Dorset with Kids: The 10 best family-friendly holiday parks

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I’ve been looking for brilliant family-friendly holiday parks in Dorset for fun getaways with the kids by the gorgeous Jurassic Coast. Dorset is a beautiful county located on the south coast of England, sandwiched between Hampshire to the east and Devon to the west, with Somerset just above. It’s got that perfect mix of rolling countryside, cute villages and stunning coastline – so whether you fancy beach days or country strolls it’s all within easy reach. The stretch of coastline in Dorset (and into Devon) is famously known as the Jurassic Coast. This World Heritage Site is packed with millions of years of geological history, and it’s one of the best places in the UK to go fossil hunting – my kids loved digging for ancient treasures on the beach at Charmouth.

You’ll also want to head to the infamous Durdle Door, as well as Lulworth Cove, which are some of the prettiest spots on the Dorset coastline. And, Dorset is a brilliant base for visiting the New Forest National Park which is just over the county border in Hampshire. There are loads of family-friendly local attractions on offer too – you won’t be short on things to do with the kids in Dorset. So, if you’re looking for a base for your staycation, here are my top picks for the best family-friendly holiday parks in Dorset for a fun coastal getaway with the kids:

1. Haven Holidays: Rockley Park, Poole

Located on the edge of Poole Harbour in Dorset, Rockley Park Haven is a fantastic option for a family holiday with the kids. The park offers its own private beach, ideal for water sports like paddle-boarding and kayaking. There’s an indoor swimming pool (with a waterslide), an outdoor pool, crazy golf, climbing, crafts, junior segways, a NERF training camp and nature activities – the kids will be spoilt for choice! Rockley Park’s proximity to Sandbanks Beach and the Jurassic Coast adds to its appeal, and there are loads of great days out nearby too. You’ll find Monkey World and the Tank Museum both a 30 minute drive away. Plus, it’s well-located for visits to the New Forest and Moors Valley Country Park, and the brilliant Paultons Park is about an hour away. For more information, and prices for your dates, click here to check out Rockley Park Holiday Park on the Haven Website.

2. Parkdean Resorts: Warmwell Holiday Park, Dorchester

Warmwell Holiday Park is one of the best options for year-round family holidays in Dorset – there’s so much for the kids to do whatever the weather – and the site even offers hot tub lodges! The park boasts a 110m dry ski slope, an indoor heated pool with a waterslide, a roller rink, high ropes, adventure golf, a clip and climb, a VR area, hoverboards, a sports dome, crafts and all sorts! Its proximity to the Jurassic Coast makes it an ideal base for beach days too – Durdle Door is 20 minutes away. For family-friendly days out, you’ll find places like Monkey World, the Tank Museum and Weymouth SEA LIFE Adventure Park all less than half an hour’s drive. Plus, the brilliant Paultons Park (with Peppa Pig World) is about an hour away. For more information, and prices for your dates, click here to check out Warmwell Holiday Park on the Parkdean Resorts website.

3. Haven: Weymouth Bay Holiday Park, Weymouth

A popular site for family getaways in the Weymouth area of Dorset, Haven Weymouth Bay Holiday Park on the Jurassic coast has a lot to offer. The park has an indoor swimming pool and an outdoor pool with a lazy river – it’s perfect for the summer months, especially as the beach is just under a mile away too. There’s absolutely loads of activities for the kids including: high ropes, an inflatable arena (one for little ones and another for teens), bungee trampolines, pedal-karts, aqua jets, archery, bike hire, the jump, crazy golf and a climbing wall! (There’s no chance of getting bored!) If you fancy some days out, you’ll find Weymouth SEA LIFE Adventure Park only a 5 minute drive away, whilst the beautiful Durdle Door, Monkey World and the Tank Museum are all just 20 minutes away. For more information, and prices for your dates, click here to check out Weymouth Bay Holiday Park on the Haven website.

