The 10 best campsites in France

31 October, 2023

France continues to be one of the most popular camping countries in Europe. There is good reason! France has everything you need for a great camping holiday: beautiful beaches, an amazing countryside and historic cities. With thousands of campsites in France, it can be difficult to choose the right campsite for your next camping adventure. To make it easy for you, we have drawn up a list of the 10 best campsites in France. These campsites won an ACSI Award in 2023.

10 beautiful campsites in France

• Camping Le Paradis
• Camping Le Haras
• Ardèche Camping
• Camping Le Soustran
• Camping La Baume/La Palmeraie
• Camping Des Grands Cols
• Camping Le Perpetuum
• Camping Le Moulin du Bel-Air
• Les Méditerranées – Beach Garden
• Sites & Paysages Le Ventoulou

1. Camping Le Paradis

The five-star campsite Le Paradis, located in the heart of Dordogne, was chosen as the winner in the category ‘Best campsite’ in France. It is located in a beautiful verdant area on the banks of the Vézère river. The campsite is well-maintained, with beautiful flowers and exotic vegetation like palm trees and banana plants. There is plenty of swimming fun! It has a large water park with several outdoor swimming pools, a water playground and a covered swimming pool. For an ultimate experience in relaxation, visit the wellness centre.

One campsite visitor states in his review on eurocampings.co.uk:

“As you would expect from the name, this is a tranquil paradise with lush greenery, caves and charming villages. Several swimming pools provide an opportunity to cool off and, if the weather does not cooperate, you can enjoy the sauna or hammam (Turkish bath). The pitches are spacious with plenty of privacy and the toilet facilities are good and very clean.”

2. Camping Le Haras

If you are looking for a sun-drenched holiday in the vicinity of a beach, Camping Le Haras is the right campsite for you. The campsite is only 20 kilometres from the Spanish border with an amazing view of the Pyrenees. It has many kinds of plants, flowers and trees, which also means plenty of shade. Delicious food is served at the restaurant, where you can enjoy Catalonian dishes. Theme nights are held twice a week, which means, for example, that you can eat the most delicious paella. Le Haras is also the winner in the category ‘Best campsite restaurant’ in France.

Guests leave good reviews about the campsite. One guest states:

“Beautiful park with spacious comfort pitches. We ate in the restaurant often, and were served a different local dish every evening. Good central location for cycling, hiking in the Pyrenees and daily trips to the beach.”

3. Ardèche Camping

As its name suggests, the charming family Camping Ardèche is located in the Ardèche. It is a Valhalla for children! The campsite won an ACSI Award for ‘Best campsite for children’. There is a heated, covered swimming pool with a water chute and a double slide and a fun kiddie pool with play equipment. Children can have the time of their lives in the playground with its bouncy castle and trampoline. The entertainment team takes charge of lots of fun activities, such as games, crafts and a disco for children.

Campsite visitors are enthusiastic:

“A great campsite for families with young children. The swimming pool is clean and provides hours of playing fun. Hats off to the entertainment team. They do their very best and get all of the children involved. We enjoyed ourselves for 12 days.”

4. Camping Le Soustran

Nestled among the green hills in the Correze lies the small-scale Camping Le Soustran, winner in the category “Best great little campsite’ in France. This pleasant campsite is near Triouzoune lake, where you can go sailing. Take your bicycle or wander about in the beautiful natural surroundings. The Dutch owners make sure that you have everything you need. You can relax here, sitting by the campfire in the evening roasting marshmallows while chatting with other campsite visitors.

One campsite visitor shared his experience on eurocampings.co.uk:

“Super relaxed atmosphere. I feel totally at ease at this campsite. This is where you can take a break. The hustle and bustle of daily life are far removed from this campsite.”

5. Camping La Baume/La Palmeraie

If you love to swim, then Camping La Baume/La Palmeraie will be paradise for you! It has five outdoor swimming pools, one of which is heated. Children up to five years of age have their own water paradise with colourful climbing frames and a wide slide. There are also two Jacuzzis, a whirlpool and a hammam (Turkish bath). There is good reason for the campsite winning the ACSI Award for ‘Best campsite swimming pool’. If you would rather swim in the ocean, the beautiful beaches along the French Riviera are very close to the campsite.

