Best campsites near Plymouth: 6 top picks

The best campsites near Plymouth put you within easy reach of the South Hams coastline, Dartmoor National Park, and one of England's great maritime cities. This guide covers 6 carefully chosen Plymouth campsites, from a clifftop holiday park overlooking Plymouth Sound to quiet touring grounds tucked into the moorland fringe. Pick up a campervan or caravan from a local owner and you have everything you need for a proper Devon escape.

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

Plymouth campsites on the coast and South Hams

Bovisand Lodge Holiday Park

Bovisand Lodge Holiday Park sits on a private headland above Bovisand Bay, roughly 6 miles south-east of Plymouth city centre, and it earns its place as the top-rated spot among Camplify travellers heading to this part of Devon. The setting is hard to argue with: a sheltered south-facing cove, direct beach access, and views across Plymouth Sound that genuinely justify an early alarm call.

The park caters well for campervans and tourers, with electric hook-up pitches across several areas of the site. Facilities include a restaurant, bar, and water sports hire down at the beach itself, which means you can spend an entire long weekend without leaving the headland if the mood takes you. Camplify owners who know the area suggest arriving mid-week in July or August if you want a quieter pitch, as weekends fill quickly with families and watersports groups.

For those wanting to explore further, the 5 best Plymouth camping grounds guide covers additional options closer to the city, and the coastal path from Bovisand connects to the wider South West Coast Path for a solid half-day walk.

Quick facts:

• Distance: Approximately 6 miles south-east of Plymouth city centre

• Best for: Families, watersports enthusiasts, couples after a coastal base

• Key facilities: Electric hook-up pitches, restaurant, bar, beach access, watersports hire

• Book ahead: July and August weekends, Bank Holiday weekends

Brixton Caravan & Camping Park

Brixton Caravan & Camping Park occupies a peaceful rural position in the village of Brixton, about 7 miles east of Plymouth in the South Hams, and it draws a loyal following among hirers who prefer a quieter, more personal site over a large holiday park. The village pub is a short walk away, which tends to seal the deal for many.

The park is compact and well-kept, with grass pitches suitable for campervans and caravans, electric hook-ups, and clean amenity facilities. Brixton itself sits conveniently between Plymouth and the coastal towns of Modbury and Bigbury-on-Sea, making it a practical base for day trips in multiple directions. Recommended by owners who tour the South Hams regularly, it pairs well with a visit to the National Trust's Saltram House, just a few miles up the road.

Camplify trip data shows that short breaks of two to three nights are the most common booking pattern for the Plymouth area, and Brixton works particularly well for that format: close enough to Plymouth for an evening in the city, far enough out to feel like genuine countryside.

Quick facts:

• Distance: Approximately 7 miles east of Plymouth city centre

• Best for: Couples, small families, those wanting a village-pub atmosphere

• Key facilities: Electric hook-up pitches, amenity block, quiet rural setting

• Book ahead: School summer holidays, Bank Holiday weekends

Camping near Plymouth on the Dartmoor fringe

Pennymoor Caravan and Camping Park

Pennymoor Caravan and Camping Park is a well-regarded touring park near Modbury in the South Hams, sitting about 12 miles east of Plymouth on gently rolling farmland. It strikes a good balance between accessibility and seclusion: close enough to Plymouth and the Kingsbridge estuary for day trips, but quiet enough to feel properly away from it all once you've arrived.

Facilities are solid without being over-engineered: electric hook-ups, modern shower and toilet blocks, and a site layout that gives campervans and caravans plenty of breathing room between pitches. The surrounding countryside is good walking territory, and Modbury village, with its independent shops and decent pubs, is within easy reach. Recommended by owners in the area, Pennymoor is a particularly good fit if you're pairing a Plymouth city visit with time along the South Hams coast.

If you're planning a broader South West tour, it's worth looking at the 5 Best Weymouth Campsites for ideas further east along the Jurassic Coast.

Quick facts:

• Distance: Approximately 12 miles east of Plymouth city centre

• Best for: Touring couples and families, walkers, South Hams explorers

• Key facilities: Electric hook-up pitches, shower and toilet blocks, spacious pitches

• Book ahead: July and August, spring Bank Holidays

California Cross Camping and Caravanning Club Site

California Cross Camping and Caravanning Club Site is a Camping and Caravanning Club site near Ivybridge, positioned at the southern edge of Dartmoor roughly 13 miles north-east of Plymouth. The name raises an eyebrow, but the setting is thoroughly Devonian: open farmland, big skies, and easy access to the moorland beyond.

