Campsites in the South of France

The best campsites in the South of France

Camping and the South of France go together like the cheese and wine that France is famous for. With pretty-much guaranteed sunshine, it’s no surprise that millions of people from France, the UK and the rest of Europe make a beeline south to enjoy this region which stretches from Provence to the Pyrénées. And while the beaches of the Mediterranean coast are a major draw, there’s much more to this region than just sun, sea and sand.

We can’t deny the appeal of a pitch with an ocean view and powder-like sand underfoot and we’ve found some gems on and near the coast, but there are some amazing campsites in the South of France away from the shoreline too. Some of our favourite sites are tucked among the lavender fields of Provence, or in the foothills of the Alps and Pyrénées. The places that get the Cool Camping seal of approval are not the all-singing, all-dancing sites where bigger means better: we look for quality over quantity. This means that our collection features places that we think offer something special: sometimes that’s a quiet tents-only site in an amazing location with basic facilities and sometimes it’s a bigger site with glamping accommodation that lends a touch of luxury to the whole experience.

Tent camping in the South of France

The reliably sunny weather means even fair-weather campers will be happy with tent camping in the South of France. Swimming, sunbathing, cycling, walking, exploring and eating al fresco… it’s likely that most of your time will be spent outdoors so a place to retreat to for shade and sleep is all you’ll need and a tent does the job more than adequately. In addition, the breathable canvas means you’ll be kept cool on those balmy evenings and can simply unzip the tent doors to let in a sea breeze or a breath of crisp mountain air.

With camping such a popular activity in France, even smaller sites tend to have a bigger range of facilities than we’re used to in the UK. Many have swimming pools, sports courts and activities for kids and almost all offer food, whether that’s through an on-site café-bar, shop or with a daily bread and croissant-ordering service. In addition, classic camping offers a sociable element that you don’t find with other types of holiday: waving bonjour to your neighbours each morning, bonding over barbecues and swapping tips on tents and trips-out can all be part of the experience of tent camping in the South of France.

Glamping in the South of France

French campsites have been offering glamping of sorts for decades with the pre-erected tents of some big-name camping brands offering a convenient way to camp without having to lug all your gear hundreds of miles from home. But convenience does not always equate to the Cool Camping idea of glamping or glamorous camping. We tend to look for sites with glamping accommodation that’s more luxurious, quirkier or with a little je ne sais quoi. Safari tents and roulottes or gypsy caravans are popular choices on French glamping sites but the range of what’s available is expanding all the time and there are also sites with treehouses, tipis, geodesic domes, bell tent and yurts.

If you want the feel of classic camping but don’t have the space or inclination to take your own tent, you’ll probably enjoy glamping in a bell tent or safari tent. But if you want high-end luxury from your glamping holiday, choose somewhere with its own hot tub and first-class facilities. You can use the “Refine Search” feature to search within the Cool Camping South of France collection to make it easier to find somewhere that matches your expectations – no matter how demanding they are.

Huttopia Campsites

Our hand-picked collection of campsites includes some Huttopia campsites which help to cater for the large number of European campers and glampers who holiday in the South of France, whilst retaining the ethos of a classic campsite. With Forest Villages and Nature Campsites offering camping and glamping across France, Huttopia has grown in to one of the big boys on the French camping scene but we think they are an exception to the rule. Huttopia makes a conscious effort to offer accommodation and facilities that blend in with the natural surroundings of their sites. They use natural materials and colours in the glamping accommodation they offer which includes safari-style tents, roulottes and wooden cabins. All their sites offer facilities and activities, as you would expect from larger sites, but they too tend to be more in-keeping with their surroundings than some places: less cabaret, more yoga outside in the woodland.

Family camping in the South of France

There aren’t many occasions when camping isn’t family friendly – children tend to love a camping or glamping holiday and view the whole thing as a big adventure. Sleeping under canvas, eating al fresco, making new friends and playing outside are a recipe for happy days and contented kids. Add in the excitement of being in a foreign land and a South of France camping holiday might just be holiday heaven for your little ones.

