12 Best Holiday Parks in Dorset for Families

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I’ve been hunting out the best holiday parks in Dorset for families – it’s a fabulous location 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. There are loads of fabulous family-friendly attractions and days out on offer too (more on that below). If you’re looking for a base for your staycation, here are my top picks for the 12 best holiday parks in Dorset for families:

1. Haven: Rockley Park, Poole

Located on the edge of Poole Harbour, Rockley Park Haven is a fantastic option for a family holiday with the kids – it has a private beach! There’s an indoor 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 the Jurassic Coast adds to its appeal, and there are some great days out nearby. You’ll find Monkey World and the Tank Museum both 30 minutes away. Plus, it’s well-located for visits to the New Forest and Moors Valley Country Park, and Paultons Park is 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 parks for year-round stays in Dorset – and families can even treat themselves to a hot tub lodge! It boasts a 110m dry ski slope, an indoor heated pool with a waterslide, a roller rink, high ropes, adventure golf, a sports dome, an indoor clip and climb, soft play and all sorts! Check out my Warmwell Holiday Park Review – we had a great time! For family-friendly days out, you’ll find Weymouth, Durdle Door, Monkey World, the Tank Museum and Weymouth SEA LIFE all less than half an hour’s drive away. Plus, 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

One of the best located holiday parks in Dorset for families, Haven Weymouth Bay on the Jurassic coast has a lot to offer – the beach is just under a mile away. The park has an indoor swimming pool, an outdoor pool with a lazy river and kids’ activities including: high ropes, inflatable arenas (for little ones and teens), bungee trampolines, pedal-karts, aqua jets, archery, bike hire, the jump, crazy golf and a climbing wall! If you fancy some days out, you’ll find SEA LIFE Weymouth just 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 with 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 (with Peppa Pig World), it’s not far from Bournemouth beach 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 holiday parks in Dorset for families, Sandford Parkdean Resorts has both indoor and outdoor pools, complete with a waterslide and splash play areas. There’s also high ropes, VR, crazy golf, bungee trampolines, archery, soft play, sports courts, pedal karts and the Bear Grylls Survival Academy – plenty to keep the kids busy. Hot tub accommodation is available and it’s well-located for exploring the stunning Jurassic Coast. For family-friendly days out – Monkey World, Splashdown Waterpark and the Tank Museum are all a 15 minute drive, and you can reach Paultons Park in 45 minutes. 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

A Haven gem that’s perfect for family getaways, Littlesea Holiday Park boasts both indoor and outdoor swimming pools. The site offers loads of activities including: 4×4 ride ons, crazy golf, bungee trampolines, NERF training camp, an inflatable arena, a climbing wall, archery, sports and crafts – perfect for an action-packed break. 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 – places like SEA LIFE Weymouth Aquarium, 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. Hoburne Holidays: Hoburne Park, Christchurch

Highly rated on TripAdvisor, and just few minutes’ walk from the soft sandy Avon beach, Hoburne Park is a great choice for a coastal family getaway in Dorset. The park boasts both indoor and outdoor swimming pools, a playground, sports facilities, mini golf, soft play, an arcade, craft activities, pool inflatables and all sorts! There’s plenty to keep the kids occupied at this one! For family-friendly days out, it’s just 20 minutes from Bournemouth Beach, half an hour from Paulton’s Park and 25 minutes from Moors Valley (with Go Ape and Segways). Plus, you can reach the gorgeous New Forest in just 10 minutes. For more information, and prices for your dates, click here to check out Hoburne Park on the Hoburne Holidays website.

8. Parkdean Resorts: West Bay Holiday Park, Bridport

One of the best located parks in Dorset, West Bay Holiday Park is just 200m from West Bay beach and shops – and you can stroll around the harbour to Bridport beach – it’s perfect for families who like exploring on foot! The Jurassic coastline is absolutely stunning and it’s fabulous for fossil hunting – we found some by Charmouth Heritage Coast Centre. The site has an indoor pool with a flume, an arcade, soft play, a playground and kids’ clubs. For family-friendly days out, you’ll find places like Monkey World, Durdle Door, the Tank Museum and SEA LIFE Weymouth 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

Merley Court Holiday Park offers a peaceful, woodland-style retreat just outside of Wimborne. There’s less on-site 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 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 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 one of the quieter holiday parks in Dorset, Haven Seaview offers families the best of both worlds. Though it’s a smaller site, the kids can still enjoy lots of activities at its sister park Haven Weymouth Bay. Seaview Holiday Park has both indoor and outdoor pools, crazy golf, a play area, entertainment and an arcade. Whilst Weymouth Bay offers loads of activities including: 4×4 ride ons, bungee trampolines, a NERF training camp, an inflatable arena, archery and sports. For days out, it’s in a great spot for coastal walks and you can reach Monkey World, Durdle Door, the Tank Museum and SEA LIFE Weymouth 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.

11. Hoseasons: Bowleaze Cove Holiday Park, Weymouth

Bowleaze Cove Holiday Park is perfect for families looking for a lively coastal getaway in Dorset. The park boasts indoor and outdoor swimming pools, adventure play, soft play, arcades, entertainment and even a funfair! The kids can choose from activities like sports, segways and archery – with water sports on offer at the beach. With direct beach access and beautiful coastal walks right on your doorstep it’s a fabulous spot for a family holiday. For days out, the park is just a 5-10 minute drive from Weymouth beach and the SEA LIFE Centre, and half an hour from both Monkey World and Dorset Adventure Park. For more information, and prices for your dates, click here to check out Bowleaze Cove Holiday Park on the Hoseasons website.

12. Park Holidays UK: 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 relaxing 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, if you want to do some exploring, there are some good days out nearby. 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 UK website.

What are the best things to do in Dorset with kids?

The stretch of coastline in Dorset is famously known as the Jurassic Coast. There are some fabulous beaches to explore 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. Weymouth is a fabulous seaside town with a sandy beach, fun fair rides, a marina and plenty of places to eat – it’s one of our favourite spots in Dorset! Bournemouth Beach, with its pier, is brilliant too. 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.

There are some fantastic family-friendly attractions in Dorset. Choose from places like SEA LIFE Weymouth Aquarium (an outdoor experience with seals, otters, penguins, splash zones and more!), the Tank Museum or Monkey World (an ape rescue centre). Over the summer months, you can have loads of fun at Dorset Adventure Park (with inflatables), Moors Valley Country Park (with Go Ape and Segways) and Farmer Palmer’s Farm Park. Dorset is also a brilliant base for visiting the New Forest – which is just over the county border in Hampshire – and you’ve got Paultons Park with Peppa Pig World there too. You won’t have time to get bored! For all the details, and even more days out, check out my article on the 12 Best Things to Do in Dorset with Kids.

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. 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 – 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, 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 – it depends what you’re after. Dorset, Devon and Somerset each offer something different so it’s a great excuse to visit all three! 😂 Have a great trip.