Best Bristol Caravan Sites for the Bristol Balloon Fiesta

One of Bristol’s most exciting events, The Bristol Balloon Fiesta, runs from Friday 7 August to Sunday 9 August 2026 at Ashton Court. Mass ascents happen at around 6am and 6pm, which means you need to be nearby and ready early. If you’re arriving by caravan or motorhome, where you pitch has a real impact on how much of the event you actually see.

This guide covers the best caravan-friendly options for Fiesta weekend, what they cost, what they do and don’t offer, and a few practical things worth knowing before you book.

One thing to get out of the way first 

The Fiesta does not have an official campsite. The organiser’s own website is clear: there is no onsite accommodation, no campervans are permitted in the car parks, and no overnight parking is available at Ashton Court. If you come across any articles referring to an “official campsite” at the Fiesta, that information is outdated.

Caravans and large motorhomes are also not allowed in Balloon Fiesta car parks. If you want to attend the dawn ascents and late Nightglows without a long transfer, you need a pitch off-site with a plan for getting to and from Ashton Court.

Baltic Wharf is no longer an option 

For years, the Caravan and Motorhome Club site at Baltic Wharf was the go-to central Bristol pitch for Fiesta visitors. It is now permanently closed. The site shut on 11 August 2025 and is currently being developed into 166 new homes. Some places still describe it as if it is open, so it’s worth knowing up front that it isn’t.

This matters because it removes the only central Bristol touring option from the picture. What’s left is a smaller pool of sites that fall into three rough categories: the event-specific rally options, a nearby rugby club pitch purpose-built for the Fiesta, and a handful of touring sites within reasonable distance.

Cotham Park Rugby Club

Best for: walking to the Fiesta, avoiding transport entirely 

Cotham Park Rugby Club is the closest practical option for caravan and motorhome owners. It opens specifically for Fiesta weekend, has been doing so for several years, and pitches are sized at 9m x 6m with a minimum two-night stay.The site is around 30 minutes’ walk from Ashton Court, which is manageable for the evening Nightglow and very useful for the 6am mass ascent. You don’t need to organise a shuttle or move your vehicle.

Pitches for campervans, motorhomes and caravans are priced at £95 per night (for up to two people and one vehicle) based on current 2026 pricing. There are no electric hook-up points on site, so you’ll need to be self-sufficient. Chemical toilet disposal is available.

Dogs are not permitted, and the minimum stay is two nights. Booking is essential as the site fills quickly.

Book on the Cotham Park Rugby Club website.

CAMC Avon Centre Rally 

Best for: Caravan and Motorhome Club members who want an organised event-stay 

The Caravan and Motorhome Club’s Avon Centre runs an organised rally specifically for the Balloon Fiesta. The 2026 rally runs from 6 to 9 August, giving you a day either side of the main event dates. You need to be a CAMC member to attend.

There is no EHU on site, so you’ll need onboard power. A generator area may be available. There is also a charge of £5 per extra vehicle for the whole weekend. Booking must be made at least 14 days in advance, and there are no refunds after 1 July 2026.

This option suits members who prefer a structured rally environment with fellow enthusiasts over a general campsite setup.

Book the Avon Centre Caravan and Motorhome Club site here  

Boundless by CSMA Rally

Best for: CSMA members who want to be extremely close to the Fiesta entrance

The Boundless rally is described as being just across the road from the Fiesta entrance, which is as close as it gets. The 2026 rally runs from 5 to 10 August, so you can arrive a couple of days early and leave after the event. A Boundless (CSMA) membership is required to book.

Caravans, motorhomes and tents are all welcome, but the site has no toilet or shower facilities. You must have your own sanitation. The cost breaks down as £15 per unit per night plus a £4 per-person rally fee for adults.

The site has a 55-unit limit. If you’re a CSMA member, this is one of the more practical options available, and the proximity to Ashton Court means early morning ascents are genuinely accessible on foot.

Find out more about the Boundless by CSMA Rally at the Balloon Fiesta. 

Brook Lodge Farm

Best for: families and those who want full facilities and an award-winning site

Brook Lodge Farm is a well-established four-star touring park with 29 touring pitches for caravans, motorhomes and tents. It holds AA 4 Gold Star, VisitEngland 4 Star, and Green Tourism Gold accreditations and has operated since 1973. The site is not specifically a Fiesta venue, but it positions itself as a good base for visiting the event. It offers full facilities, including hook-up pitches, making it a better fit for those who need EHU or prefer a more traditional campsite setup.

The trade-off is logistics. You will need a plan to get to and from Ashton Court, whether that’s parking off-site and walking, or using one of the shuttle or Park and Ride options covered below.

Book Brook Lodge Farm here. 

Avon Valley Farm Certificated Location

Best for: CAMC members who want EHU and a bus connection into Bristol

Avon Valley Farm is a Certificated Location (CL) run through the Caravan and Motorhome Club, with 4 hardstanding pitches and 2 grass pitches, all with electric hook-up. It’s eight miles from where Baltic Wharf used to be. CAMC membership is required to stay here.

The X39 bus runs directly to Bath and Bristol and operates through the night and on weekends. This makes it a practical option if you want EHU and a public transport connection to Ashton Court, rather than relying on driving.CLs are limited to five pitches, so availability is tight. Book well ahead.

Find out more or book Avon Valley Farm. 

Bristol Camping (Almondsbury)

Best for: motorhome owners or those looking for a quieter, low-key pitch

Bristol Camping in Almondsbury, South Gloucestershire, offers CL touring pitches, tent camping and campervan pitches. It is a smaller, quieter setup than a commercial park, and no membership is required. The site doesn’t specifically market itself as a Fiesta option, but it sits in the north Bristol area.

As with Brook Lodge, you’ll need transport to Ashton Court, so factor in how you’re planning to travel to and from the event each day.

Explore and book the Bristol Camping site here. 

Getting from your pitch to the Fiesta

If your site isn’t within walking distance of Ashton Court, you have a few options.

The Long Ashton Park and Ride operates during the Fiesta and is the recommended route for those driving to the event in a regular car. The Fiesta shuttle bus runs from Bristol Temple Meads station. If you’re staying at a site with good public transport links (like Avon Valley Farm’s X39 route), the train and shuttle combination can work well.

One thing to be aware of: Bristol’s Clean Air Zone covers much of the city centre and operates 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Non-compliant diesel or petrol vehicles are charged £9 per day. Most modern vehicles meet the thresholds (roughly Euro 4 petrol and Euro 6 diesel), but it’s worth checking your registration on the Bristol City Council vehicle checker before routing through the zone. More than 70% of vehicles already comply, but if your towing vehicle is older it’s worth confirming.

A note on timing and booking

The Nightglow sessions run on Friday and Saturday evening. The 6am mass ascents happen daily, weather permitting, with a go/no-go call made on the morning itself. If you’re planning your pitching and departure around specific sessions, build in flexibility for weather cancellations.

Sites that are specifically set up for the Fiesta (Cotham Park, the CAMC rally, Boundless) typically open and close around the event dates. If you want to arrive earlier or stay later for a broader trip around Bristol and the surrounding area, a site like Brook Lodge or Avon Valley Farm gives you more flexibility.

Fiesta-weekend pitches at event-specific sites sell out. The Boundless rally has a 55-unit cap. Cotham Park fills quickly year on year. If you’re reading this before July, booking sooner rather than later is the sensible call.

Quick comparison