Exeter-side touring base
Best for: A confirmed overnight plan before collection
Useful after an eastern approach and before choosing the coast or moor. Check the campsite’s recommended route.
Campervan hire in Devon
Your basecamp for Dartmoor, Exmoor, the North Devon coast and the English Riviera.
Find a van for Devon
Compare the total booking cost, exact handover location and vehicle dimensions for your route.
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Devon offers two national parks and two coastlines in one county — Dartmoor, Exmoor and the surf beaches of the north make it one of the best places to hire a campervan.
Local trip planning · September 2026
Devon Campervan Hire: Coasts & Moorland
Devon has enough variety for a trip without trying to join both coasts and both moorland areas into every day. Choose north-coast beaches, a south-coast base or a Dartmoor-focused stay, then build the route around booked sites and realistic access. A compact vehicle may simplify lanes, while a larger camper gives more indoor space during wet weather. Let the intended route decide which compromise matters most.
- Choose a coast or moorland base before planning daily mileage.
- Small lanes and bridges can affect motorhome access.
- Dartmoor backpack-camping guidance is not vehicle overnight permission.
- Exmoor overnight parking requires landowner permission.
Best road trips from Devon
Drive times below are sensible planning estimates before fuel, groceries, traffic, weather and sightseeing. Do not schedule the longest transfers on collection or return day.
| Destination | Distance | Drive | Best use |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Devon coast | Depends on your booked base | Check the exact route before departure | Concentrate beach days in one area and check height barriers before driving to a car park. |
| Exmoor edge | Depends on your booked base | Check the exact route before departure | Pair landscape stops with a booked overnight base and avoid guessing permissions from an empty lay-by. |
| Dartmoor | Depends on your booked base | Check the exact route before departure | Use a vehicle-appropriate route and leave time for walking without moving the van repeatedly. |
| South Devon coast | Depends on your booked base | Check the exact route before departure | Confirm campsite approaches and avoid using narrow coastal shortcuts as a default. |
| Plymouth and onward Cornwall | Depends on your booked base | Check the exact route before departure | Useful as a deliberate extension with extra nights, rather than an unplanned long return day. |
Airport, station and local collection
Compare Exeter, Plymouth and any genuinely local handover against the first part of your route. A collection point on the wrong side of the county can consume much of a short break. Confirm the depot address rather than relying on a broad listing location.
- 1Choose north, south or moorland as the first base.
- 2Check arrival transport to the actual handover address.
- 3Ask the owner about the vehicle’s height and suitable approach roads.
- 4Confirm water, toilet and waste arrangements before departure.
- 5Buy groceries before entering a small coastal or moorland village.
- 6Reach the first campsite early enough to learn levelling, hook-up and the heating controls.
Where to spend the first night
These are areas and types of base to investigate, not claims of available pitches. Confirm permission, dimensions, arrival time and services directly with the operator.
North-coast campsite
Best for: A confirmed overnight plan before collection
Book for the activities nearby and verify beach access separately; the nearest car park may have different restrictions.
South-coast or Plymouth-side base
Best for: A confirmed overnight plan before collection
Useful for a southern itinerary or onward Cornwall travel without crossing the county twice.
Best season for a campervan trip from Devon
| Period | Verdict | What changes |
|---|---|---|
| Spring | Plan around actual conditions and opening dates | Check ground conditions and site opening dates; a grassy pitch and a hardstanding can produce different arrival decisions. |
| Summer | Plan around actual conditions and opening dates | Build in beach traffic and book popular stays. Keep a second daytime parking option. |
| Autumn and winter | Plan around actual conditions and opening dates | Confirm water and heating operation, reduce narrow-lane driving after dark and choose sites with the services you need. |
Which camper van class should you rent?
| Vehicle | Best fit | Trade-off |
|---|---|---|
| Compact campervan | A route with frequent manoeuvring and modest luggage | Check standing room, bed dimensions and toilet arrangements. |
| High-roof panel van | More indoor living space during wet days | Check height barriers, overhang and the final campsite approach. |
| Larger motorhome | Travellers prioritising a separate washroom and living area | Confirm parking dimensions and avoid planning from car-only route times. |
| Family layout | A group needing legal travelling seats as well as beds | Berths do not prove seat-belt or child-seat compatibility; confirm the actual vehicle. |
Estimated cost for a seven-night trip
Build a dated quote for your itinerary around Devon. A headline nightly hire rate is only one part of the cost; the refundable deposit also affects the cash you need available.