Well-known among Camplify travellers who want a moorland flavour without committing to a fully remote pitch, California Cross offers the reassurance of a well-maintained Club site alongside proper proximity to Dartmoor walking country. Ivybridge itself, a short drive away, has all the practical amenities you might need, and the Erme Valley offers some of the quieter walking on the southern moor. Non-Club members can book pitches too, though members benefit from preferential rates.

The site suits campervans and caravans well, with hardstanding and grass pitches, electric hook-ups, and reliable facilities. Camplify owners who tour Dartmoor regularly point to California Cross as a useful anchor point for exploring the southern moor across a long weekend.

Quick facts:

• Distance: Approximately 13 miles north-east of Plymouth city centre

• Best for: Dartmoor walkers, Club members, campervan and caravan tourers

• Key facilities: Electric hook-up pitches, hardstanding options, shower and toilet facilities

• Book ahead: Peak summer weekends, Dartmoor walking season (April to October)

Top campsites near Plymouth city and the moorland edge

Plymouth Sound Club Campsite

Plymouth Sound Club Campsite offers a genuinely distinctive position for a campsite, associated with the Plymouth Sound sailing and watersports community and well-regarded among travellers who want to be close to the water and the city at once. It is one of the more characterful options among the best campsites near Plymouth, drawing a mix of sailors, kayakers, and those simply wanting a base with a maritime atmosphere.

The site's proximity to Plymouth itself is a notable advantage: the city's Barbican waterfront, the National Marine Aquarium, and the ferry connections to Brittany and northern Spain are all accessible without a lengthy drive. Hirers who've stayed here rate it particularly highly for that combination of outdoor activity and urban convenience, which is a harder balance to strike than it sounds on this part of the Devon coast.

For those planning a wider touring trip through the South West and into Scotland, the 11 best NC500 campsites for motorhomes and the 5 best Loch Lomond campsites are useful reading for the road ahead.

Quick facts:

• Distance: Close to Plymouth city centre

• Best for: Sailing and watersports enthusiasts, city-break campers, those using Plymouth as a ferry hub

• Key facilities: Waterside setting, proximity to city amenities

• Book ahead: Sailing season and summer weekends

Langstone Manor Park

Langstone Manor Park takes a different approach to most parks on this list. Set within the grounds of a manor house on the western edge of Dartmoor, near Tavistock and roughly 14 miles north of Plymouth, it combines a genuinely historic setting with a well-run touring park and some self-catering accommodation. The manor house itself dates back centuries and gives the site a character that a standard holiday park simply cannot replicate.

A go-to for Camplify regulars who want Dartmoor access without roughing it entirely, Langstone Manor suits those who appreciate pitching up somewhere with a little history behind it. Tavistock, a handsome market town with good independent shops and a strong food scene, is minutes away. The moor itself is on the doorstep: Pew Tor, Cox Tor, and the open expanse above Merrivale are all within a short drive or a brisk walk from the site.

Facilities are comfortable and well-maintained, with electric hook-up pitches for campervans and caravans, an outdoor heated swimming pool in season, and a welcoming atmosphere that brings guests back year after year. The 5 best Brecon Beacons campsites and 5 best Oban campsites offer similar combinations of heritage, landscape, and practicality if Langstone Manor sparks an appetite for that style of touring.

Quick facts:

• Distance: Approximately 14 miles north of Plymouth city centre, near Tavistock

• Best for: Dartmoor walkers, couples, families who appreciate a characterful setting

• Key facilities: Electric hook-up pitches, heated outdoor swimming pool (seasonal), historic grounds

• Book ahead: School summer holidays, Dartmoor season weekends

Find your ideal Plymouth campsite with Camplify

The best campsites near Plymouth give you a remarkable range for one city: coastal holiday parks, quiet South Hams touring grounds, and Dartmoor manor estates all within half an hour's drive. Pick up a campervan or caravan from a local Camplify owner in Plymouth and you can move between them at your own pace. Search available vehicles and book your trip to get started.