Finding all the Free Aires - Summer trip to France 🇫🇷

[MichaelT]

We were let down by someone so we're able to come over to France a couple of weeks earlier than planned so after a £40 fee to amend the ferry we set off on Tuesday night to get the 00.20 ferry from Dover.

Luckily there were some minor delays so we arrived in Dover at 21.50 and were sitting on the ferry at 22.15, arrived in France at 01.30 local time.

So we thought we would try and get to some of the free aires in the thread by scousebird that suavecarve is putting on a map.

We have no fixed destination or itinerary just bumbling around.

Off the ferry we just wanted to sleep so headed for Asfeld Parking, about 30 odd others there and a nice quiet night, another for the map suavecarve

Asfeld Parking

Details for Asfeld Parking a Off site parking Calais, Pas-de-Calais, Hauts-de-France, France, 62100

www.searchforsites.co.uk

Wednesday we travelled to Courville sur eure, nice stop by the canal and even bagged a riverside pitch, had a nights there with a bonus of market day yesterday so topped up the local economy quite a bit.

Courville Sur Eure

Details for Courville Sur Eure a Overnight parking - with services Eure-et-Loir, Centre, France, 28190

www.searchforsites.co.uk

Moved about 30 miles to Bretoncelles which looks a nice village with a nature reserve.

Bretoncelles

Details for Bretoncelles a Overnight parking - with services Bretoncelles, Orne [61], Normandie, France, 61110

www.searchforsites.co.uk

 

[MichaelT]

After a nice quiet night we've moved on to Sable sur Sarth beside the river. Making our way to the coast trying to avoid the heatwave.

Sablé Sur Sarthe Parking

Details for Sablé Sur Sarthe Parking a Overnight parking - no services Sablé-sur-Sarthe, Sarthe, Pays de la Loire, France, 72300

www.searchforsites.co.uk

 

[scousebird]

Enjoy, I hope you find lots of free aires

 

[Bill-H]

Canoves.
Free overnight stop. There was a market next to here the night we stayed, bread being made at one stall, several others selling local cheeses and wines.

Cànoves, Barcelona, Catalunya, Spain, 08445

 

[MichaelT]

Enjoy, I hope you find lots of free aires

A few so far.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[barryd]

Seems like there are still plenty if you search them out. Some nice ones by the looks of it there. The camping car infos French site allows you to filter them by "free"

It's in French but Google will translate it. Useful for the comments.

I can't remember how many are on there but it's tens of thousands all over Europe and about 16000 in France I think. Not all free of course.

CAMPINGCAR-INFOS

Les aires de services Campingcar-Infos

www.campingcar-infos.com

 

[Madcaravanner]

Seems like there are still plenty if you search them out. Some nice ones by the looks of it there. The camping car infos French site allows you to filter them by "free"

It's in French but Google will translate it. Useful for the comments.

I can't remember how many are on there but it's tens of thousands all over Europe and about 16000 in France I think. Not all free of course.

CAMPINGCAR-INFOS

Les aires de services Campingcar-Infos

www.campingcar-infos.com

Not used that search app but tend to use both Search for Sites and Park for the Night there are still quite a few freebies but Camping Carparks are trying to take many of them over

 

[SVMC15]

In readiness for my short trip next month and to cross some free aires off before suavecarve does, I only selected free Aires on P4N, surprising how many came up!

 

[Verteuil Man]

In readiness for my short trip next month and to cross some free aires off before suavecarve does, I only selected free Aires on P4N, surprising how many came up!

View attachment 1103713

You would be much better using the app Search4Sites. It lists all sites so there is plenty to choice from both free and paid.

 

[chaser]

Park4night does just the Same if you don't select anything

You would be much better using the app Search4Sites. It lists all sites so there is plenty to choice from both free and paid.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[suavecarve]

The best plan for Brittany is to pop into a TO and ask for the map with 600+ aires on it.

I ll find a link.

 

[suavecarve]

All the apps and all the maps don't have this many !

Brittany all the Aires. Loads of them

We found this map from a TO I ve taken photos and it is pretty self explanatory. We have been seeing lots of Aires not noted on the apps. If touring Brittany you may want to bookmark this I took them all the same way so no idea why some are sideways. I LL do a scan and copy when we get home.

www.motorhomefun.co.uk

 

[barryd]

Not used that search app but tend to use both Search for Sites and Park for the Night there are still quite a few freebies but Camping Carparks are trying to take many of them over

It was always my bible for years. However I think Search for sites and Park 4 night who are the new kids on the block comparted to CC Infos are maybe a bit slicker and easy to use but I still find the odd one on CC Infos that isn't on the others. I find the map on Search for sites awful though. You can switch to a proper map on CC Infos. Same for Park 4 night. Its not a proper map. Unless someone knows a way to change it. Park 4 Night I find is best for finding off grid unofficial spots but I reckon a lot of small camper vans use it as some of them are tiny or under 2m barriers. I tend to switch between all three to be honest.

 

[Bill-H]

Canoves.
Free overnight stop. There was a market next to here the night we stayed, bread being made at one stall, several others selling local cheeses and wines.