| Item | Planning range | What moves it |
|---|---|---|
| Vehicle hire | Your dated quote | Multiply chargeable nights by the quoted rate and include mandatory fees. |
| Campsites and services | Your booked itinerary | Check occupants, electricity, water, waste and late-arrival charges. |
| Fuel and mileage | Route-based allowance | Include depot transfers and any excess-mileage cost. |
| Parking and transport | Check each stop | Add day parking, buses and any chosen ferry separately. |
| Insurance and extras | Booking-specific | Compare excess, deposit, additional drivers, bedding, pets and cleaning. |
| Estimated trip total | Illustrative arithmetic only: a £700 hire quote plus £175 of pitches, £120 fuel and £45 parking/transport totals £1,040 before optional extras. Replace every amount with your actual quote; these are not current local tariffs. | |
Driving and parking complications
For Devon, use the local rules below as checks to make again before travel. Signs, access restrictions, service availability and hire conditions can change.
- Dartmoor’s authority warns that narrow roads and small bridges can restrict larger vehicles.
- Use the campsite’s advised approach rather than blindly following the shortest route.
- Do not confuse tent access rights with permission to sleep in a vehicle.
- On Exmoor, obtain permission for overnight parking rather than relying on remoteness.
- Watch for livestock and leave time for slow sections.
- Check beach car-park height, length and overnight rules individually.
What partner inventory for Devon actually means
Match the listing to the trip rather than treating all vehicles with the same number of beds as equivalent.
- ✓ Confirm coastal and rural breakdown arrangements.
- ✓ Check whether wet sports equipment can be carried and cleaned under the hire rules.
- ✓ Include campsite services, parking and extra mileage in the comparison.
- ✓ Choose payload and storage for passengers as well as leisure equipment.
Plan the route before booking the van
Official planning sources checked
Rules and closures change. Recheck these primary sources immediately before travel.
How campervan hire in Devon works
- 1
Search Devon
Browse available campervans in Devon with live pricing and photos on Goboony.
- 2
Book direct
Message the owner, confirm your dates and pay securely — all through Goboony.
- 3
Pick up & go
Collect your campervan, get a handover walkthrough, and start your trip.
More of South West
Campervan hire in Devon: FAQs
How much does it cost to hire a campervan in Devon?
Most campervans in Devon cost around £70–£160 a night, depending on the season, the size and age of the van and how far ahead you book. Weekly hires usually work out cheaper per night. You'll see live prices and availability when you search on Goboony.
Where can I go with a campervan from Devon?
Devon is a great base for Dartmoor, Exmoor, the North Devon coast and the English Riviera. A campervan lets you travel on your own schedule and stay close to the places you actually want to see, rather than driving back to a hotel each night.
What licence do I need to drive a campervan?
Almost every campervan in Devon can be driven on a standard car licence — they're built on regular van chassis, not heavy motorhomes. Check each listing's minimum driver age and licence-held period on Goboony before you book.
When is the best time to hire a campervan in Devon?
The main season in Devon runs Easter to October, with July and August the busiest and most expensive. May, June and September are ideal — long days, better prices and quieter roads. Vans are available year-round; a spring or autumn trip is often the best value, just pack for changeable weather and book a heated van for the shoulder months.
Can I travel with pets or one-way?
Many owners in Devon allow pets and some offer one-way or airport pick-ups — it varies by listing. Filter and message the owner directly on Goboony to confirm before you book.
Is it better to hire a campervan or a large motorhome in Devon?
A campervan is easier to drive and park, cheaper to fuel and fine for one to four people — ideal for exploring Devon. A big motorhome gives more living space for longer, slower trips. For most visitors in Devon, a campervan hits the sweet spot.
Find a van for Devon
Compare the total booking cost, exact handover location and vehicle dimensions for your route.
Booking & payment happen on Goboony. This is an affiliate link — we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
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