Dorchester is a beautiful Dorset town, filled with ancient history, eclectic buildings and interesting museums for everyone to enjoy. There's a good range of Dorchester campsites to choose from too, so why not bring the whole family and enjoy the scenic countryside, Jurassic Coast, shops, gardens, walks and much more!
Dorchester, Dorset (1.5 miles)
Family friendly camping and bells tents on a working livestock farm. Ten minutes from Weymouth and the coast!
4.95 /5
Higher Bockhampton, Dorchester, Dorset (2.4 miles)
Quiet camping, touring and glamping bell tent site with campfires and dogs welcome. Set in idyllic Hardy Country.
4.71 /5
Broadmayne, Dorchester, Dorset (3.1 miles)
Spacious and peaceful pop-up site with campfires allowed, ten minutes from Weymouth. Dog friendly.
4.76 /5
Dorchester, Dorset (3.2 miles)
Small and peaceful rural campsite in the Dorset AONB, ten minutes from Dorchester. Dog friendly.
Sutton Poyntz, Weymouth, Dorset (3.7 miles)
Peaceful family-friendly site with views over Weymouth Bay and the Dorset Coast. Campfires and dogs welcome.
4.61 /5
Nottington, Weymouth, Dorset (4.9 miles)
Camping and boutique glamping on the Jurassic Coast. 15 minutes from Weymouth with its sandy beach and harbour.
Dorchester, Dorset (5 miles)
A tranquil site with farmland views and clear night skies for star gazing, close to the Jurassic coastline.
4.94 /5
Osmington, Weymouth, Dorset (5.1 miles)
Small, adult only farm site with panoramic views, just 15 minutes from Durdle Door. Open year round.
4.36 /5
Owermoigne, Dorchester, Dorset (5.2 miles)
Family and dog friendly park with a shop, play park and more. 15 minutes to Durdle Door and the Jurassic Coast!
4.66 /5
Buckand Ripers, Weymouth, Dorset (5.2 miles)
Peaceful family-run site, with views over the rolling Dorset countryside, 15 minutes from Weymouth.
4.91 /5
Portesham, Weymouth, Dorset (5.3 miles)
Dog friendly stays for families in luxury glamping lodges with onsite alpacas, just 15 minutes to Chesil Beach!
Osmington Mills, Weymouth, Dorset (5.5 miles)
Family site offering fishing and horse riding, with views of Weymouth Bay. A 15 minute walk to a hidden beach.
4.82 /5
Portesham, Weymouth, Dorset (6 miles)
Nestled in patchwork countryside, a family run Jurassic Coast site near Weymouth, with dog grooming on site.
4.77 /5
Dorchester, Dorset (6.1 miles)
Family run site set in a 20 acre field on an organic farm within easy reach to the Purbeck Heritage coast.
4.69 /5
Dorchester, Dorset (6.3 miles)
Woodland site with private fire pits and group pitches, 20 minutes to Dorchester and 30 minutes to Durdle Door
Fleet, Weymouth, Dorset (7 miles)
Family friendly camping park, complete with an outdoor swimming pool! Just 15 minutes from Weymouth's beach.
4.46 /5
Weymouth, Dorset (7.1 miles)
Farm campsite with tent and touring pitches set by the Dorset coast, with stunning views over Lyme Bay.
4.63 /5
Ansty, Dorset (9.3 miles)
A quiet and peaceful rural site with countryside views and an onsite farm shop. Next door to a charming pub.
4.77 /5
Punckowle, Dorset (9.4 miles)
Eco-friendly, off-grid camping and glamping on a farm close to the Jurassic Coast. Meet the alpacas and goats!
4.87 /5
Wool, Dorset (9.5 miles)
Award-winning friendly family run park set in five and a half acres of Dorset countryside.
4.79 /5
Wareham, Dorset (9.7 miles)
Family friendly camping, touring and glamping next door to Monkey World. Onsite alpacas you can walk and meet!
4.82 /5
Batcombe, Dorchester, Dorset (9.9 miles)
Off-grid camping offering grass pitches with wonderful views. Easy access to walking routes, Dorchester and more.
4.91 /5
East Stoke, Wareham, Dorset (10.9 miles)
Family camping with campfires on a wildflower meadow, near Bovington Tank Museum, Monkey World and Lulworth.
4.8 /5
Hooke, Dorset (11.4 miles)
Two glamping bell tents, as well as a unique Iron Age round house and Saxon long house. All fully furnished.
4.58 /5
Leigh, Sherborne, Dorset (11.4 miles)
Simple, off-grid family camping with flushing loos and hot showers. Situated on a dairy farm in Dorset.
Burton Bradstock, Bridport, Dorset (11.7 miles)
A quiet retreat deep in the West Dorset countryside next to the River Bride and just a mile from the coast.
4.73 /5
Wareham, Dorset (12 miles)
Fully furnished bell tents for families and couples on an equestrian farm. 15 minutes to the Jurassic Coast.
Blandford Forum, Dorset (12.3 miles)
Dog friendly, stylish glamping lodges set close to the Dorset AONB and Blandford Forum. Beaches within 30 mins.
Corscombe, Dorchester, Dorset (12.5 miles)
Peaceful camping and glamping in the grounds of a 16th century Tudor manor, for lovers of nature and tranquillity.
4.75 /5
Portland, Dorset (12.7 miles)
Almost wild camping on the beautiful Isle of Portland in Dorset with coastal views and dog friendly.
4.7 /5
Whilst in the town make sure to visit the Dinosaur Museum and see the mighty T-rex. It's the UK's only museum that is dedicated solely to dinosaurs and the kids will love it as much as adults. The Tutankhamun Exhibitions is also a spectacular recreation of Egyptian history, and not to be missed.
The Dorset Country Museum is also a must-do when in Dorchester. It shows a fascinating history and large collection of fossils taken from the nearby Jurassic Coast, which stretches for an impressive 96 miles across the coast of Southern England.
Visitors with an interest in military history are sure to enjoy exploring the Keep Military Museum which covers over 300 years of local history, or perhaps Maiden Castle, where you can take a family-friendly walk up to the ancient ruins for brilliant family photos.
For something different, relive your childhood at the Dorset Teddy Bear Museum. You may even meet Edwards the bear and his life-sized family! Alternatively, skaters will enjoy Dorchester Skatepark’s permanent concrete ramps and jumps.
The area's natural beauty stands out too. Set in a beautiful grouping of natural lakes, Sculpture by the Lakes is a 26-acre park packed with inspiring sculptures, while the Borough Gardens in the heart of the town are also fantastic. The pretty gardens offer a deserved break from the busy town streets, allowing for a relaxing stroll in the sun.
The 700 year old Kingston Maurward National Trust Property is another highlight, with stunning gardens and farmyard animals.
Dorchester boasts several other landmarks, churches, castles and houses to explore too. Athelhampton House and Gardens were built in the 15th Century and are beautifully preserved and maintained. The Gardens are exceptionally peaceful and are a great place to read a good book.
For a walk into the history of Thomas Hardy's life visit Hardy's Cottage (his historic birthplace), Max Gate (his famous townhouse) or the 72-foot high Hardy Monument - an interesting stop-off on National Cycle Route 2.
An iconic British poet and novelist, Hardy is famous all around the world. There is a great woodland walk to get to Hardy’s Cottage that is suitable for small children.
Other intriguing places to explore nearby include the Cerne Abbas Giant, which is a giant hill figure cut into the stone (best viewed from the air if you can), Poundbury (an experimental new town built on principles advocated by the Prince of Wales), The Tank Museum at Bovington, or Weymouth with the Sea Life Adventure Park and Sandworld.