Photo: Kai Gradert on Unsplash
The best motorhome road trip tips are about planning, not packing: keep each day's drive short, book the busy pitches early and set up a simple routine for water, waste and food. A trip that leaves time for stopping and wandering is the one people remember. The tips below are written for UK trips in a hired motorhome or campervan, and each one is short enough to use on the day.
| Daily distance | Aim for roughly 100 to 150 miles on a mixed day, with the longer stretches on main roads. Stages of the North Coast 500 run from about 25 to 130 miles. |
|---|---|
| Speed limits | Motor caravans up to 3.05 tonnes unladen follow car limits. Over 3.05 tonnes, the limits are 50, 60 and 70 mph. Built-up areas are 30 mph (20 mph in Wales). |
| Hire booking lead time | July and August: three to four months ahead. School holidays, larger vans and remote routes: four to six months. |
| Shoulder season | Two to three months ahead, or a few weeks outside the school holidays. |
| Water and waste | Fill fresh water and empty grey water and the toilet before you move on. |
| Weather plan | Pick one wet-day activity per area and check the forecast each evening. |
Motorhome road trip tips for pacing your route
A common first-trip mistake is planning too many miles. A motorhome is slower than a car, single-track roads are common in the Highlands and Wales, and you will want to stop. Work out the total miles, then divide by the days you have and add a buffer day. A good rule is to finish driving by mid-afternoon so you arrive before the pitch office closes and before the light goes. Plan in loops rather than out and back, so you see different roads, and ease off the mileage on days you want to hike or visit somewhere. The North Coast 500 guide shows how a 516-mile route splits into sensible stages, and the road trip guides cover other routes.
Check height and width before narrow or old roads. A satnav set for a car does not know your vehicle may be around 3 metres tall. If your hire vehicle is new to you, read how to drive a campervan for the first time before you leave.
Book pitches before you set off
You do not need every night booked, but you should book the ones that matter. Coastal, national park and festival-weekend pitches go first, and small club sites (CLs and CSs) take no more than five caravans or motorhomes. Book the van first, using the hire lead times in the table above, then book the key pitches as soon as your dates are fixed. Keep one or two nights flexible, and have a fallback site within an hour's drive. Our guide to the best time to book a campervan hire covers the hire side of the same timeline.
Food and shopping
- Shop on day one: stock up on basics at a large supermarket before you leave the town, because rural shops are small and close early.
- Plan simple meals: a hob and a small fridge suit one-pan dinners, wraps and salads.
- Buy local: farm shops, bakeries and fish counters turn a stop into a meal worth remembering.
- Carry a back-up: tinned food and pasta for the day the weather or the road changes your plan.
For ideas, see our guide to food choices for a campervan trip.
Water and waste routine
Treat this as a daily habit. Fill the fresh-water tank when you arrive somewhere with a tap, and empty the grey water and toilet cassette before you drive on, at the campsite point rather than a roadside. Use only signed disposal points. In Scotland, SEPA advises that campervan wastewater is disposed of at a proper facility. Keep a note of where the next disposal point is, especially in remote areas where they can be far apart. A short check each morning, tank levels, gas and battery, avoids unpleasant surprises.
Pack light
A hired motorhome has a payload limit, and soft bags store far better than hard cases. Take one bag per person, a small cool bag, layers and a doormat for the entrance. Leave heavy extras at home, and ask the owner what is already on board. Our packing guide has a full list.
Have a weather back-up
British weather changes fast, so build in options. For each area, note one indoor attraction, a pub with a fire and a short low-level walk. High-sided vehicles feel strong crosswinds on exposed coastal roads, so if a wind warning is out, delay a move or take a more sheltered route. Check the forecast each evening and adjust the next day, rather than the whole trip.
Apps and navigation
Download offline maps before you head into the Highlands or other areas where signal drops. Use a navigation app that lets you set your vehicle's height and width, and keep a paper road atlas as a back-up. Pitch-finder apps, a fuel-price app and a waste-point map are worth adding. Our list of six apps for your holiday goes into more detail.
Leave no trace
Take all rubbish with you or use the site bins, keep to marked pitches and tracks, and leave gates as you found them. The government's Countryside Code sets out the basics. Overnight parking needs permission on private land in England and Wales, lay-bys and car parks follow local rules, and in Scotland, sleeping in a vehicle is outside the access rights, so book a site or ask the landowner.
Motorhome trip: honest pros and cons
- Pros: your bed and kitchen come with you, you can change plans at short notice, and it suits families, and dogs where the owner allows pets.
- Cons: fuel costs add up, large vehicles are harder on narrow roads, and the best pitches sell out in school holidays.
Decide on breakdown cover too. 24/7 roadside assistance is optional with a booking through our partner Outdoorsy, so check whether you want it for a remote route.
How hire works
- Search for a van near your start point and for your dates.
- Check the listing: berths, size, washroom, pet rules and mileage.
- Book through our partner Outdoorsy. Insurance and payment protection come with every booking.
- Collect or have it delivered, and take the walk-through before you leave. The motorhome hire page is a good starting point.
FAQs
How many miles a day should I plan in a motorhome?
About 100 to 150 miles is a comfortable day on mixed roads, so that you have time to stop. Go further only on motorways and plan a rest day every few days.
What should I do if the weather turns bad mid-trip?
Switch to an indoor plan, stay put rather than drive in strong wind, and use a campsite with a laundry or lounge. A short move to a sheltered area is often better than a long one.
How often should I empty the toilet and grey water?
Empty them before they are full, and always before you move on from a site with a disposal point. Check the listing for tank sizes so you know how long you can go.
Is it better to do a loop or an out-and-back route?
A loop shows you more, and it avoids repeating roads. Out and back works if you want to base yourself in one area and take day trips.
Ready to plan one? Start with our road trip guides.