Start your French adventure with a campervan hire in Bordeaux and discover the heart of wine country by campervan with Indie Campers. Wander through the medieval streets of Saint-Émilion, drive into the rolling hills of the Dordogne, or follow the coast to surf spots and seaside towns like Hossegor. Choose a campervan that fits your plans, with unlimited kilometres, flexible one-way routes, and helpful extras like bedding kits, towel kits, or outdoor furniture to make every stop more enjoyable. With a trusted Europe-wide fleet and thousands of 4.9-star reviews, Indie Campers is your go-to for exploring vineyards, villages, and coastlines at your own rhythm.
Our Road Trips Itineraries
Bordeaux's location in southwestern France gives you access to diverse landscapes and France's most famous wine regions. Here's what you can reach:
The roads are excellent. A63 and A10 motorways make long distances quick, while D-roads through wine country (Route des Châteaux, Route des Vins) show you vineyards and stone villages.
Here's what sets us apart:
April through October is ideal. May, September, and October are especially popular—you avoid peak summer crowds while getting excellent weather for both wine touring and coastal visits.
Spring (March to May)
Temperatures: 12-20°C
Vineyards are green and blooming. Perfect for wine touring before summer heat. Easter brings some crowds but manageable. Occasional rain in March—bring layers. By May, outdoor dining and beach visits are comfortable.
Best for: Wine château visits, cycling through vineyards, Bordeaux city exploration, coastal walks.
Summer (June to August)
Temperatures: 20-28°C
Peak season. Bordeaux gets warm but comfortable with Atlantic breezes. Coastal towns (Arcachon, Cap Ferret) are packed, especially August when French families holiday. Wine regions stay busy. Longer days (sunset around 9:30pm) mean extended touring time. Book château visits ahead.
Best for: Beach trips, Atlantic coast, evening wine tastings, outdoor markets, festivals.
Autumn (September to November)
Temperatures: 15-23°C (September), cooling to 8-15°C (November)
Harvest season (vendanges) is September-October—many châteaux offer harvest experiences. Autumn colours in Dordogne Valley. Fewer tourists after mid-September. Oyster season peaks (September-April). Wine festivals throughout the region.
3 to 5 Days
Bordeaux Wine Triangle (150km loop, 3 days)
Bordeaux to Atlantic Coast (180km return trip, 4 days)
Wine & Medieval Villages (300km loop, 5 days)
Fuel Stations
Dump Stations
Helpful Apps
Requirements
Booking
What's Included
Parking Near City Center
Getting from Airport/Train
From Bordeaux-Mérignac Airport (BOD):
From Bordeaux Saint-Jean Station:
Campervan hire: €700-1,400 (varies by vehicle/season)
Fuel: €200-350 (diesel €1.65-1.80/L, 600-800km typical)
Tolls: €30-100 (depending on routes—wine country has few tolls)
Campgrounds: €210-385 (€30-55/night × 7)
Food: €150-400 (cooking vs restaurants)
Wine/attractions: €100-300 (château visits €15-40 each)
Total estimates:
One-way fees vary. Often no extra charge peak season.
Bordeaux combines world-class wine tourism with access to Atlantic beaches, medieval villages, and mountain routes, all within three hours. You're not starting in chaotic Paris or tourist-packed Nice. The roads are excellent, locals are welcoming, and you can be in vineyards within 30 minutes or at the coast within an hour.
Most importantly, Bordeaux is the wine capital of the world. You're surrounded by Médoc, Saint-Émilion, Graves, Sauternes. regions that produce wines worth travelling for. Starting in Bordeaux means your road trip is also a wine education.
Over 6,200 travellers hired from Bordeaux last year. Find your campervan and start planning your French wine country adventure.
Best for: Harvest experiences, wine enthusiasts, oyster tasting, scenic countryside drives, cultural exploration without crowds.
Winter (December to February)
Temperatures: 5-12°C
Lowest hire prices (30-40% less). Coastal campgrounds often close, but inland sites stay open. Bordeaux Christmas markets run through December. Truffle season in Dordogne (January-February). Pyrenees skiing possible. Some châteaux have reduced hours.
Best for: Budget travellers, wine cellar tours, Christmas markets, truffle hunting, winter Pyrenees activities.
Most popular months: May, September, and October for the best weather-wine-coast combination.
