Planning to drive Scotland's North Coast 500 in a campervan or motorhome with kids? You are in for one incredible family road trip. The NC500 takes you through some of the most spectacular scenery in the Scottish Highlands, with huge sandy beaches, waterfalls, castles, wildlife, mountains and plenty of places where the kids can get out of the campervan and explore.
But this isn't a road trip to rush.
Some of the roads are narrow, distances can be deceptive and travelling the NC500 with children requires a little more planning than simply plotting 500-ish miles into Google Maps and setting off. We have driven the route as a family, so these are the things we'd recommend knowing before starting your own NC500 campervan road trip.
1. Don't Try to Drive the NC500 Too Quickly
This is probably our biggest tip. Yes, you could race around the North Coast 500 in a few days! But why would you?
Driving the NC500 with kids is much more enjoyable when you are not constantly packing everyone back into the campervan because you've got another three-hour drive ahead of you. The route is around 516 miles, but mileage tells you very little about how long each day will actually take. Single-track roads, passing places, sheep, photo stops and those beaches you weren't planning to visit can all slow things down.
And that's exactly how it should be.
Our NC500 Ultimate Road Trip Guide includes a detailed 7-day family itinerary, but we have deliberately included ways to extend your trip and an interactive Google Map so you can slow it down or create a route that works for your family. If your NC500 adventure is part of a longer Scottish road trip, have a look at our 10 of the Best Family-Friendly Campsites in Scotland too.
2. Get Everyone Out of the Campervan Regularly
A beautiful drive is considerably less beautiful when someone in the back has asked "Are we nearly there?" for the seventeenth time.
Break up your driving days. One of the reasons the North Coast 500 works so well with kids is that there are loads of places where you can stop and actually do something. Explore a beach. Walk to a waterfall. Hunt for shells. Visit a castle. Look for dolphins. Climb over rocks. Stop for ice cream. Some of our favourite family stops include Chanonry Point, Dunrobin Castle, Dunnet Bay, Duncansby Stacks, Smoo Cave, Clashnessie Falls, Clachtoll Beach and Corrieshalloch Gorge.
For loads more ideas, read our Navigating the NC500 with Kids: Family-Friendly Activities and 25 Screen-Free Road Trip Ideas for Children of All Ages.
3. Learn How to Drive on Single-Track Roads
If you've never driven on Scotland's single-track roads before, they can feel intimidating, particularly when you are driving a campervan or motorhome. The most important thing is not to panic!
Look ahead for approaching traffic and keep an eye out for passing places. If the passing place is on your left, pull into it. If it's on your right, stop opposite it and allow the approaching vehicle to use it. Don't cross the road into a passing place on your right.
Passing places are also used to let traffic behind you overtake. If a local driver appears behind you, let them pass when it is safe. They are probably going somewhere considerably less exciting than you are! And never park in a passing place - even if the view is incredible. If you are nervous about a particular stretch of the NC500 driving route, have a look at it on Google Street View before travelling.
4. Think About Your Campervan or Motorhome Before Choosing Your Route
The fact that a road appears on an NC500 itinerary doesn't automatically mean you'll enjoy driving it in a large motorhome. Bealach na Bà is probably the most famous example. It is an incredible road, with tight hairpin bends, steep gradients and spectacular Highland views. But you still need to consider your vehicle, your driving confidence and the conditions on the day.
The same applies elsewhere on the route.
Don't let an itinerary convince you that you have to drive somewhere. If a road doesn't feel appropriate for your vehicle or you're uncomfortable driving it, find another route. The NC500 isn't a challenge you have to complete.
5. Choose Campsites That Actually Work for Your Family
A spectacular view is lovely. A hot shower, somewhere to wash everyone's muddy clothes and a beach where the kids can burn off some energy can sometimes be even lovelier. We have stayed at some brilliant family-friendly campsites on the NC500, including places where the campsite itself becomes part of the adventure.Think about what your f amily actually needs when deciding where to stay. That might be electric hook-up, laundry facilities, direct beach access, somewhere for the kids to play or simply a campsite close to the next day's activities.
We have rounded up some of our favourites in The Ultimate Guide to Family Camping on the NC500: Top 10 Sites Revealed. If you are exploring more of Scotland before or after the NC500, our 10 of the Best Family-Friendly Campsites in Scotland has plenty more ideas too. During busy periods, we would book the campsites that really matter to you in advance. You can always leave some nights flexible if that's how you prefer to travel.
6. Pack for Scottish Weather
You could spend a lot of time checking the Scottish weather forecast. It may or may not make any difference whatsoever to what happens when you open the campervan door the following morning.
Pack layers.
And waterproofs.
Proper waterproofs. For everyone.
Good footwear is worth taking too, particularly if your plans involve waterfalls, beaches, caves and family walks. If you are travelling during midge season, you'll also want to be prepared for Scotland's less welcome little residents. Our Guide to Midges in Scotland includes practical tips for avoiding them, protecting your campervan and choosing where and when to stop. We have also put together our Scotland Campervan Essentials with the bits and pieces we find useful when travelling around Scotland.
Travelling in Autumn or Winter?
