This is a complete guide to campervan hire in Bristol. Listing the best companies to go with, a suggested itinerary and top tips to make your road trip the best it can me.

With lots of motorhome and campervan hire companies in the city, Bristol is a great place to start and end your road trip. It’s surrounding areas are enriched in campervan holidaying history with Glastonbury just down the road and easy access to both Wales or Cornwall.

But don’t forget to take time to visit the city of Bristol itself!

With a past heavily steeped in swashbuckling pirate history, Bristol today holds a staggering trove of places to see and things to do. Whether it is the simple joy of enjoying a cup of coffee at a chic café, exploring the vivacious arts and culture scene or gawking at the endless artefacts at the museums, Bristol is an exhilarating adventure with something for everyone. 

Useful tips for your campervan road trip…

Before we get started on the best campervan companies, here are a few top tips to help you get ready for your campervan road trip from Bristol…

• There are 2 useful Facebook groups worth joining: campervan overnight parking and UK motorhome and campervan wild camping. In both, you can ask questions and find useful suggestions for campervanning in the UK.
• Check what is included with your Bristol campervan hire before packing or purchasing. Many of the companies have additional charges for extras like kitchen utensils, foldable chairs or portable toilets. Always contact the company directly first to see if you can haggle a better deal! Even if they won’t budge on the price they may happily throw in some gear hire or additional insurance free of charge.
• Check out this handy website to calculate fuel costs so you can get an accurate
• Consider signing up to become a Britstop member and buying their guidebook. You’ll then have access to a directory of over 900 pubs, shops and breweries that allow free overnight parking for campervans
• Another useful membership worth considering is the National Trust which will get you free entry to 500 attractions across the UK including free parking (although unfortunately not overnight). You’ll need to have about 5-7 visits to get your moneys worth so work out if you’ll visit this many before joining.
• Wait until you are out of Bristol city centre before doing a big food shop and filling your van with petrol….you’ll save a bit of ££ avoiding city prices!
• Don’t forget to pack an adaptor and a playlist for your journey (a phone adaptor and holder is really helpful to have as you can then also use it as a GPS for directions)
• Coupons and discounts are common in the UK so before eating out do an online search. For example, if you plan to eat in Pizza Express, simply Google ‘Pizza Express Voucher’ to see what’s on. I also like to check Groupon so see what offers are running in an area for food and activities
• Go Eco! Bring a reusable mug with you for your take-out coffees and some reusable plastic bags for your food shop. Use biodegradable soaps, toiletries and cleaning products. Minimise van travel when you can walk or use public transport. Recycle your rubbish and practice leave no trace!

6 Best campervan hire companies in Bristol

Let us get to the best companies that offer motorhome and campervan hire in Bristol. You’ll find everything covered in this list from modern van conversions, large luxurious motorhomes to classic VW campervans….

#1 Quirky Campers

Cost: There are currently 11 motorhomes and campervans for hire ranging from £76-92 a night although prices will go up in peak season.

Collection from: A range of locations in the city centre and on the outskirts

What do they offer?
The one thing that makes Quirky Campers special is the fact that all their vans are, well, quirky! You’ll find beautifully finished campervans with homely touches and stylish interiors. As each van is individually owned they are all unique and different from each other.

For the most part, their batch are made up of van conversions. There are no motorhomes or VW campervans on offer.

*NOTE* If you are thinking of hiring with Quirky Campers, check out the video at the end of this article to take a closer look at the vans and what you can expect to be driving!

#2 Rambling Van

Cost: There are 2 vans available, both 4 berth. Prices range between £60-125 a night depending on the season.

Collection from: 97 Stonebridge park, Bristol, BS5 6RN

What do they offer?
This is a small local company that has just 2 vans available to hire. The first is Alba, a VW transporter and the other is Bertha, an off-grid family camper.

Both are fitted with all the comforts you need to be self-contained on your road trip from a fitted kitchen to outdoor furniture. They also both have solar panels for real off-grid living.

#3 KerbtoCoast

Price: Prices begin at £379 for a 3-night trip (or £126 per night) but fluctuate depending on the season, often rising to £419 for a 3-night trip.

Collection from: Kerb to Coast Ltd, Yatton, Bristol, BS49 4BE

Another small family-run campervan company. KerbtoCoast’s fleet has received many positive reviews regarding the cleanliness and maintenance.

Pets are allowed too – but be sure mention that ahead of time – and you are free to bring your bikes, surfboards and anything else you need for your trip on the road. The fleet includes VW campervans and vehicles with various berth sizes – visit the website for a better look. 

Top XX companies for VW Campervan hire in Bristol

Sometimes, nothing beats harking back to the good old eighties with a VW campervan!

Looking for a classic VW Campervan?

There are 2 companies I recommend who offer retro VW campervan hire in Bristol. They are:

#4 Sun Kissed Campers

Cost: Prices begin at £95 a night but fluctuate depending on the season. They have a minimum hire of three days.

Collection from: 45 Burnett Business Park, Gypsy Lane, Saltford, Bristol, BS31 2ED – halfway between Bath and Bristol

What do they offer?
Owned by a local family who opened it out of their love for campervans, the company has a nice feel.

