Summer Half Term Motorhome Ideas for Families

Summer half term motorhome holidays for families are one of the best ways to make the most of that precious week off school without the cost and rigidity of a package holiday. The timing - usually late May or early June - catches the weather at its most optimistic, the days at their longest, and the campsites before the full chaos of July and August descends. From Pontefract, you are within striking distance of some genuinely brilliant family destinations, and half term breaks by motorhome give you the freedom to pack up and move on if the rain sets in or the children get restless.

Here are five family motorhome half term trip ideas, each with a recommended campsite, approximate cost, and an honest assessment of what to expect.

1. The Yorkshire Coast - The Easy Win

Drive from Pontefract: 1 hour 15 minutes to Scarborough, 1 hour 45 minutes to Whitby
Best for: All ages, especially younger children
Recommended campsite: Cayton Village Experience Freedom, Scarborough (excellent facilities, playground, short walk to Cayton Bay)

The Yorkshire Coast is the obvious choice for a reason: it is close, it is reliable, and children adore it. Scarborough has two bays, a castle, an aquarium, and enough fish and chip shops to try a different one each day. Robin Hood's Bay is one of the most atmospheric villages in England - park at the top and walk down through the narrow streets to the beach, where rockpooling at low tide keeps children occupied for hours. Whitby offers the abbey ruins, the 199 steps, Captain Cook's monument, and the Magpie Cafe for what many consider the best fish and chips in Yorkshire.

The beauty of doing this trip by motorhome is that you can base yourself at one campsite and day-trip along the coast, or move between two or three sites over the week. Filey is quieter and more old-fashioned than Scarborough - the Brigg at the south end is a natural rock platform that children love clambering over. This half term motorhome holiday with fuel, campsite fees (around £25-35 per night), and activities will come in well under £500 on top of the motorhome hire.

2. The Lake District - The Classic Adventure

Drive from Pontefract: 2 hours 30 minutes
Best for: Active families, ages 5+
Recommended campsite: Park Cliffe Camping and Caravan Estate, Windermere (lakeside access, well maintained, stunning views)

The Lake District is the quintessential British family holiday. From Pontefract, you are there in about two and a half hours via the M62 and M6 - a comfortable morning drive. Park Cliffe sits above the southern end of Windermere with direct access to the shore, and it is a brilliant base for exploring the central and southern lakes.

Windermere itself offers boat cruises, the Aquarium of the Lakes, and the World of Beatrix Potter. Ambleside and Grasmere are the starting points for walks suited to all abilities - the circuit around Grasmere lake is flat, beautiful, and manageable for children as young as four or five. Grizedale Forest has a Go Ape course and mountain bike trails for older children. For a memorable day out, take the Windermere Lake Cruise from Bowness to Ambleside and walk back through Stagshaw Gardens.

Expect campsite fees of around £30-40 per night in half term. Budget roughly £600-700 for the week including fuel, camping, and a few paid activities. The Lake District does get busy during school holidays, so booking your campsite in advance is strongly recommended.

3. The Northumberland Coast - The Quiet One

Drive from Pontefract: 2 hours to Alnwick, 2 hours 30 minutes to Bamburgh
Best for: Families who prefer space and quiet, all ages
Recommended campsite: Waren Caravan and Camping Park, Bamburgh (ten-minute walk to Budle Bay, close to Bamburgh Castle)

If you want beaches without crowds, Northumberland is the answer. The coastline between Amble and Berwick-upon-Tweed is designated an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, and it shows. Bamburgh Beach stretches for miles beneath the castle - genuinely one of the finest beaches in England, and even in half term you can find space. Holy Island (Lindisfarne) is accessible at low tide via the causeway - check the crossing times carefully and allow plenty of margin either side.

Alnwick Castle is the family highlight: home to Harry Potter filming locations, a Poison Garden that fascinates children of all ages, and the adjacent Alnwick Garden with its Grand Cascade water feature and treehouse restaurant. Seahouses is the departure point for boat trips to the Farne Islands to see puffins, seals, and seabird colonies - one of the best wildlife experiences in England.

Northumberland is noticeably less crowded than the Lake District or Cornwall during half term. Campsite fees are typically lower too - around £22-30 per night. A week here is achievable for £500-600 all in.

4. Devon - The Long Weekend Option

Drive from Pontefract: 4 hours 30 minutes to North Devon, 5 hours to South Devon
Best for: Families happy with a longer drive, ages 3+
Recommended campsite: Stowford Farm Meadows, Combe Martin, North Devon (spacious site, indoor pool, easy access to Exmoor and coast)

Devon is a longer drive from Yorkshire - comfortably four and a half hours to the north coast - but it rewards the effort. North Devon in particular has a character entirely different from Yorkshire: rolling green hills dropping to dramatic cliffs, surf beaches like Croyde and Woolacombe, and Exmoor National Park on the doorstep. Combe Martin sits at the western end of the Exmoor coast and Stowford Farm Meadows is a large, well-equipped site that suits families well.

South Devon offers a softer landscape: the Dart Valley, Salcombe's sheltered estuary, and the family-friendly beaches around Torbay. Dartmouth is one of the most attractive small towns in England. The South West Coast Path provides coastal walking for all abilities, and the steam railway from Paignton to Kingswear is a hit with children.

Budget around £700-800 for a week once fuel costs for the longer journey are factored in. Consider driving down on Friday afternoon/evening and returning the following Sunday to maximise your time in Devon.

5. The North York Moors and Dalby Forest - The One on the Doorstep

Drive from Pontefract: 1 hour 15 minutes to Pickering, 1 hour 30 minutes to Dalby Forest
Best for: Active families, cycling families, ages 4+
Recommended campsite: Spiers House, Dalby Forest (basic but beautifully positioned in the forest, mountain bike trails from the door)

Sometimes the best trips are the ones closest to home. The North York Moors are barely an hour from Pontefract, and Dalby Forest - England's largest lowland forest - is a paradise for families who like to be active. Mountain bike trails range from gentle green-graded routes suited to children on balance bikes to serious red routes for experienced riders. Walking trails thread through the forest, and the Go Ape course provides high-adrenaline entertainment for older children and teenagers.

Combine Dalby Forest with a ride on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway from Pickering to Whitby - one of the most scenic heritage railway journeys in the country, passing through Goathland (Hogsmeade in Harry Potter) and dropping down to Whitby harbour. The moors themselves offer space, silence, and heather-covered horizons that feel a world away from the daily routine.

This is the budget option: campsite fees around £18-25 per night, minimal fuel costs, and plenty of free outdoor activities. A week here can be done for £350-450 on top of hire.

Half Term Booking Tips

The single most important piece of advice for any half term motorhome holiday: book early. Motorhomes, campsites, and popular activity slots all fill up quickly during school holidays. If you are reading this with half term more than eight weeks away, you are in good shape. Inside four weeks, you may find your first-choice campsite or family motorhome already taken.

Pack for all weathers - British half term can deliver sunshine and snow in the same week. Waterproofs, wellies, sun cream, and layers are the standard kit. And plan one or two indoor backup activities for each destination in case the weather turns properly wet. Every area mentioned above has options that work in rain. For more, see our keeping kids entertained.