Best campsites in the New Forest: 8 top picks

The best campsites in the New Forest range from large, family-friendly holiday villages to quiet, no-frills sites surrounded by ancient woodland. This guide covers 8 of the top campsites in the New Forest, spread across the national park and its fringes in Hampshire and Dorset. Wherever you pitch up, you're within reach of heathland walks, free-roaming ponies, and some of the most unspoilt countryside in southern England.

Browse campervans and caravans for hire in the New Forest if you already know your dates.

The New Forest sits roughly an hour's drive from Bristol and under two hours from London, making it one of the most accessible national parks in England for a long weekend or bank holiday escape. Camplify trip data shows that three-night stays are the most popular for this region, particularly over the summer bank holidays and school half-terms when demand at the best campsites in the New Forest peaks sharply. Picking up a campervan from a local owner near you and driving down through the Test Valley is, frankly, one of the better ways to spend a Friday afternoon.

If you're planning your route, our guide to the 5 best New Forest campsites covers a tighter shortlist, while this article goes deeper across the full spread of the national park. You can also find campervans available for pickup from owners across the south if you're travelling from further afield.

Camping in the New Forest: west and central sites

Sandy Balls Holiday Village

Sandy Balls Holiday Village sits in the Avon Valley near Fordingbridge, on the western edge of the national park, and it's the most popular site among Camplify travellers heading to the New Forest. The name, it turns out, has Saxon origins and refers to the rounded gravel hills nearby. It's been drawing visitors for well over a century, which rather speaks for itself.

The site is large and well-equipped, with electric hook-up pitches, hardstanding options for motorhomes, and a motorhome service point on site. There's a swimming pool, a selection of restaurants and shops, and direct access to riverside and forest walks that take you straight into the open heathland. Families with children rate it particularly highly for the balance of on-site facilities and easy access to the surrounding countryside.

Camplify owners who know this part of the forest suggest arriving on a Thursday if possible during peak summer, as weekend arrivals find the access roads significantly busier. Dog friendly pitches are available, and the riverside setting makes it a firm choice for hirers who want a proper base rather than a simple overnight stop.

Quick facts:

• Distance: Approx. 35 miles from Southampton; 1 hr 15 min from Bristol

• Best for: Families, couples, dog owners, first-time campers

• Key facilities: Electric hook-up, hardstanding pitches, pool, motorhome service point, restaurant, shop, river access

• Book ahead: Summer bank holidays, school summer holidays

Long Meadow Campsite

A quieter, more stripped-back experience awaits at Long Meadow Campsite, a small, adults-preferred site near Fordingbridge that appeals to travellers who want to be close to the forest without the resort atmosphere. The pitches are spacious, the setting is genuinely rural, and the pace is slow in the best possible sense.

Electric hook-up is available, and the site is well suited to motorhomes and caravans that want a peaceful base for exploring the western reaches of the national park. The village of Fordingbridge is a short drive away for provisions, and there are good pub options nearby for evenings when cooking feels like effort. Hirers who've stayed here rate it highly for its relaxed atmosphere and the ease of accessing forest tracks directly from the site.

It's a practical choice for those who want proximity to the heathland without paying resort prices, and the lack of on-site entertainment is, for many regulars, precisely the point.

Quick facts:

• Distance: Approx. 35 miles from Southampton; 1 hr 15 min from Bristol

• Best for: Couples, solo travellers, motorhome tourers

• Key facilities: Electric hook-up, spacious pitches, access to forest walks

• Book ahead: July and August, bank holiday weekends

New Forest campsites in the northern and eastern fringes

Red Shoot Camping Park

The location alone would sell most people on Red Shoot Camping Park: a working farm site adjacent to the Red Shoot Inn at Linwood, one of the most popular country pubs in the national park and home to its own microbrewery. The campsite and the pub share a boundary, which makes post-walk pint logistics admirably straightforward.