The NC500 doesn't have to be a summer-only adventure, but colder-weather campervan trips need a little more preparation. Our 3 Essential Tips for Autumn Camping and Vanlife Preparation covers things like staying warm, dealing with darker evenings, wet weather and getting your campervan ready for camping outside the summer months. And if you are planning a proper winter adventure, you could even combine your Scottish road trip with a few days in the mountains. Our Campervan-Friendly Ski Resorts in Scotland: Where to Stay for Your Next Ski Trip covers Scotland's five outdoor ski areas along with campervan parking and nearby campsite options.
7. Fill Up the Campervan — And the Snack Cupboard
Once you leave the larger towns, fuel stations, supermarkets and other services become less frequent. Don't wait until the fuel light comes on.
The same goes for food.
We recommend stocking up in Inverness before heading further around the route, particularly if you have got children whose ability to survive without a snack lasts approximately eleven minutes. If you're spending some time in Inverness before setting off, don't just treat it as somewhere to fill the fuel tank and supermarket trolley. There is plenty to do with kids around the city and surrounding area, including dolphin spotting at Chanonry Point and exploring Loch Ness.
8. Download What You Need Before You Lose Signal
There are parts of the NC500 where your phone signal may disappear. Download anything important before you need it. That includes offline maps, campsite details, booking confirmations and information you might need for the day's activities. This is also one of the reasons we've included an interactive Google Map with our NC500 Ultimate Road Trip Guide. It brings together the campsites, beaches, viewpoints and family stops from the guide, along with additional recommendations to help you plan your route. If you are visiting Scotland from overseas, it is also worth sorting your mobile data before disappearing into the Highlands. We recommend an Airalo Travel eSIM.
9. Leave Space for the Places You Didn't Plan to Visit
This is probably our favourite thing about campervan travel. You can plan every day of your NC500 family itinerary, but some of the best bits will probably be the things you didn't plan at all.
An empty beach you spot from the road.
A waterfall you hadn't heard of.
A café you only stopped at because everyone was hungry.
Or a beach where the kids are having such a brilliant time that you decide to forget whatever was supposed to happen next. Our itinerary is deliberately designed to be flexible for exactly this reason. Use it as a framework rather than a list of things you need to tick off. The NC500 is much better when you give yourself permission to change the plan.
10. Consider Extending Your Scottish Road Trip
If you have already driven all the way to the Highlands, you might not want to turn around and head straight home when the NC500 ends. Add a few days and you could explore the Isle of Skye, Orkney or the Inner Hebrides. Our updated NC500 guide includes ideas for extending your Scottish adventure and we have also created separate travel guides and maps to help you plan some of these destinations.
Planning Your NC500 Campervan Trip?
There is a lot to think about when planning the North Coast 500 with children. How many days do you need? Where should you stay? Which stops will the kids actually enjoy? Which beaches are worth visiting? How do the single-track roads work? And how do you turn more than 500 miles of Scottish Highlands into a family holiday rather than a week spent sitting in the campervan? That's exactly why we created our NC500 Ultimate Road Trip Guide.
Updated for 2026, it includes a 7-day family itinerary, interactive NC500 Google Map, family-friendly campsite recommendations, beaches, driving tips, advice for international visitors and ideas for extending your Scottish adventure. Follow the itinerary from start to finish, slow it down over a longer trip or use the interactive map to build an NC500 adventure that works for your family.
More NC500 & Scotland Planning
Still planning? These guides will help with the next stage of your trip:
The Ultimate Guide to Family Camping on the NC500: Top 10 Sites Revealed – our favourite family-friendly places to stay around the route.
Navigating the NC500 with Kids: Family-Friendly Activities – ideas for breaking up the driving and finding things the kids will actually enjoy.
10 of the Best Family-Friendly Campsites in Scotland – useful if the NC500 is only one part of a longer Scottish road trip.
A Guide to Midges in Scotland – because being prepared for them can make a very big difference to a summer trip.
3 Essential Tips for Autumn Camping and Vanlife Preparation – practical advice if you're travelling later in the season.
Campervan-Friendly Ski Resorts in Scotland: Where to Stay for Your Next Ski Trip – for families turning their Scottish road trip into a winter adventure. Pack the campervan, stock up on snacks and leave a few gaps in the itinerary. Those unplanned stops might just be the best part.
Are you planning a road trip to the Isle of Skye? My Ultimate Road Trip Guide takes the stress out of the journey, so you can simply pick it up and go!
Designed for campervan and motorhome adventures, it includes a 4-day family-friendly itinerary, daily driving maps and practical travel tips for exploring Skye with ease. A fully interactive Google Map links directly to must-see sights, hikes and campsites, while flexible itinerary options let you tailor the trip to suit your plans. Whether you're extending your adventure or following the route as it is, this guide ensures a seamless and unforgettable experience on Scotland’s most breathtaking island.
Quick Access Digital Format - As soon as your purchase this Travel Guide you will receive a link to download the PDF Guide. This can be printed, or saved digitally.
Google Map and Legend - Throughout this travel guide, you’ll find several interactive maps - simply click on a map image and the link will take you directly to the relevant map. On the final page, you'll also find a link to a Google Map containing all the locations mentioned in this guide, along with additional recommendations to help you customise your road trip to suit your plans.
Due to the digital nature of this Travel Guide, refunds are not provided. However, if you experience technical issues, please do contact us directly for support.