We are looking to go to France in April/ May next year. We normally go in Aug. What's it like then... not necessarily weather just about being 'open', if you know what I mean. We have been at end of Aug and sometimes it feels like everything is closing/closed and there's an odd atmosphere...perhaps just how we felt!
Don't forget to leave a review of the French and other European campsites you have visited!
We have been in April, and mostly go in May. Not sure what you are expecting, some swimming pools are still closed, but everything we want is open. The ACSI book will guide you to open campsites.
And we normally make a second trip in Aug/Sept, when it does feel a bit 'end of season' but again, everything we want is open. Some campsites are full every night, Tournon, Langres, L'isle sur la Sorgue, Chartres (in the Spring). We quite like it quieter.
We usually make an after Easter trip going into mid May. You need to check opening times of most sites - unless 'open all year'. Lots of municipal sites we have fancied open late April or May. On the other hand be aware of French holiday dates for Ascension and May 8th Victory day as we have found sites to fill up especially if those dates are close to/at the weekend.... otherwise generally they seem to be quite empty and getting around traffic wise has been no problem. Pools tend not to be open until May. Restaurants - seasonal ones not open but asking at the campsite owner usually produces decent suggestions. Markets are in full swing! ACSI could save you a lot of money but don't let it dictate where you want to go!
------------- Grahame
Don't forget to leave a review of the French and other European campsites you have visited!
I went to France in May 2023, and forgot to take into account their public holidays, and nearly missed the return worm treatment window of at least 24h before the scheduled arrival time back in the UK for the dog!
Nowadays, I check the holidays for EU destinations as part of my planning process.
DK
------------- Apple The Campervan - A Van For Work, Rest & Play!
- 2027: ? NL+DE+FR
- 2026: FR+DE
- 2025: 17/77
'24: 10/49; '23: 9/47;'22: 8/46; '21: 9/34
* Ex-tenter
* Treat life events like a dog: if you can't eat it, play with it or hump it, p1$$ on it and walk away!
Been to France countless times over many decades, mostly in June, and it always has the appearance of being shut if not abandoned! TBF, it has changed a lot over the decades, and more recent years there are far more signs of life, and most properties do seem to have had a lick of paint in living memory now! BUT it certainly does close down far more than we are generally accustomed to in the UK (as does much of the continent it seems), and that can catch you out! Always tickled us that a bit off the popular touristy areas you struggled to get lunch at 'lunch time' as the cafes, boulangeries etc. were shut for a couple of hours or so, if not for the rest of the day! Think we learnt to buy 'picnic lunches' in some form early and keep them until we were hungry around mid-day, I would say have a good breakfast to set you up, but no matter how many Pain au chocolat you shove in your face, they are no substitute for a Full English to see you through the day.
Must be near 5 years back, we looked at going camping to France near Ouistreham in late(ish) May and slightly off our usual areas, and certainly found some camp sites that didn't open until beginning of July! Most seem to open early April though, although I'd say maybe in a basic form, so not necessarily all site facilities open.
I'm talking the north, Normandy and such like, maybe different further south. TBF, we've been heading to D-day celebrations on the coast, and Le Man's 24 hr motor race in the first half of June, and they are generally well supported by local businesses as there is a huge inrush of visitors, but away from the events, it can be very 'out of season' feeling, sometimes silly things like trying to buy fuel on a Sunday become 'interesting'!
It's undoubtedly different to UK, especially if used to busy city/town life where much is open early till late and you don't have to plan timings too much, perhaps less so than in rural backwaters. If it doesn't catch you out in desperate need of food, fuel etc. it's quite refreshing to embrace the laid back lifestyle once you've got the hang of it.
Sunday opening in France for grocery stores was unheard of some years ago!
DK
------------- Apple The Campervan - A Van For Work, Rest & Play!
- 2027: ? NL+DE+FR
- 2026: FR+DE
- 2025: 17/77
'24: 10/49; '23: 9/47;'22: 8/46; '21: 9/34
* Ex-tenter
* Treat life events like a dog: if you can't eat it, play with it or hump it, p1$$ on it and walk away!
Don't forget to leave a review of the French and other European campsites you have visited!
Ascension Day is always a Thursday, and many French make it into a long weekend, we have been caught out with that too. But you can look up the public holidays online.
