The Best Campsites in France for Family Camping
These are the French campsites we’ve actually stayed at as a family, what our pitch was like and what we paid. Every one of them has mobile homes too, so if you’d rather not take the tent, the mobile home buttons are right there on each campsite.
We love France. It’s the place we call home and the place in which we holiday the most. Ever since we were both young, our families have holidayed in this extraordinary country. For my family, growing up, we had camping holidays near Disneyland, road trips around Cherbourg and booze cruises to Dieppe. For Mike’s family, they had camping holidays in Normandy, Gite stays in Brittany and family Eurocamp holidays at the coast. It’s no surprise that years later we both started working on French campsites.
The first ten are campsites where we’ve stayed in our own tent. After that are four big resorts we’ve stayed at in their accommodation, which all have great camping pitches too. If you’d rather have a mobile home waiting for you, every campsite has 🏠 mobile home buttons (Eurocamp, Sandaya, Yelloh! Village, Capfun and more). For Eurocamp only, see our best Eurocamps in France post.
View the tableHide the table22 rows
| Campsite | Region | Our pitch | Best for | Book a pitch | Mobile homes |
| Le Lac des 3 Vallées | Gers | Premium pitch, mid-August | Lake activities and atmosphere | Pitch prices | Capfun |
| Le Ranolien | Brittany | 3-shell pitch, 284€ for 10 nights in June | Value and coastal scenery | Pitch prices | Sandaya |
| Les Alicourts | Loire Valley | 3-shell pitch with water | The cleanest shower blocks we’ve found | Pitch prices | Sandaya |
| Le Pin Parasol | Vendée | Big grassy pitch, end of May | Sun and shade, quiet after 11pm | Pitch prices | Eurocamp Yelloh! Village |
| La Roche Posay | Vienne | Shaded pitch 73, high season | Toddlers and nap times | Pitch prices | Yelloh! Village |
| Pomport Beach | Dordogne | Huge grassy pitch, 300€+ for 5 nights | Lake beach and space to play | Pitch prices | Eurocamp Yelloh! Village |
| Sylvamar | Landes | Basic pitch with water and electric | Pools and the beach | Pitch prices | Eurocamp Yelloh! Village |
| Côte d’Argent | Gironde | Shady pitch, €980 for 10 nights in August | Surfing and a huge pool complex | Pitch prices | Eurocamp the campsite |
| Sandaya Le Col Vert | Landes | Pitch by the lake if you can | Lake life and the beaches | Pitch prices | Sandaya |
| La Croix du Vieux Pont | Aisne | Huge pitches in leafy streets | Pitch space, near Disneyland Paris | Pitch prices | Eurocamp |
| Domaine des Ormes | Brittany | Book pitches direct | Rainy days (indoor dome pool) | Pitch prices | Eurocamp |
| La Garangeoire | Vendée | 357 pitches, some with private sanitary | Rustic chateau campsite | Pitch prices | Eurocamp |
| Le Vieux Port | Landes | 1500+ emplacements behind the beach | Beach and big resort vibes | Pitch prices | Eurocamp the campsite (Resasol) |
| Camping L’Océan | Vendée | Touring pitches, book direct | Indoor pool and the beach | Pitch prices | the campsite |
| Camping Bel | Vendée | Grassy, good-sized pitches | Walking to the beach, town and Super U | Pitch prices | Eurocamp |
| Les Iles | Haute-Savoie (Alps) | Around 200 flat pitches with electric | Lake water sports in the Alps | Pitch prices | – |
| Le Ranc Davaine | Ardèche | Large 100m² emplacements | The Ardèche and big pools | Pitch prices | Eurocamp Yelloh! Village |
| Le Ruisseau | Bidart (Basque coast) | Shaded pitches, book direct | Biarritz and the Basque beaches | Pitch prices | Eurocamp |
| Sandaya Le Grand Dague | Dordogne | Skip the private sanitary pitches | Exploring the Dordogne | Pitch prices | Sandaya |
| Sandaya L’Orée du Bois | Charente-Maritime | Spacious, leafy emplacements | Gardens, pools and Royan | Pitch prices | Sandaya |
| Sandaya Séquoia Parc | Charente-Maritime | 3 pitch types to choose from | Big pool complex | Pitch prices | Sandaya |
| Saint Avit Loisirs | Dordogne | Touring pitches for tents and caravans | Budget Dordogne | Pitch prices | Eurocamp |
Swipe or scroll sideways to see every column.
