Elsan Points In West Sussex

In West Sussex, what North American RVers call a dump station is usually known as a chemical disposal point, Elsan point, or CDP. We track several of them across the county, and every one is a paid facility (a portion paid, a portion free), typically found on caravan and camping sites rather than at public laybys. Sites like Maynards near Arundel, Concierge Camping near Chichester, and the Graffham Camping and Caravanning Club site near Petworth all have proper disposal points. Wild camping and roadside emptying are not legal here, so plan your trip around campsite facilities rather than expecting free public points.

Realistically, no. All several of the chemical disposal points we track in West Sussex are on paid caravan and camping sites, so you'll need to be a paying guest to use them. England doesn't have the network of free public dump points you find in some countries, and wild camping is not legal here without the landowner's permission. Britstops, which offers free overnight stops at farms, pubs, and breweries, is the closest equivalent for parking but doesn't guarantee disposal facilities. The practical approach is to book sites with a CDP and empty your cassette or tanks there as part of your stay.

The A27 is the key east-west route across the county, linking Chichester, Arundel, and Worthing, though it drops to single carriageway between Arundel and Worthing and gets badly congested, especially in summer. The A23 and M23 run north to south and connect to the M25 London orbital, while the A24, A29, and A259 fill in the network. The main routes are fine for motorhomes and caravans, but the narrow lanes through the South Downs villages often are not, so stick to A-roads with a larger outfit and check your route before turning off into the hills.

It can be frustrating rather than difficult. The A27 is the spine of the county for east-west travel, but the stretch between Arundel and Worthing is single carriageway and notoriously congested, particularly in summer and around Goodwood events. There's a long-planned Arundel bypass that has not yet been built. For caravanners and motorhomers the road itself is manageable, but the queues can be long, so travel early in the day, allow extra time, and be patient. If you're heading to the coast on a sunny weekend, an early start makes a real difference to both traffic and parking.

Wild camping is not legal in England without the landowner's permission, and that includes the South Downs National Park, which does not allow it. West Sussex has also introduced overnight parking bans for motorhomes and campervans on specific roads, and Mill Road in Arundel bans them from 10pm to 9am, in place since April 2025. Other areas may bring in similar restrictions. The legal and practical way to stay is on a proper campsite, or via a scheme like Britstops, which arranges free overnight stops at farms, pubs, and breweries in exchange for potential custom. Always park where you're clearly permitted.

There's a decent spread. Maynards Caravan and Camping Park near Arundel has electric hookups and is a 30-minute walk from the town centre. Concierge Camping near Chichester is a five-star site with full hookups if you want luxury. Wicks Farm Holiday Park sits 1.5 miles from West Wittering Beach, the Graffham Camping and Caravanning Club site is a tranquil 90-pitch spot near Petworth, and Lordington Park is a peaceful rural site with spacious grass pitches and firepits. All have the facilities you'd expect, including chemical disposal points, so you can empty and refill as part of your stay.

A great deal for a compact county. Arundel Castle is one of England's most complete medieval castles, with an armoury, chapel, and dry moat. Chichester Cathedral is 900 years old, free to enter, and holds artworks by Marc Chagall and John Piper. Fishbourne Roman Palace, just west of Chichester, has the finest Roman mosaics in the UK. West Wittering Beach offers long sands and shallow water, Goodwood hosts its famous motoring festivals, and the Weald and Downland Living Museum recreates rural history with over 50 historic buildings. Add the South Downs National Park itself and you have weeks of touring.

The South Downs National Park runs right through the centre of West Sussex, a landscape of rolling chalk hills with superb walking and cycling. The South Downs Way, a 100-mile trail, stretches from Winchester to Eastbourne and passes through the county. For motorhomers and caravanners it's a wonderful area to base yourself near, but a word of caution: the park does not permit wild camping, and many of its village lanes are narrow and unsuitable for larger outfits. Use the campsites on the edges of the park, and explore the interior on foot, by bike, or in a smaller day vehicle where you can.