Quote: Originally posted by franbee on 24/9/2025
Ascension Day is always a Thursday, and many French make it into a long weekend, we have been caught out with that too. But you can look up the public holidays online.
That's the one that nearly caught me out with Bean's return worm treatment, as I planned to have it done on the Thursday without realising it was a public holiday. Luckily the vet was opened on Friday!
DK
------------- Apple The Campervan - A Van For Work, Rest & Play!
- 2027: ? NL+DE+FR
- 2026: FR+DE
- 2025: 17/77
'24: 10/49; '23: 9/47;'22: 8/46; '21: 9/34
* Ex-tenter
* Treat life events like a dog: if you can't eat it, play with it or hump it, p1$$ on it and walk away!
We live near Sarlat in the Dordogne. With the exception of Christmas Day and Bastille Day pretty sure that at least one of LeClercs, Carrefour or Intermarche supermarkets opens - including Sunday am.
Not sure any campsites are open in April - when the kids were little 20 years ago we used to come out last week in May / first week in June when most facilities - pool, restaurant - were open.
Our local village has 4 restaurants open most of the year, a 24/7 365 days a year petrol station, a decent sized Carrefour Contact supermarket (closed Sundays and Bank Holidays) - camping municipal doesn't open until 31 May.
In the 7 years we've lived here we've noticed a big shift towards facilities for camper vans - most villages have an aire du camping car open all year round.
Don't forget to leave a review of the French and other European campsites you have visited!
I think it depends where you go. The earliest we have been is early June. The year we were in the Loire, it felt like everything was open and it was quite busy as I think the Chateaux make the area popular so it has a long season. However, we also went to the Vendee one year around the same time and it felt dead. I wonder if that sort of west coast seaside resort doesn’t really fully come to life until the school holidays.
We would go over to France around early April, depending upon when Easter fell
Often we would get a better deal and cooperation from the owners. For example in Plazac we were given a chalet to use as they were not ready to open up the sanitaires.
In Montsoreau we had 2 nights free because we had helped to unload some picnic benches from a trailer.
Obviously some of the facilities like the pool and bakery etc are not ready, and nude bungee jumping tends to be off the agenda.
Apart fom being cheaper the weather is often very benign, so go for it
A quick look in this year's ACSI book shows that most of the campsites listed are open from around the first week in April, many in March, and some from Jan all year.
How far south are you thinking of going. We came across a very nice little site with a restaurant at Caylus - Camping la Bonnette.... . we were intending to stay a couple of nights and ended up staying a week and have been back again. Decent sized pitches, Dutch owner, takes ACSI. There is a pool - cold inApril! They also have an under-canvas restaurant - the owner's wife is a good cook and prices are reasonable with changing menu, also open to locals. The village of Caylus is a short but steep walk. Lots of old villages/castles to visit within a shortish drive, many with decent sized markets. Also places a bit further afield for day trips if that appeals.
I would agree with Pixie Hez, coastal towns tend to be much more geared to the school holidays - even in June restaurants and bars can be open on limited days. And we’ve found campsites with very limited facilities. City sites may be a better bet - Rennes and Nantes are two cities that we’ve stayed in and spring to mind as being lively year round. We like the quiet months, but are considering late August for next year for something different and to enjoy night markets etc. However, there also seems to be quite a few festivals in May, so it’s worth a search of the websites and Facebook pages of towns you are interested in visiting to see ‘what’s on’
Amazing family weekend with old steam engines, classic car displays, market stalls, and full catering and bar. And camping on site - Save £25 by booking in advance.
Topic: France in April ? May
via mobile 24/9/2025 at 7:51am
TBF, it has changed a lot over the decades, and more recent years there are far more signs of life, and most properties do seem to have had a lick of paint in living memory now! BUT it certainly does close down far more than we are generally accustomed to in the UK (as does much of the continent it seems), and that can catch you out! Always tickled us that a bit off the popular touristy areas you struggled to get lunch at 'lunch time' as the cafes, boulangeries etc. were shut for a couple of hours or so, if not for the rest of the day! Think we learnt to buy 'picnic lunches' in some form early and keep them until we were hungry around mid-day, I would say have a good breakfast to set you up, but no matter how many Pain au chocolat you shove in your face, they are no substitute for a Full English to see you through the day.