Our Favourite Campsites in France for Pitching Your Tent
Capfun Le Lac des 3 Vallées, Gers
This one will go down as my favourite campsite, full stop. We booked one of the 30 premium pitches a week before we went in mid-August and I honestly had low expectations. I loved our pitch and the space we had. We could see the giant entertainment stage from our tent, so it was pretty noisy until about 11.30pm, but we loved the atmosphere.
Grab the leisure bracelets (we paid €20 per adult and €15 per child) and the lake is yours: pedalos, paddleboards, little boats for the kids. Worth every penny. (It was a Yelloh! Village when we stayed, it’s Capfun now.)
Capfun Le Lac des 3 Vallées pros and cons
What we loved about Le Lac des 3 Vallées
Lots of things to enjoy with this one…
- Premium pitches with great space, even booked just a week ahead
- Giant entertainment stage visible from the pitch and a lively atmosphere
- Leisure bracelet access to lake activities
What to know before you go
Just a couple of issues with this one…
- Noisy until about 11:30pm near the entertainment stage
Sandaya Le Ranolien, Brittany
We stayed in our tent on a 3-shell emplacement (the middle tier) and it was spacious, grassy and private. We paid 284 euros for 10 nights in June, and that included our fridge hire and the tourist tax. The same week in a mobile home would’ve been 600 euros to well over a thousand.
Our little shower block only had three toilets but I never had to wait, and there was a baby bath. Lots of the pitches are car-free too, which was great with a toddler and a 4-year-old running about.
Sandaya Le Ranolien pros and cons
What we loved about Le Ranolien
Lots of things to enjoy with this one…
- Spacious, grassy and private 3-shell emplacement
- A camping pitch worked out far cheaper than the same week in a mobile home
- Baby bath in the shower block despite only three toilets
What to know before you go
Just a couple of issues with this one…
- Small shower block with only three toilets
Sandaya Les Alicourts, Loire Valley
We camped here in our tent at 33 weeks pregnant in a heatwave…and I can hand on heart say the sanitary block is the cleanest I’ve ever found on a campsite. Heated, spotless, with its own children’s toilet block.
We went for a 3-shell pitch (pitch 718) because it came with water, and we’re SO glad we did. It was a great size, just dry and dusty after the drought. Some pitches back onto the lake, and plenty of people brought their own kayaks and paddleboards.
Sandaya Les Alicourts pros and cons
What we loved about Les Alicourts
Lots of things to enjoy with this one…
- Cleanest sanitary block we’ve found on a campsite, heated and spotless
- Own children’s toilet block
- 3-shell pitch with water included was a great size
What to know before you go
Just a couple of issues with this one…
- Our pitch was dry and dusty after the drought
Le Pin Parasol, Vendée
We pitched our tent in the rain at the end of May, but the next few days were fantastic. Our pitch was large, lovely and grassy, with sun AND shade, and close to everything. It was really close to the stage too, yet there was pretty much silence after 11pm.
We only paid about £30 for 4 nights thanks to Yelloh loyalty points (I know…). The same pitch for the first week of July would’ve been 265 euros for 7 nights. Tip: only half our shower block was open, so mornings meant queues.
