We normally travel to and from France via Portsmouth by car, and stop off at Port Solent before and after the ferry to give our 2 dogs chance to stretch their legs.
This time we have our caravan with us, and when we turned up at Port Solent to walk our dogs before the ferry as usual, we were moved on straight away from the Motorhome/Campervan car park - no caravans allowed! It was too early to go to the port (where there's nowhere really for the dogs anyway) so ended up unhitching the caravan by the road near Tesco, my husband staying with it and me taking the dogs in the car to Port Solent! Obviously not ideal!
Can anyone help us please - we need somewhere we can stop with the caravan (if only for 10 mins) within 15-20 mins of the ferryport where we can let the dogs stretch their legs/have a wee before continuing with our journey north.
Even a decent sized lay-by would do!
Hopefully someone can help.
I�m sure there will be many suggestions soon.
If not, try the free version of park 4 night (all one word) app - it has a range of locations in the area, hopefully one suits for a daytime comfort break with a caravan. (aimed at MHs: only got it in case we must stopover because of dangerous driving conditions.)
Quote: Originally posted by bofs on 11/9/2025
Thanks Fiona, will do.
Clearly states on their website, motorhomes / campervans or vans only
------------- XVI yes?
As well is two words!
How does a sage know everything about everything? or does he? or does he just think he does?
Remember, if you buy something you bought it, not brought it.
Not had the caravan and dogs to contend with at Portsmouth, but had a Horsebox in tow behind a LWB Landrover (No horse, but packed full of camping gear for a crowd of us), and really found that a PITA to park up when we arrive early (afternoon) for our overnight sailing - we've always headed for Port Solent in the past as only place we could find to accommodate us (in the general carpark and spanning bays), plus we were looking to eat. I have scoured the options and studied Google Street View without success for an alternative to Port Solent, albeit a few years ago now!
Lot's of parking for solo cars at Southsea, and beach and parks for the dogs, but high vehicles cant get into car parks, and pretty much all legal street parking is marked car bays (paid for), many of which are nose/tail in as well! Not really any 'casual' parking to be had that we've found.
Going back a while, so may well have changed now, but seem to recall caravan owners parking up on 'Marina Keep' road beyond Port Solent heading toward the MOD site, lots of yellow lines, but maybe not enforced or overlooked for occupied vehicles! Plenty of grass areas there for the dogs. Choose your spot well as turning the caravan around to exit may be 'interesting' in some spots!
Also believe the Port Solent Marina carparks were used by caravaners in the past!
My years of experience of traveling through Portsmouth has always left me with the impression 'trailer' (in all forms) users are poorly served!
On clearing immigration/customs and leaving the Port, you are quickly off site and onto the major roads, so precious little opportunity to stop until some distance away regardless of solo car or combo outfit!
Good luck, if you find somewhere, I'd be VERY interested!
what about the roadchef services on the m27? its only about 2 mile beyond the m3 where you would be going to head north, not ideal tho having to go that far just so the dogs could have a pee/excersise.
oooooooo possible parking on twyford ave, which is just across from the exit of the port, up the a3 until you get to a mini roundabout, the main road bears right, but you go straight ahead and there is a sports center that has parking for coaches to! its called the mountbatten center
Quote: Originally posted by marg6 on 11/9/2025
what about the roadchef services on the m27? its only about 2 mile beyond the m3 where you would be going to head north, not ideal tho having to go that far just so the dogs could have a pee/excersise.
oooooooo possible parking on twyford ave, which is just across from the exit of the port, up the a3 until you get to a mini roundabout, the main road bears right, but you go straight ahead and there is a sports center that has parking for coaches to! its called the mountbatten center
Post last edited on 11/09/2025 16:09:03
Thanks for that suggestion - I'll check it out on Google maps before our return.
Thank you everyone for your comments.
We're staying overnight at Winchester before heading home, but one of our dogs is an old fella and may well need a "comfort break" after being on the ferry, before we get to Winchester.
Always worked well (with no caravan) calling into Port Solent - couldn't believe it when we were turned away because we were a caravan!
The search continues!
We travelled with our caravan to Portsmouth to catch the St Malo ferry and stopped at Sutton Scotney services in the A34, we also stopped there in the way home after arriving at Poole.
Think it's about 30 odd minutes from Portsmouth and is usually plenty of parking for caravans (also have a shell garage, Costa coffee and a McDonald's as well)
Thank you, that's on our radar but was hoping for somewhere nearer Portsmouth.
I've emailed Porstsmouth Council who sent back a suggestion - unfortunately it has a 2 metre height restriction so great for the dogs, not for the caravan!
I sent another email to that effect, awaiting the next reply.
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Topic: Portsmouth caravan stop help please
via mobile 10/9/2025 at 8:07pm
