The prospect of going on the motorway with a caravan towed behind you is daunting at the best of times. You never truly trust the tow bar, not to mention how difficult it is to turn the car/caravan around or park. It means you resign yourself to never going on family camping adventures because you don’t want to pay for holiday homes or static caravans. 

But what if there were ways to enjoy this type of holiday without the stress of towing a massive thing behind your car? Check out these three alternatives and see which one is the best for your family.

Get a Campervan or Van Conversion

Campervans are pre-designed vehicles with seats in the back and all the camping trimmings. They come with built-in kitchens, a couple of beds, and everything else you need to have a great camping experience. Rather than towing a caravan, you’re literally just driving a reasonably sized van. 

The downside to this is that campervans are expensive, so perhaps you should consider the more cost-effective option of buying a cheap van and converting it. Loads of families opt for a cheap VW Transporter and kit it out with a special VW Transporter bed so there’s sleeping space for the family. 

The upside of a campervan/van conversion is simple: you get all you need in one condensed package that’s much easier to drive than towing a caravan. 

Blow-Up Mattress & Roof Tent

Don’t want to drive or buy a van? Understandable. Why don’t you get a blow-up mattress and a roof tent instead? 

A way cheaper option, this involves folding down your rear seats and sliding in the blow-up mattress for two people to sleep on. Most reasonably-sized cars will fit two people when the seats are folded down so space shouldn’t be a problem. 

Then you attach a roof tent to the top of your car, which pops open and includes space for a couple of people and sleeping bags. The best part of this approach is how affordable it is, plus you’re literally just driving your regular car. 

The only downside is that you may struggle with luggage storage when you’re sleeping. You have to either stick the luggage in the front seats or in the roof tent.

Conventional Family Tents

Thirdly, you can go for the most traditional approach and buy a proper family tent. Drive your car and pitch a large tent to fit your family. You’ll find some blow-up tents these days that are really easy to set up and avoid the stress of poles, spikes and who knows what else. 

On the plus side, this option gives you all the space you need and is extremely convenient/affordable. On the negative side, you have to deal with packing up and pitching a tent – which, let’s be honest, will probably happen when it’s raining. 

Family camping adventures are the best way to simplify everyday life and enjoy some moments of peace in nature. If you love the concept but don’t wish to tow a massive caravan for hours across the country, then consider these three alternatives for stress-free fun.