Overnight for caravan near Portsmouth Dock

[Alanbrooke]

Hi, we're planning our trip to Spain for 2022 and shall take the Portsmouth to Santander ferry departing 09.00hr on 25 January. Does anyone know a place to stop overnight on 24 January within easy reach of the ferry terminal?
Alan

 

[otherclive]

Going from Portsmouth we have stopped in the check in lanes for a Britanny ferries morning ferry. Alternatively there are sites on Hayling Island an easy drive back to the ferry port.

 

[Gafferbill]

CMHC site Rokesbury Park at Wickham have ferry pitches if you are a member.
Check they are open in January.

 

[Beachball]

CMHC site Rokesbury Park at Wickham have ferry pitches if you are a member.
Check they are open in January.

Hi Bill Thanks for details on this site put it in the diary for same keeping

 

[Buckman]

Rookesbury Park Caravan Club Site is a good place to stop as close to ferry terminal. There is also a fuel station nearby where you can fill up the night before leaving.

 

[Alanbrooke]

Rookesbury Park doesn't open till 11 March next year. To make things easier we've decided on a night sailing and stop at Navarrete on arriving at Santander next day. About 3 hours to Navarrete?

 

[Buckman]

Rookesbury Park doesn't open till 11 March next year. To make things easier we've decided on a night sailing and stop at Navarrete on arriving at Santander next day. About 3 hours to Navarrete?

We stopped there on our way to Alcossbre the first time we crossed over and would not bother again. The next time we stayed in Zaragoza and were able to fuel up not far from the campsite. In both cases the ferry arrived at about 1pm in Santander

 

[Beachball]

Sunnydale Farm Touring Park Ltd 1st January 2022
it a 20 min drive to the Ferry Terminal in Portsmouth

 

[Buckman]

Sunnydale Farm touring park 1st January 2022
it a 20 min drive to the Ferry Terminal in Portsmouth

A lot depends on time of day otherwise you get stuck in work traffic and it can take a lot longer than 20 minutes. We were lucky as we had left a CL 3 hours early so the delay of nearly 40 minutes was not the end of things.

 

[Beachball]

Kingfisher caravan park Stokes bay Gosport Hampshire
A very short distance to the ferry terminal
1st January 2022

 

[otherclive]

If the OP is now taking a night sailing as it looks from his latest post then an overnight site wouldn’t be required.

 

[Beachball]

I have just given the OP a option just in case he wants to stay near Portsmouth ferry terminal

 

[Alanbrooke]

Thanks for the hints. We normally travel through France, sailing Portsmouth - Caen, but now there's only about £600 fare difference so the long sea route may be easier. We're still undecided - I'll be 82 when we travel so don't to travel too far in a day with the caravan!

 

[bertieboy1]

Thanks for the hints. We normally travel through France, sailing Portsmouth - Caen, but now there's only about £600 fare difference so the long sea route may be easier. We're still undecided - I'll be 82 when we travel so don't to travel too far in a day with the caravan!

Hi,
We normally travel overnight Portsmouth to St Malo but it is becoming too dear (with cabins)so we now travel during the day Portsmouth to Caen staying at Riva Bella (5 minutes from port) for 1 night,We found day crossing to St Malo boring.
As previously mentioned Rookesbury park site is only 9 miles from Portsmouth.

 

[Buckman]

Hi,
We normally travel overnight Portsmouth to St Malo but it is becoming too dear (with cabins)so we now travel during the day Portsmouth to Caen staying at Riva Bella (5 minutes from port) for 1 night,We found day crossing to St Malo boring.
As previously mentioned Rookesbury park site is only 9 miles from Portsmouth.

Our first trip we made the mistake of using the St Malo crossing. Can't sleep at night due to engine noise and coming back during day is very boring.
Now use the Portsmouth Caen route and stay at Riva Bella. Much more relaxing, but in future when leaving Portsmouth we will get the 8am ferry instead of the 3pm ferry which arrives at about 9pm at Caen..

 

[Peterh590]

Always stay in the ferry port.

 

[Alanbrooke]

Many thanks for all your replies. We've booked for late February - warmer weather everywhere?! Back after Easter. We've now got plenty of choices of where to stay night before the ferry.

 

[PTA]

If you are still required to fill in a Spanish Visitor Locator Form and send it within 48 hours of arrival in Spain you will need somewhere with decent wifi. We had to use a cafe in Fareham as Rookesbury Park wifi is hopeless.
Just a thought.

 

[Raywood]

We have used the waiting area at the ferry port and a bit noisy but no problem. They even wake you up to let you know when you are needed. Rookesberry Park and Kingfisher if wanting more than a night or coming back and no problems there.

 

[Ukeman]

It may be worth noting that the M27 from the junction with the M3 to the Fareham junction is subject to a 50mph speed limit until the completion of the works to make it a SMART motorway are completed which according to the signs is Spring 2022. If anyone stays at a site in the Southampton direction before a ferry crossing it may be worth factoring this in as it does increase journey time.

 

[bertieboy1]

We stopped there on our way to Alcossbre the first time we crossed over and would not bother again. The next time we stayed in Zaragoza and were able to fuel up not far from the campsite. In both cases the ferry arrived at about 1pm in Santander

W

We stopped there on our way to Alcossbre the first time we crossed over and would not bother again. The next time we stayed in Zaragoza and were able to fuel up not far from the campsite. In both cases the ferry arrived at about 1pm in Santander

where would you stay then?

 

[Buckman]

W

where would you stay then?

Zaragoza.

 

[Scorpy]

You can stay overnight free of charge on Port Solent. It is about 10 minutes from the terminal, or you can park on the BF car park after about 8.30pm.
Once you get into Santander, it is 3 hrs to Haro, 3.5 to Navarette or about 4.5 to Zaragoza all motorway. Bear in mind though you are going through some high ground in Rioja and down to Zaragoza & even in April you may encounter snow & cold nights-definitely in January. If you stay overnight in Haro, make sure you have some food with you as most restaurants don't open until about 8pm at earliest there!
Have fun
Mike

 

[otherclive]

It may be worth noting that the M27 from the junction with the M3 to the Fareham junction is subject to a 50mph speed limit until the completion of the works to make it a SMART motorway are completed which according to the signs is Spring 2022. If anyone stays at a site in the Southampton direction before a ferry crossing it may be worth factoring this in as it does increase journey time.

50 mph cf the normal 60 mph makes virtue no difference to that journey time as the distance is relatively short. If you are that concerned set the cruise control at 55 mph.

 

[Alanbrooke]

It's heartening to receive so much help on this. We're still hoping to travel on 22 Feb but will have to watch the COVID variants.
We've travelled Irun-Pamplona-Zaragoza in winter over the years and find the Spanish keep the roads clear in the snow - far better than in UK!
The car park at Port Solent looks promising - thanks for the tip.
Alan