L’Île de Ré en Camping-Car : advice, areas, routes

Going to the Gulf of Gascony? What if you visit the Island of Re on a motorhome, in order to be free in your trips?

Want to visit the Island of Re on a motorhome this year? You're right. Re Island is a must-see destination of the Atlantic façade. Between land and sea, beaches, salt marshes and fishing villages, the Island of Ré is an island where it makes good living. It has a rich historical and cultural heritage, and has various, unusual, isolated or frequented landscapes on its territory.

The Island of Ré will fill you if you are in search of calm, holiday at the beach, sport and well-being or escapades in nature. Nicknamed "Re la Blanche" because of the color of its homes, the island enjoys a mild, pleasant climate all year round. It also offers beaches that are among the best surf and kitesurf spots in France.

Ready to go? Here is our mini-guide advice to visit the Island of Re in camper.

Ideas of itineraries in the Isle of Ré on motorhome

After visiting La Rochelle , you will borrow the Pont de l’Île de Ré. The second longest bridge in France (2,926.5 meters long), it is the only entry point by the road to visit the Île de Ré on a motorhome.

Your journey will therefore start at Rivedoux-Plage, at the Pointe de Sablanceaux. Re Island is a concentrate of beauty and essential things to do and to see on an area of only 85,32 km2. Since you’re motorized, you’ll soon have to go to the island. Only ten municipalities administer the territory of Re. However, you cannot miss the commune of Saint-Martin-de-Ré. Set in a plurality of historical monuments ( erected by Vauban), it is the ancient center of the island. Saint-Martin is also listed on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

You don't know where to go? Here are some possible routes on Île de Ré:

• Re Island in 5 days: Saint-Martin-de-Ré (fortifications, historic center, bell tower of the observatory, the church of Saint-Martin, the citadel, the port), Ars-en-Ré and the bell tower of the church of Saint-Étienne, the lighthouse of the Baleines;
• Visit Re Island in a week: The same steps, plus Rivedoux-Plage, the Fort La Prée, La Flotte, Le Bois-Plage-en-Ré (plages and surf spots), the Couarde-sur-Mer (silver marks), the national nature reserve of Lilleau des Niges (wine), Loix and the ecomusée du Marais Salant, the beach of Grouin;
• Visit the Island of Re in 15 days: The same steps by staying more in the municipalities, cycling the island, the great beaches of the south coast (La Couarde, Bois-Plage, La Conche des Baleines, La Trousse Chemise Beach), Sainte-Marie and its wild coast.

The Island of Re allows to do a lot of things. Both sporting activities, cultural discoveries, farniente on the beaches or tastings of local cuisine. So, depending on what you want to see and do, your steps will not be the same.

Driving on the Island of Re in motorhome: the traffic rules to know

Increase caution in the towns and pedestrian areas, especially in Saint-Martin-de-Ré. The roads of the island can be saturated because of the tourist affluence.

Coming to the Island of Re on a motorhome, it will also be necessary pay very attention to the width of the camper : station to the small roads that cross the island. You can't run very fast anyway and you could get stuck in traffic jams. The road network is nevertheless of good quality.

Motorway to Île de Ré: what price for your camper category?

Good news: there is no highway on the island. This does not mean to the extent that visiting the island of Ré in a camper or in a furnished van is free. There is indeed a toll at the entrance of the bridge, on the town of La Rochelle. Here's the price to cross the bridge:

• Low season (January 1 to June 19 and September 12 to December 31): 8€,
• High season (from 20 June to 11 September): 16€.

How and where to rent a motorhome in France?

You intend to leave in the Island of Re, but you do not have a vehicle? This is no longer a problem! Now it is possible to rent a vehicle between individuals. Many platforms allow this type of rental, online, 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, sign the state of the return places and it’s good!

How and where to rent a motorhome in Île de Ré?

Renting a motorhome on an island is not the most easy task. Therefore, it is strongly advised to rent your camping car in La Rochelle, or at the starting point of your trip, near your home.

Also, with the Île de Ré, La Rochelle and Île d’Oléron , the demand is very high. Thus, to avoid any bad surprise, it is best to rent your camping car in advance.

Camping-car areas in Île de Ré: where to park?

Parking on Re Island

Where to park by visiting the Isle of Ré on a motorhome? Find a parking space in Saint-Martin. This is a mission that falls under the impossible. Finding a place to park on the Island of Re can quickly become a nightmare. In Saint-Martin-de-Ré, for example, there are only two parking lots (east and west), and these can be stormed when the summer season occurs.

To avoid being disappointed by visiting the Isle of Ré on a motorhome, you should park on a parking area for camper and do the rest on a bike. You will find several spaces of this type on the island, including the free municipal area of Bois-Plage-en-Ré, that located at Portes-en-Ré, or the area of Saint-Clément-des-Baleines.

Apart from the seaside resorts, Île de Ré consists of natural and rural areas, beaches and marshes. It will not be difficult to find a space to park in rural areas: on the side of the road, on a beach parking, on the edge of the dunes, etc.

Parking for the night

The issue of bivouac is more thorny than that of day parking. Sometimes the authorities of the island take measures to ban the night parking of campers. In principle, sleeping in his vehicle is allowed. In van or camper, it is indeed tolerated to install anywhere where no sign of signs prohibits it. You must also not obstruct road traffic. We also recommend that we always settle at a spot away from the homes.

But on the Island of Re, natural spaces are protected by law and parking with a “accommodation” vehicle is regulated. So it is forbidden to park between 23 hours and 7 hours outside service areas and campsites.

Looking for a place to sleep for the night? On Île de Ré, the service areas for motorhomes are located in Portes-en-Ré, Le Bois-Plage, Rivedoux-Plage, Saint-Martin-de-Ré and Saint-Clément-des-Baleines. Some are free of charge, others are budgeted areas. Sometimes the number of places is limited or parking is limited to 24 or 48 hours.

To find other sleeping spots, you should use the Park4night app. This tool contains a large number of places for motorhomes, vans and vans where to install: beachfront, city parking, camping, campground for campers, etc. With its community-shared notice system, it’s a bit of a reference to the travelling journey.

What is the best time to travel by camping-car in Île de Ré?

What is the best time to visit the Isle of Re on a motorhome? Throughout the year, because the climate of the Île de Ré is mild to all seasons. The climate is oceanic, with mild winters and warm summers, without being canicular. Winters and autumns are fresh and wet. These are the rainiest months of the year.

With 2,300 hours of sun per year, the island enjoys the third highest rate of sunshine in France after the Corse and the Midi de la France. The best time to visit the Island of Re is spreading May to October with maximum average temperatures between 18°C in May, 22°C in June, 24°C in July and 25°C in August.