Le Pin Parasol pros and cons
What we loved about Le Pin Parasol
Lots of things to enjoy with this one…
- Large, grassy pitch with both sun and shade
- Close to the stage yet pretty much silent after 11pm
- Yelloh loyalty points made our 4-night stay very cheap
What to know before you go
Just a couple of issues with this one…
- Pitched in the rain at the end of May, so weather can be unpredictable
Yelloh! Village La Roche Posay, Vienne
If you prefer camping over mobile home holidays, you’ll love this site. Camping pitches take up over half of it. Ours was mostly shaded by a giant tree, which was perfect for toddler nap times, and surrounded by bushes so we had our privacy. I wholeheartedly recommend pitch 73 to toddler parents!
Every shower block has a “cabin enfant” with a big baby bath, and we found a communal freezer for our ice packs.
Yelloh! Village La Roche Posay pros and cons
What we loved about La Roche Posay
Lots of things to enjoy with this one…
- Camping pitches take up over half of it, good for tent campers
- Pitch 73 is shaded by a giant tree, good for toddler nap times
- Every shower block has a cabin enfant with a big baby bath
What to know before you go
Just a couple of issues with this one…
- Emplacements nearer the main village are more open, less private
Yelloh! Village Pomport Beach, Dordogne
We camped here in our tent in mid-August and it’s perfect for anyone with their own tent, caravan or camper. The grassy emplacements are something I always love about central France, and ours was huge. I felt like I could relax and let the girls play.
Honest bit: we paid just over 300 euros for 5 nights and it was the most expensive pitch of our whole trip. Oddly, a Eurocamp mobile home was cheaper in the school holidays, so compare before you book.
Yelloh! Village Pomport Beach pros and cons
What we loved about Pomport Beach
Lots of things to enjoy with this one…
- Huge, grassy emplacements typical of central France
- Good option for anyone with their own tent, caravan or camper
What to know before you go
Just a couple of issues with this one…
- It was the most expensive pitch of our whole trip, a Eurocamp mobile home was oddly cheaper
Yelloh! Village Sylvamar, Landes
We stayed on one of the most basic pitches. It was a little dry and dusty, but we had running water and electricity. There are 3 types of pitch: basic like ours, ones with your own private sanitary block, and premium ones with grass and a lovely decking area.
All the camping emplacements allow cars, whereas lots of the mobile home areas are car-free. The shower blocks did need a deep clean when we were there, so I’d be tempted by a private sanitary pitch next time.
Yelloh! Village Sylvamar pros and cons
What we loved about Sylvamar
Lots of things to enjoy with this one…
- Running water and electricity even on the most basic pitch type
- Camping emplacements allow cars, unlike many of the mobile home areas
- Premium pitches with grass and decking available
What to know before you go
Just a couple of issues with this one…
- Our basic pitch was a little dry and dusty
- Shower blocks needed a deep clean when we stayed
Camping Côte d’Argent, Gironde
At first I was highly disappointed with our pitch. It looked like half of a mobile home’s garden! But once we were set up I really came to love it. It fitted our big Berghaus Adhara 700, the gazebo and the car, and it was very shady, which was fantastic in the heat (less so in the evenings).
We paid €980 for 10 nights in August with electricity (€10 a day) and a fridge shelf, which I find extremely expensive for camping. But the beach and the surf school are a short walk away and the 9,000m² pool complex is brilliant, so yes, I do feel it was worth it. Tip: they recommend bringing about 35 metres of electric cable.
Camping Côte d’Argent pros and cons
What we loved about Côte d’Argent
Lots of things to enjoy with this one…
- Pitch fitted our large tent, gazebo and the car comfortably
- Very shady, which was fantastic in the heat
What to know before you go
Just a couple of issues with this one…
- Pitch looked disappointing at first, like half of a mobile home’s garden
- Shade that helps in the day is less welcome in the evenings
Sandaya Le Col Vert, Landes
We camped on an emplacement here and I’ll be honest, ours wasn’t great: dry, dusty and full of holes. So why is it on the list? The location. Le Col Vert sits on one of the largest lakes in the Landes, with a lifeguarded beach just outside the gate in summer and a free shuttle bus to Léon and the beaches. You can even book a pitch right next to the lake.
If you go, book a lakeside or premium pitch. The campsite itself was clean and well looked after.
