Caravan and Motorhome Club vs Camping Club: Guide

If you’re eyeing a touring holiday but unsure where to start, the question of which club to join comes up fast. Britain’s two big caravan clubs have each built loyal followings over decades, yet they operate quite differently on fees, site access, and the fine print that actually shapes your trip. Getting the wrong fit costs money and frustration; getting it right can make the whole season feel effortless.

Founded: 1907 · Rebranded: 2017 as Caravan and Motorhome Club · Largest network: UK sites for caravans and motorhomes · Members: Over 1 million across Europe · Irish Division: Active via camc.ie

Which is better, Caravan and Motorhome Club or Camping and Caravanning Club?

The two clubs sit at different points on the budget-to-comfort spectrum. CAMC operates as a larger commercial organisation with over 1,200 employees generating £100+ million in annual turnover, while CCC maintains a more modest footprint with a focus on accessibility for tents and glamping alongside caravans and motorhomes.

Key differences in sites and membership

CAMC membership costs £69 per year when paying by direct debit or £79 with card payment, which includes a £10 joining fee. The membership covers caravans, motorhomes, and campervans inclusively. CCC membership starts at around £53 annually with site fees on top, though digital direct debit membership comes in at £48 per year. CCC welcomes caravans, motorhomes, tents, and glamping enthusiasts, making it broader in accommodation scope.

CAMC operates 2,200 Certificated Locations (CLs) — privately owned 5-van campsites — reserved solely for touring units, with tent camping unavailable except attached caravan awnings or small pup tents. CAMC sites are known for high standards of cleanliness and facilities, while CCC is often praised for having more budget-friendly site options. CAMC membership includes access to thousands of privately owned campsites, and members do not pay an additional £15 per night non-member fee on published prices when booking UK Club campsites.

On CAMC member-only sites, up to four non-members may be included in a member’s party provided they camp in the member’s unit with the member present. CAMC operates a six metre rule requiring units to be six metres apart from adjacent units to protect against fire. Both clubs offer members discounts on ferry crossings, insurance, attractions, and camping equipment, and both provide expert support resources and helplines for advice on towing, maintenance, and trip planning.

User reviews and ratings

Trustpilot hosts member reviews for both clubs. CAMC’s larger member base of over one million across Europe generates more volume of feedback, while CCC reviews often highlight value for money on site fees. CAMC offers specialist training including towing courses and motorhome manoeuvring training, which members frequently cite as a key benefit not matched by CCC’s offering.

Is it worth being a member of the Caravan and Motorhome Club?

CAMC membership can be joined online with access available as little as one hour after joining, and email confirmation containing the membership number usually arrives within 48 hours. Additional family members over 18 years old can be added to CAMC membership for £10 per person. The club can be contacted by calling 01342 318 813, Monday to Friday 9am to 5.30pm.

Membership benefits

CAMC provides help with overseas trips including booking ferries and campsites. CAMC has a full foreign touring service, whereas CCC has reportedly cut back on theirs in recent years. CAMC offers specialist training including towing courses and motorhome manoeuvring training, covering skills that newer touring enthusiasts often lack confidence in. Both CAMC and CCC offer members discounts on ferry crossings, insurance, attractions, and camping equipment, with the CAMC ferry discount often mentioned as sufficient to offset the annual membership cost for regular European travellers.

CCC offers flexible seasonal pitches ideal for long-term stays, a benefit not prominently featured in CAMC’s offering. CCC takes a deposit at the time of booking, unlike CAMC which does not require deposits for UK club campsites. CCC members who cancel 31 days or more prior to the first day of booking and have paid a deposit receive a full refund, while those cancelling inside 30 days or less lose their deposit in most cases. The minimum notice required for any CCC pitch cancellation is 72 hours, calculated from 12 noon on the arrival date.

Costs vs value

The math depends heavily on usage. CAMC’s £69 annual fee plus access to 2,200 CL sites and ferry discounts represents strong value for members who tour regularly. The £15 non-member supplement that CAMC members avoid on each night means that two or three weekend trips can recover the annual cost. CCC’s lower £48-53 fee suits occasional users, though site fees on top can narrow the gap.

What is the 28 day rule for caravans?

The “28 day rule” refers to Caravan Exemption Certificated Sites — privately owned land where landowners host up to five touring units at a time without full planning permission. These CLs operate under relaxed regulations, allowing short-term stays that would otherwise require commercial campsite approval.

