France - bank holiday this Thursday. Campsites and Aires full?

[Pocket Rocket]

We’re arriving in France this Thursday 26th via the Eurotunnel. We’ve been struggling to find a campsite to book within an hours drive for the Thursday night. Just found out it’s a bank holiday on Thursday - Ascension Day.

Does anyone have any advice on finding somewhere to stay for the night, within about an hours drive of the Eurotunnel, heading south down the A16?

We are concerned that everywhere will be full, including the aires. This is our first motorhome trip, so we have no experience of aires or campsites in France - help!

 

[Lenny HB]

Just go and don't worry about it plenty of Aires within an hour or two of Calais you won't have any trouble finding somewhere.

Aires on the coast may fill up by late afternoon but no problem inland.

If there are 10 spaces on an Aire the French will get 15 vans on.

If you get stuck no one will bat an eyelid if you stop in the village carpark, don't do it if the next day is market day, they will build the market around you, I know two people it's happened to.

France is not like England, they welcome Motorhomes.

Download the Camper Contact app, that is the most reliable app.

 

[Jo662]

Try here, chaser fav place to stay.
Parking day and night for campers
+33 3 28 23 59 00

Aire de Camping-Car de Gravelines · Rue du Port, 59820 Gravelines, France

★★★★☆ · Caravan Park

maps.app.goo.gl

 

[Pocket Rocket]

Thanks folks.

We were hoping to book into a quiet rural campsite for the first night, as we don’t arrive in France til the evening. We’ll be tired after a long day travelling and wanted to just know where we are going to stay the night as we didn’t want to try to have to drive around trying to find a space.

Any suggestions for a searchable online booking website for French campsites?

 

[jongood]

Thanks folks.

We were hoping to book into a quiet rural campsite for the first night, as we don’t arrive in France til the evening. We’ll be tired after a long day travelling and wanted to just know where we are going to stay the night as we didn’t want to try to have to drive around trying to find a space.

Any suggestions for a searchable online booking website for French campsites?

Overnight stops in france are about aires, especially pre june because many of the campsites arent open yet. you should be aware that when bank holidays fall on a Thursday they tend to take a 'pont, which means a 4 day weekend, although the supermarkets will probably have normal hours except thursday.

It would probably help if you said which way you were headed but if I you re going south the aire at Le crotoy is a great first stop, an hour and a bit down the A16 and loads of room. Otherwise have a mooch on S4s, camper contact etc.

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[Camdoon]

Was at Le Crotoy and Sangatte on Saturday. Le Crotoy busy, Sangatte overflowing into bus park.

 

[yodeli]

You must also bear in mind that the traffic will be tremendous .
Thursday is marked in red and SUNDAY IN BLACK !!!
Stay wherever you are once you found a spot, and be patient till Monday or be prepared to spend hours in the traffic.
Edit: I'll be on Thursday in Calmont Department 31 in camping Le Mercier, if anyone in the area
Amicalement
Frankie

 

[brynric]

With the Camping Car Park app (lots of discussion on the forum about it) you can see how much space is available at an Aire and, for a premium, make a booking to reserve a place.
We don’t use it all the time but it’s handy if you have to be somewhere specific or Aires may be limited - such as in winter.

 

[Lenny HB]

Thanks folks.

We were hoping to book into a quiet rural campsite for the first night, as we don’t arrive in France til the evening. We’ll be tired after a long day travelling and wanted to just know where we are going to stay the night as we didn’t want to try to have to drive around trying to find a space.

Any suggestions for a searchable online booking website for French campsites?

You really are over worrying, not sure where you are heading.

Most people who go to France in a Motorhome never book anywhere to stop.
We have been going to France for over 40 years never booked anywhere, even when we had a caravan & going in school holidays.

Screen shot from Camper Contact of the area, and that doesn't cover all of them.

 

[ChrisL]

I spent my first two nights at the free aire at Nouvion, there's a Carrefour 25 Mtrs in one direction and a bar restaurant 25 Mtrs in the other, but a nice quiet night. Just off the A16 on the D1001.

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[simsy56]

We have been using 'search for sites' app this past 2 months in Spain and Portugal, and it has been spot on. Campsites, aires, overnights, and even some lpg stations are on there.

Craig

 

[ChrisL]

not sure where you are heading as the A16 goes west to east along the coast not south.

The A16 runs South from Calais around Abbeville, then across and down around Amiens ending up near Montsoult i think.

 

[Lenny HB]

The A16 runs South from Calais around Abbeville, then across and down around Amiens ending up near Montsoult i think.

True but I tend to think of it as West.
Edited my post.

 

[Detnor]

I missed this holiday, just wandering as usual. We arrived on the coast near Royan to an empty site yesterday. Apparently full from Wednesday to Sunday but fortunately they got us on. Walked past the aire up the road, full, but this is overlooking the coast

 

[Ven]

We have spent many a bank holiday in northern france and as yodeli says it will be busy. If you’re coming over late afternoon evening your options will be a bit more limited. Places like Le Crotoy will be rammed and parking 3 and 4 deep.

However I would imagine if you choose a plan A and B inland, spots that doesn’t have too much of interest not touristy restaurants etc (and no electric) you would have a better chance. Search for sites and park 4 the night are invaluable.

As others have said if you find a decent picnic lay-by (not on motorway ideally) or even a supermarket car park corner - no one would bat an eyelid in France.

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[Ven]

I just had a look on Camping Car Aire and Floques is showing 18 spaces at the moment - could be worth a try. Not cheap but has all the services.

 

[Pocket Rocket]

Thanks all!

