You visit the same park regularly
If you have a favourite park you return to several times a year, keeping your van there between visits removes the hassle of towing it back and forth each time.
What is store and stay, and is it right for you?
If you’ve spent any time researching caravan parks, you may have come across store and stay caravan sites without being entirely sure what the arrangement means or whether it applies to you. It sounds niche until you understand it, at which point it starts to make a lot of sense for a particular type of tourer.
This post explains how store and stay works in practice, what it typically costs, and the questions worth asking before you commit.
What does store and stay mean?
Store and stay is an arrangement offered by some touring parks where you leave your caravan or motorhome on site in secure storage between visits, rather than towing it home after each trip. When you want to use it, you travel to the park, pitch up, and stay for as long as you like. When you leave, the van stays behind rather than coming with you.
The “store” part covers the secure off-pitch storage of your unit between visits. The “stay” part covers your actual holidays at the park, usually on a standard pitch booking. Some parks combine both elements into a single arrangement; others charge for storage and pitching separately.
Who is it for?
Store and stay suits tourers in a specific set of circumstances. It tends to work particularly well if:
You don't enjoy towing
Towing a caravan, particularly a larger one, isn't for everyone. If the journey to and from a park is the part you enjoy least, store and stay turns every trip into a simple drive to collect your keys.
You don't have suitable storage at home
Not everyone has a driveway or off-road space large enough for a touring caravan or motorhome. Secure on-site storage solves that problem and often provides better security than leaving a van on a residential street.
You want to travel lighter
Some tourers use store and stay as a way of arriving at a park by car and leaving the logistics of towing entirely behind. The van is already there, already set up, and the holiday starts the moment you arrive.
You tour frequently
If you're visiting a park six, eight, or ten times a year, the time and fuel saved by not towing twice per trip adds up considerably.
How does it work in practice?
The exact arrangement varies between parks, but the typical model works as follows. You pay a storage fee, usually annually or seasonally, to keep your unit in a designated secure storage area at the park. When you want to stay, you book a pitch in the normal way and move your van from storage to your pitch yourself, or with help from the park team. At the end of your stay, the van goes back into storage rather than onto the road.
Some parks offer a more premium version of this where the team moves the van to your pitch before you arrive and returns it to storage when you leave. This varies by park and is worth asking about specifically.
What does it cost?
Storage fees vary considerably depending on the park’s location, the level of security provided, and whether additional services such as van checks, cleaning, or maintenance are included. Some parks charge a flat annual fee; others charge by the season or per month.
The key thing to understand is that the storage fee is separate from your pitch fees. You pay to store the van, and you also pay to use a pitch when you stay. For frequent visitors to a single park, this combined cost often works out comparable to or less than the equivalent number of nights elsewhere, once you factor in the savings on fuel and the value of not towing.
For general guidance on caravan security and storage standards, the Caravan and Motorhome Club is a useful reference.
What to ask a park before you commit
Before agreeing to a store and stay arrangement, it’s worth getting clear answers to these questions:
What security measures are in place for stored units?
Look for CCTV, perimeter security, and a clear process for access.
Can I move my van to a pitch myself, or does the park team do it?
Either can work, but knowing in advance avoids misunderstandings.
Is storage insured, or do I need my own cover?
Most parks require you to maintain your own caravan insurance. Check what, if anything, the park's liability covers.
Are there restrictions on how often I can stay?
Some storage arrangements come with a minimum or maximum number of nights per year.
What happens if I want to take my van elsewhere for a trip?
Most parks are flexible about this, but it's worth confirming how much notice is required.
Is the storage fee fixed, or can it change year on year?
Ask for the fee history over the last two or three years to understand how it's moved.
Is it the same as a seasonal pitch?
Not quite, though the two are sometimes confused. A seasonal pitch means your van stays on an allocated pitch for the whole season rather than being moved to storage between visits. Store and stay typically involves the van being kept in a separate storage area rather than on a named pitch. Both arrangements suit tourers who want to leave their van at a park, but the day-to-day experience is slightly different. We cover seasonal pitches in more detail on our seasonal pitches page.
Which Tranquil Parks are store and stay caravan sites?
Several Tranquil Parks member sites offer caravan storage alongside their touring facilities. You can find the full list of parks with storage on our caravan storage page, where you can browse and contact parks directly.
If you’re new to the idea and want to understand more about adults-only touring parks generally before deciding whether store and stay is right for you, our guide to adults-only caravan holidays is a good place to start.
Frequently asked questions about store and stay caravan sites
What is the difference between store and stay and a seasonal pitch?
A seasonal pitch means your caravan stays on an allocated pitch for the season, so you arrive and it’s already in position. Store and stay typically means your van is kept in a secure storage area between visits and moved to a pitch when you stay. Both avoid the need to tow to and from home, but the experience on site is slightly different.
Can I take my caravan away from the park if it’s in storage there?
In most cases yes, though you should check the terms with the individual park. Most parks require reasonable notice if you want to take the van off site for a trip elsewhere.
Do I still need caravan insurance if my van is in storage at a park?
Yes. Parks generally require you to maintain your own caravan insurance. The park’s liability for stored units varies, so check what is and isn’t covered before you agree to a storage arrangement.
Is store and stay available for motorhomes as well as caravans?
It depends on the park. Some storage facilities are suitable for motorhomes and campervans as well as touring caravans. Check with the individual park about the size and type of units they can accommodate.
How far in advance do I need to book a pitch when my van is in storage?
This varies by park and by season. In peak summer months, pitches at popular parks book up well in advance even for storage customers. It’s worth discussing pitch booking arrangements with the park before you commit to storage.
Are store and stay caravan sites adults-only?
All Tranquil Parks member sites that offer storage are exclusively adults-only, which means the touring and storage environment is shared only with other adult guests. This is one of the reasons many tourers find the arrangement particularly appealing.