Yescapa

Campervan and Motorhome hire — Penrith

Find a wide selection of campervans and motorhomes for hire in Penrith and the surrounding area. Discover unique vehicles offered by private owners — from compact campervans for 2, perfect for couples, to spacious 6-berth motorhomes, ideal for families. Flexible booking, competitive prices and insurance included.

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Campervans available for hire — Penrith

The campervan is the ultimate all-rounder. Effortlessly practical and built for freedom, it’s just as at home navigating tight city streets as it is exploring the heart of the countryside.

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Why choose Penrith for your road trip

Penrith — a city worth exploring

Penrith sits at the gateway to the Lake District, where the River Eamont meets the River Lowther just 8 km from Ullswater, England's second-largest lake. The town's 14th-century Penrith Castle, built as a defence against Scottish raids, still stands in free-to-visit ruins beside the railway station. A short walk through the centre brings you to St Andrew's Church, home to the mysterious Giant's Grave — a pair of Norse cross shafts dating back over a thousand years. For a deeper dive into local heritage, the Penrith and Eden Museum on Middlegate tells the story of the region from prehistoric times to the present day. Just outside town, Brougham Castle sits 2 km to the south-east along the banks of the Eamont, offering a peaceful riverside walk with impressive 13th-century stonework. Keswick is 27 km to the west across the dramatic fells, while Carlisle lies 30 km to the north along the M6, making Penrith an ideal base for exploring Cumbria at your own pace. The surrounding roads are well suited to larger vehicles on the main routes, though some Lake District passes require careful navigation. With Yescapa, you can hire a campervan or motorhome directly from local owners in the area, giving you the freedom to set off into the national park whenever the mood takes you — no depot queues, just a friendly handover and the open road ahead.

Best time to visit

Penrith comes alive in late November with the Penrith Winter Festival, filling the town centre with markets, live music, and seasonal cheer. Summer brings the Penrith Agricultural Show in July, a long-standing celebration of Cumbrian farming life. From May to September, the fells and lakes are at their most accessible for campervan touring, with longer daylight hours ideal for exploring Ullswater and the Eden Valley. Booking your motorhome through Yescapa during spring or autumn often means more flexible pricing from local owners, plus quieter campsites and easier parking across the Lake District.

Top getaways from Penrith

Penrith is the perfect base for exploring the region by motorhome or campervan. Here are our 6 must-see getaways

Penrith to Keswick

27km west 1–3 days

Head 27 km west from Penrith over the A66 to reach Keswick, nestled between Derwentwater and Skiddaw. Stop at Castlerigg Stone Circle on the approach, then explore the Derwentwater shoreline by foot or boat. Campervan parking is available at several lakeside spots.

Penrith to Ullswater

14km southwest 1–3 days

A quick 14 km drive south-west from Penrith brings you to the shores of Ullswater. Take the Ullswater Steamer from Glenridding to Howtown and walk the lakeshore path back. Aira Force waterfall is a must-see, with a dedicated car park suitable for larger vehicles.

Penrith to Whitehaven

105km west 3–5 days

Follow the 105 km route west from Penrith through Cockermouth to the Georgian harbour town of Whitehaven. Visit The Rum Story museum and The Beacon, then drive south along the Cumbrian coast to St Bees Head for dramatic clifftop walks. Motorhome-friendly stops dot the coastline.

Penrith to the Yorkshire Dales

145km southeast 3–6 days

Travel 145 km south-east from Penrith into the Yorkshire Dales National Park. Explore the market town of Hawes, home to the Wensleydale Creamery, and visit Aysgarth Falls. The Buttertubs Pass offers thrilling driving, though narrower sections need care in a campervan.

Penrith to the Scottish Borders

210km north 5–8 days

Head 210 km north from Penrith into the Scottish Borders, stopping at Carlisle Castle before crossing into Scotland. Visit Jedburgh Abbey and the historic town of Melrose, then loop back via Kielder Water and Forest Park. Plenty of motorhome stopovers along the route.

Penrith to Edinburgh

250km north 5–8 days

Drive 250 km north from Penrith along the M6 and A702 to reach Edinburgh. Break the journey at Gretna Green and Moffat in the Borders. In Edinburgh, explore the Royal Mile and Arthur's Seat. Campervan sites on the city outskirts offer easy access to the centre.

Rent a campervan on Yescapa: how does it work?

Discover step by step how we work. We accompany you at every stage of the rental process, both owners and travellers.

Discover

Find the perfect vehicle

Find for a leisure vehicle near you or a destination idea according to your planned route, then specify the pick-up and return dates. The perfect vehicle for your road trip holiday is waiting for you!

