If you’re planning a family holiday to Lake Garda and wondering where to stay, the southern end of the lake is one of the easiest and most practical areas, especially with kids.
Around:
Peschiera del Garda
Lazise
Castelnuovo del Garda
You’ll find flatter lakeside paths (great for scooters and prams), family-friendly beaches, ferry stops, train connections and easy access to Gardaland.
Some campsites are walkable to the train station and town.
Others are better suited if you have a car.
Below, I’ve listed 18 of the best family-friendly campsites in South Lake Garda, plus clear breakdowns of which are best for:
🚆 No car needed
🎢 Gardaland access
👶 Toddlers
👦 Teens
🌅 Pretty town settings
We’ve previously travelled Italy by train with four kids and combined Rome, Florence, Lake Garda and Venice in one trip. You can read our full route breakdown here.
From Peschiera train station you can reach:
Verona – 15 minutes
Venice – around 1 hour 15
Milan – around 1 hour 15
Florence – just under 2 hours
That means you can combine:
🎢 Theme park days
🚆 City day trips
💦 Pool downtime
🌅 Lakeside evenings
All from one base.
You can easily take day trips to Venice or Verona from Lake Garda - we’ve shared our full Venice itinerary here.
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Best for train access and flat walks.
Prettiest town vibe, great lakeside feel.
Best for Gardaland and large pool complexes, may need transport.
📍 0.5 miles from centre
One of the most convenient locations on the lake.
Walkable to town
Walkable to train station
Lakeside setting
Ferry stop nearby
Arrive by train and you genuinely don’t need a car.
Bigger and busier with one of the best pool complexes in the area.
Direct lake access
Flat cycle path into town
Close to train station
Great if your kids love slides and splash parks.
Large site in a strong central position. Good option for train travel and lake walks.
📍 1.3 miles from centre
A longer walk, but still manageable if you prefer a smaller, quieter site.
We’ve stayed in Peschiera del Garda twice and have another visit planned this year. You can read our detailed guide here.
One of the biggest reasons families choose this area is proximity to Gardaland - Italy's biggest theme park with a Legoland Water Park and Peppa Pig Land inside!
Here’s something many people don’t realise:
🚍 There is a free shuttle bus from Peschiera del Garda train station directly to Gardaland.
The journey takes around 5–10 minutes and runs regularly during the main season.
So if you stay in Peschiera:
Walk to the station
Hop on the free shuttle
Spend the day at Gardaland
Be back at your campsite for dinner
Baia Holiday Gasparina – very close to the park
Camping Fossalta – good balance of park and lakeside
Hu Altomincio – larger resort-style site (better with a car or organised transport)
Camping Bella Italia – easy via shuttle
Camping Village Butterfly – easy via shuttle
These are generally smaller scale and less overwhelming than the mega-sites.
Larger pool complexes and more activity programmes work well for older kids wanting a bit of independence.
If evening strolls, colourful harbours and restaurant-lined promenades are important to you, consider the Lazise side.
Campsites here include:
Lazise is one of the prettiest towns on the lake, slightly less train-convenient than Peschiera, but beautiful.
If you’re unsure which to choose, Camping Village Butterfly and Bella Italia are the most convenient for train travel, while Hu Altomincio and Park delle Rose offer the largest pool complexes.
If convenience is your top priority, base yourself in Peschiera del Garda.
If you want charm and harbour views, consider Lazise.
If Gardaland is the main event, stay close or use the free shuttle from Peschiera station.
South Lake Garda offers that rare balance families love:
Resort-style pool holidays with the option to jump on a train to Venice for the day.
And that combination is hard to beat.
Do you need a car in Lake Garda?
Not if you stay in Peschiera del Garda. The train station connects to Verona, Venice and Milan, and there is a free shuttle bus to Gardaland.
Which area of Lake Garda is best for families?
South Lake Garda is generally the easiest with flatter paths, train access and proximity to Gardaland.
If you’re building a longer Italy itinerary, you might also find these helpful:
🚆 Our full 16-day Italy by train route
🇮🇹 7-day Venice, Lake Garda & Verona itinerary
🏛 Rome campsite stay near the airport
🇮🇹 How long to spend in Italy with kids
Explore our complete Italy Travel Guide with multi-city train routes, family itineraries, budget trips and transport tips all in one place.
👉 See all Italy guides here
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