Where to sleep legally in a motorhome or campervan in France

The question comes up before every trip: where are we sleeping tonight with the campervan or motorhome? France has plenty of options, but they are not all equal, and the line between "parking for the night" and "camping" is not always clear. Here are the permitted options, their advantages and how to spot them before you set off.

Parking is not camping

A motorhome or campervan is a vehicle: in principle it can park wherever a car can, as long as you follow the signs. The distinction lies in what you do once you have parked:

• Parking: the vehicle rests on its wheels and nothing sticks out beyond it. You can sleep inside.
• Camping: levelling blocks under the wheels, awning out, table and chairs outside, step permanently out. You are taking up public space beyond the vehicle.

Camping outside designated places is banned in many areas: the seafront, listed or protected sites, near drinking water catchments, and anywhere a municipal by-law (arrêté municipal) says so. A mayor can also regulate parking, for example with a maximum height at the entrance to a car park. Local signs and by-laws always take precedence: if in doubt, look for a place intended for overnight stays.

Motorhome aires

This is the most widespread option. Motorhome aires are set up by municipalities, campsites or private companies, and come in several forms:

• the aire de stationnement (parking area), where you can spend the night;
• the aire de services (service area), with a service point for filling up with water and emptying your tanks, where overnight stays are not always allowed;
• the mixed aire, which combines the two.

Some are free, others are paid, by card, token or pay-and-display machine. We explain the differences in our guide service area, aire or campsite.

Campsites

A campsite is still the most comfortable option: a marked pitch, electricity, toilets, showers and often a waste disposal point. It is also the only setting where getting out the table, chairs and awning raises no questions at all. Out of season, many campsites close: check opening dates before relying on them, and read our guide to motorhomes in winter.

Host networks

Some networks let you spend the night with farmers, winegrowers or private hosts who welcome motorhome travellers. Access usually comes with an annual membership and spaces are limited: let your host know you are coming and respect their hours.

What about wild camping?

Sleeping "anywhere" in the middle of nature is tempting, but that is where bans and fines are concentrated. It is also what fuels anti-motorhome by-laws in tourist towns. Choosing an official place means sleeping soundly and keeping the welcome alive for the travellers who come after you.

Find a permitted place at every stage

The hard part is not so much knowing these options as finding them in the right place at the right time: a reasonable distance from the day's stage, accessible for your vehicle size, open and equipped with what you need.

That is exactly what Pakvia does: you enter a start, a destination, a length of trip and your vehicle, and every evening of the route ends at an official overnight stop taken from OpenStreetMap (a motorhome aire or a campsite for a campervan or motorhome). No wild spots are suggested. What is known about each stop (free or paid, water, electricity, waste disposal) is shown, and an indicator warns you when data is missing around a stage.

Key points

• Sleeping in a properly parked vehicle is not camping, but local by-laws take precedence.
• Motorhome aires and campsites are the safe options.
• Finding your overnight stop before you set off saves you driving round in circles in the evening.

To go further, read our guide to planning a campervan road trip, our 10 tips for your first motorhome trip or check the FAQ. And when you are ready, plan your route for free.