11 Best Motorhome Campsites in France

January 19, 2021 in Destinations, Campsites & France

In this post, we’re going on a whirlwind tour to reveal some of the very best motorhome campsites that continental France has to offer. Mainland France has 12 regions on the European continent, and we’ll be making a stop in each, discovering what you can find there and where you should stay. On the map below, you can see where each of the campsites lies in relation to France’s geography. In case none of these campsites line up with your road trip plans, or you’re travelling on a budget, check out this useful Stopover Map to find out where you can pull up hassle-free and free of charge.

Be sure to check out the driving rules in France before you go!

Goboony Map France Campsites H2 Camping

Before you go 

If you’re travelling in the summer months, be sure to book your pitch well in advance. French residents and global travellers all come to soak up the warm weather, and it’s no wonder, because there’s such diversity in what the French landscape has to offer. So be warned, campsites do fill up. Also, don’t be surprised if there’s added tourist tax on the pitch price. Luckily, it’s always under one euro. If you’re bringing your motorhome to France, driving with a Criticar sticker is mandator in certain areas, so order one online and slap it on your vehicle before you leave.

  1. Northwest France: Brittany and Normandy

Welcome to France! If you’ve just arrived in your camper, you may find yourself at the northwestern ferry ports of Roscoff, Cherbourg, or Caen. We recently highlighted our favourite motorhome sites in Normandy, but France has, even more, to offer on its channel coastline. Brittany is a fairy tale-esque, lush green land of Celtic history, rich with local tradition and culture. Its beaches, cliffs and bays that are equally dramatic, and you’ll find surfable waves, clifftop hikes or secluded coves along its 1000 miles. The inexplicable magic of Brittany is captured at Camping Milin Kerhé, which become its own little community of like-minded campers every summer. People come from all across western Europe, and further afield, to enjoy the forested location and mellow, rustic atmosphere. There’s a policy of only planting native trees, shrubs and wildflower meadows in between pitches, and reduced lighting so that the night sky can be enjoyed. 

This small campsite offers 60 grass pitches. There’s a big weekly BBQ, which is a good opportunity to meet the other campers. Other evenings, a food truck serves fish and chips, or galettes and crêpes (which are local delicacies). The toilet block has hot showers (which, refreshingly, you don’t need tokens for), men’s and women’s wash areas with sockets, washing up sinks and a washing machine. There’s an accessible toilet and shower, which families can also use. Bring your own toilet paper, but soap is provided. The reception has lots of useful tourist information, flyers, and maps, and sells an assortment of basic food items, chilled drinks and local ice-creams. There’s also a table tennis table, volley-ball court and boules pitch, so you can get into the French tradition of Pétanque!

A pitch in the high season for two adults with electricity costs €23,40 including tourist tax. 

Camping de Milin Kerhé Rue du Moulin 22200 Pabu, Côtes-d'Armor, Brittany, France

Goboony Town Night City H2 Forest

Dinan, Brittany

  1. Hauts-de-France

Next, we head east to the northernmost region of France. Whilst this region isn’t France’s most popular for tourists, that might not be a bad thing – peaceful campsites and uncrowded tourist sites - and it isn’t for lack of charm. Regional nature parks include Avesnois, Les Caps et Marais d’Opale, Scape-Escaut and Oise-Pays de France. There are immense beaches on the Opal and Picard coasts, including the protected Mers-Les-Bains conservation area and the Somme Bay wildlife haven, which is home to an array of bird species and an impressive colony of harbour seals. The region also has many cultural and architectural treasures that are UNESCO World Heritage Sites, such as the wonderful castles of Chantilly and Pierrefonds, and the famous Gothic cathedral in the gorgeous riverine town of Amiens. Depending on when you go, there are also festive local events such as the Dunkirk carnival and Lille street market

Our camping pick for the region is Campsite le Brochet. An hour from Amiens and close to the centre of Péronne village, it’s tucked away in a natural setting on its own recreational lake. Choose from a shaded or sunny spot, hardstanding or grass pitch, and enjoy easy access to various cycle routes. The camp supplies its own fresh bread, WiFi, and has all the bases covered; hot water wash basins, standard toilets, hot water showers, chemical disposal, laundry facilities including dryers and an iron, freezers and a microwave. 

Hardstanding campervan pitches with electricity are €16 per night. 

Camping Le Brochet, 88 Rue Georges Clémenceau, 80200 Péronne, France. 

