Caravan Park Rules: What You Must Know Before You Stay

When you book a spot at a caravan park, a licensed site designed for motorhomes, caravans, and campers to stay overnight with basic facilities. Also known as camping site, it’s not just a place to park—you’re agreeing to a set of rules that keep everyone safe and comfortable. These aren’t suggestions. They’re enforced. Skip them, and you could be asked to leave—or worse, fined.

Caravan park rules cover everything from quiet hours, set times when noise must be kept to a minimum, usually between 10 PM and 7 AM to how you handle waste. Most parks require you to use designated waste disposal points—no dumping grey water on the ground. Pets are allowed at many sites, but only if they’re leashed and cleaned up after. Some parks ban barbecues on grass, others require fire pits to be raised off the ground. These aren’t arbitrary. They’re based on local council bylaws, environmental protection rules, and safety standards from the UK’s camping industry.

You’ll also find rules about campsite electricity, how to safely plug into the power hookups without overloading circuits or creating fire hazards. Many parks limit how many appliances you can run at once. Overloading a socket can trip the breaker for the whole row. And yes, they check. Some sites even have timers on power outlets to prevent overnight use of high-draw devices like kettles or heaters.

Then there’s the unspoken stuff: campsite etiquette, the shared understanding of respect between travelers—keeping your space tidy, not blocking access roads, not playing loud music, and not hogging the shower block. People come here to relax. You don’t want to be the one everyone whispers about.

These rules aren’t just about control. They’re about fairness. A family with kids needs quiet nights. A solo traveler needs clean toilets. A couple with a dog needs space to walk. The rules exist so everyone gets what they paid for. And if you’re wondering whether wild camping is okay instead? It’s not. Outside of Scotland and a few protected areas like Dartmoor, wild camping is illegal. Caravan parks are your legal, safe, and clean option.

What you’ll find below are real guides from people who’ve been there—how to handle power hookups, what to pack for a family-friendly site, how to deal with noisy neighbors, and why some parks ban fire pits while others require them. You’ll see what happens when rules are ignored, and how to avoid the mistakes that get people kicked out. No fluff. Just what you need to know before you pull in, pitch up, and settle in for the night.