The Ultimate Guide to Motorhome Travel in France

Travelling with your motorhome in France is a fantastic way to spend a holiday or a month (or two) during a big road trip. The ease with which you can travel and explore the country is fabulous. There are many stunning places to see, and you won’t have much trouble finding a motorhome parking space.

In this ultimate guide to motorhome travel in France, we want to tell you everything you need to know when planning a motorhome trip to France.

Planning a trip with the motorhome

Touring France with your camper is the best way to see the country. You get to decide where to go and what to see. You also don’t need to find accommodation and travel to spots; you can view something and then park your motorhome for the night.

That is why planning a trip with your motorhome is different too. If you are going on a holiday, you will look for fun things to do and see around one spot and find accommodation there. But with a motorhome, you are more agile; you can just go and see what you would like to see. So you need to decide what is important to you.

Things you can keep in mind:

• How long is your trip?
• What kind of activities do you prefer? (Do you want to experience history, love hikes, want to do something adventurous, etc.)
• What type of weather do you prefer?
• How long do you want to drive each day?

These can determine where you want to go, when and what kind of things you want to see.

Look up some spots in France that might fit your criteria and that you want to see. And from there, see if there is a nice route between them and fill it in with other fun stuff along the way. Definitely keep enough time just to roam and see what happens. You don’t want your full days planned out, especially with a motorhome!

Destination tips

Here are some recommendations from us of places you might want to see, but there is so much more to explore:

• The coast of Normandy – If you want to learn more about World War 2, there are a lot of very interesting spots along the coast, including the Maisy Battery at Grandcamp-Maisy and Omaha Beach.
• Mont Saint Michel – This UNESCO world heritage site is a tidal island with a hill. On top of the hill, you will find the Abbaye du Mont-Saint-Michel, an abbey that is still a place of pilgrimage.
• Domme – This cute medieval village in the Dordogne department is also on top of a hill. The walled town has some amazing views of the surrounding area.
• Camargue – This area has a lot of natural beauty. We drove across two routes near Montpelier, where we had the Mediterranean Sea on one hand and a lake on the other. And there were so many flamingos when we were there.
• French Alps – The French Alps are the way to go if you are looking for steep mountains. Depending on the season, there are multiple activities you can do or just enjoy the view from the comfort of your folding chair.

READ MORE: The Prettiest Villages of France

Travelling with the motorhome in France

When to travel to France

With a motorhome, you can pretty much always travel in France. The country is so big that chances are high you will find at least one area that has the kind of weather you are looking for or will at least enjoy. But there are big differences in the weather between seasons.

June – August

A lot of people visit France during the summer months, so it will be busier everywhere. The temperatures can skyrocket and become scolding hot, so it depends on your preferences whether this is a good time to visit. Also, keep in mind that July to August is the prime period for French people to take a holiday, and campsites are a lot busier and must be booked in advance.

You will be able to see a lot of sunflowers and lavender in the fields, which look absolutely stunning.

September – November

We love going to France in September and October! It’s generally nice still, especially the more south you go. We have even had 27 degrees half October in the Lot! How is that for an Indian Summer? You can also see the fall really well, with all its different colours and the harvest in the fields. The more it starts going to November, the more chance of rain you will have. But there will still be really nice moments.

December – February

During winter, it can be cold and wet. There can be snow and cold, especially in the north and in the mountainous areas, while the south will have more rain. It is a nice time to travel if you want to go to a mountain for winter sports, but please make sure you know all about the winter tire rules before you go.

March – May

This is another amazing time to go. While March can still be cold, the weather warms up quickly during these months. It is not really busy yet, and you can see spring bloom. We prefer going in spring or autumn because it’s not too hot and it’s not too busy yet, though we were quite surprised with the number of people at Mont-Saint-Michel at the beginning of April.

Important motorhome words in French

• Aire de camping car – Stopover area
• Aire de service – Service area
• Eau potable – Drinking water
• Vidange eau noire – Black water waste
• Emplacement – Camping spot
• Jeton – A coin or token

Taking your pet to France

Are you travelling with a pet in your motorhome? That is awesome! We love travelling with our dog(s) to France. There are just a few things you need to know.

First of all, don’t forget their paperwork. It’s not asked for regularly, but you are in a world of trouble if you can’t show it when they ask for it. Dogs need vaccines, including rabies, to enter France. Our vet also recommends deworming more regularly if you go to the south of France because of some scary heartworm. There are some breeds that aren’t welcome in France. Please see the French government site for more information.

The French love dogs in general. Most of the time, they are allowed on the outdoor area of restaurants and sometimes even in the restaurant itself, as long as they are well-behaved and on a short leash.