  1. Île-de-France

Travellers may be drawn to Île-de-France for the famed capital, Paris, and Versailles, an elegant city famed for Louis XIV's incomparable château. But, despite its famous metropolitan areas, Île-de-France also encompasses quiet rural communes throughout the gently rolling limestone hills of the Paris Basin, and beautiful scenery along the river Seine and its tributaries. The Huttopia Rambouillet is where you should stay to experience the best of motorhome campsites whilst visiting France’s most famous tourist destination. Surprisingly, the site is evocative of the national parks of North America, with its century-old forests and lakeside camping. The site is natural, simple, and nonetheless exciting, with all the essential facilities for family camping despite being less than an hour from the city’s hustle and bustle. You get the very best of both worlds, and can make the most of the wild setting after a day in the city by hiring bikes to explore the oak forest, go fishing on the Etang d’Or, or dive into the gorgeous natural swimming pool on site. 

The site has a Living Centre, where you’ll find the pool, reception, grocery shops, and a Pizza-Grill restaurant as well as lounge or wooden terrace where you can hang out. You can pre-order bread, pastries from the village bakery, delivered to the site each morning. Or, order a whole breakfast ‘formula’ including tea, coffee, juice, and jam too, so that there’s no fuss in the morning. There’s also an internet point at the reception, barbeques and fridges for hire, and a laundry area with washing machine and dryer. As per Huttopia standards, the sanitary facilities are modern, clean, but also blend into the woody environment. They’re also accessible and include family rooms.  

Pick from natural, comfort or comfort-plus pitches, with prices ranging from €18,50 to €28,80

Rue du Chateau d’Eau, 78120 Rambouillet, France

  1. Grand-Est

Next, we go east to the departments bordering Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany, and Switzerland, a cultural melting pot clearly seen in its architecture and tasted in its gastronomy. Travelling by camper, you’ll be able to explore quaint villages like Kaysersberg or Eguisheim, and taste some great wines and champagnes, without forgetting the region’s beautiful mountains, forests, and lakes. This region is equally stunning in the winter and summer. Whilst here, stay at the Clariere Verbamont. It’s a quirky, convivial and eco-friendly campsite in the heart of the Vosges forest, 25km south of Vittel. Pitches are spread out on the forest edges, and still serviced by electricity. There’s a permaculture garden plus grain library for seed swapping (so you can plant your souvenirs upon returning home!), several campfire spaces, and hybridized dry toilets as well as a heated toilet block. You can pay for a ‘kitchen pack,’ which costs 3.50eur per pitch and enables use the common kitchen area, gas, oven, microwave, crockery, fridge, and freezer space.

Campervan pitches are €14 and its €4 for an adult per night. Electricity costs an extra €3 a day. 

Clariere Verbamont, 1 Canton de Verbamont, 88410 Claudon

  1. Centre-Val-de-Loire

Next, we head to the historic Loire Valley, the heart of castle country. This area will appeal especially to history buffs, architecture fans, foodies, wine-lovers, and those who have been cultivating their own gardens in the time they’ve spent at home recently. The allure of its gardens is magnetic, from those of the châteaux, like Chenonceau, to villages famed for their floral displays. We’d pitch up in Touraine, at the Camping le Bois Fleuri. In this dreamy, wooded area, you can choose from semi-shaded, or sunny pitches. You can hire bikes and classic Citroen 2CVs to explore the area. On-site, there’s an outdoor pool, fishing pond, and activities like ping-pong, badminton and table football. There’s also a snack bar, shop with local goods, and communal barbecues. The other facilities include electric hookups, drinking water stations, free hot showers, baby bathing and changing areas, and laundry areas. 

The base rate for a pitch is €3,60 per night, adults pay €4,20 each per night, and electricity costs €3,50. 

Lieu-dit Le Bois Fleuri, 37800 Saint Epain

Goboony France town city h2 nature

Chteau Chenonceau

  1. Pays-de-la-Loire

On the upper west coast, the longest river in France flows out to the Atlantic through wine country. With two coastal departments and three inland, the Pays-de-La-Loire’s landscapes are diverse. There are seaside resorts of Loire-Atlantique with big, sandy beaches, the rural Ligerian countryside, numerous castles, and miles upon miles of vineyards. The region was the cradle of the renaissance, and its cities are historical marvels whilst the smaller villages are often more evocative of Tuscany, with their mingled Italian history. The best way to experience the place is in your campervan or by bike, just be sure to visit one of the vineyards, such as in Saumur

Whilst here, stay at the Slow Village. We love everything that this site stands for, and it certainly stands out from the rest of the campervan sites in France. It sits on an island in the majestic Loire, in the heart of a natural park where and astride a botanical garden, and just a few minutes away from the UNESCO World Heritage city of Angers. For watersports enthusiasts, walkers, or cyclists, there’s a huge range of choice for walks, velo routes, a nautical base that offers paddleboard, canoe and kayak hire, and Anjou Wake Park a little further away. Better yet, for experiencing the Ligurian terroir, the site has a restaurant, the Guingette ‘La Gabare.’ You can eat, drink and dance to an eclectic weekly music program on a terrace shaded by oak trees, overlooking the water. The menu is developed by their own Chef, who specialises in vegetarian cooking. Of course, the restaurants of Angers are nearby, too. If you’re cooking for yourselves, you can access the site’s vegetable garden for extra fresh ingredients.

