How Much Does a Campervan Holiday Cost? A Realistic Budget

A campervan holiday can be cheaper than a hotel break or far more expensive - it all depends on how you use the van. Here's a realistic budget for a week's UK touring, and the numbers that actually move the total.

The headline costs

For two people in a medium coachbuilt for seven nights, expect:

• Campsite fees: £20-£45 a night, averaging around £200-£250 for the week.
• Fuel: 700 miles at 30mpg is roughly £180-£220.
• Food: £50-£80 per person per week if you cook in the van.
• Extras: attraction entry, eating out, gas and site electricity, £30-£80.

That puts a week at around £600-£800 for two, excluding the van's standing costs. Against a mid-range hotel week of £1,000-plus, the van usually wins if you use it often.

Where the money goes

• Campsites are the biggest variable. A basic Certificated Location (CL) site can cost £15-£20 a night, a family holiday park £35-£50. Members of the Camping and Caravanning Club and Caravan and Motorhome Club get discounts on many sites.
• Food is where you save. Cooking in the van rather than eating out is the single biggest saving available.
• Fuel scales with distance. France, Spain and beyond add a ferry or tunnel crossing of £60-£150 each way.
• Tolls and city parking are easy to forget. Paris, London and other cities charge heavily for large vehicles.

Cheaper ways to holiday in a campervan

1. Use CL and CS sites (Certificated Locations) instead of big holiday parks.
2. Travel outside July and August school holidays - off-peak pitches can halve.
3. Cook most meals in the van; buy local bread, cheese and produce.
4. Book ferry crossings in advance and choose the cheapest day of the week.
5. Consider a few nights wild camping where legal and considerate - broadly allowed in Scotland, but check local rules elsewhere.

The hidden holiday costs

Depreciation, insurance and road tax run whether you travel or not. Add a fair share of those to your trip and the honest cost per night is higher than the campsite fee suggests. For a full picture of what the van costs you year-round, read our running costs guide.

Budget £50-£70 per day for two people all-in and you'll cover most UK touring without pinching pennies. Book sites ahead for peak season and keep a couple of nights spare for spontaneous stops.

Start planning with a look at campervans for sale - and remember that a van which gets used regularly is far cheaper per night than one parked on the drive.