4. Shorefield Holidays: Oakdene Forest Park, Bournemouth

Tucked in the woodlands in Bournemouth, Oakdene Forest Park is a brilliant base for families who love nature. This holiday park also offers a packed schedule of activities including adventure golf, zorbing and arts and crafts – plus there’s an indoor pool (with a flume), a heated outdoor pool and evening shows. Holiday accommodation includes lodges or caravans (with hot tub options) and it’s well set up for kids of all ages. When it comes to days out, it’s just a 25 minute drive to Paultons Theme Park if you’d like to include some thrill-seeking within your Dorset holiday itinerary. It’s not far from Bournemouth beach either, and New Forest Water Park is just 15 minutes away. For more information, and prices for your dates, click here to check out Oakdene Forest Park on the Shorefield Holidays website.

5. Parkdean Resorts: Sandford Holiday Park, Poole

Another one of the best spots for a family holiday in Dorset, Parkdean Resorts Sandford Holiday Park offers a fantastic kid-friendly getaway. The kids can enjoy the indoor and outdoor swimming pools, complete with a waterslide and splash play areas. There’s also high ropes, a VR area, crazy golf, bungee trampolines, archery, soft play, sports courts, pedal karts and the Bear Grylls Survival Academy – so there’s plenty to keep kids of all ages busy. Its proximity to the stunning Jurassic Coast makes it an ideal base for exploring – plus they have hot tub accommodation available too! For family-friendly days out, the fantastic Paultons Park (with Peppa Pig World) is just 45 minutes away, and Monkey World and the Tank Museum are both around a 15 minute drive. For more information, and prices for your dates, click here to check out Sandford Holiday Park on the Parkdean Resorts website.

6. Haven: Littlesea Holiday Park, Weymouth

Another Haven gem that’s perfect for family getaways in Dorset, Littlesea Holiday Park offers a lot to keep the kids entertained including both indoor and outdoor swimming pools. It boasts loads of activities including: 4×4 ride ons, crazy golf, bungee trampolines, a NERF training camp, an inflatable arena, a climbing wall, archery, sports and crafts – perfect for an action-packed family getaway. You can also enjoy wonderful walks and fossil hunting along the Jurassic Coast nearby. Plus, there are plenty of great family-friendly days out within driving distance too – places like Weymouth SEA LIFE Adventure Park, Durdle Door, Monkey World and the Tank Museum are all just a short drive away. For more information, and prices for your dates, click here to check out Littlesea Holiday Park on the Haven website.

7: Park Holidays: Sandhills Holiday Park, Christchurch

Nestled right by the beach in the charming seaside town of Christchurch, Sandhills Holiday Park is a brilliant choice for a family holiday with the kids in Dorset. The park’s got a lovely outdoor pool, a cosy clubhouse and a small play area for the little ones – just enough to keep everyone happy without the noisy hustle of bigger resorts. You’re just a stone’s throw from the beach, and with caravans and lodges to suit different budgets, it’s a fab base for a budget-friendly family getaway. If you want to do some exploring, there are some good days out nearby too. You can reach the New Forest National Park and Moors Valley Country Park with just a 25 minute drive, and Paultons Park is only 35 minutes away. For more information, and prices for your dates, click here to check out Sandhills Holiday Park on the Park Holidays website.

8. Parkdean Resorts: West Bay Holiday Park, Dorset

West Bay Holiday Park is just 200m from West Bay beach and shops, and you can stroll around the harbour to Bridport beach too, so this Parkdean Resorts site is perfect if you like exploring on foot – we love an evening wander on our holidays! The Jurassic coastline in Dorset is absolutely stunning so you won’t be disappointed with the views, and it’s the perfect place to take the kids fossil hunting – we found some by Charmouth Heritage Coast Centre. The site has an indoor swimming pool with a flume, an arcade, soft play, a playground and kids’ clubs to keep the little ones happy. For family-friendly days out, you’ll find places like Monkey World, Durdle Door, the Tank Museum and Weymouth SEA LIFE Adventure Park all less than an hour’s drive away. For more information, and prices for your dates, click here to check out West Bay Holiday Park on the Parkdean Resorts website.

