Hi, we are relatively new to van life and have had a few trips in our VW with drive away awning but are starting to think it might be easier to take our tent instead and just park right next to it. We sleep in the van. Anyone else do this? I know some campsites would want to charge for 2 pitches but Just wondered if there’s still plenty of sites out there that don’t mind what your vehicle is! What’s peoples experience of this, both in UK and abroad? Many thanks!
IMHO, it is not possible to tell if a site would charge a van and a tent separately or not as sites have different rules, especially independent ones. Even club sites belonging to the main 2 clubs could vary depending on their layouts.
How would you use your tent if both of you are sleeping in the van? To provide extra living space during the day perhaps?
You could 'reason' it is similar to a gazebo/event shelter/awning during the day as extra living space, and book a pitch 'with awning' to allow for extra space for your tent.
I have seen gazebo, event shelter, utility/kitchen tent and small pup tent adjacent to a van or a bigger tent, just one. However, I do not know if they incur extra charges or not.
I would advise checking with the campsites first to avoid disappointment, as you do not wish to arrive at a site, pitch your tent, for the site to tell you it is not allowed or you would need to pay extra, etc. etc...
Happy camping!
DK
------------- Apple The Campervan - A Van For Work, Rest & Play!
- 2027: ? NL+DE+FR
- 2026: FR+DE
- 2025: 17/77
'24: 10/49; '23: 9/47;'22: 8/46; '21: 9/34
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* Treat life events like a dog: if you can't eat it, play with it or hump it, p1$$ on it and walk away!
Hi DK thanks for your reply. We would use the tent like the awning for more living space without the faff of reattaching etc. we would phone any campsite we fancied visiting before going to check their rules. Just wanted to hear from anyone else who has this set up and what their experience has been in uk/abroad - do most campsites they’ve been to not bother what the vehicle is as long as they stay within pitch size or are a lot of them quite strict. Cheers
I am curious - can you not attach your drive-away awning to your van with the canopy rolled up and tucked away, so that effectively it is a tent?
DK
------------- Apple The Campervan - A Van For Work, Rest & Play!
- 2027: ? NL+DE+FR
- 2026: FR+DE
- 2025: 17/77
'24: 10/49; '23: 9/47;'22: 8/46; '21: 9/34
* Ex-tenter
* Treat life events like a dog: if you can't eat it, play with it or hump it, p1$$ on it and walk away!
I can’t see a problem because you’re not sleeping in / occupying the tent, it’s an annex.
Just be cautious about the overall width if you’re using CCC sites, because their managers are strict about that: a friend can only use a windbreak on CCC sites because his awning plus MH is 50mm too wide & he was told to take it down. (Might just be that manager on that site: they do vary, unfortunately.)
Thanks Fiona W I have seen on some Facebook groups that it’s generally not an issue, lots of people have this set up but I’ll make sure to check beforehand wherever we decide to go ????
DK168 yes we could do that, although we have other reasons for bringing our tent rather than awning on some occasions, so wanted a view from folks who have van/tent combo ??
My set up involves a 3 or 4 berth tent with a VW T25 van (see profile). I sleep in the van only when camping overnight and moving on the next day. When I stay at a site for longer periods, I put up one of my trusty polycotton tents. (I could never go back to polyester). I have never had or used a drive away awning. As a life long tent user, I really couldn`t see any advantage they have over a good quality tent. Add to that the rigmarole of attaching and detaching it every time you leave and return to the site. Plus you have the use of your vehicle if needed. I have never been charged extra because of my set up, only pitch and price per person. As I`ve been going solo mainly for the last 30 years, it`s usually low cost, even when I use the electric hook up. I don`t go for creature comforts and keep the van/tent as basic as possible. I find a tent far more comfortable than the van, even on my own and especially when my wife occasionally joins me. Thankfully, that`s quite rare these days. I have no experience of campsites outside of the UK I`m afraid.
We are newbies and the big canvas air awning that we bought is a right pain to putbup tbh do we bought a decathlon base camp £100, basically a room,pitched right up to the van and cook,eat ,drink,socialise in there,lot less stress
That reminds me. We have seen a gazebo (day room?) with all its wind-proofing mesh walls, beside a MH. Yes, it seemed to work fine for sitting out & eating etc, but some sites specifically do not allow gazebos. (I’m guessing it’s because they don’t have much pegging down, not ideal in a strong wind.)
Thanks to UKCS, I won an Outdoor Revolution Screenhouse 4 which has yet to be used as I do not fancy pegging it down on a hardstanding pitch as I have difficulties with pegs even with screw pegs and the help of a power drill!
Going forward, I am planning on grass with EHU pitches as I shall be using a breathable groundsheet to minimise mud getting into the van.