The site also as a mini shop, laundry room with machines, tumble dryer and iron, WiFi if you need it, heated toilets and showers, disability accessible toilets and showers, ice and freezers, and barbecue equipment. 

Pitches range from €17 per night (‘natural’) to €22 per night (premium). 

Avenue de la Boire Salee, 49120, Les Ponts de Ce

  1. Nouvelle-Aquitaine

Being the largest region, choosing from the best motorhome sites in southwest France is tough. However, this recommendation comes straight from the heart. Having worked and lived in Nouvelle-Aquitaine on and off since 2016, the place that keeps drawing be back is Les Cigales. The time I have spent at this campsite would total several months, and I can confidently say that this is one of the most magical campervan friendly sites in France. Though it gets pretty busy in the height of the summer, the pitches all remain spacious and it only adds to the exciting atmosphere. You’ll find plenty of other van-lifers, here to enjoy the surf and the setting, as well as the parties in town. If the social element isn’t your vibe, you’ll find endless opportunities for solitary enchantment in the maritime pine forests, and the most incredible views through the trees as the sun sets directly in front of the river mouth, where the trees meet ecologically protected dunes. The site is well looked after by managers and security guards who regularly do laps on their golf-buggies, but always give a friendly wave. You can go for a simple pitch or one with 5amp electric hook up if needed. The toilet blocks are simple and well-distributed, as are communal barbecue areas. Some pitches are more private and shaded than others, some closer to the village and others to the beach, so make sure you explain your preferences when booking. 

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Nearby, you’ve got other surf (and skate) havens like Hossegor, Capbreton, and Bayonne. It’s not far to drive to Biarritz, which always reminds me of Sydney, with its sandstone cliffs, swimming coves visible from trendy restaurants and shops, and surf beaches (but très, très chic). You can see the Pyrenees mountains as the coastline curves towards Spain, Nouvelle-Aquitaine encompasses all of this, offering endless adventures. So, trust me, it’s easy to spend a long time in this part of the world!

All pitches are for up to 6 people as standard, and cost €46,60 in the high season and €14,74 in the low season. Electricity is €4 a day. 

2290 Avenue de l’Ocean, 40660 Moliets-Plage, Landes 

Goboony campervan motorhome h2 nature

  1. Bourgogne-Franche-Comte

This region, famed for its prestigious wines and vineyards, gastronomic pleasures, destinations listed as World Heritage by UNESCO, all within a preserved and natural setting, a perfect balance between man, nature, and its produce. Chateaux, historic and cultural towns, monumental edifices, or simple village architecture retrace the regions past. However, there’s also much to offer the thrill seeking traveller, especially if you stay at the Camping Merry-sur-Yonne. This site is nestled at the foot of the famous Roches du Saussois, a mecca for climbers and boulderers and there’s something to scramble to matter what your skill level. Chablis and other famous wine villages are less than 20 minutes’ drive away, most with vineyards available to tour. In the village of Merry-sur-Yonne, the beautiful Canal du Nivernais and the River Yonne can both be explored by boat with hire easily available. You can fish in the river or visit one of the fishing lakes nearby, while walking, cycling, trekking and horse-riding are all available with full information available in reception. It’s a family campsite with excellent modern facilities, and provides the perfect base to explore the Burgundy region. Best of all is the camp atmosphere, which their website captures perfectly: ‘the scent of our daily, freshly baked, bread and pastries ambles through the camping each morning as the Muntjac deer nibble the grass, and birdsong dreamily drifts through the nearby forest and riverside.’ Oui, s’il vous plaît!

There’s a luxury toilet block with individual cubicles, each with a toilet, shower and sink, plus disabled facilities and baby changing rooms. The laundry has a washer, dryer and ironing board. There’s also a fully equipped communal kitchen, kid’s outdoor playground, tennis courts, plus more outdoor and indoor games. Not to mention dog wash station, caravan service point, free WiFi, and bike rental.

Standard pitches are €18 a night, deluxe are €21 and hardstanding are €23. 