Sandaya Le Col Vert pros and cons
What we loved about Le Col Vert
Lots of things to enjoy with this one…
- Sits on one of the largest lakes in the Landes
- Lifeguarded beach just outside the gate in summer
- Free shuttle bus to Léon and the beaches
- Lakeside pitches available right next to the water
What to know before you go
Just a couple of issues with this one…
- Our emplacement was dry, dusty and full of holes
More Favourite Campsites in France With Camping Pitches
We stayed in mobile homes, lodges and safari tents at these, but they all have their own camping emplacements, and they’re some of our favourite campsites in France.
La Croix du Vieux Pont, Berny Rivière
This is one of the best campsites we’ve been to for pitch space. The pitches are arranged in beautiful streets with plenty of room, lots of separating bushes and well kept emplacements. We managed to fit 3 cars on ours and still had room to play!
They’ve got everything from your bog standard tent pitch to treehouses, and it’s close to Disneyland Paris and Paris. We stayed in a 4 bedroom Eurocamp lodge as a family of 8, but if I was taking the tent, this is where I’d want to be.
La Croix du Vieux Pont pros and cons
What we loved about La Croix du Vieux Pont
Lots of things to enjoy with this one…
- Pitches arranged in beautiful streets with lots of room and separating bushes
- Fitted 3 cars on our pitch with room to play
- Options from standard tent pitches to treehouses
- Close to Disneyland Paris and Paris
What to know before you go
Just a couple of issues with this one…
- Starters at the on-site restaurant weren’t the best, according to our visit
Domaine des Ormes, Brittany
Easily one of the most impressive campsites we’ve visited, and the indoor dome pool is spectacular on a rainy Brittany day. Camping pitches here are booked directly with the campsite (Eurocamp and Kelair only do the mobile homes), and you can park on your pitch.
We stayed in October in a Eurocamp Premium Azure. The weather was mild but the campsite was muddy, so if you’re taking the tent, bring wellies…
Domaine des Ormes pros and cons
What we loved about Domaine des Ormes
Lots of things to enjoy with this one…
- Spectacular indoor dome pool, great on a rainy Brittany day
- Can park on your pitch
- One of the most impressive campsites we’ve visited
What to know before you go
Just a couple of issues with this one…
- Campsite was muddy when we stayed in October, bring wellies
Camping La Garangeoire, Vendée
A Castels campsite with the owners living on-site in the chateau, and it feels like a real rustic campsite rather than a concrete resort. There are 357 pitches, and some of the touring pitches even come with their own private sanitary facilities.
We’ve stayed twice (in mobile homes both times) and found the pitches really spacious, with no problems parking right on them. Tip: the lagoon pool area is at the bottom of a gentle hill, so ask for a flatter pitch if hills are tricky.
Camping La Garangeoire pros and cons
What we loved about La Garangeoire
Lots of things to enjoy with this one…
- Rustic, owner-run feel with the family living on-site in the chateau
- Some touring pitches come with their own private sanitary facilities
- Pitches felt really spacious with no parking problems
What to know before you go
Just a couple of issues with this one…
- Loungers can be in demand in high season
Le Vieux Port, Messanges
Quite possibly the biggest campsite we’ve ever been on, with more than 1500 emplacements, right behind the beach and surrounded by pine forest. Pets are allowed on the camping emplacements, but BBQs on your pitch are banned because of the forest (there are over 23 communal ones).
We stayed in a premium lodge, and honestly some areas are tightly packed, with neighbours using our emplacement as a walkway. Ask for a quieter spot when you book.
Le Vieux Port pros and cons
What we loved about Le Vieux Port
Lots of things to enjoy with this one…
- Right behind the beach and surrounded by pine forest
- Pets allowed on camping emplacements
- Over 23 communal BBQ areas
What to know before you go
Just a couple of issues with this one…
- BBQs on your own pitch are banned because of the forest
- Some areas are tightly packed, with neighbours using our emplacement as a walkway
Camping L’Océan, Vendée
Around 520 pitches in Brem-sur-Mer, with touring pitches for tents and caravans alongside the mobile homes. There are no tour operators here, so you book directly with the campsite. The indoor pool is brilliant when the weather turns, and the beach is close by.
