Travelling down from Cardiff adds roughly four to four and a half hours to the journey, but hirers who've made the trip say the Lizard rewards the extra miles.

Quick facts:

• Distance: Approximately 25 miles from Truro; near The Lizard village

• Best for: Couples, independent travellers, coastal walkers and ramblers

• Key facilities: Electric hook-up, basic amenities, dog-friendly, quiet atmosphere

• Book ahead: Late July and August; Kynance Cove car park also fills fast

Can't tow? Get a campervan delivered to Henry's Campsite.

Mevagissey and the Lost Gardens: south Cornwall's heritage coast

Heligan Caravan and Camping Park

Heligan Caravan and Camping Park is positioned within walking distance of the Lost Gardens of Heligan, which makes it a natural base for anyone combining a Cornwall camping trip with a visit to one of the county's most celebrated gardens. The site is well-kept and relaxed, with electric hook-up available and a peaceful character that suits those who prefer a park grounded in its surroundings rather than resort-style entertainment.

Camplify travellers recommend this as a mid-week destination when the gardens themselves are less crowded, and the village of Mevagissey is a short drive away for fish and chips, boat trips, and the kind of working harbour that Cornwall does particularly well. Hirers who've stayed here mention the marked footpath from the site to Heligan as a practical detail worth knowing: no need to move the vehicle on days when you're visiting the gardens.

The park is dog-friendly, which is a meaningful detail given how many Camplify trips include four-legged passengers. For those exploring the south Cornish coast, the proximity to Pentewan Sands and the Eden Project (a short drive north) means you can build a varied itinerary without covering large distances each day.

Quick facts:

• Distance: Approximately 6 miles from St Austell; 18 miles from Truro

• Best for: Couples, families with an interest in gardens and heritage, dog owners

• Key facilities: Electric hook-up, dog-friendly pitches, footpath access to Lost Gardens of Heligan

• Book ahead: School holidays and weekends when Heligan events are on

Can't tow? Get a campervan delivered to Heligan Caravan and Camping Park.

Highertown Farm Campsite

Highertown Farm Campsite is a National Trust site on the Roseland Peninsula, one of the most peaceful and unspoilt parts of Cornwall. It's a deliberately simple campsite: no electric hook-up, no swimming pool, no entertainment programme. What it offers instead is a view over St Mawes Creek and a location that very few other campsites in Cornwall can match.

This is the kind of place that experienced campervan travellers keep to themselves, and feedback from Camplify's community is consistent: come with a full leisure battery, a well-stocked cool box, and no particular agenda. The coastal path runs past the site, St Mawes village is a short walk away, and the King Harry Ferry gives access across the Fal estuary without a long drive around. For those who've done the 11 best NC500 campsites for motorhomes or similar self-sufficient routes, Highertown will feel immediately familiar.

National Trust members receive a discount on pitches, which is worth factoring in if you're a member. Motorhomes over a certain length may find access lanes tight; Camplify owners who know this area suggest checking dimensions with the site before booking. This is one of the best campsites in Cornwall for those who want the county at its quietest and most genuinely beautiful.

Quick facts:

• Distance: Approximately 12 miles from Truro via the King Harry Ferry

• Best for: Couples, experienced campervan travellers, National Trust members, dog owners

• Key facilities: Basic facilities only (no electric hook-up), dog-friendly, footpath access, close to St Mawes

• Book ahead: July and August; National Trust members should book as early as possible

Can't tow? Get a campervan delivered to Highertown Farm Campsite.

More camping destinations nearby

Cornwall sits at the end of one of England's great road trip routes, and the counties to the east offer some equally rewarding camping. If you're planning a longer journey or want to combine your Cornwall trip with another destination, these guides cover the best campsites across the wider region.

• Best campsites in England — a comprehensive guide to top campsites across the country, useful for planning a longer tour beyond Cornwall

• Best campsites in Devon — Cornwall's neighbouring county offers Dartmoor, the Jurassic Coast and a strong selection of touring parks

• Best campsites in Dorset — ideal for extending a south-west road trip, with the Jurassic Coast and rolling countryside as the backdrop

• Best campsites in Somerset — Exmoor, the Levels, and Glastonbury make Somerset a natural next stop after Cornwall

• Best campsites in the New Forest — ancient woodland and open heathland, well worth including on a south of England loop

• Best campsites on the Isle of Wight — a ferry crossing away, the island offers a compact and rewarding alternative to mainland south coast camping

• Best campsites in Kent — the Garden of England at the other end of the country, with White Cliffs and vineyard country to explore

Ready to book your Cornwall campervan trip?

The best campsites in Cornwall fill up fast, particularly through July and August and across the bank holiday weekends. Browse campervans and caravans for hire on Camplify and find a vehicle you can pick up near you or have delivered directly to your chosen site. Truro-based travellers can browse local options at Camplify's Truro hire page, while those heading down from Cardiff will find plenty of options to suit the journey.