The 12 Best Campsites Near St Ives

St Ives is one of the most popular places in the whole of Cornwall for holidaymakers and second-homers, with beautiful beaches, famous surfing spots, a range of exceptional places to eat and plenty of little artsy shops and galleries. One of the best options for those who want to enjoy these attractions but can’t find accommodation in the small town is to camp nearby, which is why we’ve rounded up our top picks for 12 of the best campsites near St Ives.

Ayr Holiday Park is the only campsite that is actually in St Ives, so is your best option if you want to pitch your tent as close to the town as possible. It’s also one of the most popular campsites in Cornwall for this very reason, so you’ll have to book your spot well in advance if you’re hoping to stay here.

This campsite is well equipped for all kinds of holiday parties, with spaces for tents, motorhomes and caravans all overlooking the sea. Onsite facilities include a modern shower and toilet block, a laundrette, dishwashing sinks and a games room for families, making this a brilliant campsite for those who are travelling with children.

St Ives itself is only a half-mile walk from the campsite, so you’ll easily be able to reach the beach, shops and local cafes on foot from wherever your tent is pitched. As campsites in the area go, this is the top of most people’s lists for its proximity to the town, exceptional sea views and high-quality campsite facilities.

Polmanter Touring Park is one of the best campsites near St Ives, with five-star ratings and exceptional facilities that include an outdoor swimming pool, onsite restaurant, games room and indoor play area.

If you’re camping in Cornwall with a family then Polmanter Touring Park is an excellent option because of the range of activities for children that are available across the site and the inclusion of family shower blocks. As well as traditional tent pitches, you also have the option to book a spot with electricity, water drainage and a tv socket, or the park also has a couple of self-catering options if you really don’t want to camp.

You can also book a stay in the nearby Ivy Cottage if you fancy a roof over your head for a couple of nights.

This campsite is only a 5-minute drive from St Ives, or you can walk an easy route across the fields that is less than 2 miles altogether. It’s the perfect option for anyone who wants to camp near St Ives without having to compromise on modern amenities and likes to have lots of options for entertainment and activities right onsite.

If you’re looking for the best St Ives campsites by the sea, look no further than Trevalgan Touring Park. This is another of the highest-rated places to camp near St Ives thanks to its brilliant, modern facilities and proximity to the town.

Trevalgan Touring Park is a great place for families, with a children’s play area on site along with a games room and family shower rooms. There is a range of different pitches available, from basic camping spots to fully serviced pitches that come with their own freshwater tap and electricity point.

The campsite is only two miles from St Ives, with numerous walking routes down to the town as well as a regular bus service that runs from the site during the peak holiday season. It’s a small but beautiful spot with sea views and gorgeous coastal countryside wherever else you look, and is one of the best options for those camping in St Ives.

St Ives Bay Holiday Park is a large site found overlooking St Ives Bay, just a few miles from the town itself. This is a great place to camp for those who might be holidaying with other families or groups who may prefer a self-catering option to staying in a tent, as there are also caravan, camping pods and chalet accommodation options available.

The highlight of the St Ives Bay Holiday Park is that it offers direct access to a beautiful golden sandy beach that stretches out for three miles, providing plenty of room for all the guests wanting to enjoy the coast. There is a huge range of things to do onsite as well as excellent washing and eating facilities, including a heated indoor pool, amusement arcades, multiple bars and a playground.

If you’re used to roughing it a little whilst camping then this might not be the site for you, but it’s a fantastic place to camp near St Ives for those with children or those who don’t want to compromise on comforts whilst they’re away. The town itself can be reached by car or on foot, and it’s a great place to base yourself if you’re looking to explore this whole area of Cornwall during your holiday.  

Gwithian Farm Campsite is found on the other side of St Ives Bay from the town of St Ives itself and is a small, family-run site that is very close to the coast. Located in the fields behind a classic, thatched farmhouse, there is a path straight down to Gwithian Towans beach from the campsite which is an excellent spot for surfing and tends to be relatively empty even during the summer months.

The site itself is suitable for tents, campervans and caravans, both of which have the option of an electric hook-up point. Facilities are a little more basic than some of the larger campsites nearby, but a bonus of this spot is that pets are welcome which is ideal for those who want to bring dogs on holiday with them.

Gwithian village, where the campsite is found, is only four miles from St Ives and it is only a short car journey between the two locations. This campsite is a great option for families, couples or individuals who are experienced campers and want a quiet spot from which they can explore Cornwall and easily visit St Ives.

If you want to stay in this picturesque village but would prefer not to camp, you can stay in the four-bedroom Towennan apartment, which is right next to the campsite.

Located only a mile out of the town, Hellesveor Holidays is a very popular location for camping in St Ives. This campsite is family run and located right in the Cornish countryside, so it’s a very safe and peaceful place to stay.

Hellesveor Holidays has modern toilet and shower facilities, as well as a family shower room available for those who are staying with younger children. There are grass and hardstanding pitches suitable for tents, caravans or campervans, and 25 electric hook-up points available as well. 

Not only does this campsite have an excellent range of pitches, but there are also a holiday cottage and self-catering cabin available. St Ives is an easy walking distance from the campsite via the South West Coastal Path, or it is possible to catch a bus straight to the town from the end of the lane the campsite is found on.

