One of the best things about owning a caravan is the freedom it gives you. How else could you travel the length and breadth of the country, across Europe and further overseas with your very own accommodation? With thousands of caravan parks and sites located all over the UK, the holiday possibilities are almost endless. The only limitation is the distance you can cover in one day.
Due to tiredness, it is not advisable to drive long distances in one go. Regardless of whether you are towing or not, extended periods of driving and the resulting tiredness can significantly increase your risk of being involved in an accident. It is safe to assume that most of us would rather stop overnight than risk a serious accident, but sometimes the nearest site is miles out of your way. What would you do if you were trying to complete a long journey in the most efficient way possible but really needed to make an overnight stop?
You may not have realised it yet, but many motorway services areas allow caravans to halt overnight for a reasonable charge. Due to their location, the halting areas in the services require minimal detours and will add very little distance to your total journey, which is a definite plus when you’re driving from one end of the UK to the other. Various regulations apply to staying at a service area overnight; for example, the use of gas inside a caravan is forbidden due to fire regulations.
The main motorway services operators are Moto Services, Welcome Break and Road Chef. For the charges and regulations specific to the service area you intend to rest at, contact the operator directly before you travel.
Motorway Service Areas with Night Halt Permission
M1 (between junction 4 & 5). Welcome Break Service Area, Mill Hill (02089 060611)
M1 (between junction 11 & 12). Moto Service Area, Toddington (01525 878400)
M1 (between junction 14 & 15). Welcome Break Service Area, Newport Pagnell (01908 217722)
M1 (junction 15a). Roadchef Service Area, Northampton (01604 831888)
M1 (between junction 16 & 17). Roadchef Service Area, Watford Gap (01327 879001)
M1 (between junction 21 & 22). Welcome Break Service Area, Leicester Forest East (0116 2386801)
M1 (junction 23a). Moto Service Area, Leicester (01530 244777)
M1 (between junction 25 & 26). Moto Service Area, Trowell, Nottingham (01159 320291)
M1 (between junction 28 & 29). Roadchef Service Area, Tibshelf, Derby, (01773 876600)
M1 (between junction 30 & 31). Welcome Break Service Area, Woodall, Sheffield (0114 2486434)
M1 (between junction 38 & 39). Moto Service Area, Woolley Edge, Bretton (01924 830371)
M11 (just off junction 8) Welcome Break Service Area, Birchanger Green (01279 653388)
A1(M) at Blyth. (Notts). Moto Service Area, Blyth (01909 591841)
A1(M) at Scotch Corner. Moto Service Area, Scotch Corner (01325 377719)
A1(M) junction 46. Moto Service Area, Wetherby (01937 545080)
A1(M) at Washington. (junction 64). Moto Service Area, Washington (0191 410 3436)
A1(M) at Durham. (junction 61/A17). Roadchef Service Area, Tursdale Road, Bowburn, Durham (0191 377 9222)
M2 (between junction 4 & 5). Moto Service Area, Medway (01634 236900)
M18 (junction 5). Moto Service Area, Doncaster North Services, Hatfield, Doncaster, DN8 5JS (01302 847700)
M20 ( just off junction 8). Roadchef Service Area, Hollingbourne, Maidstone (01622 631100)
M23 (just off junction 11). Moto Service Area, Pease Pottage, Crawley (01293 562852)
M25 (between junction 5 & 6). Roadchef Service Area, Clackett Lane (01959 565577)
M25 (just off junction 23)/A1(M). Welcome Break Service Area, South Mimms, Potters Bar (01707 631001)
M25 (between junctions 30/31). Moto Service Area, Thurrock (01708 865487)
M27 (between junction 3 & 4). Roadchef Service Area, Rownhams (02380 734480)
M3 (between junction 4a & 5). Welcome Break Service Area, Fleet (01252 621656)
M3 (between junction 8 & 9). Moto Service Area, Winchester (01962 791140)
M3 (between junction 8 & 9). Moto Service Area, Winchester (01962 791134)
M4 (between 2 & 3). Moto Service Area, Heston (0208 580 2152)
M4 (between junction 11 & 12). Moto Service Area, Reading (0118 9566966)
M4 (just off junction 13). Moto Service Area, Newbury (01635 248024)
M4 (between junction 14 & 15). Welcome Break Service Area, Membury (01488 674360)
M4 (between junction 17 & 18). Moto Service Area, Leigh Delamere (01666 837691)
