Free camping near Basildon
In the Basildon area of Essex there is a lorry park well sign posted if you head in the Southend direction from town centre. It is in an area called Burnt Oaks. The sign says only overnight sleeping in specially converted lorries for the purpose. Have had no trouble staying there.
Free camping in Maidstone Services (M20)
You can stop at the Maidstone Services on the M20. They are several dedicated Motorhome parking bays. A £6 fee applies. There are shops, toilets and showers.
Free camping in Whitstable
Marine Crescent, a dead end road by the shore just pull up and park up, no charge.
Free camping in Canterbury
- The Kingsmead coach park is open to motorhomes. On payment of a £5 fee, all day parking is allowed, and there is access to toilet waste disposal facilities – at road level so that onboard tanks can be emptied, and fresh water for refilling tanks. Overnight parking is not permitted.
- The Dover Road Park & Ride facility, about 1 mile from Canterbury city centre along the A2, has dedicated spaces for motorhomes, the charge is £2 per day and includes bus fare. Water is available and there is a ground level dump station for black & gray waste (free on payment of parking fee). Overnight parking of motorhomes is allowed at 2x day daily rate. 24 large parking bays.
- Canterbury offers drivers of motor caravans the facility to use the Coach Park in Kingsmead Road at £10 for 12 hours (7am – 7pm) including free use of a toilet drop and fresh water supply. No overnighting
- Overnighting before Dover, past Canterbury on the A2 for about 2 miles. Look for a garage and campsite on your left-hand side and pull in. This also leads to a large layby. Have overnighted there many times HOWEVER, some lorries overnight there, and some have freezer engines running all night.
Free camping in Tankerton
Past Whitstable at Tankerton there is a beach with all the beach huts on. The road that is just behind the beach huts is usually empty after 9 p.m. when the beach hut owners go home. There are usually a couple of camper vans parked overnight.
Free camping in Braintree
Lorry park at Springwood Industrial estate. Free, no height barrier, floodlit, not used by many truckers since by-pass opened. 20 minutes walk to town centre. 5 minutes walk to all night garage with shop.
Free camping in Halstead
In the centre of town is a car park (no height barriers at time of writing) suitable for a stopover. Pub and Cafe’ opposite and garage 1 minute walk offering usual newspapers groceries etc. Not sure of overnight charges if any. Check signs for By-laws and charges.
Free camping in Halstead
On approach from Braintree on A131 take first available right into OAK road. If you pass turning named White Horse Avenue you have passed the turning so turn around. Once in Oak Road on left-hand side just a few yards in is grassy area. Ideal for a quick overnight. Garage within 10 mins walk down the hill. Walk toward large oak tree and continue straight across grass areas. Telephone box also on Grass Area.
Free camping in Dovercourt (near Harwich)
There are several car parks on the coastal road. One is “Award Beach” parking. (pay & display).