Popular among Camplify travellers who prioritise position over facilities, Red Shoot sits deep in the northern forest with heathland and ancient woodland on every side. Pitches are grassy and informal, with electric hook-up available. It's not the most feature-rich site on this list, but for those who want an immersive camping-in-the-New-Forest experience with genuine forest atmosphere, it consistently delivers. The Linwood area is also good for spotting the New Forest's famous free-roaming ponies and cattle.

Owners in the area point out that the site can feel lively on warm summer weekends given the pub connection, so light sleepers may want to book midweek. That said, the trade-off between location and noise is one most hirers consider very much worth it.

Quick facts:

• Distance: Approx. 18 miles from Ringwood; 1 hr from Southampton

• Best for: Couples, adults, pub lovers, nature seekers

• Key facilities: Electric hook-up, grassy pitches, adjacent pub and microbrewery

• Book ahead: Summer weekends, August bank holiday

Hoburne Bashley

Hoburne Bashley occupies a large, well-managed site near New Milton on the southern edge of the New Forest, close to the Dorset border. It's a well-rated option across the Camplify community, particularly for families who want a full suite of on-site amenities alongside easy access to both the forest and the coast at Highcliffe and Barton-on-Sea.

The facilities are comprehensive: electric hook-up throughout, a heated indoor pool, children's entertainment, a bar and restaurant, and hardstanding pitches for motorhomes. It's a proper holiday park rather than a quiet touring site, and the infrastructure shows. For family camping in the New Forest, few sites match the breadth of what Hoburne Bashley offers in one place.

Hirers travelling with younger children consistently flag the on-site pool and the short drive to the beach as the two features that make repeat visits worth it. The New Forest itself is on the doorstep, with the heathland and open forest accessible within minutes by road.

Quick facts:

• Distance: Approx. 6 miles from Ringwood; 20 miles from Bournemouth

• Best for: Families with children, couples, dog owners

• Key facilities: Electric hook-up, hardstanding pitches, heated indoor pool, bar, restaurant, children's entertainment

• Book ahead: School summer holidays, Easter, Whitsun half-term

Ringwood and Dorset border: campsites on the southern edge

Green Hill Farm Holiday Village

Green Hill Farm Holiday Village near Ringwood is a well-rounded touring site that draws a loyal following from hirers who return year after year. Run by Lovat Parks, it offers a calm, countryside setting with good facilities and straightforward access to the southern forest.

The site has electric hook-up pitches, a heated pool, a bar and restaurant, and a children's play area, making it a solid all-rounder for families and couples alike. Hardstanding pitches and a motorhome service point cater well to larger vehicles. The nearby market town of Ringwood is worth a visit for its independent shops and traditional pubs, and it's an easy drive to Bournemouth or the New Forest heathland from the site.

A go-to for Camplify regulars who want comfortable facilities without the scale of the very largest parks, Green Hill Farm strikes a balance that suits those who prefer a more personal atmosphere. The owners at Lovat parks keep the site in good condition, and hirers mention the cleanliness and well-maintained amenities as consistent highlights.

Quick facts:

• Distance: Approx. 1 mile from Ringwood; 15 miles from Bournemouth

• Best for: Families, couples, motorhome tourers

• Key facilities: Electric hook-up, hardstanding pitches, pool, bar, restaurant, motorhome service point, play area

• Book ahead: August, bank holiday weekends, school half-terms

Shamba Holiday Park

Shamba Holiday Park sits near St Leonards, just across the Dorset border from the New Forest, and it's a well-regarded touring site with a relaxed, friendly atmosphere. The location works well for those who want access to both the national park and the Dorset coastline without committing firmly to either.

Facilities include electric hook-up, a heated outdoor pool, a bar, and a children's play area. The site is dog friendly and has a good range of pitch types, including hardstanding for motorhomes. The Camplify community rates it particularly well among pet owners, given the dog-friendly policies and proximity to open countryside. Our UK pet-friendly campsites guide has more detail on what to look for when travelling with dogs.