Late spring to early autumn, from May to September, is the sweet spot, and September in particular offers warm weather with far fewer crowds than the school-holiday peak. Spring brings bluebells across the Downs woodlands, while autumn adds good colour. Summer is warmest and liveliest but also the busiest, with the A27 congested, West Wittering car park full by mid-morning, and Goodwood events drawing crowds. Winter is quiet and mild on the coast but frosty inland, with many smaller sites closed. For the best balance of weather, availability, and space, aim for September.

The county is well served. For LPG and gas, Leisure-Tech Sussex offers a mobile NCC-certified service, and Sussex Caravan Centre in Pulborough handles supplies too. For repairs and servicing, Motorhome Workshop in Worthing is AWS-approved, Meridian Motorhomes is based at Bosham near Chichester, and S and G Caravan Services runs a mobile operation covering the county. Potable water is available at most caravan and camping sites. As always, ring ahead to confirm a workshop can handle your outfit and how soon they can fit you in, especially over the busy summer season when they book out.

Supermarkets are easy to find in all the major towns, including Chichester, Worthing, Horsham, and Crawley, so a full resupply is never far away. On top of the big shops, farm shops are common across the South Downs and are a good way to pick up local produce while you tour. We recommend stocking up in one of the larger towns before heading into the quieter parts of the Downs, where shops are smaller and fewer. Water can be topped up at your campsite, and most sites will also point you to the nearest fuel and supplies if you ask.

Yes, particularly in summer. West Wittering Beach is a favourite, and its car park fills by mid-morning on sunny weekends, so arrive before 9am if you want a space, especially with a larger vehicle. Many coastal car parks also have height barriers that block motorhomes and taller caravans outright, so check before you commit to a drive down to the seafront. The A27 and coastal roads get busy at the same time, so an early start helps with both traffic and parking. Off-season, the coast is far quieter and easier to visit in a larger outfit.

They do. Goodwood Estate, about 3 miles north of Chichester, hosts the Festival of Speed in July and the Goodwood Revival in September, both of which draw very large crowds and cause significant traffic around Chichester and along the A27. If you're touring the county during those events, book your campsite well in advance, since local sites fill up fast, and plan your driving to avoid the worst of the congestion. If you're not attending, it's worth timing your Chichester-area visits away from the event weekends so you're not caught in the queues.

In West Sussex, what North American RVers call a dump station is usually known as a chemical disposal point, Elsan point, or CDP. We track {{stationCount}} of them across the county, and every one is a paid facility ({{paidPct}} paid, {{freePct}} free), typically found on caravan and camping sites rather than at public laybys. Sites like Maynards near Arundel, Concierge Camping near Chichester, and the Graffham Camping and Caravanning Club site near Petworth all have proper disposal points. Wild camping and roadside emptying are not legal here, so plan your trip around campsite facilities rather than expecting free public points.

Realistically, no. All {{stationCount}} of the chemical disposal points we track in West Sussex are on paid caravan and camping sites, so you'll need to be a paying guest to use them. England doesn't have the network of free public dump points you find in some countries, and wild camping is not legal here without the landowner's permission. Britstops, which offers free overnight stops at farms, pubs, and breweries, is the closest equivalent for parking but doesn't guarantee disposal facilities. The practical approach is to book sites with a CDP and empty your cassette or tanks there as part of your stay.

The A27 is the key east-west route across the county, linking Chichester, Arundel, and Worthing, though it drops to single carriageway between Arundel and Worthing and gets badly congested, especially in summer. The A23 and M23 run north to south and connect to the M25 London orbital, while the A24, A29, and A259 fill in the network. The main routes are fine for motorhomes and caravans, but the narrow lanes through the South Downs villages often are not, so stick to A-roads with a larger outfit and check your route before turning off into the hills.

It can be frustrating rather than difficult. The A27 is the spine of the county for east-west travel, but the stretch between Arundel and Worthing is single carriageway and notoriously congested, particularly in summer and around Goodwood events. There's a long-planned Arundel bypass that has not yet been built. For caravanners and motorhomers the road itself is manageable, but the queues can be long, so travel early in the day, allow extra time, and be patient. If you're heading to the coast on a sunny weekend, an early start makes a real difference to both traffic and parking.

