20 Hidden Places to Discover in France with a Camper

Traveling France by camper gives you something rare: the freedom to stop where it’s peaceful and stay as long as you want. No rigid itinerary, no race to check-in.

France is packed with quiet coastal villages, forest trails, and scenic river towns -ideal territory for camper travel. You can park near cliffs, sleep beside estuaries, or roll into a medieval square and stay the night.

This list pulls together 20 lesser-known places across Normandy, Brittany, the Loire Valley, and the Atlantic coast. All are accessible by camper, many have designated parking or aires, and every one of them gives you something the average tourist misses.

1. Huelgoat Forest (Brittany)

This mossy, rock-strewn forest looks straight out of a fantasy book. It’s a favorite among locals but rarely on tourist itineraries. Paths wind past boulders with names like Trembling Rock and Devil’s Cave.

There’s a small campground nearby, and the area is quiet, ideal for overnight stays. The shady roads also mean cooler temps in summer.

2. Presqu’île de Crozon (Brittany)

A rugged peninsula with dramatic cliffs, hidden beaches, and pine forests. You can park in or around Morgat and kayak out toward Cap de la Chèvre. Quiet spots along the cliffs often allow overnight stays with sea views.

It’s one of the most camper-friendly stretches of coast in Brittany thanks to generous parking and easy access to trails.

3. Saint-Cado (Morbihan)

This tiny island village in southern Brittany is connected to the mainland by a short bridge. It has tidal views and old stone houses, peaceful, picturesque, and uncrowded.

There’s a basic campground nearby and good campervan parking in the area. The calm estuary means cooler nights and peaceful stays.

4. Brocéliande Forest (Brittany)

Linked to Arthurian legends, this inland forest near Paimpont has folklore stops scattered throughout. There are spacious trails and viewpoints without heavy tourism.

You can find several camper-friendly campsites nearby, and many of the small roads are fine for larger vehicles. Good spot for cooler, wooded overnight stops.

5. Île d’Yeu (Vendée)

This island off the Atlantic coast is accessible by ferry from Fromentine. It’s remote-feeling but easy to reach. Bring your bikes and spend the day exploring its wild coast, lighthouses, and quiet beaches.

There’s secure long-term parking in Fromentine for campers, with day trips to the island running regularly in summer.

6. Cap Fréhel (Côtes-d’Armor)

One of the best headlands in Brittany, with panoramic views and seabird colonies. The cliffs glow pinkish in the evening, and it’s far enough from towns to feel remote.

You can park nearby overnight (check current restrictions), and there are a few camper spots tucked into surrounding countryside lanes.

7. Les Marais Poitevin (Vendée)

France’s second-largest wetland is full of canals, shade, and birdlife. You can paddle a canoe through mossy waterways or just enjoy the calm villages under tall poplars.

Parking is usually easy in towns like Coulon, and several dedicated motorhome areas exist. Summer days are hot, but nights cool down nicely near the water.

8. Guerande & The Salt Marshes (Loire-Atlantique)

Guerande is a fortified town famous for its salt. Outside town, flat salt fields stretch toward the sea. Some producers welcome visitors, and you can often buy salt directly from the farms.

There are a few quiet camper stops close to the marshes. It’s also a good detour if you’re heading toward La Baule or Pornic.

9. La Roche-Guyon (Val-d’Oise)

Just on the edge of Normandy, this riverside village has a château carved into cliffs and narrow cobbled streets. It’s scenic, historic, and quiet.

There’s a small aire de camping-car near the riverbank, and the nearby hills provide shaded walks away from traffic.

10. Doué-la-Fontaine (Maine-et-Loire)

Best known for its troglodyte dwellings and a surprisingly good zoo set into a former quarry. The “Mystère des Faluns” is an underground gallery carved into fossil-rich stone.

Multiple camper sites in the area are available, and the quiet roads make it easier to drive in and out with minimal stress.

11. Saint-Jean-de-Luz to Hendaye (Basque Coast)

This southern corner near the Spanish border is less visited than Biarritz but has wide beaches, fishing villages, and shaded ocean roads.

The coast road includes plenty of camper parking options, some overlooking the sea. Many beach areas allow overnight stays out of high season.

12. Ploumanac’h & Côte de Granit Rose (Brittany)

Famous for pink rock formations shaped by wind and sea. Walking paths wrap around the coastline, and sunsets are spectacular.

Campers often park around Perros-Guirec or small aires inland. The area is well equipped for vans without being overrun.

13. Puy du Fou (Vendée)

This historical theme park has reenactments, falconry, and epic nighttime shows. It’s wildly popular among French families but still under the radar for many tourists.

It has its own motorhome parking, including overnight options, and is very camper-friendly by design.

14. Baie de Somme (Picardie)

A flat estuary and national reserve park known for bird migrations and seal colonies. Guided walks take you through dunes and across tidal flats.

You’ll find camper areas with open views over the bay, and it’s easy to cycle or walk between spots without moving the van.

15. La Vallée des Saints (Côtes-d’Armor)

A hilltop scattered with modern carved granite statues of Breton saints. Surreal and unexpected. It’s free to visit and open all year.

Parking nearby is easy, and the surrounding countryside is great for low-key overnight stops.

16. Saumur & Loire Islands

Saumur itself has castles, wine, and troglodyte cellars. But just west of town, the Loire splits into small branches, forming low-lying islands with picturesque villages.

Campers can find designated aires on some islands like Behuard or Saint-Jean-de-la-Croix. Great for peaceful evenings and river views.

17. Le Thoureil (Maine-et-Loire)

Tiny riverside village with a marina and a timeless feel. One road in, one road out. Old boats, stone houses, and a few cafés.

There’s informal camper parking along the riverbank (be discreet and respectful), and it’s a solid stop between Saumur and Angers.

18. Locronan (Finistère)

A perfectly preserved medieval village often used for film shoots. Stone streets, quiet gardens, and no ugly signage. Tourist buses arrive during the day, but evenings are peaceful.

A camper area is available just outside the village with easy walk-in access.

19. Talmont-sur-Gironde (Charente-Maritime)

Cliffside Romanesque church overlooking the estuary. Surrounded by marshes and quiet roads, with plenty of sea air.

The area around Royan and the Gironde has several basic camper areas. This is one of the prettiest places to stop between Bordeaux and La Rochelle.

20. Château de Brissac & Troglodyte Villages near Angers

A lesser-known château with dramatic towers and surrounding vineyards. Nearby, the troglodyte sites of Rochemenier and Louresse-Rochemenier show how people carved homes, wine presses, and farms out of the limestone.

These sites are often quiet, with open rural roads and shaded camper areas available nearby. It’s a great inland loop if you’re heading east from the coast.

Final Words

Some of the best moments in France happen when you pull off the main road and follow a small sign to a viewpoint or harbor you’ve never heard of.

Local tourism offices are still worth a visit, though. Many have free maps and flyers that point you toward places you’d otherwise miss.

And if you’re traveling by camper, the app park4night.com is one of the best tools out there. It helps you find overnight spots, reviews, and hidden aires all across the country.

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Cover photo: RoadLotCamper