Quick Tips Learned From Our First UK Campervan Trips
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Quick Tips Learned From Our First Campervan Trips
We’re still relatively new to campervan travel, but after a few UK trips, we’ve already learned a lot, mostly through trial, error and real-life moments that don’t always make it into posts.
If you’re thinking about trying campervan travel for the first time, here are some honest lessons from our early experiences and some things we wish we’d known before setting off.
Campervan travel is slower than you expect, and that’s a good thing!
We quickly realised campervan travel isn’t about rushing from place to place. Distances feel longer, setup takes time and plans often change, but slowing down has become part of the joy.
Instead of packing too much into each day, we’ve learned to plan fewer stops and enjoy places more deeply.
Lesson: Build in extra time. You’ll enjoy the trip more.
Packing smarter means more than packing a lot
Storage space is limited and overpacking quickly becomes annoying. On our first trips, we brought too much of what we didn’t need and not enough of what we did.
We now prioritise:
- Simple clothing layers
- Practical cooking essentials
- A few comfort items that make van life easier
- We take baby wipes too, for an easy way to stay clean while campervanning if there’s a lack of facilities.
Lesson: Pack lighter than you think and refine as you go.
Campsite choice can make or break the trip
Not all campsites feel the same. Some feel peaceful and scenic, others feel busy or cramped and the right choice depends on what kind of trip you want. We personally chose a quiet site with amenities for our first night away, using CAMC’s Wharfedale site, which you can read about on our Best Campsites in the Southern Yorkshire Dales article.
We’ve learned to look more carefully at:
- Pitch spacing
- Noise levels
- Family and dog-friendly facilities
- Location relative to walks and villages
Lesson: Spend time choosing your campsite as it shapes the whole experience.
Things will go wrong, and that’s normal
From forgetting essentials to struggling with hook-ups or weather changes, campervan travel doesn’t always go to plan.
But honestly? Those moments often become the stories we laugh about later.
Lesson: Expect hiccups. They’re part of the adventure, not a failure.
Kids (and adults) adapt faster than you think
If you’re travelling as a family, campervan trips can feel daunting at first, but we’ve found kids often adapt quickly to the small space, outdoor freedom and simple routines. Even adults settle into van life faster than expected.
Lesson: You don’t need to have it all figured out, you’ll learn as you go.
You don’t need to be an expert to start
One of the biggest lessons we’ve learned? You don’t need to know everything before you begin!
We’re still figuring things out and learning what works, what doesn’t and what kind of campervan travel suits us best, and that’s part of the fun.
Lesson: Start before you feel ready. Experience is the best teacher.
Taking dogs with you?
PREPARE!! Take them in the van first for little trips. One of ours barked the ENTIRE 1.5 hour drive on our first trip. It was a nightmare!
For a comprehensive breakdown of all our advice for taking dogs away in a campervan this post will help.
Final Thoughts…
We’re far from campervan experts, but that’s exactly why we wanted to share what we’ve learned so far. If you’re considering your first UK campervan trip (see Our First Campervan Trip: What We Learned From Our First Night in the Van), our biggest advice is simple: Try it, expect a learning curve and enjoy the journey!
If you’re looking for more vanlife resources, take a look at our hub post: Vanlife Adventures: Your Guide to Life on the Road. And, if you’re already travelling this way, we’d love to know what you learned early on!
Our last tip… Follow our Campervan Tips and Essentials board on Pinterest for loads more advice!
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The Wander Station work with affiliate advertising programs to provide income for our site. This article may contain affiliate links. We participate in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com and Amazon.co.uk. Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates.
