Camping by the Atlantic Coast in France

Whether in a motorhome, tent or mobile home, the Atlantic coast in France is a paradise for sun-loving camping enthusiasts. Pincamp presents the best campsites in the region and provides useful tips to make your camping holiday by the sea an unforgettable experience.

The best campsites on the Atlantic coast in France

The Atlantic coast in France stretches from Brittany through the Pays de Loire and Poitous-Charentes regions to Aquitaine. The region is particularly popular with camping holidaymakers due to the wide variety of leisure and bathing opportunities. The kilometres of beaches stretch from the "Côte d'Amour" in the north to the Silver Coast in the south and many campsites are located directly by the sea.

Below you will find 5 campsite recommendations for your very own dream holiday on the idyllic Atlantic coast.

Yelloh! Village Panorama du Pyla

This beautiful campsite near the beach offers pitches for your motorhome as well as mobile homes for rent. German is also spoken at reception and there is a restaurant and supermarket to cater for your every need. The site is located in the middle of a pine forest to the south of a large sand dune. The beach section can be reached via a short coastal path.

Camping Le Grand Large

A campsite right by the sea. Suitable for camping holidays in motorhomes or mobile homes. There are also 50 pitches for permanent campers. The site itself is protected from the wind by a sand dune, which always blows in the Normandy coastal landscape. The wide sandy beach is just a short walk away - perfect for lazing around in the sunshine.

Camping Le Ranch

This campsite in Normandy is situated on a terraced dune site with two levels. The site is a little smaller and doesn't offer quite as many pitches for motorhomes. However, there is rental accommodation and plenty of pitches for permanent campers. The 50 metre wide sandy beach is around 300 metres away. There is also a wide range of leisure activities, a sports programme and a swimming pool.

Camping de la Falaise

Located in the beautiful Pays de la Loire region, you will find everything you need for the perfect camping holiday by the beach. There are about as many pitches for motorhomes as there are mobile home rentals, as well as plenty of pitches for permanent campers. It is only about 500 metres from the campsite to the village of La Turballe inland and the beach is not far away either. However, the coastline in the area is a little rocky.

Camping Eurosol

A large campsite in Aquitaine that offers pitches for over 300 caravanning holidaymakers. There are also many cosy rental accommodations and only a few pitches for permanent campers. Unlike the other sites, the campsite is located inland and not directly on the beach. But that doesn't matter - the shady pine forest is an excellent place to lose track of time and simply enjoy doing nothing.

Camping in France: top activities for a camping holiday by the sea

Many of the campsites on the Atlantic coast are located close to the coast. It is therefore often only a few metres from the tent, motorhome or mobile home to the cool water. The beach sections are usually specially designed for holidaymakers on the campsite - you usually walk along a short coastal path or gravel path through the sand dunes and are already on the beach. This is not only practical because you don't have to leave the campsite, but also good for children's safety.

Surfing and surfing on the Atlantic

Of course, camping in France isn't just about lazing in the sun all day long. The Atlantic coast is also very popular with water sports enthusiasts, especially surfers. The Cote d'Argent, or Silver Coast, stretches between Soulac-sur-Mer and Biarritz and is a seemingly endless sandy coastline that is barely interrupted.

As the waves here all break over sand, the length of the waves varies depending on the position of the sandbanks, which change position with the current. In the many coastal villages on the Cote d'Argent, however, everyone is guaranteed to find a suitable surf spot.

Best sailing conditions

Sailing is one of the most popular sports on the Atlantic coast. This applies to both the long coastline and the smaller bays where you can moor up and enjoy the secluded beach all to yourself. The seaside resort of Saint-Jean de Luz in the Basque Country is one of the top destinations. A steady westerly wind ensures the best sailing conditions and the historic harbour is well worth a visit.

One of the largest marinas in Europe is located in La Rochelle, just under 400 kilometres further north. Here too, the coast is an excellent sailing area. Beyond this, beach holidaymakers will find plenty of alternatives, from banana boat rides and parasailing to surfing or kitesurfing in Biscarosse Plage.

Hiking on the French Atlantic coast

The south-west of France is also a paradise for hikers. From the north of Brittany, the Velodyssey cycle path leads over 1200 kilometres to the Spanish border. Of course, you don't have to hike the entire route, but can also choose individual sections of the coastal landscapes.

The Atlantic coast in France is also very suitable for beach hikes. In contrast to Portugal, the beaches are not divided by high cliffs - in principle, the entire coast in the Aquitaine region is a single uninterrupted stretch of beach. The beaches are not always sandy - sometimes they are also rocky coasts.

Best time to visit

The climate on the Atlantic coast in France is generally mild. It does get hot in summer, which is perfect for beach holidays. In the summer months, temperatures often top 35 degrees Celsius, with water temperatures in the Atlantic usually between 20 and 25 degrees. The peak season is July and August. However, guests can also enjoy the cool water in May, June and September.

Culture fans and active holidaymakers like to camp in this region in spring and autumn to take advantage of the rich culture and wide range of sports activities in pleasant temperatures. During this time, however, the weather is rainier than in the high season. Sometimes it rains continuously for a few days.

Travelling to France

If you want to travel from Germany to the Atlantic coast in France, you can expect a well-developed and sufficiently signposted road network that makes for a pleasant journey. In the summer months of July and August, however, traffic jams and other traffic delays occur more frequently due to the European summer holidays.

The Atlantic coastline in France is over 600 kilometres long, so the route varies depending on the departure point and destination. Caravan owners and motorhome drivers travelling from Munich to La Baule in Brittany , for example, have to cover a distance of around 1,300 km. The journey takes them via Stuttgart, Strasbourg, Reims, Paris, Le Mans and Nantes to the region's beaches.

Holidaymakers from Cologne can reach the beach at Arcachon in the south of the coast, close to the border with Spain, a little quicker. The journey covers 1,140 kilometres via Liège, Valenciennes, Paris, Orleans and Poitiers to Bordeaux. From there it is only 66 kilometres to the sea.

Please note that toll charges apply on most French motorways. There is also regularly heavy traffic around Paris. You should therefore allow plenty of time for this.

Favourite destinations on the Atlantic coast in France

Pornichet

The French municipality of Pornichet is located on the Côte d'Amour and is a popular holiday destination for campers. Families with children will find high-quality services and facilities at the campsites. Several beach clubs await the little ones here, with bouncy castles, water slides and entertainment for fun-filled days on the beach. The OK Kid seal of approval also recognises facilities that pay special attention to families with children.

Saint-Nazaire

Just 12 kilometres away, Saint-Nazaire welcomes its guests with a long promenade and numerous beaches with azure waters. The harbour town is located on the Loire estuary in France and is full of interesting sights. The seafront promenade is lined with shops, small boutiques and restaurants that are perfect for a day of shopping with your loved ones.