Cànoves, Barcelona, Catalunya, Spain, 08445

View attachment 1103575

Opps, put this in rhe wrong 'aires' thread, silly me.

 

[MichaelT]

Nice evening in Sable sur Sarthe just some distant revellers at 2am heard.

Moved on to Fay de Bretagne today, nice aire by 2 lakes just on the outskirts of town.

Fay de Bretagne

Details for Fay de Bretagne a Overnight parking - no services Fay-de-Bretagne, Loire-Atlantique, Pays de la Loire, France, 44130

www.searchforsites.co.uk

Will have a mooch about town later to see if anything open.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[MichaelT]

Well we had a mooch and as suspected all closed.

Nice church though.

 

[Imala615]

Seems like there are still plenty if you search them out. Some nice ones by the looks of it there. The camping car infos French site allows you to filter them by "free"

It's in French but Google will translate it. Useful for the comments.

I can't remember how many are on there but it's tens of thousands all over Europe and about 16000 in France I think. Not all free of course.

CAMPINGCAR-INFOS

Les aires de services Campingcar-Infos

www.campingcar-infos.com

Looks like a few do it (and now here) another one but not sure if you have to be a member is Campercontact with a few ways to filter.

Best in France

www.campercontact.com

 

[Just smiffy]

Don’t show all these funsters that only do sites…

I’ll have no where to go next year as they’ll all be full up….

 

[MichaelT]

Stopped at the Submarine Pens in Saint-Nazaire, parking on Quay de Commerce right next to them.

 

[Lenny HB]

Looks like a few do it (and now here) another one but not sure if you have to be a member is Campercontact with a few ways to filter.

Camper Contact has always been our go to, find it more reliable than the other apps. They have just updated the app again and now you have to pay to filter.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[rb62]

It was always my bible for years. However I think Search for sites and Park 4 night who are the new kids on the block comparted to CC Infos are maybe a bit slicker and easy to use but I still find the odd one on CC Infos that isn't on the others. I find the map on Search for sites awful though. You can switch to a proper map on CC Infos. Same for Park 4 night. Its not a proper map. Unless someone knows a way to change it. Park 4 Night I find is best for finding off grid unofficial spots but I reckon a lot of small camper vans use it as some of them are tiny or under 2m barriers. I tend to switch between all three to be honest.

Never heard Google maps described as awful before

 

[barryd]

Never heard Google maps described as awful before

View attachment 1104913

This is the map I get on my laptop. Looks like you are using an app on a mobile device. Maybe its different. The map on the browser site is indeed awful. Maybe there is a way to change it but I've not found it.

 

[rb62]

It's the same map that's used on all platforms,just been on wifes aged windows 7 went to full screen

 

[MichaelT]

After visiting the submarine pens we moved on towards the coast. Found a nice free place right on the beach but it was full so moved on towards St Jean de Monts. Very busy and 2 places we found were uninspiring or full se we ended up at a lovely Airevin Notre Dame de months. It's a little gem 100m to lovely beach and short walk to town, not free but has servicescits €8 from 8pm to 8am.

Notre Dame De Monts

Details for Notre Dame De Monts a Overnight parking - with services Notre-Dame-de-Monts, Vendée, Pays de la Loire, France, 85690

www.searchforsites.co.uk

 

[barryd]

It's the same map that's used on all platforms,just been on wifes aged windows 7 went to full screen

View attachment 1105267

Its the same map as mine. Its not google maps. Its a little easier to use in full screen though but still not great. Cheers for the full screen tip though. Never noticed that. Useful.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[rb62]

Its the same map as mine. Its not google maps. Its a little easier to use in full screen though but still not great. Cheers for the full screen tip though. Never noticed that. Useful.

You can also go to satellite view,

When you go to the actual place you want it offers you Google maps,

 

[MichaelT]

Forgot the pics

After visiting the submarine pens we moved on towards the coast. Found a nice free place right on the beach but it was full so moved on towards St Jean de Monts. Very busy and 2 places we found were uninspiring or full se we ended up at a lovely Airevin Notre Dame de months. It's a little gem 100m to lovely beach and short walk to town, not free but has servicescits €8 from 8pm to 8am.

Notre Dame De Monts

Details for Notre Dame De Monts a Overnight parking - with services Notre-Dame-de-Monts, Vendée, Pays de la Loire, France, 85690

www.searchforsites.co.uk

Forgot pics

 

[barryd]

You can also go to satellite view,

View attachment 1105364

When you go to the actual place you want it offers you Google maps,

View attachment 1105366

Thanks but is that a mobile device again or a Windows laptop? I get the option to open in Google maps when you pick a site / Aire but not the map and no satellite view on the browser version that I can see. I think they tend to develop them more on the app side than the desktop browser side these days. Despite being in tech all my life though I just can't get away with planning on a mobile.

 

[MichaelT]

Moved on to Jard sur Mer, looked at sable sur onne but traffic worse than London.

Nice pitch on the aire with a sea view just above the beach. Paid for again but nice location.

Jard Sur Mer

Details for Jard Sur Mer a Overnight parking - with services Vendée, Pays de la Loire, France, 85520

www.searchforsites.co.uk

 

[MichaelT]

And I got the hang of inserting full images

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}