9. Shorefield Holidays: Merley Court Holiday Park, Wimborne

Shorefield Holidays Merley Court is a peaceful, woodland-style park just outside Wimborne – offering a slower pace without compromising on comfort. There’s less onsite entertainment compared to some other parks (though you can use the pool at nearby Oakdene Holiday Park) so it’s perfect if you’re looking for a quiet stay with nature walks and nearby attractions. Lodges are cosy and well-equipped, and some even come with private hot tubs. It’s ideal for families who prefer a self-catered break away from the crowds. For days out, you’ll find The New Forest National Park and Moors Valley Country Park both 20 minutes away, and Paultons Park is around a 40 minute drive. For more information, and prices for your dates, click here to check out Merley Court Holiday Park on the Shorefield Holidays website.

10. Haven: Seaview Holiday Park, Weymouth

Another option for a quieter family getaway in Dorset, Haven Seaview Holiday Park offers the best of both worlds – though it’s a smaller site, the kids can still enjoy all of the activities at its sister park Haven Weymouth Bay. Seaview Holiday Park has both indoor and outdoor swimming pools, crazy golf, an outdoor play area, an entertainment venue and an arcade. Whilst Weymouth Bay offers loads of activities including: 4×4 ride ons, bungee trampolines, a NERF training camp, an inflatable arena, a climbing wall, archery and sports. It’s in a great spot for coastal walks and you’ve got some good days out within driving distance too. You can reach Monkey World, Durdle Door, the Tank Museum and Weymouth SEA LIFE Adventure Park all within 20 minutes or less. For more information, and prices for your dates, click here to check out Seaview Holiday Park on the Haven website.

Which Dorset Haven is best?

With four family-friendly holiday parks in Dorset, you’ve got plenty of choice if you’re looking for a Haven getaway with the kids. As three of the parks are in the Weymouth area, they offer a similar experience when it comes to days out and they’re all within a short drive of the Jurassic coast for beach days and fossil hunting. Though, when it comes to activities, Littlesea Holiday Park and Weymouth Bay have the most to do on-site. Rockley Park Haven also offers loads of fantastic activities for the kids but it’s alternative location gives you a whole different set of days out. It’s well located for visits to the New Forest National Park and it’s proximity to Hampshire also means that you can also visit Paultons Park (with Peppa Pig World) with just a 50 minute drive – yay!

Dorset, Devon or Somerset – which is best for a family holiday?

Honestly I love all three, but Dorset is a great option for a family holiday – it’s a lovely place to take the kids. It’s not as sprawling as Devon – so you’ll spend less time driving about – and it offers sandy beaches, countryside walks, cute towns and loads of attractions for kids without being overly expensive. Plus, the Jurassic Coast adds that extra wow factor! If you’re after peaceful coastal villages, plenty of outdoor fun and a bit of fossil-hunting adventure, Dorset is hard to beat. But if your kids love theme parks or want something livelier, Devon’s got more big attractions, whilst Somerset is fab for countryside stays – so it depends what you’re after. I think Dorset, Devon and Somerset each offer something different so it’s a great excuse to visit all three!

What is there to do in Dorset with kids?

Dorset is packed with family-friendly fun! Head to the seaside for classic beach days – building sandcastles, paddling, and crabbing – with spots like Weymouth, Swanage and Studland being great for little ones. If your kids love animals, Farmer Palmer’s Farm Park is a big hit with under 10s, and Monkey World is a fab rescue centre with loads of primates to see. If it’s raining, you’ve got places like The Tank Museum (great for older kids), the Sea Life Centre in Weymouth or even just a splash about in a local leisure centre pool. For lots of family-friendly itinerary ideas make sure you check out my article: The 10 best things to do in Dorset with kids – and I hope you have a lovely holiday! 😊