We stayed in a Prestige Duo mobile home with a hot tub on the decking. I’d have liked a little more pitch space, but they weren’t crammed together.
Camping L’Océan pros and cons
What we loved about Camping L’Océan
Lots of things to enjoy with this one…
- Touring pitches for tents and caravans alongside mobile homes
- Book directly with the campsite, no tour operators involved
- Indoor pool is brilliant when the weather turns
- Beach is close by
What to know before you go
Just a couple of issues with this one…
- We’d have liked a little more pitch space
Camping Bel, Vendée
Camping Bel in La Tranche-sur-Mer is one of the cleanest, best maintained campsites we’ve stayed at in years, and it’s a great one for campers. The pitches we saw were grassy and a good size, the toilet blocks were clean, and the Super U is a 5-minute walk away. While it was being renovated they even delivered our shopping straight to our pitch.
We didn’t touch the car all week. It’s not a big resort, and that’s the whole point. Pitches are booked directly with the campsite.
Camping Bel pros and cons
What we loved about Camping Bel
Lots of things to enjoy with this one…
- One of the cleanest, best maintained campsites we’ve stayed at in years
- Grassy pitches of a good size
- Super U supermarket just a 5-minute walk away
- We didn’t touch the car all week
What to know before you go
Just a couple of issues with this one…
- Booked directly with the campsite only, not via tour operators
Les Iles, Haute-Savoie
Les Iles in Passy is more of a campers’ site, with around 200 pitches for tents, campers and caravans. They seemed flat, with electric hook-ups, and well placed for the shower blocks. Campers get direct access to the lake’s water sports: kayaks, paddleboards and pedalos.
We stayed in a mobile home, but I’d love to go back for a short trip in our tent to explore the Alps.
Les Iles pros and cons
What we loved about Les Iles
Lots of things to enjoy with this one…
- Around 200 flat pitches with electric hook-ups
- Well placed for the shower blocks
- Direct access to the lake’s watersports: kayaks, paddleboards and pedalos
What to know before you go
Just a couple of issues with this one…
- Tree-top climbing course is only open Wednesdays and weekends outside school holidays
Le Ranc Davaine, Ardèche
We stayed in a Eurocamp mobile home, but I’d be tempted by the large 100m² camping emplacements if we went back. It didn’t feel cramped at all, some of the pitches had lovely big gardens, and you can park on most of them.
Le Ranc Davaine pros and cons
What we loved about Le Ranc Davaine
Lots of things to enjoy with this one…
- Large 100m² camping emplacements that don’t feel cramped
- Some pitches have lovely big gardens
- You can park on most pitches
What to know before you go
Just a couple of issues with this one…
- The nearby river flows quite fast, best for strong swimmers
Le Ruisseau, Basque coast
Le Ruisseau in Bidart has shaded pitches for your own tent, and booking directly with the campsite is the only way to get one. Eurocamp and Euroresorts only do mobile homes here.
We stayed in a Eurocamp Comfort mobile home. It’s 10 minutes from Biarritz airport, but the area is very hilly, so you’ll want the car.
Le Ruisseau pros and cons
What we loved about Le Ruisseau
Lots of things to enjoy with this one…
- Shaded pitches for your own tent
- 10 minutes from Biarritz airport
What to know before you go
Just a couple of issues with this one…
- Booking directly with the campsite is the only way to get a tent pitch
- Area is very hilly, so you’ll want a car
Sandaya Le Grand Dague, Dordogne
We’d booked a VIP pitch with private sanitary facilities using our Sandaya loyalty points, but after car trouble we were upgraded to a safari tent. Honestly, I was glad: the private sanitary pitches were basically a shared shed with a wall in the middle.
