L’Ardèche in Camping-Car: advice, areas, routes

How to visit the Ardèche in motorhome or furnished van? Here is a guide to your road trip!

The Ardèche

The Ardèche has a lot of things to do and see. This, especially between the Rhone and the foothills of the Massif Central, from Lyon to the borders of the Gard. Here’s our mini-guide for you to sail and visit the Ardèche in a camper or in a van!

Ideas of itineraries in Ardèche by camping-car

The Ardèche is enclosed between Drôme, Vaucluse, Gard, Lozère, Haute-Loire, Loire and Isère. It is a very populous department. Only four cities exceed 10,000 inhabitants, the most populous being Annonay, with 17,000 residents. The department is longed from north to south by the A7 and the Rhone. There are many points of entry from Chanas (38) to Pont-Saint-Esprit (30), from Puy-en-Velay or Saint-Étienne. From the north to the south, many natural sites are immanquable: the south of Pilat, the natural park of the Ardèche Mountains, the Ardèche Gorges, the towns and villages, etc.

The Ardèche allows you to explore volcanic sites, chestnut trees, rocks, medieval villages and vineyards. You don’t know where to go by visiting the Ardèche on a motorhome? We have thought for you about some ideas of itineraries to do in Ardèche:

• South Ardèche in 3-4 days: the gorges of the Ardèche of Vallon-Pont-d’Arc in Pont-Saint-Esprit (the eleven belvederes, the Balcony of the Templars), the Tanargue massif, the cascade of Ray-Pic, Mount Gerbier de Jonc.
• South and north of Ardèche in 7 to 10 days: The same route, the more the Aven d’Orgnac, the lake of Devesset, Annonay, Peaugres and its safari, the typical villages (Balazuc, Vogüé, Labeaume, Saint-Félicien, Saint-Agrève), the valley of the Eyzieux.
• The Ardèche in 15 to 20 days: The same steps, the more the lake of Issarlès, Vals-les-Bains, the caves of Madeleine and Saint-Marcel, the Bois de Païolive, Aubenas, Privas, Joyeuse, L’Argentière, Rochecolombe.

These step ideas are of course only indicative. We recommend that you adapt your routes according to the duration of your road trip. With an area of 5 529 km2, the Ardèche is of a size equivalent to the Lozère, the Cantal or the Gard. Moreover, the road network is weakly developed on the heights to the west. It is therefore necessary to consider the time spent on mountain roads. It is therefore necessary to take his time to visit the Ardèche in camping-car. You can also restrict your route to only one part of the Ardèche: south, west, north, centre or east.

Driving in Ardèche in camping-car : traffic rules to know

As the Ardèche is a French department, the rules in force of the French road code apply logically. The driving is done on the right track and the overtaking is done by the left. Permit B allows a motorhome whose weight is less than 3.5 tonnes. Each passenger shall fasten its safety belt when the vehicle is travelling. Please respect vertical and horizontal markings, including ground marking. The camping-car template must be taken into account in intersections and narrow roads. Also respect a greater braking distance than a car.

The speed limits are the same as those prevailing for cars, namely:

• 50 km/h in agglomeration,
• 70 to 80 km/h on secondary roads,
• 90 km/h on certain sections of overtaking,
• 110 km/h on separate roadways.

Attention It should be noted that local authorities have jurisdiction to impose specific restrictions on the road code. These municipal or prefectural restrictions may concern speed limits, access to sites and parking rules. The motorhome must be able to certify a valid technical check, as well as the pollution control. Of course, you must have on board your driver’s license, grey card and vehicle insurance. Attention to access under the access gates that close certain parking spaces. Vehicles over 2 metres will not be able to access it.

Motorway fishing in Ardèche : what price for your camper category?

Here’s a good news: there’s no tolls to pay to visit the Ardèche in camping-car or in a furnished van! Note that there is indeed no motorway in Ardèche. The highway A7 , along the Rhone valley, passes in Isère (Chanas), in Drôme (Valence and Montélimar) and in the Vaucluse (Bollène). Alternatively, A75 allows the rallier Clermont-Ferrand to Beziers . It is an interesting option (free) if you come from the Grand Causses or the Aubrac to visit the west of the Ardèche. From Lyon , the Alps, the Cevennes or the Midi, you will then take the secondary roads.

