La Camargue en Camping-Car : advice, areas, routes

How to visit the Camargue in motorhome or furnished van?

“ Battus of sun and wind, lost in the middle of the ponds, we will live very happy, my horse, my Camargue and I ". The poem "Blessed who, like Ulysses" taken by Georges Brassens (1921-1981) could not better illustrate the wonders of the Camargue. A region with sun and water between ponds and the Mediterranean Sea, it is a natural park with invaluable wealth.

Visit the Camargue

Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer

For you, the Camargue can be summed up with huge stretches of sand, marshes filled with pink flamingos, bulls and horses? You will discover that it is much more than that.

Ideas of itineraries in Camargue

• 3-5 days : The Grau-du-Roi (second fishing port of the French Mediterranean), the vast dunes of the Espiguette, Aigues-Mortes the medieval, Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer and its church, the pond of the Fangassier (sa fauna and flora), Salin de Giraud,
• 5 to 7 days : same steps, plus the Ornithological Park of the Pont de Gau in Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer, Arles, Port Saint-Louis-du-Rhône,
• 10 to 15 days : same steps, plus La Grande-Motte, Montpellier, Nimes (and the remains of the Roman Empire), the Baux-de-Provence and the Alpilles massif.

These ideas are only indicative. But if you have time, don’t hesitate to stay longer in each place. Take advantage of it for a bike or walk along the ponds. The Camargue undeniably offers its lot of resurgent escapades in the middle of nature, just about thirty kilometers from Nîmes and Montpellier.

Drive in Camargue in motorhome : traffic rules to know

However, some of the Camarguas roads are narrow, including the departments that border the ponds. Redouble caution and beware of the template of your camper by crossing other vehicles. Each passenger must, of course, close his seat belt. The driver must of course have his driver’s license, insurance and the vehicle’s gray card. The camper must be equipped with a signage triangle and a reflective vest. Also, make sure that you are not overloaded.

Don't forget If the law is national, territorial authorities may restrict certain provisions of the road code. This applies to speed limitations or parking conditions. These changes are frequent in the summer: the Camargue is very touristic. Indeed, some restrictions may be decided to drain population flows. Panels will tell you if a prefectural or municipal order has been taken for campers. The speed limits for motorhomes are as follows:

• 50 km/h in agglomeration,
• 70 to 80 km/h on secondary roads,
• 90 km/h on overtaking slots,
• 130 km/h on the highways.

The maximum alcohol level allowed in France is 0.5 g/l.

Motorways to Camargue : what price for your camper category?

There is no no motorway in Camargue . However, you will certainly take these fast lanes to get to the natural park. The area is served north by three highways: the A9 , the A54 and the A7 . You will take the A9 to come to Camargue from the west (Narbonne, Béziers, Montpellier) and the A54 to come from Nîmes or Salon-de-Provence. The A9, A54 and A7 motorways are operated by the VINCI Highways concession. So these are toll-free highways.

How and how much to pay on the highway to visit the Camargue in motorhome or furnished van? On a motorhome, you will be required to pay the amount for Class 2. In van, the fare that concerns you is that of Class 1. Here are some price indications for a vehicle in Class 2:

• Nîmes (west) – Arles (A54) : 5,70 €
• Montpellier (A9) - Nîmes (A9) : 5,60 €
• Aix-Ouest – Saint-Martin-de-la-Crau : 6,7 €

Good to know. : if you come to Camargue from Marseille or Martigues, there is a free separate road. The A55 motorway and the N568 are not subject to to tolls. The N568, limited to 110 km/h, crosses the Camargue between Fos-sur-Mer and Saint-Martin-de-Crau. The whole thing, without giving a single centime to Vinci!

Campsites in Camargue : where to park ?

Whether in Arles or the Saintes Maries-de-la-Mer, near a pond or the sea, you will find many places to park in camping-car Camargue. Of course, the legislation prohibits wild camping in Camargue, as everywhere in France. Therefore, it is necessary to avoid making wild camping in regional and national natural parks. However, he is allowed to sleep inside his vehicle. The border between the two practices is therefore porous. From a legal point of view, a motorhome is considered a car. You can park on the parking spaces available. Check the signal before you install.

It may happen that a prefectural or municipal order prohibits spending the night on a parking lot. On the other hand, you will find many service areas for motorhomes in the region. This, notably between Aigues-Mortes and Istres, around Arles and Salon-de-Provence. Areas are often paid, but the price is not high.

Note that municipalities often put in place parking areas for motorhomes . This is the case of the city of Arles, which has a space of 3,500 m2, along the quays of the Rhone (5 € per day). Looking for a spot to sleep? The Park4night app can help you. It is a tool for sharing spots between travellers, in case you do not know it. An interactive map refers to parking, service areas, natural areas, camping grounds.

In addition, a public comment system allows you to compare the best spots. With the pictures, you can get an idea on a place, before you go. When you spotted a place, GPS coordinates guide you directly. So you don't spend time every night looking for a spot!

How and where to rent a motorhome in France?

Would you like to go to the discovery of the Camargue with your Camping-Car or van for example? It is now easy to rent a motorhome in the Hexagon. How? Using interrelationship platforms between tenants and particular camper owners as Yescapa For example. How does it work?

• At first, you have to choose the motorhome in your city (For example Bordeaux, Nantes, Toulouse, Paris, Montpellier or Marseille).
• Be careful choose unlimited mileage, to check the number of beds available and if travel abroad is possible.
• Do your work online rental request and share your travel information (dates, rental options, mileage, etc.) to the owner.
• If your request is accepted and after payment, you will have access to the owner's contact information to organize a First meeting.
• Day J, present your driver's license and pour bail.
• One. status of premises is executed and a lease is signed between the two parties. When you return, after running the Camarguas roads, sign the state of the return places and the tower is played!

What is the best time to travel by motorhome in Camargue?

maximum temperature in winter is 12°C

From spring, temperatures rise, and reach up to 20°C in April . With 30°C in July-August and mild morning temperatures (19°C) , summer seems to be best period to visit the Camargue. However, the summer period is also the most tourist . And another nuisance can disturb the tranquility of the holiday in the sun: the presence of mosquitoes in the summer.

Autumn is a good season to go to Camargue. The temperatures are still hot, and the tourist season is then over. But September and October are also the most watered months of the year. Rainfall can be abundant, especially during the Mediterranean episodes that flood south of France in the fall. Rainfall can sometimes exceed 200 to 300 millimetres in one day. So think about checking the weather if you’re going to visit the Camargue by camping-car in the autumn.