The majority of French campsites close their doors between October and March. Of the approximately 8,000 establishments listed in the country, barely a thousand welcome holidaymakers year-round. Finding a campsite open all year in France requires searching in the right places, but also understanding what distinguishes these facilities from traditional seasonal campsites.
Rental Accommodation and Profitability: What Allows Campsites to Stay Open in Winter
A campsite that operates year-round does not simply leave the barrier open off-season. The business model almost always relies on rental pitches: mobile homes, chalets, and lightweight leisure accommodations.
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An analysis by Somme Tourism published in 2026 confirms that rental accommodations drive attendance outside of summer. Bare pitches (tents, caravans) generate few bookings between November and February, while a heated and insulated mobile home remains attractive for a weekend or an extended stay.
This logic explains why campsites open year-round are concentrated in areas with high tourist demand off-season: the Atlantic coast, the Mediterranean coast, and the Pyrenean and Alpine foothills. A comprehensive guide lists campsites open all year in France by region and type of accommodation, making the search easier.
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3, 4, or 5-star campsites more often have an indoor pool, a wellness area, or a restaurant, all of which justify permanent opening. Conversely, a 1 or 2-star campsite without rentals rarely has a reason to stay open in the low season: fixed costs (maintenance, reception staff, heating of sanitary facilities) exceed revenue.
Off-Season Attendance: Increasing Overnight Stays but Still Fragmented Data
According to the 2026 press release from the FNHPA, French campsites recorded 147.5 million overnight stays in 2025, an increase of 4.5% year-on-year. During the period from early May to late August, Insee and FNHPA account for approximately 125 million overnight stays, which is about one collective tourist night out of two.
The calculation is simple: if summer accounts for between two-thirds and three-quarters of the annual total, the rest is spread over spring, autumn, and, to a lesser extent, winter. This share outside of peak season is growing, driven by the May holidays, All Saints’ vacation, and short winter stays in the mountains.
Field reports vary on the actual extent of this growth. Some managers report decent occupancy rates in April or October, while others struggle to exceed 20% occupancy between December and February. Winter profitability heavily depends on location and the target clientele (seasonal workers, itinerant retirees, campervan users).
Year-Round Camping for Motorhomes: A Distinct Segment
Motorhome users represent a specific clientele for campsites open all year. Their vehicle is self-sufficient in heating and water, which reduces infrastructure requirements. A stabilized pitch with an electrical connection, a waste disposal point, and a heated sanitary block are sufficient.
Several criteria should be checked before booking:
- The power of the electrical connection, often limited to 6 amps on basic pitches, which is insufficient in winter for supplementary heating alongside gas
- The accessibility of access roads in case of snow or frost, particularly in mountain campsites
- The presence of a functional service area year-round, as some waste disposal points are shut off during extreme cold to prevent pipe freezing
- The pricing conditions off-season, which vary significantly: night rate, weekly rate, or monthly rate for long stays
A campsite that states “open all year” does not guarantee that all its services operate in mid-winter. The pool, snack bar, or grocery store may be closed from November to March even if the reception and pitches remain accessible.
Regions and Search Criteria to Find a Campsite Open in Low Season
Booking platforms (CampingFrance.com, Camping Qualité, Camping Direct) all offer a filter for “open all year.” The number of results varies from site to site, as some only list their members or commercial partners.
Geographically, three main areas concentrate the offer:
- The Mediterranean coast (Hérault, Var, Pyrénées-Orientales), where the climate allows for almost continuous activity and where tourist demand remains strong in spring and autumn
- The Atlantic coast (Vendée, Charente-Maritime, Landes), with a clientele of surfers, hikers, and retirees who spread their stays throughout the year
- The Alpine and Pyrenean valleys, where proximity to ski resorts generates winter demand for accommodations cheaper than traditional hotels
Outside these areas, the offer becomes scarce. In the Centre-Val de Loire, Grand Est, or Hauts-de-France, campsites open twelve months a year can be counted on one hand. The off-season demand is too weak to cover operating costs.
Indoor Pool and Activities: Decisive Criteria for Families
For a stay with children outside of summer, the presence of a heated indoor pool radically changes the experience. 4 and 5-star campsites that keep this type of facility open all year attract family clientele during the autumn, winter, and spring school holidays.
Activities, on the other hand, are rarely maintained outside of July-August. Some establishments offer occasional activities during the All Saints’ or February holidays, but winter operations remain minimal in terms of entertainment.
Regulation and Status of Long-Term Residents
A rarely discussed point concerns the legal status of year-round occupants. The urban planning code prohibits establishing permanent residence in a campsite, except in areas with a specific prefectural order. Managers of campsites open all year must navigate this constraint: welcoming long stays without transitioning into permanent housing.
In practice, some campsites offer annual rental contracts for mobile homes, with monthly rates. This arrangement attracts seasonal workers, people in housing transition, or retirees wishing to reduce their fixed costs. The legal framework remains unclear regarding the maximum duration of stay allowed, and practices vary from one department to another depending on the interpretation of local urban planning services.
Before committing to a stay of several months, checking directly with the campsite about its long-term accommodation conditions and with the town hall about any local restrictions remains the most reliable approach.