Some of the standard emplacements were a good size and the main shower blocks were great, so we’d definitely camp here.
Sandaya Le Grand Dague pros and cons
What we loved about Le Grand Dague
Lots of things to enjoy with this one…
- Standard emplacements were a good size
- Main shower blocks were great
What to know before you go
Just a couple of issues with this one…
- The private sanitary pitches were basically a shared shed with a wall in the middle
Sandaya L’Orée du Bois, Charente-Maritime
We stayed in a cottage here but had a great emplacement with lots of space, surrounded by climbing plants and palm trees. Pitches on average aren’t massive, but they’re bigger than the ones at Le Vieux Port. We said we’d come back with a tent next time.
Sandaya L’Orée du Bois pros and cons
What we loved about L’Orée du Bois
Lots of things to enjoy with this one…
- Great emplacement with lots of space, surrounded by climbing plants and palm trees
- Bigger pitches than Le Vieux Port
What to know before you go
Just a couple of issues with this one…
- Pitches aren’t massive on average
Sandaya Séquoia Parc, Charente-Maritime
Around 640 pitches, and if you’re bringing your own tent there are 3 different pitch types to choose from. We stayed in a Eurocamp Avant and had one of the largest pitches we’ve ever had, and the other pitches looked like they had plenty of space too.
Sandaya Séquoia Parc pros and cons
What we loved about Séquoia Parc
Lots of things to enjoy with this one…
- Around 640 pitches with 3 different pitch types for tents
- One of the largest pitches we’ve ever had
- Other pitches looked like they had plenty of space too
What to know before you go
Just a couple of issues with this one…
- Indoor pool becomes a paid spa-only pool in high season
Saint Avit Loisirs, Dordogne
You can book a touring pitch for your tent or caravan directly with the campsite, alongside mobile homes, chalets and safari tents. On our first stay in May we booked a Eurocamp Classic Tent for just £8 a night, and the shower blocks were super clean and never busy.
Saint Avit Loisirs pros and cons
What we loved about Saint Avit Loisirs
Lots of things to enjoy with this one…
- Touring pitches for tent or caravan alongside mobile homes, chalets and safari tents
- Shower blocks were super clean and never busy
- Booked a Eurocamp Classic Tent for just £8 a night in May
What to know before you go
Just a couple of issues with this one…
- Fast river slide may not suit everyone, e.g. when pregnant
Highly Rated Campsites in France We Haven’t Visited (Yet)
We haven’t stayed at these yet, so this isn’t our first-hand opinion. They’re on our wish list because thousands of families rate them highly on Google, and they all have pitches for your own tent.
Le Palace, Gironde
Rated 4.4 on Google from over 2,000 reviews. Le Palace is in Soulac-sur-Mer, about 500m from the beach, with 5 pools, 9 slides, an indoor pool, a spa and 2 kids’ clubs. It has 140 bare pitches for tents, caravans and campervans, booked with the campsite.
Le Palace pros and cons
Why it made our list
Lots of things to enjoy with this one…
- Rated 4.4 on Google from over 2,000 reviews
- 5 pools and 9 slides, including an indoor pool
- 140 bare pitches for tents, caravans and campervans
Worth knowing
A few things to bear in mind…
- About 500m from the beach rather than direct access
Le Mané Guernehué, Brittany
Rated 4.3 on Google from over 2,000 reviews. It’s in Baden on the Gulf of Morbihan, about 3km from the beach, with 4 pools, 4 slides and a spa. The campsite has big shaded pitches for tents, caravans and campervans.
Le Mané Guernehué pros and cons
Why it made our list
Lots of things to enjoy with this one…
- Rated 4.3 on Google from over 2,000 reviews
- 4 pools, 4 slides and a spa
- Big shaded pitches for tents, caravans and campervans
Worth knowing
A few things to bear in mind…
- About 3km from the beach
Club Farret, Vias
Rated 4.4 on Google from over 4,000 reviews. Club Farret sits right on the beach at Vias, with 6 pools, 3 slides and a spa. There’s a kids’ club for 5 to 12s and a teen club in July and August, and the campsite has pitches up to 100m².