More solid side panels are not available as the model has been discontinued, however, the mesh sides should provide some wind protection.
DK
------------- Apple The Campervan - A Van For Work, Rest & Play!
- 2027: ? NL+DE+FR
- 2026: FR+DE
- 2025: 17/77
'24: 10/49; '23: 9/47;'22: 8/46; '21: 9/34
* Ex-tenter
* Treat life events like a dog: if you can't eat it, play with it or hump it, p1$$ on it and walk away!
Not quite the same thing, but been investigating camp sites for a rally group for next year where we would take over a smallish site. We've encountered 'site rules' that impact us.
One of our lot wanted to tow their caravan with a campervan, and that seemed to throw a few sites just because they had 'rules' against two 'units' on the same pitch! A 'unit' was not specifically defined, but seemingly interpreted as any accommodation that could be occupied in it's own right. We never got to ask those sites if sleeping in both units was permissible (as was the plan!), but those that did get into that discussion said no, the second unit (camper) could NOT be occupied or used for cooking etc., only towing and storage.
Some sites we've looked at have a policy of no tents on the same field as caravan/camper/MHs, regardless of purpose, tents are in a different field.
I've certainly seen in my personal experience, some sites not allowing 'full' (largeish) tents on the same pitch as other 'units', only 'pup tents' for the likes of kids to sleep in. Others still, will allow a second 'unit' but will charge extra for the privilege!
Not sure there is a general answer with hard and fast rules, each site, or club, will have their own policy it would seem. That pretty much goes for most aspects of camping in my experience, never take anything for granted, read T&Cs, and if not clear, ask the site directly!
Some sites are VERY greedy money grabbing types, where you can't even roll out a canopy that's permanently affixed to a vehicle, and doesn't even touch the ground at all, without paying extra for it! Plenty of sites out there where EVERYTHING costs extra even when permitted. Do your homework of site policy before booking.
Monty15, we find independent sites & CIC sites (community interest charity) are the least likely to charge for every little extra, be it awning, Wi-Fi, showers, dog or EHU, compared to chains & club sites.
Quote: Originally posted by Fiona W on 05/10/2026
That reminds me. We have seen a gazebo (day room?) with all its wind-proofing mesh walls, beside a MH. Yes, it seemed to work fine for sitting out & eating etc, but some sites specifically do not allow gazebos. (I’m guessing it’s because they don’t have much pegging down, not ideal in a strong wind.)
Fiona, I'm aware of many sites that prohibit Gazebos (even including more robust 'Event Shelters'), because of experience of them blowing away and being a risk to other campers, for the reason you pointed out of not being possible to anchor very securely with normal fixing points.
I believe club sites allow, BUT with the proviso of only at the discretion of wardens who may deem any 'structure' to be a risk under certain conditions, and may insist it's taken down.
On many of my trips to motor races with pop-up camp sites and minimal rules, it's quite popular to use small 'festival' tents for sleeping as only a couple of nights, and a Gazebo for living space - and I have to say I've seen countless succumb to wind, partially collapse (the poles/joints fail under the strain!), and go bowling off across the site like vicious tumbleweed! If we've had a choice, we've always opted not to pitch near an already erected one!
IMHO, no matter how well-build a shelter, be it a gazebo or shelter designed for camping use such as the Coleman Event Shelter that comes to mind, they are potentially hazardous to adverse windy/stormy weather conditions if they are not guyed and pegged down properly.
I have seen many structures being put up without being properly guyed in full, for the occupants to scramble to rescue their structures when the weather turned for the worst!
For my next van which will be a VW SWB Transporter, I am considering barn doors with a rear kitchen, and a small driveaway tail awning.
This could potentially push the overall length of my unit to nearly 8m long, and it is something I need to bear in mind.
The beauty of this awning that I have in mind, it can be placed on the side as well as on the tail/back. If the pitch is not long enough, then I shall just have a removable canopy over the kitchen area.
DK
------------- Apple The Campervan - A Van For Work, Rest & Play!
- 2027: ? NL+DE+FR
- 2026: FR+DE
- 2025: 17/77
'24: 10/49; '23: 9/47;'22: 8/46; '21: 9/34
* Ex-tenter
* Treat life events like a dog: if you can't eat it, play with it or hump it, p1$$ on it and walk away!
Just back from our latest trip to France, where we have seen a wide variety of tents, awnings, shelters, tarps etc etc alongside campervans, cars, motorhomes, caravans. On the sites we visited ( a mix of municipal, family owned and chain sites) it would appear pretty much anything goes!
A day of all things motorhome and campervan. The show is held both in the main indoor arena and across the grounds. Catering, hot drinks and food options are available. Easy access to the site and free parking included. Win one of five pairs of day tickets
Topic: Campervan + tent
via mobile 08/9/2026 at 9:38pm