The surrounding area is well-served by country pubs, and the Moors Valley Country Park is nearby for walking and cycling. For hirers picking up a campervan from a local owner in the Bournemouth or Dorset area, Shamba is a straightforward and well-equipped first stop.

Quick facts:

• Distance: Approx. 3 miles from Ringwood; 10 miles from Bournemouth

• Best for: Families, dog owners, couples

• Key facilities: Electric hook-up, outdoor pool, hardstanding pitches, bar, dog-friendly pitches

• Book ahead: Summer school holidays, August bank holiday

Forest-heart campsites: the national park proper

Ashurst Campsite

Run by Forestry England, Ashurst Campsite is one of the most authentic camping-in-the-New-Forest experiences available. It sits just outside Lyndhurst on the eastern edge of the national park, with direct access to the open forest. Free-roaming animals wander past the pitches. It's that kind of place.

Well-rated by the Camplify community for its off-grid atmosphere and genuine forest setting, Ashurst is a no-frills site with electric hook-up available on some pitches, clean shower and toilet facilities, and a motorhome service point. What it lacks in resort amenities it more than makes up for in location. Lyndhurst, often called the capital of the New Forest, is a short drive away for provisions and the New Forest Museum. For those interested in a broader motorhome touring guide, Ashurst is one of the anchor sites in this region.

Camplify travellers heading here in July and August should know that Ashurst books up fast, often weeks in advance. Booking as early as possible is strongly advised for bank holiday camping weekends.

Quick facts:

• Distance: Approx. 1 mile from Lyndhurst; 9 miles from Southampton

• Best for: Nature lovers, couples, motorhome tourers, dog owners

• Key facilities: Electric hook-up (select pitches), motorhome service point, shower and toilet blocks

• Book ahead: Bank holidays, July and August

Gorse Farm Caravan Park

Gorse Farm Caravan Park near Fordingbridge is a small, owner-run site that keeps things simple and does them well. It's a quiet, adults-preferred park with spacious pitches, electric hook-up throughout, and a setting that feels genuinely rural without being remote.

The site suits those travelling by motorhome or caravan who want a peaceful base close to the western forest. Fordingbridge is nearby for daily essentials, and there are several good walking routes accessible from the site without needing to drive. Feedback from Camplify's community of owners and hirers points to the personal, unhurried welcome as one of Gorse Farm's defining qualities. It's small enough that you'll likely exchange a few words with the owners, which suits many travellers perfectly.

For hirers picking up a campervan from a local Camplify owner in the Hampshire area, Gorse Farm makes a straightforward and pleasant first-night destination before pushing further into the park.

Quick facts:

• Distance: Approx. 2 miles from Fordingbridge; 25 miles from Southampton

• Best for: Couples, adults, motorhome tourers

• Key facilities: Electric hook-up, spacious pitches, quiet environment

• Book ahead: Summer, bank holiday weekends

More camping destinations nearby

The New Forest sits at the heart of a rich stretch of southern England, and the surrounding counties offer some of the best campsites in the country.- Best campsites in England – a broader guide to the top sites across the country, from Cornwall to the Scottish border

• Best campsites in Cornwall – cliff-top and cove-side sites in one of England's most popular touring regions

• Best campsites in Devon – from Dartmoor moorland to the South Devon coast, Devon rewards slower travel

• Best campsites in Dorset – the Jurassic Coast, rolling downland, and a strong selection of well-run touring parks

• Best campsites in Somerset – the Quantocks, Exmoor and the Somerset Levels all have excellent camping options

• Best campsites on the Isle of Wight – a short ferry from the New Forest, the island has a distinct and rewarding camping scene

• Best campsites in Kent – the Garden of England offers coastal and countryside sites within easy reach of London

Plan your New Forest trip with Camplify

The best campsites in the New Forest fill quickly, particularly over bank holidays and the school summer break, so it pays to sort your pitch and your vehicle at the same time. Search campervans and caravans available for pickup from local owners near you and get your trip in the diary before the good dates go.