France Short Stay/Night Halt
France Shorter Stays and Night Halts
Northern France
Amiens Le Parc des Cygnes
New site convenient for visiting the city or area, bus stop outside gates or cycle along the canal (about 6km). Helpful staff and good heated facilities. Tarmac roads but the serviced grass pitches are uneven (probably due to rabbits) and could be difficult in the wet. Handy for a last night before ferry. (2011)
Etaples Camp Municipal La Pinede
Etaples is good for a short stay and the site is in attractive location with views. We were unlucky with large noisy French family groups. Good fish market on the quayside at Etaples. Jetons needed for showers, Barrier closed at lunchtime and after 7, might be awkward for early departures. (2006)
St Quentin(10km South) ACSI Camping Le Vivier aux Carpes
Ok site in quiet village good facilities, muddy when wet. Could be base for some Great War battlefields (201O)
Paris Camping Bois de Boulogne
Busy site, not too difficult to find following signs from Bvld Peripherique. We found it more difficult to get away going south, might be worth returning to Peripherique.(2006)
Metz Camping Le Paquis
Convenient NH, on the banks of the Moselle with interesting walk to nearby WW2 site where US troops crossed the river. Close to main road/Motorway (2011)
Champagne Area
Chalons en Champagne CC Camping de Chalons en Champagne
Large hard standing serviced pitches. A bit pricey (unless using Camping Cheques) but still a good night halt or for a few days in the Champagne district. Wonderful boulangerie at top of road and hypermarket in walking distance.
Formerly Municipal, standards have fallen since it was sold off (2013)
Burgundy
Macon Camp Municipal Les Varennes
Big site close to the town, on the N6 and convenient for the A6 motorway. Very useful for a night or short stay. Take away on site, hypermarket and restaurants in walking distance. Bike tracks into town. We have stopped here twice a year for over10 years. New sanitary block is a great improvement (2013)
Note 2012 Gate found closed to new arrivals between 12 and 2, may be a new policy or just low season.
Beaune Camp Municipal Les Cent Vignes
Walking distance out of very nice town, good for any length of stay. Sanitary facilities recently renovated, free WiFi.
Gets full so arrive early. (2013)
Western France
Bain de Bretagne (32 km south Rennes) Camp Municipal du Lac
Pleasant site outside a spa town. (2007)
St Maixent L' Ecole (Nr Niorte) ☼ Camp Municipal du Panier Fleuri
A tidy site with a friendly manager and good facilities, especially useful for low season night halts. (2016)
Bordeaux ☼ ACSI Camping de Bordeaux Lac
New site signed from exit 5 on the ring road. Good facilities but small pitches and landscaping yet to become established. Good NH but likely to fill early afternoon at peak times or according to exhibition program at near-bye center . (2012)
Peaceful spot Open April 1st -September 30th Ordinary, but a useful NH, one days drive south from St Malo 240km or Ouistreham 360km
Maillezais Camp Municipal de l'Autize
Very well maintained site in walking distance of the town, good clean facilities and large pitches. Useful NH one day south from Caen/St Malo ferries. (2014)
Check opening dates, was June 1st but may have reverted to April according to website
Fresnay Sur Sarthe (North of Le Mans) Camp Municipal Le sans Souci
Pretty town and site very well maintained. Friendly and helpful Warden. (2006)
Rhone Valley
Montelimar ☼ Floral Camping
Adjacent to RN 7, convenient for night halt or short stay. Small site with pool for a swim after a long drive. Eccentric but friendly owners, useful bar restaurant with cheap meals. (2004)
North West
Carentan ☼ ACSI Camping Municipal Le Haut Dick
Good site for night halt or short stay visiting D-day beaches.
Can be a bit tricky to find, missed turnings can end up in very narrow streets. Friendly manager. (2004)
Ouistrehham ACSI Camping Riva Bella formerly Municipal Les Pommiers
Only 5 minutes from Ouistreham ferry terminal, adjacent to Caen canal. Open for late ferry arrivals and usually enough room as to not require unhooking the caravan. The adjacent towpath can be used to cycle/walk to town or Pegasus bridge museum. Security much improved with site barriers and coded gate to the canal path.
Under new ownership significant improvements under way but also new office opening hours, closes for lunch 12 until 2 and again early evening before reopening at 9:30 for the late ferry arrival.(2019)
Note It may now be necessary to pre-book late arrival off the 9:45 ferry
