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’.
------------- Seeking luxury in unexpected places
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Think it depends where you are going and what you are expecting, many campsites will offer reduced reception opening times, I also imagine quite a few swimming pools, on site shops and food facilities will be closed on those sites.
Coastal resorts will obviously be very quiet, we went to Vendée in mid September a few years ago and a lot of sites had either closed or were about to close, St Jean De Monts was like a ghost town but we really enjoyed it, the weather was still gorgeous and you could get a parking space wherever you wanted.
So bottom line is that it will be a different holiday but not necessarily in a worse way.
When we went in May it was the 2nd half of the month, granted a lot of the sites don't have everything up and running, but many did (we could still get bread etc, bars/snacks were open as were pools), but then again we went to sites that didn't have anything much open - it was a bit of a lottery. As for the resorts, there was enough open to make it worthwhile.
In recent years we've been away in June, we've found more often than not it was hot (the Wonderful Mrs Wez would say too hot), much was open, particularly at weekends and it's been very busy however, we've been on sites where it's been 35°C plus but they won't open the pool because it's still only June!
This year we travelled to the south of France in September, it was hot and most things were open and there was a vibrant feel about the place. On one day we were turned away from 5 sites because they were full!
I think a lot of sites and resorts are waking up to the fact that there are a lot of people travelling outside of July and August (especially June and September), they're extending their offerings. We prefer to stick to the coast.
As I said earlier, itt is a bit of a lottery but on the whole we've always found plenty to see and do and on offer.
With regard to campsite facilities, if you are using ACSI, their website/app usually has the opening dates for seasonal facilities such as pools and restaurants listed. We ruled quite a few out for June last year when the discount was not actually that much, yet there was no pool, restaurant, bar or shop available !
For non ASCI sites it's more difficult but worth scouring online for reviews - again we ruled one out on the Ile D'Oleron because reviews suggested that the pool wasn't open. I tried to contact the site by email but to no avail.
At one that we chose at the last minute in Normandy and booked by email, the pool was open (3rd week of June) as was the bar on the day we arrived (Sunday); the bar then closed and the manager advised me there was 'pas de pain' despite a notice offering various different types on the reception window However we found a great bar in one local town and excellent restaurants in others, all well populated by locals - all is not lost!
------------- Seeking luxury in unexpected places
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We went once for 2 months, leaving the UK at the end of April and slowly working south to see family in Spain, before coming back through France for a late June return to the UK. We had no fixed plans, other than our Spanish destination, and just meandered mostly through the centre of France, mostly using municipals and some ACSI. I don't recall us having any problems with finding campsites open, but we and our two dogs were the only occupants on more than one occasion!
Also, it was pretty cold and damp for much of the time (even in Spain that year!), but we had jeans and fleeces and waterproofs. Some of the wash rooms were pretty cold, but the showers were usually hot.
------------- Freedom is a light caravan and an open road.
I think if you go to "normal places" rather than tourist resorts, you'll find very little difference whenever you go.
I suppose it depends what you're looking for on your holiday. As we have 2 dogs (that don't like busy places) with us, quieter is better for us and it means we can enjoy areas we wouldn't be able to visit in the main season.
i am off to france in late april next year with a difference. mainly staying inland rather than the coast and going solo. i have stayed in acsi in the past years and have loved the camaraderie on the sites.but sites could be remoter inland, so looking to walk some of the long distance footpaths, but will probaly just have to get what i can. i have enjoyed the acsi sites and like to stay at least 5 days. so this is a real test for acsi now to deliver
------------- runone
Don't forget to leave a review of the French and other European campsites you have visited!
We would often go to France in late April/ early May in order to attend a large car based event usually held on the 1st weekend of May - and attach a camping holiday around that date. Initially we used to wing it, but eventually decided to research before we went.
The ACSI app and website is a great resource and enables you to filter searches for open sites on your travel dates. It also gives the anticipated opening dates of key facilities like shop, bar, pool, reception as well as the distance to off-site facilities. Usually more information than sites own websites! So my advice would be to do the available research.
One year we spent a few weeks from the beginning of April on a site in the Vendée. For a lot of the time we were the only campers on site but the weather was superb, the wildlife entertaining, and the bar was open and often populated by locals! Great fun and we loved it!
A day of all things motorhome and campervan. The show is held both in the main indoor arena and across the grounds. Catering, hot drinks and food options are available. Easy access to the site and free parking included. Win one of five pairs of day tickets
Topic: France in April ? May
via mobile 29/9/2025 at 11:28am
However we found a great bar in one local town and excellent restaurants in others, all well populated by locals - all is not lost! 