Bordeaux to Basque Country (800km, 8 days)
Bordeaux → Saint-Émilion (40km) → Arcachon (80km) → Biarritz (140km) → San Sebastián Spain (50km) → Bayonne (35km) → Hossegor (30km) → back through Landes forest (200km) → Bordeaux
Southwest France Grand Tour (950km, 9 days)
Bordeaux → Dordogne Valley (Sarlat, Rocamadou, Cahors, 200km) → Albi (180km) → Toulouse (80km) → Carcassonne (90km) → Pyrenees foothills → Pau (150km) → Bordeaux (200km)
14+ Days
Atlantic Coast to Mediterranean (2,200km, 16 days)
Bordeaux → Atlantic coast → Basque Country → Pyrenees → Carcassonne → Mediterranean (Montpellier, Marseille) → Provence → return via Lyon and central France
France Wine Regions Tour (2,500km, 18 days)
Bordeaux → Loire Valley → Burgundy → Champagne → Alsace → Rhône Valley → return through Languedoc
Most travellers find 7-10 days gives the right balance for wine country + coast or wine country + Dordogne.
How it works:
Costs from Bordeaux:
Budget €0.10-0.12 per kilometre on péage roads. D-roads are free but slower.
Speed Limits
Speed cameras everywhere (fixed and mobile). Fines sent to home address.
Priority to the Right
At unmarked intersections, vehicles from the right have priority (priorité à droite). Roundabouts: those already in the circle have priority.
Alcohol Limit
0.05% BAC. Fines start at €135 + licence suspension. Wine region checkpoints common.
campervan-Specific
Height: Know your vehicle height. Some medieval village gates are 2.5-3m. Your campervan is likely 2.7-3.2m.
Narrow roads: Saint-Émilion and Dordogne villages have tight streets. Park below and walk up.
Parking: Blue zones = paid. White = free (2-hour limits common). Check signs for restrictions.
Wild camping: Illegal in France. Use aires de camping-car (designated campervan parking with services, €8-15/night) or campgrounds. Beaches and forests prohibit overnight parking—fines €68+.
Autoroute rest areas: Safe for overnight stops. Not scenic but convenient.
Toll lanes: Avoid orange "Télépéage" lanes (subscribers only). Use white/green lanes with card/cash symbols.
In general, a special licence is not required to hire our campervans in Bordeaux. However, a valid driving licence is required to operate our vehicles. For some non-EU citizens, a IDP is required, in addition to their home country's driver's licence. Other considerations such as a valid vehicle licence to the vehicle type (manual or automatic) will also be required. For more information regarding our licence requirements read this.
Yes, our campervans are pet-friendly. Just make sure to purchase the extra cleaning service during your booking. This service includes professional anti-allergic cleaning after your trip. Please note that only one pet is allowed per motorhome, and it must weigh no more than 30kg. Keep in mind, we are not responsible for any legal fees related to travelling with your pet. For marketplace bookings, check the "vehicle rules" section for the pet-friendly icon to confirm if pets are allowed in that specific vehicle.
The number of people who can sleep in our campervans will depend on the size of the vehicle and the model. In general, our class C motorhome models can sleep up to 4-8 people, whereas our class B motorhomes can sleep up to 2-4. For cars with a rooftop tent, around 2 people can sleep in this vehicles. More details on our models and sleeping capacities can be found here.
If you are travelling in a campervan, motorhome or caravan around Bordeaux, it is important to understand official camping rules of the country you are visiting. As natural areas are generally protected by laws, using an official campsite or designated overnight parking area is highly recommended. This helps protect local communities and ensures you can all enjoy safely. Read more safety tips and protocols here.
We offer three protection plans to cover incidents and damages during your hire period. All Indie Campers motorhomes come with insurance for third-party vehicles and property damage (valid insurance will depend on the country). For marketplace vehicles, insurance options may vary based on the host.
Learn more about our protection plans here.
Yes, our search filter allows you to find a campervan near your location using a 60km radius system. This means depending on the location you are searching from, you will be able to find an Indie campervan hire pick-up centre near you.
Yes, a selected number of Indie Campers campervan hire in Bordeaux include unlimited kilometres, allowing you to explore freely and make the most of your road trip! Please note that unlimited kilometres applies exclusively to Indie Campers campervans and is subject to responsible use.
“Brilliant service, brilliant staff”
“The Host was amazing. Great customer service. The cabinetry hinges need repair, and to check the water heating sensor.”
“Super sortie en famille a travers la France. Camping car récent et pratique. Je suis prêt à repartir”
Our Road Trips Itineraries
Campervans, Motorhomes & Campervans for Every Kind of Traveller
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