Should I hire a car, campervan or motorhome?

If you're looking to rent a campervan, motorhome or car then there are a few things that you need to keep in mind!

• Roads on the NC500 can be incredibly winding, narrow, steep in parts and are often single track lanes.

• You must be confident driving on the roads and happy reversing in whatever vehicle you are travelling in.

• We have personally driven it in both a car and campervan and we felt comfortable in both!

• The campervan we had was a Swift Trekker X and we don't think anything bigger than this would be suitable for some sections of the NC500.

• Check your rental insurance covers single track and rural roads. You may want to consider additional cover for things like gravel or narrow road damage!

• Think about the season you are travelling in as this may impact the vehicle you choose. Winter or shoulder season might require a smaller vehicle.

• Please note that wild camping is not the same as overnight parking!

Below we break down the pros and cons of hiring each vehicle:

Car

Pros:

• The easiest way to get around the NC500 in terms of navigating roads!

• The fastest way to travel the NC500.

• You can access all sections of the NC500.

• Parking will be a little easier with a car as you're not trying to find space for a big vehicle.

• You are likely to spend less money on fuel!

Cons:

• You will have to book accommodation along the NC500 for your trip! This can be tricky during the summer months due to accommodations booking up way in advance.

• You will be on the hunt for toilets during your trip (always a pain!!).

• Contrary to popular belief, you will not be able to car camp wherever you want to as you have to be fully self contained. You can wild camp, but this means camping in a tent away from your car. There are strict rules around this. See more information here. Check out our other travel tip on wild camping.

• The smaller the vehicle, the less room for luggage!

Campervan

For the purposes of this section we are talking about campervans that are fully self contained with toilet and shower! This is personally our favourite option as you get to stay in some beautiful campsites, but you're not too 'big' that it disrupts your journey!

Pros:

• You are self contained, so no need to find restaurants and you have your own toilet facilities.

• Campsites are much cheaper than hotels or B&Bs.

• It's easier to navigate on the roads than a large motorhome.

• You can access all parts of the NC500.

• You can stay in some of the most beautiful campsites with spectacular views!

• You can park overnight on the side of the road in some areas, BUT, there are very strict rules around this. Please see our travel tip regarding this!

Cons:

• It won't be as easy to navigate the roads as a car.

• It'll take you longer to get from A to B.

• It is less fuel efficient than a car.

• Parking can be tricky at times, but not as hard as a motorhome!

• Services like water refill and waste disposal points can be less frequent on the NC500, so plan stops carefully.

Motorhome

Pros:

• It can be a great way to explore, especially if you're heading to the NC500 for a couple of weeks as it gives your more space.

• Staying at campsites is cheaper than staying at hotels or B&Bs.

• There are some beautiful campsites you are able to stop at.

• You can park overnight on the side of the road in some areas, BUT, there are very strict rules around this. Please see the information here.

Cons:

• There are sections of the NC500 you wont be able to access as the roads are not suitable for such large vehicles.

• Parking is going to be far harder, as often car parks are not very big.

• It is the least fuel efficient of the three.

• It will take you longer to navigate the route.

• You will need to be a very confident driver and be happy reversing as you are likely to get stuck at times due to the single track roads.

• Services like water refill and waste disposal points can be less frequent on the NC500, so plan stops carefully.