Children are particularly well catered for on campsites in France. Larger sites tend to lay on activities for children during the holidays and at weekends and many have a pool, table tennis and play equipment so it’s unlikely your kids will have the chance to get bored. Children are not only accepted but expected at dining tables in restaurants on the Continent so the whole family can enjoy sampling the cuisine that France is famous for. And family-friendly days out are easy too: the beach alone offers endless amusement with safe places for swimming and places to hire pedalos, body boards, surfboards and more. Inland, there are rivers to kayak on and if that’s not enough adrenaline for you, there are plenty of waterparks for thrills and spills too.

Getting to the South of France

The time-honoured way of getting to the South of France for a camping holiday is to load the car up, hot foot it to Dover (or one of the other ports on the south coast) and tackle the long drive through France’s changing landscape. The advantages are obvious: the cost can be relatively low (but remember to factor in the cost of those toll roads), you can pack the car to the rafters and you can stop off at some great locations en route. In fact, you may want to split the journey over a couple of days and try another Cool Camping recommended campsite along the way.

The ferry tends to be the cheapest way to cross the Channel and the quickest route (Dover–Calais) takes about 90 minutes. For some, the journey will be a welcome break from driving, a chance to stretch the legs and all part of the adventure but if your aim is to get to your destination as quick as possible and you still want to take your own car, you could book a crossing with Eurotunnel. Drive your car on to a train and then you’ll be whizzed under the ocean to arrive in France in 35 minutes.

If you don’t have or don’t want to take your own car, you can fly to one of the many airports in the South of France from the UK: Nice, Marseille, Montpellier and Caracasonne to name but a few. And then there’s the train. Eurostar operates a service from St Pancras in London or Ashford in Kent straight through to destinations in the South of France including Marseilles, Aix-en-Provence and Avignon.

Amazing destinations in the South of France

The South of France, or Midi as the French know it, includes the regions of Aquitaine, Midi-Pyrénées, Provence, the Hautes Alpes and the Côte d’Azure: stretching from the border with Spain to the border with Italy including the Mediterranean coast and its hinterland. It can be difficult to choose where to head for on a camping or glamping holiday in the South of France so we’ve done some of the hard work for you and summarised the highlights of each region here…

South West Coast

The far south of France’s Atlantic coast is considered part of the Midi region and it has some fantastic destinations including cool Biarritz. This elegant seaside resort on the Bay of Biscay is just 35km (22miles) from the border with Spain and is known as a surfing hotspot. In fact, the whole south west coast is a great place to try watersports and there are plenty of people to help you do it. This region also includes the wine-growing region of Bordeaux, touches on the Dordogne and offers easy access to the mountains of the Pyrénées. We think the south west of France is so special that it deserves a separate guide which is why the Cool Camping team have put one together for you: check it out if you’re planning on glamping or camping in South West France.

Midi-Pyrénées

The Pyrénées form France’s border with Spain and are the country’s second highest mountain range with many peaks over 3,000 metres. The French region in the shadows of these summits is known as the Midi-Pyrénées, though administratively it is now part of Occitanie. It is a great place for camping and glamping amid spectacular mountain scenery, particularly for those who like to combine their camping with a healthy dose of adventurous activity. If you’re camping in or near the mountains, hiking, climbing, canoeing and white-water rafting are all easily accessible.

Languedoc-Rousillon

Camping in Languedoc-Rousillon offers a huge variety of experiences as the region, now officially part of Occitanie along with Midi-Pyrénées, stretches from the mountainous Spanish border to the Côte d’Azure. You can camp on the south west Mediterranean coast here, inland with views of the mountains, among vineyards and by river valleys. The medieval hilltop town of Caracassone, bustling Montpellier, the impressive Roman Pont du Gard, Cévennes Parc Naturel and the wetlands of the Camargue all are within this region.

Provence & Côte d’Azure

It’s the Camargue, the delta around the River Rhône, that separates Languedoc from Provence. This beautiful region has always attracted artists with Van Gogh, Cezanne, Picasso and Matisse all having immortalised aspects of the area. It’s easy to see why, as this landscape of lavender fields, olive groves and vineyards in the shadow of the Alps provides a feast for the senses. It follows that camping in Provence is pretty special too. You can walk and hike in beautiful countryside, visit the elegant city of Aix en Provence and have easy access to the Alps and the beaches of the Côte d’Azure. On the coast, you can visit bustling Nice, marvel at the money in St Tropez or try to find a quiet spot for sunbathing or eating seafood.

The Alps