Le Lac Léman en camping-car : location, conseils, aires, routes

Do you want to travel independently and comfortably? Discover Lake Geneva in motorhome! To facilitate the task, you have been prepared a practical manual of the places to see and information to know before leaving.

On horseback between France and Switzerland, Lake Geneva has breathtaking landscapes. While a relaxing atmosphere emerges from its turquoise waters, its villages tell exciting stories through their picturesque alleys.

To admire these lands autonomously, you are recommended to travel to Lake Geneva on a camper. Without the constraint to sleep in the city, you will be free to explore the most remote cities of the alpine lake, to get closer to your favorite activities and to enjoy breathtaking views as soon as you wake up.

If you respect the regulations well and stay careful in the reliefs, nothing will happen through your road. You will only have to open your eyes and enjoy the spectacle offered by nature.

Here are our recommendations to make your stay a success!

Ideas of itineraries in Lake Geneva by motorhome

To make a trip to Lake Geneva by camping-car, it is possible to discover atypically a region composed of a rich natural environment and authentic villages.

In France and Switzerland, the shores of this interior sea host white sandy beaches, snowy summits and fertile vineyards. Propelled to escape and adventure, these landscapes vary from one minute to another and serve as a decor for activities of any kind. Navigation, hiking, oenotouristic visits, you will have the embarrassment of choice!

Concerning visits, if cosmopolitan cities of Lausanne and Geneva are passages to be made, you are advised to take the time to stroll in the villages that punctuate the shore. They host pretty streets, some exciting museums and castles of another century.

Here are three suggestions of itineraries to be made at Lake Geneva by camping-car:

• The French bank in two days: we offer you to start your tour by visiting the sublime villages ofYvoire and dExcenevex. then continue your road towards Thonon spas and Evian-les-Bains. With their typical architectures, picturesque alleys and leisure, these places will occupy your days perfectly. If you have time, we recommend you finish your trip to the top of Bise caps. It is a mountain on the Franco-Swis border, it gives access to an exceptional view of the lake;

• The Swiss bank in five days: larger than the French shore, the Swiss shoreline of Lake Geneva is ideal for alternating natural areas and urban escapades. We suggest you start your journey through the Château de Chillon, located between Villeneuve and Montreux, and continue your escape by climbing on Les Rochers-de-Naye to admire its impressive panorama. From the top, go down to the city of Montreux, particularly famous for its humor festival. Then continue your road trip to the village Vevey, old Charlie Chaplin residence, and vineyards of Lavaux. By following the shore, you will arrive fairly quickly in the cities of Lausanne and Geneva, amazing cities that deserve one to two days of visit;

• The full tour in one week: If you plan to leave for seven days at Lake Geneva, you will be able to make the great tower of its crystal clear waters and discover the majority of its treasures. The best thing is to combine the two routes described above and add a little more unknown spots such as the castles of Rolle and Morges, small town Nyon and white sand beach of Préverenges.

All these proposals are of course indicative. It is up to you to decide whether you want to stop elsewhere or stay longer in a particular place. The advantage of travelling to Lake Geneva by camping-car is that you are free as the air!

Drive to Lake Geneva by motorhome: traffic rules to know

The rules of conduct

Good news: French and Swiss road codes are very similar! As in France, the driving is on the right and the overtaking is done on the left. Also, it is essential to possess the permit, a signage triangle and a reflective vest.

The main difference lies in the fact that in Switzerland all drivers must ride with their drivers dipped-beam headlamps Even in the middle of the day. The country also gives priority for pedestrians at each side crossing . Be careful not to take a fine.

Finally, the relief of the region brings its lot of particularities. In the mountains, if two vehicles don’t have room to cross, remember the following rule: priority is for the one who goes up, unless it is a motorhome. Indeed, heavy vehicles are always priorities .

Speed limitations

The speed limits imposed on French and Swiss roads vary very little. In particular, the two countries apply special regulations according to the vehicle weight.

In France, motorhomes that do not exceed 3.5 tons are subject to the same speed limitations as those of cars. Those who exceed this weight must follow the following regulations: 110 km/h on the highway, 100 km/h on the two-way roads separated by a central plaza, and 80 km/h on the other roads.

Switzerland retains this threshold 3.5 tons . If your camper is under this value, the following limitations must be met: 50 km/h in agglomeration, 80 km/h out of town, 100 km/h on rapid and 120 km/h On the highways. Otherwise, you'll have to stay under the bar 100 km/h On the highways.

Motorway to Lake Geneva: what price for your camper category?

Switzerland has no tolls! Good news to nuance as the country requires the purchase of an autorous thumbnail to be able to circulate. In total, about 20 highways are affected by this regulation. Its non-compliance can lead to a fine of 200 Swiss francs.

The thumbnail is valid for the year and currently costs 40 Swiss francs, or about 37 euros . This price is reserved for vehicles less than 3.5 tonnes. If your motorhome exceeds this limit, you will have to pay a sum calculated according to the total weight of the vehicle. The thumbnail is available at customs, post offices, rest areas, service stations, garagists and certain retail outlets.

How and where to rent a motorhome in France?

Do you want to explore Lake Geneva 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 smashing the roads of Lake Geneva, sign the state of the return places and the tour is played!

How and where to rent a motorhome in Lake Geneva?

Today it is very easy to find the vehicle of his dreams to leave on vacation. Your first possibility is to use a rental agency from your place of residence or a town close to Lake Geneva.

On the other hand, you can travel to the destination by other means (plane, train, car) and rent the camper on site. In this case, you should make an online reservation in advance. This will ensure that the chosen model is always available upon arrival.

Otherwise you can always do your steps online. Thanks to sites such as Wikicampers, you have access to hundreds of private and professional motorhomes. The operation is very simple: choose the desired vehicle according to the daily price, the type of camper and the layouts. Then send a rental request to the owner. The answer is fast enough.

Camping-car areas in Lake Geneva: where to park?

The biggest difficulty of the road trip to Lake Geneva in camping-car : park! Fortunately, the French and Swiss banks have many private and public parking areas, as well as campsites suitable for these vehicles.

These facilities are distributed in a practical manner throughout the Alpine Lake region. You can find them on the tourist sites the departments of Savoie and Haute-Savoie, as well as the Swiss platform Myswitzerland .

If you would like to find out live on the available parking spaces around you, you should download apps like Park4night or Caramaps .

These platforms allow travellers to share their spots and indicate the presence of free or paid parking lots, camper areas and camping pitches. They will avoid you losing several hours to look for a place to sleep!

What is the best time to travel to Lake Geneva on a motorhome?

Lake Geneva has a complex climate influenced by oceanic, wet continental, Mediterranean and mountain climates. This combination frequently leads to harsh winters, especially at altitudes, and cold and rainy autumns and springs. To avoid any weather-related inconvenience, we recommend you organize your road trip in summer .

If tourism is more important than usual, it will allow you to take advantage of everything the region offers. Beware of the freshness of the night, the thermal amplitude is quite impressive here.