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For tent camping, grass and hardstanding pitches can require different equipment and booking checks. Grass is a familiar option for many tents, while some hardstanding pitches are intended mainly for caravans or motorhomes. Confirm that your tent is permitted before choosing by convenience or availability.
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Ask what the surface actually is
Hardstanding can mean different constructions, from compacted gravel to a surface where ordinary tent pegs cannot be used. Ask the campsite how tents are anchored, what equipment it recommends and whether there are suitable areas for the full tent and guylines.
The Camping and Caravanning Club’s pitch-type guide distinguishes grass and hardstanding options with different services. Read your site’s description carefully rather than assuming every pitch type accepts the same camping unit.
Compare the practical trade-offs
Grass can be more comfortable underfoot, but wet or soft ground may affect anchoring, access and how muddy equipment becomes. Check drainage and ask about current conditions. A green appearance does not tell you how firm the soil will be beneath the surface.
A permitted gravel pitch may keep some mud away from the entrance, but its surface can be uncomfortable and abrasive to a tent floor. Follow the tent maker’s guidance on protective footprints and suitable pitching surfaces. Extra fabric is not a solution to sharp stones or an unsuitable site.
Choose anchors for the permitted ground
For appropriate hard, stony soil, Outwell’s Tarzan Rock pegs are an example of a steel design intended for that type of ground. You can check the 23 cm six-peg listing on Amazon UK. Their name does not mean they can be driven through any constructed surface.
Follow campsite guidance before inserting pegs, especially where services may be buried. Do not hammer into a prohibited surface, force a peg against an obstruction or substitute an unassessed anchor arrangement.
Check the whole layout
Your tent floor might fit on one surface while its guylines extend onto another. Check the full pitching plan, permitted vehicle position and routes around the tent. Keep entrances usable and follow spacing instructions.
Consider furniture too. Chair feet may sink into soft grass, while uneven gravel may make a table rock. Choose a stable arrangement suited to the equipment rather than relying on stacked objects under individual legs.
Book the option you can use properly
For a first tent trip, a clearly described, suitable pitch with straightforward anchoring is often easier than adapting to an unfamiliar hardstanding. Send the campsite your tent dimensions and ask what you need.
The better surface is the one that is permitted, suitable for your shelter and manageable in the conditions expected. Neither grass nor hardstanding is automatically the dry, comfortable choice in every setting.
Continue with our camping trip planning guide.
Reviewed 10 September 2026. This guide is based on published specifications and guidance.