UKC

Looking to head out to the dolomites with the family in the summer (school hols). We will be camping in a tent.

Anyone had any luck or know of any campsites that you can just turn up to without booking? Ideally don't want to be tied to dates so we can relocate as we please. Always used to be able to do this going back to pre kids time (still tied to school hols though even back then) but wondering if this has changed- camping seems more popular than back then!

Thanks

We've usually stayed in Cortina, outside August but there have always been spaces for tents to just turn up (Camping Dolomiti). Seem to be quite a few people just staying a few nights in small tents, plus others pitching for most of the summer.

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We stayed by the lake in Molveno - Brenta which was lovely

This is really useful to know. We have stayed in Cortina on one of our previous trips (can't remember which site though!)

Thanks Matt. Have you booked or just turned up?

Dolomiti is the furthest of the three sites downstream of the town, free washing machines plus an easy walk to the pizzeria at the next site along.  Usually more spaces in the shade of the trees rather than full sun, worth bringing a hammock. 

(We were last there in 2019 and try to avoid school holidays, so July or September)

Only negative is no pool (or at least it was empty last time we were there), but basic kids play area and also table tennis tables (bring your own bat and balls).

Outside the main areas should be reasonably easy. Theres a nice site in Pescul just up the road from Selva di Cadore. In the woods, off the beaten track and apparently reasonably priced. 

It was a few years ago, but we just turned up. Check them out online?

We stayed in Camping Sass Dlacia last September and it was really nice. Good size pitches amongst the pine trees, a good restaurant on-site and an excellent crag a 5 minute walk away! We didn't book, but it was outside of peak holiday season. 

Be advised there is a public holiday mid-August and the Dolomites become rammed.  Basically you can't move around by car because it is grid locked and you can't camp anywhere because everything is rammed (campsites so full tents get pitched over tents (literally)).

Best advice is to locate that public holiday and avoid that weekend by spending a few days in Austria (just over the border) where is is much quieter.

Generally in August don't expect to just turn up and camp in popular areas and book huts a few days in advance at least.

The public holiday you're probably refering to is 'ferragosto' which will fall on Thursday 15th August in 2024.

Dave

That's right, and the week before and after is a horrorshow.

The Col di Pra campsite seems to have space every time i go and i never book in advance. Beautiful campsite in a great location with good facilities and cheap. Good base for the Pale, Agnier, Trieste, and Civetta areas.

Olympia (just north of Cortina, and across the road from the Punta Fiames) was booked out last year in August.

You might find space on the campsite near the Lago di Misurina... but after your first shower there you might also find yourself giving Olympia a ring to see whether they have maybe got a space free after all.

Sass D'Lacia has got a lot of space... but see previous threads on here about the consistency of the ground. Hint: if you're used to North Leas or Bosherston, then it's not like that. That said, if you come prepared for the ground, the on-site restaurant is pretty nice.

Corvara has also got a lot of space... but I've not stayed there for a while, so YMMV.

Just to add our experience - we went in Aug last year (and got lots of advice from this parish in advance, search the threads).

I could not book camping in advance so hoped to just turn up and find a spot. We targeted Cortina as a base, and found that all 3 campsites in/south side of the town were full up. In particular we didn't like the look of Camping Dolomiti - v sardine-like and the reception stank of incontinent old men.

We ended up heading north and went to Camping Olympia - managed to get pretty much the last free spot in the campsite - so we were lucky, but it could have been a camp-in-the-trees job.

In short - hard to book, need to have a hit-list of campsites to drive around and find somewhere - and don't go in mid August! If I went again, I'd aim for sept.

Nick

Hi, sorry to hijack this thread! We are also thinking of a trip to the Dolomites in the summer.

Are there any campsites with easy access to swimming (preferably a lake)?  We have a mixed team of climbers / via-ferrattaers (!), cyclists and swimmers. We were thinking of staying at Sass Dlacia but not sure where the nearest swimming would be...

Thanks! Jenny

Misurina was the nicest lake we found for swimming, although it was 9C in late September, so we didn’t stay in long. Certainly lots of good climbing and via ferrata around that area too. 

Camping Misurina is first come, first serve in the morning. You've better chances in bad weather, when people flee the campground. Otherwise come early and wait for people vacating space.