Surf Camping Escape: Ride the Atlantic Waves from Campsites in France

The listings on this page are campsites, not a packaged retreat. Flower Campings operates over 146 sites in France, and this selection is filtered to those near surf spots on the Atlantic and Channel coasts. Each site is booked individually: you pick your dates, choose a pitch for a tent, van or motorhome, or a rental such as a mobile home, lodge, chalet, canvas bungalow, wooden hut or gypsy caravan, and pay the site directly. Rental prices shown start from around €229–€309 per stay for two to five people depending on the site and dates; pitches start from around €108–€154 for two people.

Surfing is not organised by the campsites themselves. Instead, the pitch is that surf schools and clubs operate near each site, offering lessons and courses, and that board and wetsuit rental is available on the beach. So the experience is DIY: you book your accommodation, then arrange lessons or rentals locally. Some sites are closer to the water than others — Camping Le Platin - La Redoute on the Île de Ré has direct beach access, Camping de la Corniche in Urrugne is 150 m from the ocean, and Camping La Grande Plage in Plobannalec-Lesconil is 200 m from the beach. Others are 1.5–7 km inland but have cycle paths or shuttle links to the coast.

Days here look different depending on where you stay. On the Basque coast you might surf La Côte des Basques in Biarritz, Les Cavaliers in Anglet or Lafitenia in Saint-Jean-de-Luz, then eat pintxos in a nearby village. In the Landes, Hossegor and Seignosse are the main draws; in Brittany, Pointe de la Torche and La Palue; in the Vendée, Bud Bud near La Tranche-sur-Mer and La Sauzaie at Bretignolles-sur-Mer. Normandy surfers head to Etretat, below the famous arch.

Each campsite has its own character. Camping La Canadienne at Arès sits in the Bay of Arcachon, sheltered by Cap Ferret and the Dune du Pyla, with a boat-shaped heated pool. Camping Les Ilates on the Île de Ré is surrounded by salt marshes. Camping Monplaisir on the Île d'Oléron is set in forest, five minutes by bike from the beach. Camping Vitamin in Normandy is family-focused and close to Paris. Amenities vary but commonly include heated outdoor and covered pools, water slides, paddling pools, spas, bars, restaurants, snack bars, shops, bike rental, kids' clubs, multi-sports courts, boules courts and Wi-Fi.

Beyond surfing, the Atlantic coast offers canoeing, kayaking, windsurfing, kitesurfing, sailing, stand-up paddleboarding, water skiing and wakeboarding. Inland and along the coast you'll also find cycling routes, walking trails, horse riding, tennis, golf, archery, climbing and local wine and food producers within easy reach of many sites. If you're not surfing every day, there's plenty to do without driving far.

What's included

- Campsite accommodation of your choice (pitch or rental, booked separately per site) - Access to on-site facilities such as pools, water slides and paddling pools where the site has them - On-site services such as shops, bars, restaurants, takeaway and launderette where the site has them - Some sites include kids' clubs and family entertainment - Some sites offer bike rental on site

What's not included

- Surf lessons and courses (booked locally with independent surf schools) - Surfboard and wetsuit rental (available on the beach or at local schools) - Travel to and from France and between campsites - Ferry or flight costs - Meals not purchased on site or in town - Travel insurance - Personal expenses