Connecting people

Confirm your booking

Make one or more booking requests for leisure vehicles that have caught your eye and wait for the owners' responses. Once your request has been accepted, all you have to do is confirm your booking.

Pick-up

Go on an adventure

On the pick-up date, collect the vehicle and listen to the valuable advice of the owner for handling it; you are ready hit the road with family, as a couple or with friends.

Return

All good things must come to an end...

Once again, with the owner complete the vehicle condition check and sign the Rental Agreement as well as exchange your travel stories. All you have to do is imagine your next road trip!

Campsites and parkings for recreational vehicles in Penrith

Recommended campsites

Penrith and the surrounding Eden Valley offer a fine selection of campsites, from lakeside pitches near Ullswater to peaceful rural spots in the rolling farmland east of the Lake District. Most sites provide electric hook-ups, modern shower blocks, and dedicated hardstanding pitches for both campervans and motorhomes. Several are open year-round, making Penrith a great base for winter walks as well as summer adventures.

  • Lowther Holiday Park Eamont Bridge (3km south)Electric hook-ups, heated shower block, laundry, on-site shop, children's play area
  • Flusco Wood Holiday Park Flusco (5km west)Hardstanding pitches, electric hook-ups, toilets, showers, woodland walks
  • Waterfoot Caravan Park Pooley Bridge (9km southwest)Lakeside pitches, electric hook-ups, modern toilets and showers, boat launching
  • Park Foot Caravan and Camping Park Howtown Road, Pooley Bridge (10km southwest)Electric hook-ups, heated amenity block, swimming pool, shop, lake access
  • The Quiet Site Watermillock (11km southwest)Electric hook-ups, showers, toilets, bar, children's play area, glamping pods

Where to park your motorhome

Penrith offers several parking options suitable for larger vehicles. The town council permits motorhome parking in designated long-stay car parks during the day, though overnight stays in public car parks are not generally allowed. For overnight parking, dedicated campervan stopovers and nearby campsites are your best options. Always check height barriers before entering any car park.

  • Bluebell Lane Car Park, Adjacent to the city — Long-stay council car park near the town centre with spaces suitable for larger vehicles. No height barrier. Pay and display.
  • Sandgate Car Park, Adjacent to the city — Central Penrith car park close to shops and the castle ruins. Check for height restrictions on entry.
  • Ullswater Road Car Park, Adjacent to the city — Spacious car park on the edge of town with easy access to the A592 towards Ullswater. Suitable for campervans.
  • Brougham Castle Layby, 2km southeast — Informal layby near Brougham Castle with space for motorhomes. Ideal for a short stop to visit the castle ruins.

Frequently asked questions

What our users say about our campervans and motorhomes in Penrith

Andrea
5 / 5

Dominique is a wonderful, kind and attentive host. The van was perfect, clean and cosy. We loved the trip even though the high altitude passes were very scary especially as we are driving on the wrong side of the road!

Martin
5 / 5

Andre couldn’t have been more helpful, plus he is a positive, warm individual. The camper was superb in every way, hygienic, beautiful handling and equipped with everything needed, no silly extras for bedding. Brand new mattresses that were so comfortable and all the windows had bug netting so nothing could get in or bite us. Will definitely do this again, PLUS great value. Very very happy with service and equipment

Annemijn
5 / 5

Very nice owners, kind and flexible! The camper van was easy to understand, and comfortable to use - above expectation. Thank you!!

Elizabeth
4 / 5

Paloma was a pleasure to drive and really comfortable for our family of four. The van was equipped with everything we needed, beds were spacious and had safety nets, the shower and toilet were very handy, there was plenty of storage space and lots of room to move around. Susana was really helpful and accommodating and very easy to communicate with throughout our trip. The only disappointing aspect is that the fridge did not work, and the freezer only worked when plugged in. While the freezer was ok for keeping some items cool, it did make things considerably more difficult for us - we were travelling with 2 young children and cooked for ourselves most evenings. It was frustrating having to visit a shop every day/every other day and we ended up having to bin quite a lot of food. It is a shame this wasn't mentioned in the listing as it would have impacted our decision to book the van. Every other aspect was faultless and despite the issue with the fridge we had a really wonderful 2 week adventure in Paloma. We would definitely recommend if you are happy to operate without a fridge and can rely on the freezer.

Logan
5 / 5

Great experience driving the van around Mallorca, absolutely beautiful place. The van drove very well, fully equipped and Juan is super friendly with great communication. Would fully recommend.

Grant
4 / 5

Hire experience with Roadsurfer through Yescapa was great. Easy and kept well informed all through the process. Easy check in and drop off.

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