The Red Jet is Red Funnel's foot-passenger catamaran from Southampton Terminal 2. It reaches West Cowes in about 28 minutes and lands by Fountain Quay, at the bottom of the High Street. It carries no cars, so this page is for campers arriving on foot or by bike.
There is no campsite in Cowes town. The two easiest with a tent on your back are Comforts Farm at Northwood, about 50 minutes' walk or a route 1 bus ride, and Waverley Park across the river in East Cowes, about 25 minutes including the Floating Bridge.
Holiday park · East Cowes · 0.5 miles
About 25 minutes from the Red Jet: walk along the High Street to the Floating Bridge, cross the Medina and go up Old Road. It has an open field for tents.
Tents, caravans, motorhomes, static caravans
from £13/night
ViewHoliday park · Gurnard · 1.5 miles
Chalets about 3 km west of the Red Jet, roughly 40 minutes on foot, close to Gurnard beach.
Chalets
Prices on request
ViewCampsite · Northwood · 1.9 miles
About 4 km and 50 minutes uphill on foot from the Red Jet, or take route 1 towards Newport and walk about half a mile. Open from May to September.
Tents, caravans, motorhomes
from £20/night
ViewCampsite · Cowes · 2.1 miles
A small off-grid site south-west of Cowes, about 5 km and over an hour on foot from the Red Jet, so you will want a taxi or a lift.
Tents, motorhomes, bell tents
Prices on request
ViewGlamping site · Cowes · 2.1 miles
Glamping at Northwood, about 4.4 km from the Red Jet, roughly an hour's walk or a short taxi ride.
from £175/night
ViewHoliday park · Gurnard · 2.2 miles
Static caravans
Prices on request
ViewSmall certificated site · Newport · 3.1 miles
Members only · join the Camping and Caravanning Club to stay
Tents, caravans, motorhomes
from £24/night
ViewHoliday park · Wootton Bridge · 3.3 miles
Lodges, treehouses
Prices on request
ViewGlamping site · Wootton Bridge · 3.3 miles
Treehouses, shepherd's huts
from £78.57/night
ViewHoliday park · Wootton Bridge · 3.3 miles
Lodges
from £61.07/night
ViewHoliday park · Cowes · 3.4 miles
Tents, caravans, motorhomes, safari tents, static caravans
from £10/night
ViewSmall certificated site · Cowes · 3.6 miles
Members only · join the Caravan and Motorhome Club to stay
Caravans, motorhomes
from £18/night
ViewNo campsites match all of those.
For Waverley Park, walk south along the High Street to the Floating Bridge, cross the Medina, and walk up Old Road. It is about 1.8 km. The Floating Bridge runs 05:00 to 00:30 Monday to Saturday, and from 06:30 on Sunday.
For Comforts Farm, head uphill via St Mary's Road, Moorgreen Road and Place Road to Pallance Road in Northwood. It is about 4 km and 50 minutes, uphill out of the town. The Travellers Joy pub is a few minutes from the field. Gurnard Pines is about 3 km, roughly 40 minutes west, but it is chalets only.
Southern Vectis route 1 runs Cowes to Newport about every 10 minutes in the day via Northwood. Comforts Farm says a main bus route is about half a mile from its gate. From Newport bus station you can change for anywhere on the island, including route 7 to the West Wight and route 9 to Wootton and Ryde.
Route 1 starts early: in October 2026 the first bus left Newport at 04:55 and reached Cowes at about 05:10, in time for the first Red Jet back to Southampton.
In the 24 March to 1 November 2026 timetable, weekday Red Jets left Southampton from 05:30 to 22:30 and West Cowes from 06:05 to 23:05. They ran every 35 minutes at busy times and less often in the middle of weekdays. Weekend boats start at 06:40 from Southampton and 07:15 from Cowes. Check in at least 15 minutes before departure.
Each passenger can take up to two suitcases plus one piece of hand luggage, so a rucksack and tent are fine. There are 11 bike racks on Red Jet 6 and 7, for bikes up to 25kg with tyres up to 2.5 inches wide, and folding bikes in a bag go on the luggage rack. Dogs travel free. Larger kit can go across on the car ferry through Red Funnel's parcel partner. See taking a tent on the ferry.
Vehicles must use the Red Funnel car ferry to East Cowes, about an hour from Southampton, or Wightlink. The Floating Bridge is not suitable for caravans or motorhomes, so towing campers bound for Cowes, Northwood or Gurnard drive round through Newport. For vehicle size rules and Red Funnel's touring packages, see campsites near the East Cowes ferry.
Waverley Park in East Cowes is about 25 minutes' walk from the Red Jet terminal, including the Floating Bridge across the Medina. On the Cowes side, Comforts Farm at Northwood is about 50 minutes on foot or a short route 1 bus ride.
Yes. Red Funnel allows each Red Jet passenger up to two suitcases plus one piece of hand luggage, so a rucksack with a tent is fine. Bikes go in the 11 racks on Red Jet 6 and 7.
About 28 minutes. In the summer 2026 timetable the first weekday boat left Southampton at 05:30 and the last at 22:30, with the last return from West Cowes at 23:05.
No. The Red Jet is foot passengers only. Cars, caravans and motorhomes use Red Funnel's car ferry from Southampton to East Cowes, which takes about an hour.
Waverley Park Holiday Centre, about 0.5 miles away as the crow flies.
Thorness Bay Holiday Park, from £10 a night for two adults, is the lowest price we can find over the next year. Prices change with the season and the day of the week, so put your dates into the calculator on this page.
11 of the 14: Waverley Park Holiday Centre, Comforts Farm, The Hydeaway, The Ark Park, Last Post CS, Woodside Bay Lodge Retreat, Into the Woods and Woodside Coastal Retreat.
Yes: Waverley Park Holiday Centre, Tiny Homes Holidays, Woodside Bay Lodge Retreat, Into the Woods, Woodside Coastal Retreat and South Thorness Farm CL.
Yes, at Comforts Farm, The Hydeaway, The Ark Park and Into the Woods. Most want fires in a raised pit, not on the ground.