M4 (just off junction 23a). First Motorway Services, Magor, Gwent (01633 881515)
M4 (junction 30). Welcome Break, Cardiff Gate. Cardiffsitedirector@welcomebreak.co.uk
M4 (junction 33). Moto Service Area, Cardiff West, Nr Pontyclun, Mid Glamorgan (02920 891141)
M4 (just off junction 36). Welcome Break, Sarn Park Service Area, (01656 655332)
M4 (junction 47). Moto Service Area, Penllergaer, Swansea West, West Glamorgan (01792 896222)
M4 (just off junction 49). Roadchef Service Area, Pont Abraham, Pontardulais, Swansea (01792 884663)
M42 (junction 2). Welcome Break, Hopwood Park Service Area, Alvechurch, Birmingham (0121 447 4000)
M42 (junction 10)/A5. Moto Service Area, Tamworth (01827 260120)
M40 (junction 8). Welcome Break Service Area, Oxford (01865 877000)
M40 (junction 10). Moto Service Area, Cherwell Valley (01869 346060)
M40 (between junction 12 & 13). Welcome Break Service Area, Warwick (01926 650168)
M48 (junction 1). Moto Service Area, Severn View Services, Aust (01454 632851)
M5 (between junction 3 & 4). Moto Service Area, Frankley (0121 5503131)
M5 (between junction 7 & 8). Roadchef Service Area, Strensham (01684 293004)
M5 (between junction 13 & 14). Welcome Break Service Area, Michaelwood, Lower Wick, Dursley (01454 260631)
M5 ( just off junction 19). Welcome Break Service Area, Gordano (01275 373624)
M5 (between junction 21 & 22). Roadchef Service Area, Sedgemoor (01934 750888)
M5 (between junction 21 & 22). Welcome Break Service Area, Sedgemoor (01934 750730)
M5 (junction 24). Moto Service Area, Huntsworth Business Park, Bridgwater (01278 456800)
M5 (between junction 25 & 26). Roadchef Service Area, Taunton Deane (07950 896646)
M5 (junction 28 ) McDonalds Restaurants Ltd, Cullompton Northbound (01884 38054)
M5 (just off junction 30). Moto Service Area, Exeter (01392 436266)
M54 (junction 4) Welcome Break Service Area, Telford (01952 238400)
M56 (just off junction 14). Roadchef Service Area, Chester (01928 728500)
M6 (between junction 3 & 4). Welcome Break Service Area, Corley (01676 540111)
M6 (between junction 10a & 11). Moto Service Area, Hilton Park (01922 412237)
M6 (between junction 14 & 15). Moto Service Area, Stafford North (01785 811188)
M6 (between junction 14 & 15). Roadchef Service Area, Stafford South (01785 826300)
M6 (between junction 15 & 16). Welcome Break Service Area, Keele (01782 626221)
M6 (between junction 16 & 17). Roadchef Service Area, Sandbach (0791 048002)
M6 (between junction 27 & 28). Welcome Break Service Area, Charnock Richard (01257 791494)
M6 (between junction 32 & 33). Moto Service Area, Lancaster (01524 791775)
M6 (between junction 35 & 36). Moto Service Area, Burton in Kendal (01524 781234)
M6 (between junction 36 & 37). Roadchef Service Area, Killington Lake (01539 620739
M6 (between junction 38 & 39). Westmorland Service Area, Tebay (01539 624511)
M6 (between junction 41 & 42). Moto Service Area, Southwaite (01697 4747000)
M6 Toll (between junction T6 & T7). Roadchef Service Area, Norton Canes (07776 408987)
M61 (between junction 6 & 8 ). First Motorway Services, Bolton West (01204 468641)
M62 (between junction 8 & 9). Welcome Break Service Area, Warrington, Burtonwood (01925 651656)
M62 (between junction 18 & 19). Moto Service Area, Birch (0161 643 0911)
M62 (between junction 25 & 26). Welcome Break Service Area, Hartshead Moor (01274 876584)
M62 (junction 33)/A1. Moto Service Area, Ferrybridge (01977 672767)
M74 (between junction 4 & 5). Roadchef Motorways Service Area, Bothwell (01698 854123)
M74 (between junction 5 & 6). Roadchef Service Area, Hamilton (01698 282176)
M74 (between junction 11 & 12/A74). Cairn Lodge Happendon Services, Nr. Douglas (01555 851880)
M74 (junction 13). Welcome Break Services, Abington. (01864 502637)
M74 (junction 21). Welcome Break Service Area, Gretna Green (01461 337567)
A74(M) (junction 16). Roadchef Service Area, Johnstonebridge, Lockerbie (01576 470870)
M9/80 (junction 9). Moto Service Area, Stirling (01786 813614)
If you found this article useful or have any suggestions or questions, please leave a comment below.
If you are planning a long distance trip, especially one to the continent, make sure that your caravan insurance and breakdown cover are fully covering you. Did you know that all of our caravan insurance policies include European cover as standard? Call us on 01480 402460 for more details on our comprehensive cover.