Wild camping is not legal in England without the landowner's permission, and that includes the South Downs National Park, which does not allow it. West Sussex has also introduced overnight parking bans for motorhomes and campervans on specific roads, and Mill Road in Arundel bans them from 10pm to 9am, in place since April 2025. Other areas may bring in similar restrictions. The legal and practical way to stay is on a proper campsite, or via a scheme like Britstops, which arranges free overnight stops at farms, pubs, and breweries in exchange for potential custom. Always park where you're clearly permitted.

There's a decent spread. Maynards Caravan and Camping Park near Arundel has electric hookups and is a 30-minute walk from the town centre. Concierge Camping near Chichester is a five-star site with full hookups if you want luxury. Wicks Farm Holiday Park sits 1.5 miles from West Wittering Beach, the Graffham Camping and Caravanning Club site is a tranquil 90-pitch spot near Petworth, and Lordington Park is a peaceful rural site with spacious grass pitches and firepits. All have the facilities you'd expect, including chemical disposal points, so you can empty and refill as part of your stay.

A great deal for a compact county. Arundel Castle is one of England's most complete medieval castles, with an armoury, chapel, and dry moat. Chichester Cathedral is 900 years old, free to enter, and holds artworks by Marc Chagall and John Piper. Fishbourne Roman Palace, just west of Chichester, has the finest Roman mosaics in the UK. West Wittering Beach offers long sands and shallow water, Goodwood hosts its famous motoring festivals, and the Weald and Downland Living Museum recreates rural history with over 50 historic buildings. Add the South Downs National Park itself and you have weeks of touring.

The South Downs National Park runs right through the centre of West Sussex, a landscape of rolling chalk hills with superb walking and cycling. The South Downs Way, a 100-mile trail, stretches from Winchester to Eastbourne and passes through the county. For motorhomers and caravanners it's a wonderful area to base yourself near, but a word of caution: the park does not permit wild camping, and many of its village lanes are narrow and unsuitable for larger outfits. Use the campsites on the edges of the park, and explore the interior on foot, by bike, or in a smaller day vehicle where you can.

Late spring to early autumn, from May to September, is the sweet spot, and September in particular offers warm weather with far fewer crowds than the school-holiday peak. Spring brings bluebells across the Downs woodlands, while autumn adds good colour. Summer is warmest and liveliest but also the busiest, with the A27 congested, West Wittering car park full by mid-morning, and Goodwood events drawing crowds. Winter is quiet and mild on the coast but frosty inland, with many smaller sites closed. For the best balance of weather, availability, and space, aim for September.

The county is well served. For LPG and gas, Leisure-Tech Sussex offers a mobile NCC-certified service, and Sussex Caravan Centre in Pulborough handles supplies too. For repairs and servicing, Motorhome Workshop in Worthing is AWS-approved, Meridian Motorhomes is based at Bosham near Chichester, and S and G Caravan Services runs a mobile operation covering the county. Potable water is available at most caravan and camping sites. As always, ring ahead to confirm a workshop can handle your outfit and how soon they can fit you in, especially over the busy summer season when they book out.

Supermarkets are easy to find in all the major towns, including Chichester, Worthing, Horsham, and Crawley, so a full resupply is never far away. On top of the big shops, farm shops are common across the South Downs and are a good way to pick up local produce while you tour. We recommend stocking up in one of the larger towns before heading into the quieter parts of the Downs, where shops are smaller and fewer. Water can be topped up at your campsite, and most sites will also point you to the nearest fuel and supplies if you ask.

Yes, particularly in summer. West Wittering Beach is a favourite, and its car park fills by mid-morning on sunny weekends, so arrive before 9am if you want a space, especially with a larger vehicle. Many coastal car parks also have height barriers that block motorhomes and taller caravans outright, so check before you commit to a drive down to the seafront. The A27 and coastal roads get busy at the same time, so an early start helps with both traffic and parking. Off-season, the coast is far quieter and easier to visit in a larger outfit.

They do. Goodwood Estate, about 3 miles north of Chichester, hosts the Festival of Speed in July and the Goodwood Revival in September, both of which draw very large crowds and cause significant traffic around Chichester and along the A27. If you're touring the county during those events, book your campsite well in advance, since local sites fill up fast, and plan your driving to avoid the worst of the congestion. If you're not attending, it's worth timing your Chichester-area visits away from the event weekends so you're not caught in the queues.