There is a reason motorhome and campervan areas at festivals are always full. While everyone else is sleeping on thin mats in leaky tents, you are in a proper bed with a kitchen, a fridge full of food, and somewhere dry to sit when it rains. A motorhome or campervan turns a festival from an endurance test into something much more comfortable, and it combines your transport and accommodation into a single package.
Does the festival allow campervans?
Not all festivals accommodate motorhomes and campervans, and those that do have specific requirements. Most major UK festivals, including Glastonbury, Download, Latitude, Green Man, WOMAD, and Boomtown, have dedicated campervan fields with separate entry and allocated pitches.
You will almost always need a separate campervan pass in addition to your festival ticket. These passes sell out independently, sometimes before the general tickets, so buy yours as soon as they go on sale. The pass price typically covers one vehicle and a designated pitch for the duration of the festival. Prices range from £50 to £150 depending on the festival and the size of the pitch.
Check the dimensions allowed. Many festivals impose height and length restrictions on the campervan field. A standard VW-style campervan will be fine almost everywhere, but larger motorhomes and converted buses may exceed the limits. The festival's terms will specify maximum dimensions, and they do measure at the gate.
Renting versus owning
If you do not own a motorhome or campervan, renting one for the festival is a viable option. Rental companies like Bunk Campers, Spaceships, and Indie Campers operate across the UK with pick-up points in major cities. Peer-to-peer platforms like Camplify and Goboony let you rent directly from private owners, often at lower prices than commercial fleets.
Rental costs vary by season and vehicle size. A basic campervan for a long weekend in summer might cost £100 to £200 per day, while a fully equipped motorhome could be £150 to £300 per day. This is not cheap, but when you consider that it replaces both transport and accommodation costs and is shared between two to four occupants, the per-person cost can be reasonable.
Book rental campervans well in advance for festival season. Demand peaks from June to August, and popular vehicles get booked months ahead. If you are flexible on the specific vehicle, you will have more options, but a particular model you have your eye on may need to be reserved in January or February for a July festival.
Power management
This is the practical challenge that catches people out. A campervan at a festival is disconnected from mains electricity, so everything runs on your leisure battery and any solar panels you might have. Fridges, lights, phone charging, and water pumps all draw power, and a leisure battery can run flat surprisingly quickly if you are not careful.
Minimise electrical use during the day when you are at the festival and not in the van. Turn off the fridge before you leave in the morning if it will hold temperature for a few hours. Charge phones from a portable power bank rather than the van's 12v socket. Use LED lights, which draw a fraction of the power of older bulb types.
Some festival campervan fields offer electric hook-up pitches for an additional fee. These are limited and sell out fast, but they solve the power problem entirely. If hook-up is available, it is worth the extra cost, especially for longer festivals where battery management becomes a daily concern.
A portable solar panel is a worthwhile investment for regular festival-goers. Even a small 50-watt panel can keep a leisure battery topped up during daylight hours, extending your off-grid time significantly.
Water and waste
Fill your fresh water tank before arriving at the festival. Most festival campervan fields have a communal water tap, but queues can be long and the pressure is not always great. Starting with a full tank gives you independence for the first day or two.
Grey water (from sinks and showers) should be contained in your built-in waste tank or in a portable waste container. Do not dump grey water on the ground. Besides being antisocial, it can get your vehicle banned from future events. Most festivals designate a grey water emptying point within the campervan field.
Chemical toilet waste must be disposed of at the designated disposal point. Never empty a chemical toilet into a standard portaloo or drain. The chemicals damage the festival's waste processing systems. If your van does not have a built-in toilet, the festival's communal toilets will be your alternative. The campervan field toilets are usually less busy than those in the main camping areas.
Packing your campervan for a festival
The beauty of a campervan is that you can bring things that tent campers cannot. A proper cool box or fridge means fresh food and cold drinks. A camping table and chairs outside the van creates an outdoor living area. A portable barbecue or stove means you can cook proper meals rather than relying entirely on festival food stalls.
Pack a gazebo or awning that attaches to the side of the van. This extends your living space and provides shelter from both sun and rain. In British festival weather, shade and rain cover are equally valuable. Bring fairy lights or a lantern for the evenings. The campervan field at dusk, with everyone sitting outside their vans with food and music, is one of the best parts of the festival experience.
Getting in and out
Campervan fields usually have set arrival and departure windows. Arrive within the designated time slot to avoid being turned away or directed to a different area. Departure is typically the morning after the festival ends, and you will need to queue to exit. Leave early if you can, as the queue builds through the morning.
Once parked, your vehicle is usually locked in for the duration. Most festivals do not allow vehicles to leave and re-enter the campervan field. Plan your supplies accordingly and bring everything you need for the entire weekend.
If you are considering a campervan for the first time, our beginner camping guide covers the fundamentals that apply to all festival camping. For those who prefer even more comfort, our glamping guide explores the pre-pitched alternatives. And for help getting to the festival regardless of transport type, check our festival travel planning guide.
