The Best Campsites in Dorset: 15 Top-Rated Sites

Dorset is one of the most rewarding counties in England for camping, with fossil beaches, chalk cliffs and sheltered coves along the Jurassic Coast and quiet farm sites in the green valleys behind it. We list over 230 campsites across the county, including more than 90 that welcome dogs and over 70 with glamping. These 15 are among the best rated, grouped by the kind of trip they suit.

Camping in Dorset: west, Purbeck or inland?

Dorset's coast is part of the Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site. In the west, Lyme Regis and Charmouth are famous for fossil hunting, with Golden Cap and the Marshwood Vale behind them. In the middle, Chesil Beach, Weymouth and the rock arch of Durdle Door and Lulworth Cove draw big summer crowds. To the east, the Isle of Purbeck has Corfe Castle, the Swanage steam railway and the chalk stacks of Old Harry Rocks, while inland the chalk downs and Cranborne Chase are far quieter.

Best for families

Riverside Lakes, near Horton

Riverside Lakes in east Dorset is rated 5.0 from over 190 Google reviews and takes every type of unit including glamping, with hook-ups, Wi-Fi, campfires and dogs welcome. It is a handy base for Poole and Bournemouth.

Hobby Farm Holidays, near Charmouth

Hobby Farm Holidays at Whitchurch Canonicorum is rated 4.9 from over 220 reviews and covers tents, tourers and glamping, with hook-ups, Wi-Fi, campfires and dogs welcome. The fossil beaches of Charmouth are a short drive away.

Pineapple Farm and Downshay Farm

Pineapple Farm Holidays near Bridport is rated 4.8 from over 340 reviews, with hook-ups, Wi-Fi, campfires and dogs welcome. In Purbeck, Downshay Farm near Swanage takes every type of unit including glamping, is dog-friendly with hook-ups and allows campfires, rated 4.8 from over 200 reviews. Our family staycations guide has more ideas.

Best for West Dorset and the Jurassic Coast

Pilsdon View Camping near Bridport has tent and motorhome pitches plus glamping, hook-ups, campfires and its own bar and restaurant, rated 4.9. Old Bidlake Farm is a small, peaceful site in the Marshwood Vale for tents and motorhomes, with campfires allowed, rated 4.9 from over 100 reviews. Above Lyme Regis, Penn Farm Camping and Caravanning is a working farm site that welcomes dogs and has hook-ups, and Washingpool Farm Caravan Site near Bridport is dog-friendly with hook-ups and Wi-Fi, rated 4.9.

Best for Purbeck and Weymouth

The Railway Campsite is a back-to-basics site beside the Swanage steam railway, taking tents, caravans and motorhomes, with dogs and campfires allowed. Snelling Farm Campsite near Wareham is a tent and motorhome site rated 4.8 from over 160 reviews, well placed for exploring Purbeck. Near Weymouth, Buckland Campsite at Buckland Ripers has tent and motorhome pitches plus glamping, with hook-ups, Wi-Fi, campfires and dogs welcome. For castle days out, see our historic staycations guide.

Best for glamping

Caalm Camp is a small yurt site in the Dorset countryside, rated 4.9, with Wi-Fi. Coppet Hill near Bridport is another 4.9-rated site with tent pitches, glamping, campfires and Wi-Fi. In north Dorset, Stock Gaylard Yurts is a dog-friendly glamping site close to Cranborne Chase, rated 4.8. If you are new to it, read our guide to glamping for first-timers.

Best for caravans and motorhomes

Dorset Springs Certificated Location near Wimborne is a members' site with hook-ups that welcomes dogs, and takes tents, caravans and motorhomes. It is a quiet option for exploring east Dorset and Cranborne Chase.

Where to base yourself

Lyme Regis, Charmouth and Bridport are the bases for fossil hunting and West Dorset. Dorchester is central for Weymouth, Chesil Beach and Lulworth. Wareham and Swanage cover Purbeck, while Poole and Bournemouth give you long sandy beaches and more to do on a wet day. Browse every site on our Dorset campsites page.

Practical tips for camping in Dorset

Book early for the summer holidays. Sites near Lulworth, Swanage and Lyme Regis fill quickly, and roads into Purbeck can be slow on hot weekends. Early summer and September are calmer.

Stay safe on the cliffs. The Jurassic Coast cliffs are unstable and rockfalls are common. Keep away from the cliff base and edges, and check tide times before fossil hunting.

Choose your pitch. Many Dorset farm sites are on sloping fields, so ask for a level pitch if you have a caravan or motorhome. Bringing a dog? See our dog-friendly staycations guide.