Red Funnel's car ferry from Southampton takes about an hour and lands at East Cowes. Waverley Park is the only campsite you can walk to: about 800m via Castle Street and Old Road, roughly 10 to 12 minutes. It has an open field for tents and campervans as well as hook-up pitches, and it overlooks the mouth of the Medina.
Everything else on this list is a short drive or bus ride. The Cowes side of the river is a few minutes away by the Floating Bridge, and Wootton Bridge, Newport and Osborne House are all close.
Holiday park · East Cowes · 0.3 miles
About 800m from the Red Funnel ramp via Castle Street and Old Road, 10 to 12 minutes on foot. It has an unmarked tent field as well as serviced touring pitches.
Tents, caravans, motorhomes, static caravans
from £13/night
ViewCampsite · Northwood · 1.9 miles
On the Cowes side of the Medina. Cross on the Floating Bridge if you have a car or are on foot; with a caravan you have to drive round through Newport.
Tents, caravans, motorhomes
from £20/night
ViewGlamping site · Cowes · 2.1 miles
Glamping on the Cowes side. From East Cowes, the Floating Bridge is quicker than driving round through Newport.
from £175/night
ViewCampsite · Cowes · 2.2 miles
Tents, motorhomes, bell tents
Prices on request
ViewHoliday park · Gurnard · 2.3 miles
Static caravans
Prices on request
ViewSmall certificated site · Newport · 2.8 miles
Members only · join the Camping and Caravanning Club to stay
Tents, caravans, motorhomes
from £24/night
ViewHoliday park · Wootton Bridge · 2.9 miles
Lodges, treehouses
Prices on request
ViewGlamping site · Wootton Bridge · 2.9 miles
Treehouses, shepherd's huts
from £78.57/night
ViewHoliday park · Wootton Bridge · 2.9 miles
Lodges
from £61.07/night
ViewNo campsites match all of those.
In Red Funnel's summer 2026 timetable (2 April to 2 November) boats leave Southampton hourly from 06:00 or 07:00 to 19:00, then at about 20:15, 22:00 and 23:59. There are also 03:00 and 05:00 sailings with restricted capacity. From East Cowes, boats leave hourly at half past from 06:30 to 20:30, then about 21:45 and 23:30, plus 01:30 and 04:30 on most days.
Check in at least 30 minutes before departure, and no more than 60 minutes before on peak dates. Foot passengers can travel on the car ferry, and bikes go free.
The Floating Bridge chain ferry crosses the Medina to West Cowes in a few minutes. It runs 05:00 to 00:30 Monday to Saturday and from 06:30 on Sunday. It carries foot passengers, bikes and cars, but it is not suitable for caravans or motorhomes, so towing campers heading for Cowes or Gurnard must go round through Newport.
Southern Vectis route 5 runs about every 15 minutes in the day from East Cowes to Newport, via Osborne House and Whippingham. Route 4 runs hourly to Wootton Bridge, Binstead and Ryde, which suits Kite Hill Farm. Both stop at East Cowes Waitrose.
Red Funnel asks you to tell it if your vehicle is over 5.5m long or 2.0m high, and to include roof boxes, bike racks and luggage racks in the measurement. The Premium priority upgrade is only for vehicles up to 2.0m high. Bookings with a towed caravan or trailer cannot be changed online, so call 023 8001 9192. Gas bottles in a motorhome count as dangerous goods, so read Red Funnel's guidance before you travel.
Red Funnel's 2026 touring packages show how size is priced. A car and tent or a motorhome counts up to 6m long and 2.699m high. A car and caravan or trailer tent counts up to 13m combined. Above that, it adds £14.75 per leg over 2.7m high and £8.25 per leg for each extra metre. A 3-night low-season package with return ferry and a hook-up pitch started at £134 for a car and tent or motorhome, and £178 with a caravan.
The Caravan and Motorhome Club gives members 5% off Red Funnel. Its Sail and Stay break at Southland started at £190 for two people, four nights and a Red Funnel crossing for a motorhome up to 7m (October 2026 departures). Many parks pass on their own discounts: Thorness Bay quotes up to 40% off for Parkdean guests, and Springfield Oaks and Whitefield Forest book cheaper crossings with the pitch. See campsites near the ferry.
Waverley Park in Old Road, East Cowes, is about 800m from the Red Funnel terminal, roughly 10 to 12 minutes on foot. It has an unmarked field for tents and campervans plus serviced touring pitches.
About an hour. In summer 2026 Red Funnel sailed hourly through the day, with late boats at 22:00 and 23:59 from Southampton and early ones at 03:00 and 05:00.
It depends on the date and size. Red Funnel's 2026 touring package, with a return crossing and three nights on a hook-up pitch, started at £134 for a motorhome up to 6m long and 2.699m high. It added £14.75 per leg over 2.7m high and £8.25 per leg for each extra metre.
Red Funnel sells touring and camping packages that combine a return car ferry with 3 to 10 nights on a hook-up pitch at partner parks. Caravan and Motorhome Club members get 5% off Red Funnel, and many campsites book discounted crossings for their guests.
No. The Floating Bridge between East Cowes and West Cowes says it is not suitable for caravans or motorhomes. Drive round through Newport instead.
Waverley Park Holiday Centre, about 0.3 miles away as the crow flies.
Waverley Park Holiday Centre, from £13 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.
8 of the 11: Waverley Park Holiday Centre, Comforts Farm, The Ark Park, The Hydeaway, 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 and Woodside Coastal Retreat.
Yes, at Comforts Farm, The Ark Park, The Hydeaway and Into the Woods. Most want fires in a raised pit, not on the ground.