How it applies to Certificated Sites

CAMC’s 2,200 CL network operates on this principle. Landowners register with CAMC and agree to host small numbers of touring units. The 28-day reference relates to limits on continuous stay duration — typically units cannot remain on a single CL for more than 28 nights consecutively. This constraint shapes how tourers use CLs for stopovers rather than extended base camping.

CCC’s equivalent Caravan Sites operate under similar principles but with less publicly documented scale. CCC is often praised for having more budget-friendly site options, which may include CL-style partnerships alongside their standard sites.

Planning overnight stays

For touring itineraries, CLs serve as practical overnight stops in rural areas where commercial sites are sparse. CAMC members access these locations as part of their membership, with no additional per-night fees beyond published site rates. The network concentrates in regions with high touring demand: national parks, coastal routes, and rural heartlands.

What this means: CLs work best as en-route stops or brief countryside immersions, not as standing bases. If your touring style involves moving every few nights, CLs deliver excellent geographic reach.

Can you sleep in a motorhome on a layby in the UK?

Sleeping in a motorhome parked on a UK layby occupies a legal grey area. There is no nationwide prohibition specifically targeting motorhome overnight stays on public roads, but local authority bylaws and police discretion create patchy enforcement.

Legal considerations

The Highway Code does not explicitly ban sleeping in vehicles on public roads, but behaviour that causes obstruction or disturbance can trigger enforcement. Motorhomes stopped for extended periods on laybys may attract police attention under ant encampment powers or public order considerations. Some motorhome owners report overnight stays without incident in rural laybys, while others have faced moves-on notices from local authorities.

There are no standardised free overnight parking areas designated nationally for motorhomes, though some supermarket car parks tolerate short stays with customer status. CAMC does not provide layby-based sleeping guidance, focusing instead on its formal site network.

Safety tips

If you do stop on a layby overnight, choose well-lit spots with passing traffic rather than isolated stretches. Keep blinds drawn, engine off, and ensure no belongings are visible from outside. Avoid blocking sightlines at junctions. Many motorhome owners advise using certificated sites or dedicated motorhome stopover networks instead of relying on laybys, both for safety and legal clarity.

The trade-off: layby stops are free but carry uncertainty. Certified sites cost nightly fees but guarantee legality and often offer facilities.

Where can you sleep in a campervan for free?

Legally free overnight options in the UK for campervans are limited. Some options exist, but each carries constraints worth understanding before you plan a trip around them.

When it comes to genuinely free overnight parking, UK motorhome owners face a patchwork of informal tolerances rather than established rights.

UK laybys and alternatives

Free options include informal layby stops (with the caveats above), some National Trust car parks (which tolerate campervans but not officially overnight stays), and select supermarket chains with large car parks. None of these guarantee overnight permission, and policies vary by location and manager discretion.

CAMC’s Free Overnight Campervan Parking Spots in the UK initiative aimed to map tolerably overnight locations, though the official scheme has had limited uptake. The practical reality remains that truly free motorhome parking in the UK requires either landowner permission or implicit tolerance.

Club site options

CAMC’s 2,200 CL sites charge per-night fees but offer legal, permitted stops with basic facilities. CCC similarly operates site networks with published pricing. Both clubs offer members discounts on camping equipment, which can offset the cost of lightweight setups for members who want options between formal site stays and informal camping.

The implication: unless you have confirmed permission from a landowner, genuinely free motorhome overnight parking in the UK is uncommon and legally ambiguous. CAMC membership at £69 per year typically pays for itself within three to four nights of site fees avoided through the non-member supplement savings.

The Caravan and Motorhome Club operates a larger network of sites compared to the Camping and Caravanning Club, with CAMC sites known for high standards of cleanliness and facilities.

— Caravan Coach (Motorhome and touring guide publication)

CAMC operates 2,200 CL sites reserved solely for touring units, with tent camping unavailable except attached caravan awnings or small pup tents.

— The Howorths (Industry comparison resource)

The pattern: CAMC bets on scale and premium positioning. CCC bets on breadth and accessibility. Neither wins across all metrics — the right choice depends on how you travel, what you drive, and how often you tour.

Related reading: Best cards to use abroad · Holiday insurance cover for medical conditions

In comparing the two clubs, many tourers first evaluate the membership worth analysis to weigh certified sites against the annual £69 cost.

Frequently asked questions