5 Impasse des Sables, Merry-sur-Yonne, 89660, Yonne, Bourgogne, France

  1. Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes

Like the other regions, there’s too much to see in Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes to begin to even list here, from the Alpine resorts to the Swiss border and Jura mountains, the unmissable lakeside city of Annecy and Drôme’s lavender fields, olive groves and vineyards. But, one of the most outstanding landscapes is the Ardèche, which is why Les Rives de L’ Ardèche  is our favourite for motorhome sites in southeast France. Between Vallon Pont d’Arc and Saint Martin d’Ardèche, you’ll find France’s ‘Grand Canyon.’ This protected nature reserve is famous for its wild, impressive limestone gorges, which were formed up to 110 million years ago. It’s a must for kayakers and canoers, if you’re into wild swimming, cliff jumping or breath-taking views in general. 

This site is perfectly located within the natural park, on the riverbank with its own secluded, safe beach and swimming spot. It has 60 pitches on perfectly flat terrain, under the shade of mature trees which is welcome in the summer months. The reception block has there’s free Wi-Fi, an ice-pack freezer, a small shop and tourist information, and, as usual, you don’t have to walk far to collect freshly baked croissants in the morning. En plus, there are toilets, showers, a dish-washing area, laundry area, disabled access shower-room, indoor and outdoor entertainment areas, and a small shop. 

Campervan pitches for 2 adults are €18 in low season and €20,40 in high season. 

Les Rives de L’ Ardèche, Les Devès, Aleyrac, 07330 Mayres, Ardèche

  1. Occitanie

Occitanie is the southernmost administrative region of France (excluding Corsica), formed from the merging of the Languedoc-Roussillon and Midi-Pyrénées. Towards the west, the gorgeous Gers is a land of lush countryside, Armagnac and musketeers. Further east you’ll find the world famous Rocamadour and other stunning medieval villages in the Tarn Gorge. In the south you have the Pyrènees mountain range, and the Spanish border. It’s here we find the next of our motorhome sites, in France’s Catalan country. Camping Les Cerisiers is a campsite like no other, in a cherry orchard at the foothills of mountains, just waiting to be hiked (or you can hire a bike from the team). It is only half an hour from the Med, near the ever-popular Perpignan. You can take to the trees at the local forest adventure park, or take it nice and easy indeed with an hour or three in the onsite spa, or at the spas of Amélie-Les-Bains, 20 minutes away. A horse-riding centre is also kilometre and a half away. Facilities on site include a playground, a TV room, table tennis, a library and summer entertainment. There’s also a well-stocked shop, a bakery and a barbecue area.

Pitches start at €8.10, whilst adults pay €4.50 each and electricity is an extra €4. 

Camping Les Cerisiers, Mas de la Toure, 66400 Cerét
Goboony nature mountain village h2 town

Rocamadour, Dordogne Valley

  1. Provence-Alpes-Cote d’Azur

Whilst Provence’s charm rests on the hilltops with its ‘villages-perchés,’ dramatically located, historical villages with stunning views, and the Cote d’Azur sparkles with the allure of seaside cities and cliff-lined harbours, a road trip in France would be incomplete without a pit-stop in the Alps. When it comes to mountain access, Camping La Source is unrivalled amongst high altitude campervan sites in France. On the northern border of Provence its setting is a world away from the mellow lavender fields to the south. In a wooded area, majestic giant sequoia, cherry, pines and walnut trees provide shade, which is welcome as this part of France gets 300 days of sunshine a year! It’s a peacefully wild place to unwind, which also opens to door to a vast, outdoor playground.  

They keep the front field-free as a space to be enjoyed by all, with picnic benches, room for games, special events or the occasional paraglide landing. The terrace has a restaurant, where cold drinks, homemade cakes and teas and coffees are served, as well as breakfast and homemade dinner meals. There’s WiFi, hot showers, toilets, fridge and freezer, washing machines (costing €5), various water points and waste disposal. 

A pitch for two adults costs either €15 or  €19.50 depending on whether it’s a simple, grass pitch or serviced and hardstanding. Both are much cheaper in the low season.

Camping La Source, 05140 Saint Pierre D’Argençon, Hautes-Alpes, France 

Goboony nature cliff water sailing h2 france

Cassis, Marseille

If you’ve enjoyed this brief visit to the best motorhome sites in France, hopefully, you’ll soon be sipping a glass of Saumur from a seat outside your campervan, aside a rippling river, with your dinner cooking on an open fire and the clink of Pétanque balls carrying on a warm breeze. Santé (cheers) to that!

You could use these campsites whilst you embark on the Napoleon road trip through France or as camping stops for the Tour de France. No campervan? No problem! Consider motorhome hire in France.

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