Of the 11 campsites within 3.4 miles of the East Cowes ferry terminal, 9 are good for families.
With children, the ramp is close to the best free things in East Cowes. The Esplanade, about 12 minutes' walk from the terminal, has a free paddling pool, open daily from 8am to dusk from May to the end of September, and a play area. The beach mostly disappears at high tide, so check the tides first.
Osborne is about 25 minutes on foot from the ferry, or a few stops on route 5, which runs about every 15 minutes in the day. Under-5s go free, there is a play area by the car park with a family picnic area, and you can swim from Queen Victoria's beach. On Red Funnel, infants aged 0 to 4 need no ticket and child fares cover ages 5 to 15.
Waverley Park is the family site you can walk to, with an outdoor pool from late May to mid-September. The Woodside lodges near Wootton are a few minutes' walk from their own stretch of shore. Gurnard Pines lost its pool in 2023. See camping with kids.
Holiday park · East Cowes · 0.3 miles
Play area · outdoor pool · entertainment · A short walk from the ramp. Heated outdoor pool with a slide in summer, play area and games room.
Tents, caravans, motorhomes, static caravans
from £13/night
ViewHoliday park · Gurnard · 1.6 miles
Woodland chalets with red squirrels, near Gurnard beach. No pool since 2023.
Chalets
Prices on request
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
Play area · farm animals · Pigs, chickens and Shetland cattle on the farm, and a Family Ark for four. Children must be supervised.
from £175/night
ViewCampsite · Cowes · 2.2 miles
Tents, motorhomes, bell tents
Prices on request
ViewHoliday park · Gurnard · 2.3 miles
Static caravans with parking beside each one and paths through woodland to the shore. No pets.
Static caravans
Prices on request
ViewHoliday park · Wootton Bridge · 2.9 miles
Lodges, treehouses
Prices on request
ViewGlamping site · Wootton Bridge · 2.9 miles
Play area · Treehouses and shepherd's huts with a shared paddock, swings and games room. No TVs, by design.
Treehouses, shepherd's huts
from £78.57/night
ViewHoliday park · Wootton Bridge · 2.9 miles
Lodges about five minutes' walk from the shore, many with sea-view decks. Washer-dryer in every lodge.
Lodges
from £61.07/night
ViewNo campsites match all of those.
The East Cowes Esplanade has a free paddling pool, open daily from May to the end of September, and a play area. Osborne, about 25 minutes' walk away, has a play area, picnic area and a beach where you can swim.
Infants aged 0 to 4 do not need a ticket. Children aged 5 to 15 pay a child fare.
Waverley Park, about 800m from the terminal. It has a heated outdoor pool from late May to mid-September, a play area and a games room.
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.
7 of the 9: Waverley Park Holiday Centre, Comforts Farm, The Ark Park, The Hydeaway, Woodside Bay Lodge Retreat, Into the Woods and Woodside Coastal Retreat.
Yes: Waverley Park Holiday Centre, 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.