The fleet of VW campervans are fuel-efficient and fun to drive. They include all the modern-day comfort you could ask for like heating and Bluetooth stereo systems. If you are not satisfied with the amenities, Sun Kissed Campers sell upgrade packages that take the experience a step up. They guarantee transparent pricing so you won’t get caught out.

Each rental includes comprehensive breakdown cover, full insurance, cookware, tableware and a range of outdoor furniture including chairs and a roll-out canopy. Coffee, tea and other cupboard essentials are also included.

#5 Red Hatch Campers

Cost: Prices begin at £275-£450 for 3 nights depending on the season (£91-150 per night).

Collection from: 12, Deverill Road Trading Estate, Deverill Rd, Sutton Veny, Warminster BA12 7BZ. Collection is in Warminster an hour drive from Bristol although the company will collect you from Bath (10 min train ride from Bristol) if coming by train or coach.

What do they offer?
The company has five restored classic VW models (1965 – 1988) and each comes with its personalized styling for an individual personality. It is highly recommended that you view each one to pick the one that excites you most!

The VW models are the T2, T3, T4 & T25. Sam is the flagship model and is a 1965 split screen VW. It does, however, have a mileage restriction of 65 miles and is not suited for motorways. 

Inside the campervan, you will find a food pack (cereal, coffee, jam etc.), a cleaning pack (probably doesn’t need any explanation), bedding and safety equipment like a first aid kit and a fire extinguisher. The company offers additional packages to make your stay more luxurious so take a look at what’s on offer before booking.

Looking for a larger more equipped motorhome?

These motorhomes are bigger than van conversions or VW campervans but are a little more luxurious. You won’t need to make your bed each night and most have a kitchen that you can just about stand up in…

#6 Enjoy Bristol Motorhoming

Cost: You can hire a motorhome with Enjoy Bristol Motorhoming for £90-110 a day.

Collection from: Bristol, BS30. A 20 minutes from M4 J18, and 20 minutes from M4/M5 junction.

What do they offer?
A small family run motorhome hire company, based just on the outskirts of Bristol. Their fleet of campervans really are very comfortable with cosy seating, a permanent bed and a kitted out kitchen.

Our prices include driver insurance, breakdown cover and use of the  gas.  And you can hire our motorhome for your holiday in Europe too.  There is no mileage restriction or surcharge.

#7 Circle Motorhome Hire

Cost: Prices begin at £385 for a two-berth motorhome for three nights (equivalent of £128 a night) and rises to £765 for a 6 berth. Prices increase during peak season but there are frequent discounts. 

Collection from: Bristol Depot
214/224 Broomhill Road, Bristol, BS4 5RG

What do they offer?
Owned by MFX Leisure Group, a family-owned business that has been in the leisure vehicle industry for over three decades, you can expect excellent service and even better motorhomes with Circle Motorhome Hire. All available motor homes are 2017 or newer and are covered by insurance for breakdowns.

Other amenities include satellite navigation, a TV, and kitchen appliances like an oven, microwave. Circle Motorhome Hire offers both pet-friendly and pet-free options. 

Suggested campervanning itinerary starting from Bristol

Your itinerary will depend entirely on the amount of time you have to travel, what sort of activities you want to do (ie cities vs nature) and how far you want to be driving vs seeing places.

Here are a few suggestions of locations to get you started:

Bristol & Bath

Before or after you’ve set off, make sure you leave time to visit Bristol & Bath if you’ve not yet explored them. Just 10minutes apart on the train, these cities could not be more different. Bristol is vibrant and arty while Bath is steeped in history and tradition.

Cornwall

I love Cornwall, especially during the warmer months. Here you will find beautiful walks, quaint towns, stunning rugged beaches, surfing, lots of afternoon teas and the world-famous Eden Project (top tip if you are a runner – check out Eden Project Park Run on a Saturday…a free 5km run and if you enter you and your spectators get free entry to the attractions after)!

If you need any more inspiration to make Cornwall your holiday road trip destination, check out the photos I took from my last trip there.

Wales

In the South of Wales you’ll find the Brecon Beacons, perfect for beginner hikers, and in the North Snowdonia – a rugged National Park that offers some of the best hikes, caving and rock climbing in the UK. There are so many quaint towns in Wales, many with market towns. Plus some interesting historical mining sites worth visiting. Along the West coast, you’ll find rugged coastline and some amazing wildlife.

This is a great film that will give you some inspiration of the sort of roadtrip you could put together in the Southwest. The couple used one of my recommended campervan hire companies, Quirky Campers:

4 helpful apps for your Bristol campervan road trip

#1 Park4Night
Website
Helps you find somewhere to park your campervan or motorhome overnight.

#2 CoPilot Caravan
Website
A bit like Google Maps but specifically for caravans – will help you avoid narrow roads or low bridges that aren’t suitable for your vehicle.

#3 The Good Pubs Guide
Website
Rates pubs in the UK so you can find the best pub fire near you at any point.

# AA Days Out Guide
Website
This is a really great little app to keep on your phone for road trips. At any location, it will show you fun activities and attractions that are nearby.

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*Any women reading this?* I founded a women’s adventure community called Love Her Wild . Check out our private Facebook page and see what adventures we have coming up.