Own a campsite?

Planning

Getting your tent, caravan or motorhome to the Island

Which ferry, what it costs by vehicle size, foot-passenger camping, and how to avoid the August price spike.

In short: three ferry companies run five routes. Car ferries go from Lymington to Yarmouth, Portsmouth to Fishbourne and Southampton to East Cowes. Foot passengers also have the FastCat to Ryde, the Red Jet to Cowes and the hovercraft to Ryde. The fare depends heavily on your vehicle's length and height, and on how busy the boat is.

Which port for which campsite?

The Island is small (about 23 miles across), but picking the right port still saves time on narrow roads with a caravan behind you.

  • Yarmouth (Wightlink from Lymington) for the West Wight: Freshwater, Totland, Brook and Compton. West Wight campsites.
  • Fishbourne (Wightlink from Portsmouth) for Ryde, the east and Sandown Bay. East and Sandown Bay.
  • East Cowes (Red Funnel from Southampton) for Cowes, Newport and the centre. North and Central Wight.

Every campsite page shows its nearest ferry, and there's a list of campsites within three miles of a port for late arrivals and early boats home.

Motorhomes, caravans and trailers

Ferry fares are banded by length and height. A car towing a caravan, or a large motorhome, can cost several times a car fare, especially on summer Saturdays. Measure your outfit including the bike rack and tow bar before you book; turning up longer than you booked can mean a surcharge or waiting for a later boat.

Ask the campsite first. Some Island campsites have arrangements with the ferry companies and can book a cheaper crossing for you. Look for "ferry deals" in each campsite's facilities.

Foot passenger fares are much cheaper, and the Island is easy without a car: Southern Vectis buses run to almost every village, and the Island Line train links Ryde Pier Head with Brading, Sandown and Shanklin. Campsites near a bus route or station are marked on each page. Walking the Coastal Path? You don't need a car at all; try the route planner.

Avoiding the expensive boats

Prices follow demand. The dearest crossings are summer Saturdays, the start and end of school holidays, bank holidays, the Isle of Wight Festival in June and Cowes Week in early August. A Sunday-to-Sunday or midweek stay, or an early or late boat, is usually noticeably cheaper. Campsite prices follow the same pattern; check the price calendar on each campsite's page.