How Do Canal Boat Holidays Compare to Motorhome or Campervan Trips?

If you’re comparing these types of holidays, you have a few boxes you want ticking: a staycation in the UK, something slower and more restful, immersing yourself in nature or local areas, and waking up somewhere different every other day.  

Canal boat holidays and trips in a campervan appeal to similar people, as they both offer the above. It’s just that one of them moves at 4mph across the nation’s waterways and the other can get you to Cornwall by teatime.  

There are a handful of things worth weighing up before you decide which suits you, and that’s what this guide runs through. Discover the similarities, differences and costs of each holiday so you can book your next holiday.  

What are the similarities between a narrowboat and a campervan trip? 

The overlap of canal boats and campervans is bigger than you think, which is why the two get compared so often.  

• You get everything in one place; there are beds, a kitchen, and somewhere to cover from the typical British weather 
• You can pack as much as you want as there’s no baggage allowance and no weight limit  
• You cook your own food and shop as you go 
• Dogs can come with you 
• Kids can move around and entertain themselves 
• You can change your mind about where you want to go at any time 

Both are self-contained staycations that let you bring your home comforts along. What separates them is what happens once you’re moving.  

What are the differences between a canal boat and a campervan break?

Beyond the obvious difference in how you travel, where one can take you through the roads of mainland England, Wales and Scotland, and the other becomes a walking-paced discovery of the country’s historic waterways, there are a few other things to consider. Some of them are legal. 

One of the biggest factors to consider is where you’re legally allowed to stay overnight. When you hire a narrowboat, you can tie up almost anywhere on the towpath free of charge.  

The Canal & River Trust marks its visitor moorings with signs showing you how long you can stay, from a four-hour stop to 48 hours, seven days or 14 days. Mooring is free for the time shown on the sign. Your boat’s licence is already covered in your hire price, so there’s nothing more to pay, as long as you keep an eye on the signage and move on when your time’s up. Overstay, and you may be charged £25 for each extra day.  

A campervan works the other way around. There is no legal right in the UK to wild camp overnight in a vehicle. In England and Wales, staying overnight on land without the owner’s permission is trespass. Scotland is the one people point to, but it doesn’t help here either: the access rights under the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003 cover people arriving on foot, by bike or by boat, and do not extend to campervans, motorhomes or caravans.  

This means that for a campervan, you have to book a pitch. Fees vary by site, party size, and season, and are often charged per pitch and per person per night, which adds up over a week. It’s something to bear in mind if you’re after spontaneity, as it could cost you more.  

What a week really costs 

We’ve compared prices for four people and a pet across seven nights in the middle of August. We left out several of the cheapest campervan hires on the market as they either have no toilet, no shower, or refuse dogs. It’s just not the same holiday if you can’t take your furry friend.   

Fuel works differently on each holiday type. With a campervan, you simply collect the vehicle when it’s full and return it full, so you pay for every mile that you use. Diesel averaged at 164.52p a litre in mid-July 2026, so around 500 miles of touring works out at roughly £117 to £134. On an ABC Boat Hire narrowboat, you pay a fuel deposit of £110 for the week, and refund whatever you don’t use when you bring the boat back.  

At a glance, the campervan is cheaper, and it stays cheaper once you’ve added fuel and a week of pitch fees. The gap is roughly a few hundred pounds over the week. Although for that difference, the boat gives you: 

• A proper shower and toilet 
• 240V power 
• Full-size kitchen appliances 
• Bed linen and towels 
• Free Wi-Fi 
• Boating tuition on collection 
• An emergency line while you’re away 
• Room for up to three dogs 
• You don’t have to book somewhere to sleep 

Browse all boat routes

Which holiday suits you best? 

Take the canal boat if: 

• You want the holiday to be the travelling, not the arriving 
• You have children under about eight who can roam safely  
• Nobody in the group drives, or the driver is under 25 
• You want to stop where you like without booking or paying 
• Your group has mixed fitness or mobility 

Or take the campervan if: 

• You want to reach the coast or head deeper inland 
• You would rather be spontaneous than follow a route  
• You don’t mind a camping-style holiday and using pitch-site facilities  

And if you can’t choose, ask yourself one question: do you want to see more of the UK, or do you want to be a part of it?  

A campervan shows you the country that any other car or motorbike can reach. A narrowboat opens up an almost secret part of the British countryside, one you can only take in slowly through the quiet backs of towns and villages you would otherwise drive straight past. 

Ready to see what a week afloat looks like? 

We’ve been hiring canal boats for over 40 years, from marinas across England and Wales, with boats sleeping from two people up to 12.  

Have a look at our most popular routes or our easy low-lock and lock-free routes if you’re a first-timer. You may also like to read our guide on how much it costs to hire a canal boat.  

Have questions? Speak to the team today on 0808 291 5329.