Best Caravan Parks in Cornwall for Families 2025

Cornwall is the ultimate British family holiday destination — three-mile sandy beaches, world-class surf, the Eden Project, and enough cream teas to last a lifetime. But with dozens of holiday parks to choose from, picking the right one for your family can feel overwhelming. We’ve done the hard work for you.

A caravan holiday in Cornwall is something every family should do at least once. The sheer variety on offer is breathtaking — from clifftop parks with direct beach access to inland retreats with aqua parks, surf simulators and live entertainment. Whether you’ve got toddlers, teenagers or grandparents in tow, the right park makes all the difference.

Our partner Away Resorts operates five parks across Cornwall alone, and having visited them all, we can tell you that the standard is genuinely exceptional. Here’s our honest guide to the best caravan parks in Cornwall for families in 2025.

The Best Family Caravan Parks in Cornwall

St Ives Bay Beach Resort

Away Resorts · Best for Beach Lovers

If you want one thing from a Cornwall holiday — direct beach access — this is your park. St Ives Bay Beach Resort sits in the sand dunes directly above a private three-mile beach, voted Sunday Times Beach of the Year. You can walk out of your caravan door and be on the sand in minutes.

On site you’ll find a heated indoor pool, the Sands Bar & Bistro, an arcade, adventure playground and the resident Shore Surf School — meaning even first-timers can be up on a board by day two. Accommodation ranges from classic caravans to luxury sea-view lodges and exclusive Stargazer caravans with ceiling windows for night sky watching. The park is 15 minutes from St Ives town with its cobbled streets, Tate gallery and exceptional restaurants.

For families who want a proper Cornish beach holiday with brilliant on-site facilities, St Ives Bay is the standout choice in Cornwall.

Retallack Resort

Away Resorts · Best for Adventure & Teenagers

For families with older children who need more than a sandcastle, Retallack is a revelation. Set in stunning Cornish countryside near Wadebridge, the park is built around an extraordinary range of activities — including Cornwall’s only FlowRider surf simulator, a massive inflatable aqua park on the lake, a wake park, and Ringo Rides across the water.

The accommodation is a step up too — beautiful barn-style lodges with exposed timber, hot tubs, and a genuinely luxurious finish that feels miles from a traditional caravan park. If your family’s idea of a great holiday involves adrenaline, laughter and collapsing into a hot tub at the end of the day, Retallack delivers every time.

Newquay Bay Resort

Away Resorts · Best for Surf Culture

Newquay is the surf capital of the UK, and Newquay Bay Resort puts you right at the heart of it. The park is positioned close to the famous Fistral Beach, with easy access to the town’s legendary surf scene, shops, restaurants and nightlife. Guests receive a discount at the on-site Blue Surf School — brilliant for beginners and improvers alike.

The park itself has great family facilities including a swimming pool, entertainment programme and a lively, sociable atmosphere. For families where teenagers are driving the holiday agenda, being this close to Newquay gives everyone exactly what they want — parents get the park, kids get the surf and the town.

Newperran Holiday Park

Away Resorts · Best for Younger Children

For families with younger children who want a quieter, more relaxed Cornwall experience, Newperran near Newquay strikes the perfect balance. The park is set in beautiful Cornish countryside with easy access to several beaches, but the pace is gentler than the resort-style parks.

You’ll find hot tub lodges, a well-maintained pool, and a genuine sense of space and quiet that busy family parks can sometimes lack. Cornwall’s north coast beaches are within easy reach for day trips, and the park’s position means you’re never more than 20 minutes from everything the county has to offer.

Bude Holiday Resort

Away Resorts · Best for Atlantic Coast

Bude sits on Cornwall’s dramatic north Atlantic coast — a place of big waves, long beaches and spectacular coastal walking. Bude Holiday Resort is perfectly placed for families who want the full Atlantic Cornwall experience alongside solid on-site facilities.

The resort partners with Freewave Surf Academy at Widemouth Bay, offering guests a discount on surf lessons at one of the best beginner surf spots on the coast. The beaches around Bude — Crooklets, Summerleaze and Widemouth Bay — are among the finest in Cornwall and considerably quieter than the popular south coast coves.

What to Look For in a Cornwall Family Caravan Park

Not all caravan parks are equal, and what works brilliantly for one family can be completely wrong for another. When choosing the best park for your family, consider these key questions:

Beach Access

If being on the beach is your priority, direct beach access is worth every extra penny. St Ives Bay is the gold standard for this. Parks that are a short drive from beaches are more flexible but require a car for every beach trip — fine for older children, less ideal with toddlers.

Age of Your Children

Younger children thrive in parks with good on-site entertainment, pools and easy outdoor space. Teenagers need more — activities, independence, proximity to towns and genuine things to do. Retallack and Newquay Bay are brilliant for older families; St Ives Bay and Newperran suit a younger crowd.

Accommodation Grade

Modern caravan holidays offer a huge range of accommodation — from comfortable classic caravans sleeping four to luxury lodges with hot tubs sleeping eight or more. Upgrading to a lodge transforms the experience, giving you proper king-size beds, full-sized bathrooms and the feeling of a luxury holiday home rather than a caravan.

Quick Facts — Cornwall Family Holidays

• All Away Resorts Cornwall parks are fully dog friendly — bring the whole family
• Breaks can be secured with just a 10% deposit
• Most parks open March to October; some lodges available year-round
• Entertainment and swimming pools are included in the accommodation price
• Surf lessons available at St Ives Bay, Newquay Bay and Bude — from beginner to intermediate
• The Eden Project is within an hour of all Away Resorts Cornwall parks

When is the Best Time to Visit Cornwall with the Family?

School summer holidays (late July to early September) are when Cornwall is at its most vibrant — parks are busy, beaches are buzzing and the entertainment programmes are running at full capacity. Book early — the best summer accommodation at St Ives Bay and Retallack typically sells out by January or February.

For a quieter experience with smaller crowds and lower prices, May half-term and early June are excellent. The weather in Cornwall is reliably mild and the parks feel less hectic. Many families find this is actually their favourite time to visit — you get the beauty of Cornwall without the August queues.

October half-term is increasingly popular too, particularly for families with teenagers who appreciate the wilder, more dramatic Cornwall that autumn brings. Surfing conditions are actually better in autumn, and many parks run special Halloween events.

Ready to Book Your Cornwall Family Holiday?

All five of the parks featured in this guide are operated by our partner Away Resorts — one of the UK’s most celebrated holiday park operators. You can browse availability, check dates and book securely through our Away Resorts partner page, or explore our dedicated Cornwall holidays guide for more detail on each park and the county.

If Cornwall is too far to travel, don’t forget we also feature Shorefield Holidays across Hampshire and Dorset — equally spectacular parks in a more central South Coast location.

Ready to Go?

Book Your Cornwall Family Holiday

Browse availability at all five Away Resorts Cornwall parks — with any-day arrivals, dog-friendly accommodation and 10% deposit to book.

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