They are allowed in public transportation, though you might need to muzzle them, depending on where you are, so make sure you have a muzzle. Most beaches won’t allow dogs in high season, but there will be special beaches where they can go, and during the offseason, they are allowed almost everywhere as long as you properly clean up after them.

Having internet while travelling

Being in your own home on wheels means you might want to chill as you do at home and browse on your phone or watch something on Netflix. While it is quite easy to find internet in a café or McDonald’s, it can be easier to have your own motorhome network where you can connect to the wifi. Buy a French sim card with wifi, put it in the device and away you go.

However, a sim with internet in France is not cheap, so keep this in mind. You can also see if your current phone provider offers extra internet in other countries; ours offers 50GB per month in Europe outside the Netherlands.

READ MORE: Internet in your Camper

Driving your motorhome in France

If you are going to motorhome travel in France, you will, of course, be driving in France. You could stay on the motorway the whole time, but what is the fun in that?! What do you need to know about driving your camper in France?

Roads in France

We would recommend trying to avoid the motorway as much as you can. Only use it if you don’t have a lot of time on your trip and you need to get from north to south (or the other way around). Not driving on a highway has a lot of pros: you will see more of the country, you will save on tolls, and you might save on fuel (depending on your speed).

Next to highways, you have national roads (Routes Nationales), and they have an N-number. Then there are departmental roads with a D-number; sometimes, you might see roads with a C number.

The smaller the road, the more fun it is to drive, and the more inline your speed will be with other traffic…. until roads get so small, it’s scary to drive them. We encountered that several times in south France where suddenly, without any warning, the road became really small and it became difficult to let oncoming traffic pass. Ensure you know your comfort level with driving your motorhome before going on the smallest roads.

Speed limits

Speed limits are a funny thing in France. Below we will discuss the general speed limits for the different roads but keep in mind that departments get to make their own rules and differ from the general consensus. We’ve been on roads that were 90 km/h one minute, and the next minute they were 80 km/h as we drove into a different department.

These are the speed limits: On a highway, you can go up to 130 km/h. When it rains, this is 110 km/h. But personally, we drive slower on there since 130 km/h is not comfortable with our camper. If national roads have separate lanes, you can go 110 km/h (100 km/h if it rains); without it, you can go 90 km/h (80 km/h if it rains). Other roads outside town limits will also be 80 km/h; inside town limits, it’s 50 km/h (or 30 km/h when mentioned).

Vehicle safety equipment

If you are travelling to France, there are certain things you are obliged to have with you:

• emergency triangle
• yellow safety vests
• blind spot warning sticker (if over 3.5T)

Please note that you are no longer obligated to have an alcohol test with you!

Other things that could be good to have with you:

• a spare wheel and tools to change the wheel
• first aid kit
• fire extinguisher
• spare bulbs and fuses

Other important information

France doesn’t have a toll vignette, but some highways in France require a toll. You can get a special badge or pay at the toll booth with a credit card, bank card or cash. There are several categories for different types of vehicles. When your height is more than 2 meters but less than 3 meters, you will fall into category 2. When you are higher than 3 meters and/or heavier than 3500kg, you will fall in category 3. Always check what category your motorhome falls into and that you get charged the right amount.

France does have environmental zones where certain vehicles can’t come. Informational signs will show you what categories of the Crit’Air sticker are allowed in the city. If you are planning to visit cities, getting your sticker before you travel is important. You can’t get it while on the road. There are six different categories which depend on the type of vehicle, the amount of CO₂ emissions, and the age of the vehicle.

Camping with your motorhome in France

Travelling through France with your motorhome is not about just driving it. You want to find nice places to stay and camp. So you can eat, sleep or chill in the camper. Or maybe you are looking for a spot to park so you can visit something. France has a lot of great options on where to find parking spots.

Parking your motorhome

You can park your campervan in a regular car park unless expressly forbidden. Make sure you don’t stick out (too much); the police may frown upon that and, depending on how busy a spot is, might fine you. You are also allowed to park your motorhome at the side of the road.

You are always allowed to eat in your motorhome when parked. You are not allowed to put out chairs or use your awning. This is seen as camping, not parking.

Overnight spots

Overnight spots are a place where you can stay overnight. But that doesn’t mean you can only stay one night, though they are used a lot like that. Most allow you to stay for 2 or even 3 nights. There are a few different options.

First, there are the ‘aires’. Don’t confuse these with the highway aires. These aire de camping-car are meant to be used as a parking area for motorhomes especially. You find them in towns and villages all over France. Sometimes there are very simple, and sometimes, they offer amenities. Sometimes they are free, and sometimes they are paid (we’ve seen up to 20 Euros per night). And no, it’s not always the simple ones that are free. We loved using ‘Camping-Car Park’, paid aires through France that use a small card that you can charge up. They offer all services, and they have multilingual support if necessary.