Club Farret pros and cons
Why it made our list
Lots of things to enjoy with this one…
- Rated 4.4 on Google from over 4,000 reviews
- Right on the beach at Vias
- 6 pools, 3 slides and a spa
- Kids’ club for 5 to 12s plus a teen club in July and August
Worth knowing
A few things to bear in mind…
- Pitches top out at 100m², smaller than some resort sites on this list
Booking a Camping Pitch in France: What We’ve Learned
- Always compare. At Pomport Beach a Eurocamp mobile home was actually cheaper than our camping pitch in the school holidays. Don’t assume the tent is the cheap option.
- Know your shells. Sandaya grade their pitches by shells. The 3-shell (middle tier) has been the sweet spot for us at both Le Ranolien and Les Alicourts.
- Pay for water if you can. We picked our Les Alicourts pitch because it had its own tap and we’re so glad we did. At La Civelle we had no water on the pitch at all.
- Check the parking. Lots of campsites have car-free zones. Great for kids, but you’ll be carrying the tent kit further.
Not sure which one suits you? Our campsite quiz asks what you’re staying in first, so pick “our own tent” and it’ll only show you campsites with pitches.
Looking at one part of France? We’ve got region guides for Brittany, the Vendée, the Landes and Hossegor, the Gironde, the Dordogne and the Côte d’Azur.
Getting to Your Campsite in France With Your Tent
We almost always take our own car when camping in France, and with a tent there’s really no other way. It gives our family the flexibility we need when exploring rural campsites and remote locations that aren’t easily reached via public transport.
Ferry crossings like Portsmouth to St Malo or Dover to Calais make it straightforward. Some of the ferry options we’ve used include:
- Brittany Ferries to Caen, St Malo, Roscoff, or Cherbourg
- P&O Ferries from Dover to Calais
- DFDS Seaways from Dover to Dunkirk or Newhaven to Dieppe
What to Pack for Camping in France
We’ve got a full camping essentials list for tent camping in France. Here’s a quick list of some of our favourite things to take:
- Our Berghaus Adhara 700XL tent (read our review)
- Our Decathlon inflatable camp bed
- Childrens Sack’n’seat
- Mens Speedos (don’t forget them lads!)
Our pick for swimwear is Budgy Smugglers: fun prints, fine for French pool rules, and women’s and kids’ styles too. Code FAMILYCAMPINGEUROPE gets you 20% off.
Prefer a Mobile Home?
If the tent’s staying at home, we’ve got all our favourite mobile home holidays in our best Eurocamps in France guide, and our Eurocamp holiday guide explains how it all works.
Frequently Asked Questions About Camping in France
How much does a camping pitch in France cost?
It varies massively. We’ve paid 284 euros for 10 nights in June at Le Ranolien and 980 euros for 10 nights in August at Côte d’Argent. The big resort campsites cost much more in July and August.
Which is the best campsite in France for a tent?
Our favourites are Le Lac des 3 Vallées and Le Ranolien in Brittany.
What’s the best campsite in France for toddlers?
I have a whole post on the best campsites for toddlers and young children. For tent camping, our shaded pitch at La Roche Posay was perfect for nap times.
Can you park on your pitch in France?
Usually, on camping pitches. We parked on or next to our pitch at Côte d’Argent, Sylvamar and Les Alicourts. Lots of mobile home areas are car-free though, so check when you book.
Do I need a pitch with electricity?
Not always. If it’s just a tent and airbeds you can save a little by going without (at Côte d’Argent it was 10 euros a day). If you’ve got a fridge, lights or a phone to charge every day, it’s worth it.
So there you have it! Our top campsites in France for pitching your tent. We’ve stayed at every one in our two main lists and every opinion is our own. Do you have any suggestions where we should go next? Feel free to email us at: breanne@familycampingeurope.co.uk or visit our Facebook group: Family Camping Europe