The campsite is given good reviews by campsite visitors:

“What a great campsite. Great swimming pools for young and old. A bar at one end and a restaurant at the other. The prices are good. I was there with two teenagers who enjoyed themselves very much for two weeks.”

6. Camping Des Grands Cols

Attention, sports lovers! Camping Des Grands Cols is the winning campsite in the category ‘Most sports-loving campsite’. The campsite is located in the shadows of the Savoie and is perfect for cycling fanatics, mountain hikers and motorcycle riders. The famous Alps mountain passes of the Tour de France, the Col du Galibier, the Col du Télégraphe and the Col de la Madeleine, are all close to Des Grands Cols. After a day of cycling, you can park your racing bike in a separate bicycle parking facility.

Campsite visitors are most appreciative of this opportunity. One guest states:

“My oldest son and I spent a week at this great and comfortable campsite. We cycled over several passes in the area. The campsite is shady with spacious pitches The staff is very friendly and helpful. The bar serves good beer.”

7. Camping Le Perpetuum

If you like to go camping with a motorhome, we recommend Camping Le Perpetuum because the campsite won an ACSI Award in the category of ‘Best motorhome pitches’. The campsite here is on the Dordogne river, in a luscious area in the region of the same name. The campsite has 120 pitches on a 4-acre site. The pitches are level and covered with grass. The pitches are spacious – 90 to 100 m2. You can cool off in the swimming pool or the river. During the high season, there is entertainment and the bar and restaurant are open for a drink and a bite to eat.

Campsite visitors are enthusiastic about this campsite:

“A charming, well-organised family campsite that is very clean. Spacious pitches and plenty of shade. Very friendly staff and good restaurant with affordable prices. You feel welcome, which is a great feeling – like you’re at home.”

8. Camping Le Moulin du Bel-Air

If you want to go camping at the French campsite with the most beautiful location, the award-winning Camping Le Moulin de Bel-Air is the place to go. You camp in the area of an 18th-century water mill in the countryside. Next to the campsite is the Céou river, where you can go swimming and practice your water sports, like canoeing or kayaking. The campsite pitches are spacious (at least 150 m²), level, and covered with grass. There is something for everyone, whether young and old. There is a heated swimming pool, a tennis court, several playgrounds and a fishing pond.

A campsite visitor submitted a positive review:

“A beautiful campsite with large pitches. The bar and terrace are great, and serve meals as well. The best asset is the owners, who are especially friendly and helpful.”

9. Les Méditerranées – Beach Garden

Les Méditerranées – Beach Garden is the French winner in the category ‘Campsite with the best toilet facilities’. This campsite is a part of three campsites that are located close together along the Mediterranean Sea in the Languedoc-Roussillon region. It is a lively location with many fun activities, which explains why so many (young) families come here. Live it up in the beautiful water park or go for a dip in the ocean. The toilet facilities at Beach Garden are new and are eye-catching and modern.

The campsite was given good reviews. One guest states:

“Beautiful campsite met super toilet facilities. Very well maintained and close to a great beach. Though close to tourist sites, it is still a quiet area. Very beautiful inside and an outdoor swimming pool.”

10. Sites & Paysages Le Ventoulou

If you would like to take your faithful four-footed companion on holiday, you should go to Sites & Paysages Le Ventoulou, since this campsite won an ACSI Award in the category ‘Most dog-friendly campsite’. Our campsite not only allows you to have a good holiday but your dog as well. There is an actual dog bar that always has filled water bowls, a dog park and a dog shower. If you want to go out for a day, you can leave your dog behind at the daycare.

Campsite visitors really appreciate this campsite. Eurocampings.co.uk has the following review:

“Wonderful campsite, located in a quiet area, easily accessible and well equipped. It has a covered swimming pool with a roof that opens. The toilet facilities are tidy and clean and the showers are roomy.”

If you are curious about which other campsites won an ACSI Award, check out all of the winners of the ACSI Awards 2023.

Tips for a holiday in France

Many French cities have low-emission zones. Read all about the French emissions sticker. It is also handy to know the swimming pool rules for France.