To visit the Ardèche by camping-car or in fitted van, it should be noted that the department is rural. There are 91 kilometres of national roads, 3,775 kilometres of departmental roads and 7,565 km of communal roads. Take care therefore of the narrow width of the roads, especially in the mountains. Module your speed in the event of a difficult crossing. Also announce your arrival in the corners with a klaxon stroke.

How and where to rent a motorhome in France?

To go visit the Ardèche or another French destination, it is now possible to book its motorhome online? How? Thanks to the various online booking platforms, such 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 shaking the Ardéchoise roads, sign the state of the return places and the tower is played!

How to rent a motorhome in Ardèche?

You will simply find where to rent a motorhome in the department. Indeed, the Ardèche is a destination often visited in this way. However, if you do not find on site, cities like Montélimar, Valencia or Bagnols-sur-Cèze, outside the department but very close are good alternatives.

But if you want to avoid a bad surprise at all costs, you can simply reserve your camping-car for the Ardèche online before leaving.

Campsites in Ardèche : where to park ?

From a point of view of the law, a motorhome is a car like others. You can park on all regular sites, delimited by the ground marking. Camping-cars can therefore park freely wherever cars can. There may be signs prohibiting access to motorhomes. These are often prefectural or municipal provisions.

It is also allowed to sleep in your camper, provided that this bivouac is not assimilated to wild camping on the public road. Because in France, the law punishes the wild camping on public space. On a parking space, make sure not to install tables and camper chairs, cales and parable. If you come to visit the Ardèche in furnished van, know that raising the foldable roof of the vehicle will be considered wild camping by the authorities.

Moreover, the Ardèche is a very rural department, you will surely find many spots where to spend a quiet night. You will find many campsites and lots of camping pitches. It is a good option to sleep legally. And it also gives a sense of security if sleeping in nature indisposes you. Are you looking for a spot to settle in the middle of nature? The Park4night app will be an ally of choice. The Spot Sharing Tool refers to the places where to go (camping, camper area, parking, isolated places).

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

But then, when do you come to visit the Ardèche in a camper or in a furnished van? The department is subject to a variety of climate influences. Hence, there is not only a better period, but several periods to go.

The climate in Ardèche

The north of the department is marked by a temperate climate while the southern Ardèche is Mediterranean. There are three main climate zones. In the north, between 350 and 850 metres of altitude, the Green Ardeche enjoys a temperate climate. Average maximum temperatures reach 26°C in Annonay in summer and 5°C in winter.

In the southern Mediterranean, towards Aubenas, the thermometer frequently climbs above 30°C or 35°C in the summer. Gel days are more rare.

On the west, the Ardéchois plateau is at an average altitude of 1,000 metres. The temperatures are harsh in winter: -10°C, heavy snowfalls from November to March. The west is subjected to a permanent glacial wind. The Southern Ardèche has a warm and dry climate, even if the Ardecholic Cevennes harm the Mediterranean influences.

In the south, the rains can be intense in spring and autumn. The Ardèche River frequently records heavy floods during cevenol episodes.

When to go to Ardèche?

The best times to visit the Ardèche in camping-car are therefore May to early October . The weather is favourable for more than 6 months in the south of Ardèche: in Vallon-Pont-d’Arc, Balazuc and Orgnac-l’Aven. However, nights can be fresh before June and August.

In Privas, mercury reaches an average of 25°C to 31°C between June and September, with minimums between 14°C and 17°C. In Annonay, it is still 4°C in the morning in March, 7°C in April and 10°C in May. Maximums reach only 23°C on average in June. On the other hand, in Aubenas, the weather is much more lenient: between 15°C and 22°C in May, from 20°C to 27°C in June, more than 30°C and sometimes more than 35°C in summer.