With almost 9,000 star listed campsites and 2,000 natural camping areas and farm campsites, France is Europe’s No. 1 camping destination both in terms of places available and the number of guests welcomed in its open air accommodation, and is second only to the United States. Their main foreign customers are the Dutch, the Germans and the British, who between them make up three quarters of all overnight foreign visitors in France.

France possesses a total (fully equipped and rural sites) of 10,798 campsites, with a total capacity of 970,159 spaces.

According to the latest estimates, 5 million French people and almost two million foreign visitors spend their holidays camping in France.


The French Federation of Camping and Caravanning (F.F.C.C.) was created in 1938. It represents and speaks on behalf of all campers, caravan and camper van users, and users of rented holiday accommodation before official public bodies and tourism professionals.

Is it possible to camp outside of the official campsites?
Yes, provided you have obtained the permission of the owner of the land on which you wish to camp, except on protected and listed sites, on the seashore, in certain forests, and in natural reserves, as well as in those areas where camping is forbidden by local bye-laws.

How are the campsites graded?
With the exception of residential campsites (sites rented by the year) and the sites classed as rural, campsites are graded with one to four stars, and are designated either as “Tourism” or “Leisure” sites.
The majority of sites (80%) are designated as “Tourism” sites, which means that over half the available places are devoted to short stays. The remaining 15% of campsites are “Leisure” sites, which means that over half the available places are devoted to stays of over one month.

Are any campsites open all year long?
Yes, approximately 500 campsites in France are open all year long. You can stay there for a weekend or for an out of season holiday. However, the full range of on-site services is rarely available in low season.

Rental accommodation or long-term hire: what’s the difference?
On 15 to 20% of “Tourism” sites, the site owners or managers have installed rental accommodation: tents, caravans, and especially leisure mobile homes. Normally available to rent by the week, this type of accommodation can enable the season to be extended quite considerably. This type of accommodation is ideal for the many visitors who do not possess their own camping equipment but would nevertheless like to spend their holidays in natural surroundings that are well equipped with amusements and offer a wide range of activities.
Long-term hire, in contrast, concerns 150,000 campsite places on which users increasingly install their own mobile homes. They are generally used for weekend visits and are frequently also used for short holidays.

Is it possible to hire accommodation on a campsite?
Yes, for several years now, campsites have been striving to offer more than simply empty sites for tents and caravans, and many now offer rental accommodation. Mobile homes are the most commonly encountered type of accommodation available on campsites, but other types of accommodation are also frequently offered for hire. Certain establishments offer chalets. Lacking a chassis or axle, chalets resemble, and indeed could easily be mistaken for, small houses. This authentic appearance distinguishes them from mobile homes. More ‘polished’ in terms of aesthetics, chalets offer interior living areas that are similar to those offered by mobile homes. This rental accommodation option represents an alternative to the mobile home, with a slightly higher price range. It is also possible to hire fully equipped canvas ‘bungalows’. Combining pure camping with comfort, these tents (from 15 to 35m2) are increasingly functional.

Is it possible to hire a mobile home or chalet for just one night?
Certain establishments offer rental accommodation by the night in high season, but they are extremely rare. In low season (May, June, September and October) weekend rental deals are available. For weeklong rental, the hire period runs from Saturday to Saturday in the majority of cases.

What do the star ratings mean?
These correspond above all to precise technical specifications: the size of the site placements, refuse collections, quantity of installations (sinks, showers…), security, lighting etc… that each campsite offers.
For example, on a 3 or 4 star site, the minimum size for each placement is 80m2, whereas on a 1 or 2 star site the minimum size is 70m2. With regard to sanitary facilities, 3 or 4 star sites must have tiled floors. 4 star sites must also have 12 showers for 100 placements, whereas a 2 star site requires only 6 showers per 100 placements. On 3 and 4 star sites, two foreign languages must be spoken, including English, hedges must separate the placements and the site must be guarded night and day.

Who awards the stars?
The Prefecture of the department in which the campsite is situated.

Are the stars sufficient?
The 1 to 4 star classification is not sufficient to take into account all the different factors that make a camping holiday successful. Neither the quality of the welcome nor the state of repair of the site and its equipment are covered by the star classifications; mention isn’t even made of the presence of a swimming pool or tennis courts… The French Federation of Camping and Caravanning (representing the customers) and the National Federation of Open Air Accommodation (representing site owners and operators) have together created the “Camping Quality” charter. Up and running since 2000, membership is open to any campsite wishing to apply. An independent organisation is responsible for checking the quality of the sites.
In 2001, 11 regions and 2 departments participated in the programme: Aquitaine, Alsace, Burgundy, Brittany, the Centre, Franche-Comté, the Midi-Pyrénées, Normandy, the Loire, Picardy, the Rhône-Alpes, and two departments: the Charente-Maritime and the Var. Currently, almost 700 campsites are recognised under the “Camping Quality” charter.

How should you select a campsite?
The Official F.F.C.C. Camping-Caravanning Guide produced by the French Federation of Camping and Caravanning, published by Motor Presse France, lists the 10,800 campsites located across the country, of which approximately 2,000 are natural camping areas and farm campsites. Updated every year, it is an absolutely unique tool, both for those who wish to prepare for their holidays meticulously and for those who wish to head off for a camping-caravanning adventure with the maximum freedom. Thanks to its elegant layout and clear cartography the Official Guide is easy to use. The Guide also contains a list of the communes where camping is available, mountain campsites, and the rules and regulations.
The Official F.F.C.C. Camping-Caravanning Guide 2004 – 12 € (10,20€ for F.F.C.C. members)

What should you find when you arrive?
As well as the price list, the following should also be displayed:

What can the site operator request from the customer on arrival?