We were planning on heading south on the A16 / A28 towards Rouen and then down to the Loire (Blois) over a couple of days. It sounds like we need to change our plans!

Maybe we should spend 3/4 days in northern France and wait til Monday to travel further.

Any suggestions for a good base? Nice aire or campsite. We like quiet, rural, good hiking and cycling.

Alternatively would it be quieter with more places to stay if we to head south east on the A26 towards St Quentin? We’re happy to be flexible with our plans.

Any advice about places to stay much appreciated

 

[stevec]

I spent my first two nights at the free aire at Nouvion, there's a Carrefour 25 Mtrs in one direction and a bar restaurant 25 Mtrs in the other, but a nice quiet night. Just off the A16 on the D1001.

View attachment 622222

We second that. Stayed at Nouvion for our first night. Boulangerie just across the road for croissants for breakfast!

 

[Lenny HB]

Saint-Valery-sur-Somme, its on the estuary near the coast lovely town. Large Aire so should be space it is a bit expensive €12 last time we were there.

Camper Contact1322, there are at least 8 other Aires close by so won't be difficult to find a spot.

 

[Bobby dazzler]

Tardingham is a good over night stop not too far from calais as others have said download a couple of apps and your well away.

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[Bobby dazzler]

Saint-Valery-sur-Somme, its on the estuary near the coast lovely town. Large Aire so should be space it is a bit expensive €12 last time we were there.

Camper Contact1322, there are at least 8 other Aires close by so won't be difficult to find a spot.

Was there recently NPR system now quite simple you just pay in exiting

 

[orridge]

Thanks all!

We were planning on heading south on the A16 / A28 towards Rouen and then down to the Loire (Blois) over a couple of days. It sounds like we need to change our plans!

Maybe we should spend 3/4 days in northern France and wait til Monday to travel further.

Any suggestions for a good base? Nice aire or campsite. We like quiet, rural, good hiking and cycling.

Alternatively would it be quieter with more places to stay if we to head south east on the A26 towards St Quentin? We’re happy to be flexible with our plans.

Any advice about places to stay much appreciated

Honestly just go you will find a place perhaps away from the coastal hotspots.

We have used this site before about 10 mins from Calais and they have space tomorrow night

Camping 5 étoiles La Bien Assise proche de Calais dans le Pas-de-Calais

Castels Camping La Bien Assise 5 étoiles avec piscine, location de mobil-homes et chalets dans le Nord-Pas-de-Calais, proche des plages et des ports de Calais et Dunkerque

www.camping-la-bien-assise.com

 

[Jo662]

We have been in France/Spain a couple of weeks and we do exactly as Lenny HB does, we don't booked anywhere and just head to where we want to go.
We are near St Maxime at the moment and will start heading north tomorrow.

 

[Cal54]

We ( 3 ladies in campervans) arrived in France on Saturday and have meandered down to the Loir river (not the Loire!). We are on a lovely municipal site, very quiet (only us 3 and a caravan currently here!). It’s so peaceful and quiet with great facilities that we have decided to stay for a week. We are at La Chartre-sur-le-Loir and found the site on Search4Sites. - Camping du Vieux Moulin. Good cycling in the area and walking distance to the small town.
Beware though the site manager can talk ‘the hind legs off a donkey’ if he isn’t busy!! - great guy.

 

[Cliffyboy]

This is our first trip to France in M.H and we found by chance a lovely little site called Camping Sainte Clare in Neufchatel - en - Bray 12€ per night and as everybody says you won't have any trouble finding somewhere ! Good Luck .

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[Harrogate motorhomer]

Another recommendation for camping st Claire at Neufchâtel. If worried email them & they will reserve you a pitch. L’eclerc & Aldi nearby, town not far , restaurant on site which is better to book as we found to our cost 2 weeks ago.

 

[Cal54]

Ditto Camping Sainte Claire. We were there Saturday and Sunday and agree you do need to book a table for the Brasserie. The Flemish stew was lovely!
Also if you walk along the cycle/walking path (old railway?) adjacent to the site entrance towards town you will come to a little cafe that specialised in crepes - the cider was good also!

 

[Ed Scratcher]

Came back last Friday, stayed at “Camping de la ferme des Saules” Bailleul, Flanders, just off E42/A25. On a farm, great shop and facilities.

 

[CaptainPaul]

Thanks folks.

We were hoping to book into a quiet rural campsite for the first night, as we don’t arrive in France til the evening. We’ll be tired after a long day travelling and wanted to just know where we are going to stay the night as we didn’t want to try to have to drive around trying to find a space.

Any suggestions for a searchable online booking website for French campsites?

Hi
As Lenny HB and most of the other experienced old hands have said there's absolutely no need to book anything in France but with it being a bank holiday and coming in on an evening shuttle not sure where your going, driving on the other side of the road etc it could be quite daunting as first timers so why not just check into the actual aire in Calais itself, 5 mins from the tunnel its guarded 24hr has all the facilities and in spite of its reputation Calais is actually a beautiful town with great shops & restaurants, I know it's not for everyone but we've stayed a couple of times coming back & forward from Europe and we've been travelling to France for over 20 years, think it costs around €10 but it would do you for a night or two until you get your bearings before heading south, here's a screenshot of it, we use Campercontact app amongst others, but either way enjoy your trip France is motorhome heaven

 

[carolyn]

We arrived yesterday(Wednesday) and being out of practice at this holiday lark due to Covid completely forgot to check on holidays. Turned up at a site in Colevile sur mer by Omaha beach and they had a space last night but are then full for the weekend as are the other 4 sites in the area (ACSI) . Fortunately they have a field which they are letting people use, they’d only just started mowing it! 3 of us so far.

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