Balnoon is one of the oldest established camping and caravan sites near St Ives, and has been welcoming holidaymakers for over 50 years. It’s the perfect place for those who enjoy traditional camping and want to enjoy the Cornish coast from a peaceful, friendly base.

Facilities at Balnoon Camping Site are slightly limited, with toilets and coin-operated showers along with an area for washing up. The campsite has room for tents, caravans and motorhomes, several electric hook-up points are available, and dogs are welcome on the site as long as they are kept on a lead.

Close by to Balnooon campsite, visitors to St Ives also have the option of staying in a colourful converted campervan known as Lily, who sleeps up to two guests.

St Ives is only 2 miles away from Balnoon and can be reached either by car or on foot. The campsite is right in the middle of the countryside and views of the sea are never too far away, so it’s an ideal spot for those who like peace and quiet surrounding their tent.

Lower Penderleath Farm Campsite is open from May to September every year and is found on the coast right between St Ives and the town of Penzance. The site is located in the grounds of a hostel, providing an alternate accommodation option for parties with guests who might not want to camp every night. 

This St Ives campsite is only suitable for tents and small campervans and has a 10 pm noise curfew that makes it a spot favoured by families with small children. There is a shower and toilet block available for campsite users and BBQs or small fire bowls are allowed as long as they are not left unsupervised.

Lower Penderleath Farm hostel and campsite are a great place to base yourself if you’re hoping to visit St Ives and other nearby attractions, as its position puts you only a few miles from a wide range of towns and villages. We also recommend The Countryman bed and breakfast if you’re looking for holiday accommodation more suitable for the colder months, with rooms that sleep up to four guests.

In contrast to its lower neighbouring campsite, Higher Penderleath Caravan and Camping Park is a large site spread across four fields that is suitable for a wide range of camping parties. An area of this campsite is adults-only during the summer months, making it a great place for groups of couples or friends wanting to enjoy this area of Cornwall.

Higher Penderleath Caravan and Camping Park has pitches suitable for tents, touring caravans and motorhomes, with serviced spots available where campers can hook up to electricity. The range of facilities is excellent, with converted barns housing toilets and showers, games and TV rooms, a bar and a shop.

This campsite is right in the middle of the countryside, with St Ives only a couple of miles away and easily reachable by car or a long walk through the hills. It’s a popular choice for parties of younger campers because of the range of amenities on-site and is in an ideal position to explore other nearby attractions like Penzance. 

Mount Douglas Farm Campsite is one of the best St Ives campsites near a beach, located only minutes away from the golden sands of Carbis Bay. It’s a small site that is only open in July and August, but an excellent spot for summer trips to Cornwall to enjoy the nearby beaches and towns.

If you want to stay in the area the rest of the year, Trehan holiday home is just across the road from the campsite and sleeps up to four guests.

This campsite has pitches available for caravans, campervans and tents, with many eclectic hook-ups available if you need them. There are shower and toilet facilities as well as a washing up area and fridges and freezers available for guests to store their food. Fire Pits are also supplied for any guests who want to use them, which is a nice touch unique to this campsite.

St Ives is only a couple of miles away from Mount Douglas Farm Campsite, and there is a bus that goes into the town that runs every 15 minutes and picks up travellers from the end of the road that the campsite is on. Suitable for families, solo travellers and groups of friends, it’s a spot that fills up quickly so be sure to book in advance!

If you’re after glamping near St Ives for your next holiday then look no further than Wildflower Wood at Beersheba Farm, which is the best spot in the whole area for camping with a glamorous twist. Three eco-glamping pods are found in a beautiful woodland area, providing a comfortable experience of staying in the great outdoors on the coast of Cornwall.

Each glamping pod sleeps four adults with room for one extra child and has lighting and electricity, along with a washroom in the pod and separate private shower. There are outdoor cooking facilities provided and fire pits that are ideal for toasting marshmallows and sitting around on long, warm summer nights.

Beersheba Farm is around 2 miles away from St Ives, which can be reached by car or by bus on the nearby route. It is also very close to the beautiful Carbis Bay, offering an excellent surfing beach and stunning views of the sea. 

Treglisson Touring Park is one of the more rural options for campsites near St Ives, but is a meticulously looked after site that has excellent basic facilities. Found just outside of the town of Hayle which is close to St Ives Bay, it’s a quiet spot that is perfect for families and nature lovers in particular. 

There are 6 hardstanding pitches available at Treglisson and over 20 grassy spots that are suitable for tents, campervans and caravans, and in the summer months, a nearby field is also opened up to accommodate 8 more camping parties. Facilities include a modern shower and toilet block, washing facilities, a pantry for storing food and free wifi for the guests, which is a bonus you won’t find in many local campsites.

You can also stay in camping pods at Treglisson, which provide more comfort and shelter than a tent but still let you feel like you’re sleeping surrounded by nature.

St Ives is an easy drive from the town of Hayle, or there are public transport links that make it easy to travel between the two locations.

For more information about camping and campsites in the UK, you can read our guides to Wild Camping in Scotland, The Best Campsites By Canals in the UK and The Best Wild Camping Spots in the Lake District.