Great North Run Camping: Campsites near South Shields and Newcastle

The Great North Run is the largest half marathon in the world, with around 60,000 runners each September. It starts in Newcastle, crosses the Tyne Bridge, runs through Gateshead and finishes on the seafront at South Shields. Hotel rooms on Tyneside sell out for that weekend and prices rise sharply, so camping or bringing a motorhome is a practical alternative for runners and supporters. This guide covers the sites nearest the finish, the ones on the north side of the river, and quieter options further out. The full list is on our South Shields camping page.

Start in Newcastle, finish in South Shields

The point-to-point course shapes where to stay. Staying near the finish means an easy end to the day but an early trip into Newcastle that morning, when the Metro is at its busiest. Staying north of the Tyne puts you closer to the start, with the journey back from South Shields to face afterwards; the Metro and the Shields Ferry both carry heavy crowds for several hours after the race. Roads along the route close on race day, so check the event's own travel pages before deciding whether to move a vehicle at all.

Closest to the finish line

Sandhaven Holiday Park is on the South Shields seafront, about a mile from the finish. It takes caravans and motorhomes on hardstanding pitches with electric hook-ups and is rated 4.5 from over 270 Google reviews. Lizard Lane Holiday Park, a little further along the coast towards Marsden, has sea views and direct access to the coast path, and is rated 4.7. Both are the first to fill for race weekend.

North of the Tyne

Whitley Bay Holiday Park is a large holiday park with a swimming pool, rated 4.2 from over 2,500 reviews. Old Hartley Caravan and Motorhome Club Site sits on the cliff top above St Mary's Island, takes caravans and motorhomes, has electric hook-ups and welcomes dogs; it is rated 4.6. Both are within reach of the Metro's coast loop for the trip to the start.

Further out

South of the Tyne, Sharpley Camping takes tents and motorhomes and has glamping, rated 4.8, and Stampley Moss Farm near Gateshead offers the same mix with a 4.9 rating. In the Derwent valley, Derwent Park Caravan and Camping Site at Rowlands Gill takes tents, caravans and motorhomes and accepts dogs. Towards Durham, Finchale Abbey Touring Park is an adults-only park beside the priory ruins with its own bar, and Beamish Holiday Park is close to the open-air museum. For glamping, West Wood Glamping has yurts and is rated 4.8.

What to check before booking

Tents. The two sites nearest the finish are for caravans and motorhomes; if you are bringing a tent, look at the sites further out. Minimum stays. Many parks ask for two or three nights over race weekend. Getting to the start. Work out the journey on the Sunday morning before booking, not after. Late departure. Tired legs and closed roads make a Monday checkout worth paying for.

Staying on after the race

South Shields has long sandy beaches either side of the finish, Tynemouth and Whitley Bay are across the river mouth, and Newcastle and Durham are both easy day trips.

We have similar guides to camping for Silverstone, Glastonbury Festival, Donington Park and Download and Goodwood.