The Loire-Atlantique in Camping-Car: advice, areas, routes

How to visit the Loire-Atlantique in motorhome or furnished van? We tell you everything in this article.

What if, after a trip to Brittany or Vendée, you're going to visit the Loire-Atlantique by camping-car? The flagship department of the region Pays-de-la-Loire, the Loire-Atlantique is renowned for Nantes and the yards of Saint-Nazaire. But the attractions of the department do not stop there.

Between land and sea, the Loire-Atlantique offers a rich historical and cultural heritage and an unmissable terroir. It is also the marshes of the regional natural park of Brière, the salt of Guérande, the beaches of Pornic, Le Croisic, the peninsula guérandaise. With its beaches along the Atlantic facade, the department is a top resort of seaside tourism, especially in La Baule-Escoublac and Pornichet. Do you want a sports holiday at the beach, a cultural or culinary holiday? The department will meet your expectations.

Here are our tips to visit the Loire-Atlantique by camping-car, freely, without being dependent on hotels.

Ideas of itineraries in Loire-Atlantique by motorhome

As you arrive by the North, the East or the South, you will not see the same things first. The premises will go by calling their department L.A. No, it’s not Los Angeles, but a destination is full of curiosities.

If you don't have much time, limit your routes to an area. For example, a getaway in Nantes or on the coast. With a long stay (20 to 30 days), you can also explore the surrounding regions and departments: Île-et-Vilaine, Morbihan, Vendée, Maine-et-Loire, the Châteaux de la Loire or the Atlantic coast.

Here are some ideas of routes to be made in the Loire-Atlantique depending on the duration of your trip:

• Visit the Loire-Atlantique by motorhome in a weekend: Nantes (Château des Ducs de Bretagne, machines de l’Île, cathedrals Saint-Pierre-et-Saint-Paul, the market of Talensac, Trentemoult, Pornic, La Plaine-sur-Mer, Saint-Nazaire, Pornichet, Guérande,
• The Loire-Atlantique in 15 days : the same steps, the more the lake of Grand-Lieu, La Baule, La Turballe, the Côte d’Amour, the Pouliguen, the coast of Jade and the Pointe Saint-Gildas (GR34), Le Croisic, Batz-sur-Mer,
• Visit the Loire-Atlantique by motorhome on a month : same routes, plus the beaches of Gohaud, Piriac-sur-Mer, Châteaubriant (château), Clisson, the Château de Goulaine, Herbignac and the natural park of Brière.

These steps will be the function of your desires. If you have more time, you can also visit the cities, sites and monuments of the neighbouring departments. In Morbihan, Pénestin, Vannes and Quiberon Bay. In the south, the Vendée offers its splendour with its Côte d’Amour or for example the island of Noirmoutier.

A logical advice: adapt your steps to the weather and duration of your trip.

Drive in the Loire-Atlantique by motorhome : traffic rules to know

The regulations governing traffic rules and the road code in the Loire-Atlantique are of course the same as everywhere else in France. The Loire-Atlantique has 20,021 kilometres of roads, with 91 km of highways, 230 km of national roads, 4,359 km of departmental roads.

The majority of the network consists of small roads, with 15,341 km of communal tracks. If the roads are of good quality in the Loire-Atlantique, the village roads can be narrow. Also take care of the imposing model of the motorhome: crossings can be made difficult on this kind of small road. The relief is weak in the territory of the department.

The highest point of the department is on the hill of Bretèche, at 115 meters above sea level. This makes the Loire-Atlantique the lowest department in France. Due to this relatively flat terrain, you will therefore have no trouble travelling to visit the Loire-Atlantique by camping-car.

Motorways in the Loire-Atlantique: what price for your camper category?

The Loire-Atlantique is crossed by several highways: A11 , A82 , A83 and A811 . The A11 is granted to Cofiroute and has tolls. Named the Ocean, it connects Paris to Nantes via Le Mans and Angers .

The A83, south of Nantes, connects Niort and the A10. It thus allows to reach Bordeaux and is managed by Autoroutes du Sud de la France (ASF). Other highways are rocades or peripheral routes of Nantes, and are free .

Coming to the Loire-Atlantique by motorhome, you will be subject to Class 2 fare on toll motorways. In fitted van, it is Class 1, that of cars, which applies. A motorhome is a car like others according to French law. But according to private companies, which have benefited from the privatization of highways, the rates are higher than cars for this large vehicle.

Here are a few prices to visit the Loire-Atlantique in motorhome :

• Paris-Nantes: 59,60€,
• Angers-Nantes: €14.30,
• Bordeaux-Nantes : 44,70€,
• Niort-Nantes: 16,30€,
• Les Sables-d’Olonne-Nantes : 10,50€,
• Rennes-Nantes : No toll,
• Brest-Nantes: No toll.

Rates in class 1 to visit the Loire-Atlantique in furnished van are a little lower: 38.20€ to make Paris-Nantes and 29,40€ to go to Nantes from Bordeaux.

How and where to rent a motorhome in France?

Today it is possible to travel by camping-car, even if you are not owners of a vehicle. Indeed, it is now easy to rent these vehicles among 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 from the Loire-Atlantique, sign the state of the return places and the tour is played!

How and where to rent a motorhome in Loire-Atlantique?

Renting a motorhome in the Loire-Atlantique has nothing complicated. The region, very touristic, presents an offer adapted to demand. However, in the summer, if you didn’t book your vehicle in advance, a bad surprise could happen. Therefore, booking online before your departure can be convenient and prudent.

Campsites in Loire-Atlantique : where to park ?

Stationner en Loire-Atlantique en camping-car

Where to park in Loire-Atlantique? Parking in tourist areas can be problematic. Rare places, expensive and limited parking... The cities have free parking spaces (white lines), just like the city of Nantes, which has two parking areas for motorhomes: Place de la Petite-Hollande, and Place Viarme. Elsewhere, you will find car park-relais (P+R) and public parking accessible to motorhomes, but they are often paid.

Sleep in camping-car in Loire-Atlantique

Are you looking for a place to sleep for the night in camper or in a furnished van? In principle, camping wild is strictly prohibited by French law. But it is paradoxically allowed to bivouac and sleep in his vehicle. The condition is not to leave anything on the public track (tables, chairs, parable, socks, etc.).

In practice, many travellers are travelling, in love with van life , which park the night on the public space. The essential thing is to find a spot that does not disturb the inhabitants or the signs. It can be complicated to find a spot where to sleep in famous seaside towns and cities (Nantes, Pornichet, Saint-Nazaire, La Baule, etc.). As a general rule, it is strongly recommended to depart from towns to find where to sleep at night. Also avoid installing yourself in protected natural areas. For example, the Brière Nature Park and the Guérande salt marshes .

Are you looking for spots where to sleep in camper or van? You will be much more discreet in van or van than in motorhome. As a result, the risks of getting you delocated by the van police are lower. To find a spot where to sleep quietly, check out the Park4night app, otherwise, to stay in legality, opt for the 159 campgrounds in the department, or aim for camper services.

What is the best time to travel by camping-car in Loire-Atlantique?

But then, when to go to the Loire-Atlantique by camping-car or van? The climate of the Loire-Atlantique is oceanic temperate. Winters are mild and summers are warm. The Loire-Atlantique knows at least one episode of particle (over 35°C) per year. Due to the maritime façade, precipitation is common throughout the year, especially in winter and spring.

The best time to visit the Loire-Atlantique in camping-car is undoubtedly summer June to September. With an average maximum temperature of 24°C, July and August are the hottest months of the year. This is also the time when the ocean water is the hottest.