St Ives Caravan Parks and Holiday Parks
St Ives Caravan Parks and Holiday Parks
Caravan parks in St Ives are usually found around the wider St Ives Bay area rather than in the middle of the town. That matters because the best choice depends on whether you want beach access, easier parking, family facilities, a lodge resort or a base for visiting St Ives without staying in the busiest streets, you can also view our full Cornwall caravan parks listings here for more holiday parks to choose from in Cornwall.
Holiday parks near St Ives are spread across Carbis Bay, Lelant, Lelant Downs, Hayle Towans and the coast towards Gwithian. Staying closer to St Ives gives better access to the harbour, Tate St Ives, Porthmeor Beach and Porthminster Beach. Staying around Hayle Towans or Gwithian gives more space, longer beaches and easier access to the dunes along St Ives Bay.
For caravan holidays in St Ives, check the location carefully. Some parks have direct beach access through the dunes, some are better for lodges and spa facilities and others work as family bases where a car is needed for most trips into St Ives, Carbis Bay or Hayle.
How to choose a caravan park near St Ives
Choose a park around Hayle Towans if beach access and space matter most. This side of St Ives Bay is better for long sandy beaches, dunes and family beach days, with Hayle close by for supermarkets and practical facilities.
Choose Carbis Bay if you want a smarter lodge style stay close to St Ives, with easier access to the beach, restaurants and the branch line into town. This works well if you want to visit St Ives often but do not want to deal with town centre parking every day.
Choose Lelant or Lelant Downs if you want a larger holiday park setting, woodland surroundings and family facilities. These parks are usually more practical by car, but they can make sense for visitors who want indoor pools, entertainment and more space than central St Ives can offer.
The common mistake is assuming a St Ives caravan park means a park in the town itself. In reality, many of the strongest options are just outside St Ives because the town is compact, busy and difficult for larger holiday park layouts.
Things to do near St Ives caravan parks
St Ives is strongest when you use the whole bay, not just the town centre. Porthmeor Beach is the main surf beach and sits beside Tate St Ives, while Porthminster Beach is more sheltered and works better for swimming, food and views back across the bay. Harbour Beach and Porthgwidden Beach are smaller, central beaches that suit shorter visits rather than full beach days.
Carbis Bay is useful for calmer water, beach restaurants and easier access into St Ives by road or rail. Lelant and Hayle are more practical for day to day supplies, while Hayle Towans, Gwithian and Godrevy give you the longer, more open beach scenery that many families expect from this part of Cornwall.
The art side of St Ives is still a major reason to stay nearby. Tate St Ives, the Barbara Hepworth Museum and the smaller galleries around the harbour make the town very different from Cornwall’s more traditional seaside resorts. The trade off is that St Ives gets busy, so staying just outside the town can be a better option for caravan holidays.
3 results based on your search.
Best for: Families wanting a large coastal park with direct access to a long sandy beach.
Accommodation Types: Caravans, lodges, chalets, touring and camping pitches.
Highlights: Direct beach access, indoor pool, crazy golf, surf school, arcade, restaurant and bar.
St Ives Bay Holiday Park is set above Hayle Towans with direct access onto the beach through the dunes, typically a 5 to 10 minute walk depending on where you are staying. The park is large, with accommodation set across the dunes rather than flat rows, so the distance to the beach and main facilities varies depending on where you stay.
Hayle Towans stretches for around 3 miles along St Ives Bay, with wide sand and shallow water. Hayle is about 1 mile away with supermarkets and shops, while St Ives is around 20 minutes by car. The size of the park means some areas are a longer walk to the beach, but access is more gradual than steeper clifftop parks nearby.
Why it’s a top pick: A large beach focused park on Hayle Towans, with dune access to the sand, an indoor pool, surf school and touring options.
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Best for: Families wanting a large woodland park close to St Ives with on site facilities.
Accommodation Types: Caravans, lodges and chalets.
Highlights: Around 100 acre woodland site, indoor heated pool, entertainment venue, arcade, restaurant and bar, play areas.
St Ives Holiday Village is set in woodland at Lelant Downs, around 3 miles from St Ives, with accommodation spread across a large, hilly site with winding roads rather than open plots. The park includes an indoor heated pool, clubhouse with entertainment, arcade and family facilities, giving it a more traditional family holiday park feel than the beach based parks around the bay.
St Ives is around a 10 minute drive, with beaches including Porthminster and Porthmeor, while Carbis Bay is slightly closer at around 2.5 miles. The site is not a beachside park, so a car is useful for most beach days and trips into St Ives, although the St Erth to St Ives branch line runs nearby.
Why it’s a top pick: A large woodland park with indoor pool and entertainment, set 3 miles from St Ives and close to the north coast beaches.
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Best for: Couples and families wanting a modern lodge resort with spa facilities near St Ives.
Accommodation Types: Contemporary lodges and apartments, many with hot tubs, terraces and modern interiors.
Highlights: Outdoor lido, indoor pool, spa and wellness centre, gym, on site restaurant, design-led accommodation.
Una St Ives Lodges is set at Carbis Bay just outside St Ives, built as a modern resort with architect-designed lodges and apartments rather than a traditional holiday park layout. The site centres around its leisure complex, including an outdoor lido, indoor pool, spa and gym, with a focus on high-spec accommodation and on site facilities.
Carbis Bay Beach is around 1 mile away, with a sheltered sandy beach and calm water, while St Ives is about 1.5 miles away, typically a 5 to 10 minute drive or a short train journey from nearby St Erth. Restaurants in Carbis Bay and St Ives include Porthminster Beach Café and The Rum and Crab Shack, both within easy reach.
Why it’s a top pick: A modern lodge resort near Carbis Bay, with spa facilities, an outdoor lido and good access towards St Ives.
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