The Camping Municipal is a simple camping, mostly used for short stays. You will almost always find one close to you as the local towns or areas offer these. These campgrounds are smaller and cheaper than other campings, but they also offer a lot less.

Several businesses and private landowners offer spots to stay. We’ve noticed that vineyards and farms love having people over so they can show what they do and maybe sell you a local product. We have found spots like this on Park4Night, but you can also check out France Passion, a special club that offers these spots for free without any amenities.

Campsites

There are a lot of different camping grounds in France, varying in quality in price. Some are simple and don’t have many amenities, while others are 5 stars and offer swimming pools, restaurants, shops, bakeries and more. Though the camping municipal are campings too, they are used more for short stays than longer camping.

If you are looking for a more luxurious holiday, staying at a campsite could be a good choice. You can stay for longer and have all the luxuries on hand. We would recommend staying at least a 3-star camping if this is the vibe you are going for. And you will need to book in advance for the summer holidays or try going to a camping at the end of the morning, as people leave.

If you are going in spring or autumn, you can check out the ACSI card. This card offers you discounted prices on several campsites, which is especially interesting for the more expensive ones. We had a fantastic experience at 5-star camping near the Alpe d’Huez, with a heated pool, fresh bread delivery and incredible views. And it wasn’t all that expensive because we were there in April and used our ACSI card.

Wild camping

Wild camping is a legal grey area in France, if not just to say it’s forbidden. With all the options to camp that you can see above, it’s logical that you can’t just park your motorhome anywhere and sleep.

However, sometimes you can find free spots to sleep if you ask a farm owner. Or you can just be in such a remote area that no one will see or find you; therefore, they won’t care. At least avoid ‘camping’ and don’t put out chairs, only stay for 1 night and take care of nature.

Experiencing France with your motorhome

Now that you are travelling through France, it’s all about the experience, isn’t it? Here are some tips on how to make the best of your time in this beautiful country.

Language

The French have a reputation for being rude and disrespectful to tourists, but we’ve found this largely has to do with the language barrier. They like politeness and formalities, and this plays into trying their language. No, you don’t have to speak perfectly or anything near that. While Natalie speaks quite a bit of French, Marten knows the basics, but we’ve noticed that those basic words help. Say Bonjour (Good day), merci (Thank you) and s’il vous plaît (Please). Use your hands and feet if you need to in combination with those few words of French, but show them that you are really trying, and you will see that they become a lot more friendly and helpful. And we think this goes for any country; they’d like to see you try their language.

Of course, those basics won’t give you full communication, which might be a problem. Because while English is getting more common, it’s still not widely spread. So if necessary, use a tool like Google Translate to translate from your language to French to ask what you need to know.

Culture

The French love life and try to live it to the fullest. They have high standards and expect good quality. They take the time for things, whether that is lunch (longer breaks are still very normal here) or saying hi to someone they meet on the street. It can be frustrating in local supermarkets if the cashier starts chatting with the person in front of you, but please know this is normal and expected in this country.

The French are proud of their country and their way of life. Do not criticize this; it will not go over well and will sound very rude to them.

They are known for their respect for heritage and have made a conscious effort to preserve their culture over the years. This is evident in the numerous museums and historical sites that can be found all over France. From grand castles to quaint museums that showcase a variety of arts, there is no shortage of places to explore and learn about this country’s rich history. The architecture is amazing everywhere, not just in bigger cities.

All in all, France is a country with a rich and diverse culture that should be appreciated and respected. By immersing themselves in the local experiences and customs, visitors can gain a deeper understanding and appreciation of the French way of life.

Food

France is known for their food, and we would really recommend indulging in the local cuisine. From world-renowned wines to delicious pastries and cheeses, there is something for everyone’s taste buds.

Take your time if you go out to eat in France. Whether it is lunchtime or dinner, the French take their time and enjoy themselves. Natalie has had multiple 3+ hour dinners with her family and their friends. The French even eat during New Year’s, and they serve dessert at midnight!

Many French breads are famous, including croissants and baguettes. Bread is very much a staple during the day, but it isn’t as much that they eat sandwiches or anything. You eat bread with your meal to slobber up the extra juices, or you eat bread and paté but not paté on bread.

Champagne is the sparkling white wine that comes from the region of Champagne in the northeast of France. EU law reserves the term champagne for wines that come from that region. It is an interesting area to visit as you can find multiple champagne vineyards in every village, and most of them offer tours through their vineyard with a tasting at the end.

Now you are ready for motorhome travel in France

Now that you have all the information about motorhome travel in France, you can start planning your next trip!

We wish you a lot of fun, and who knows, we might see you around!