Campervan hire in Nice

Explore Nice With Us!

Experience the French Riviera with a campervan hire in Nice and explore the stunning Mediterranean coastline, hilltop villages, and alpine landscapes of southeastern France. Drive east along the Côte d'Azur toward Monaco and the Italian border, head west to Cannes and Saint-Tropez, or venture inland through Provence's lavender fields and medieval perched villages. Choose from Indie Campers' California, Active, or Comfort range, all with unlimited kilometres, flexible one-way options, 24/7 online support, and extras like kitchen kits, outdoor furniture, or bedding sets. Backed by a Europe-wide fleet and 4.8-star-rated service, Indie Campers makes exploring the Riviera simple, comfortable, and unforgettable.

Campervan Road Trips from Nice

Nice sits at 43.7034°N, 7.2663°E on the Baie des Anges, France's fifth largest city with a population of 357,737 (INSEE 2023) and the capital of the Alpes-Maritimes department. The geographical proposition here is unusual: the Alpine chain descends to within 15 km of the Mediterranean coastline, compressed between the sea and a pre-Alpine ridge that climbs to 400-500 metres just behind the coast. That proximity means Monaco is 21 km from the city centre (35 minutes via the coastal Corniche), the Col de la Bonette at 2,802 metres is 96 km (2 hours), and the Gorges du Verdon is 138 km (2h15). No other city in France places you equidistant between a pebble beach, a principality, and the highest paved road in the Alps within a single morning's drive.

Nice Côte d'Azur Airport (NCE, GPS: 43.6653°N, 7.2150°E, 7 km west of the city centre) handled 15.23 million passengers in 2025, making it France's third busiest. Direct routes for the core campervan travel audience: easyJet from London, and Belfast; British Airways; KLM from Amsterdam Schiphol; Lufthansa from Frankfurt and Munich; Norwegian from Copenhagen, Stockholm, and Oslo; Air Transat from Montreal and Toronto (seasonal). Tram Line 2 connects both terminals to the city centre in 25-30 minutes for €1.50.

What to do in Nice

Top Scenic Routes and Natural Parks from Nice

Best Campgrounds in Nice and the Côte d'Azur

The Three Corniche Roads: Nice to Monaco, 21-30 km

Three roads run roughly parallel between Nice and Menton, each at a different altitude, each with a distinct character. They are not interchangeable: choose deliberately.

Corniche Inférieure (Basse Corniche, D6098) leaves Nice at Port Lympia and traces the coastline east through Villefranche-sur-Mer, the Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat peninsula junction, Beaulieu-sur-Mer, Èze-bord-de-Mer, Cap d'Ail, and into Monaco. Villefranche-sur-Mer (GPS: approximately 43.7055°N, 7.3107°E, 6 km from Nice, 12 minutes) is the first significant stop: a deep natural harbour where American aircraft carriers anchored during the Cold War, with a 14th-century Citadelle and a waterfront lined with fishing boats. The Chapelle Saint-Pierre on the harbour (decorated by Jean Cocteau in 1957) is small and worth the stop. Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat is 3 km further on the peninsula: a narrow wooded headland holding France's highest concentration of private wealth per square metre, with the Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild (GPS: approximately 43.6970°N, 7.3362°E; nine themed gardens on the cape tip, built 1912) as the only significant public attraction. Road suitability for campervans: good, but congested through Monaco in summer. Best for: coastal towns, sea-level stops, and the most direct route into Monaco.

Moyenne Corniche (D6007) climbs from Nice above the Basse Corniche through a long tunnel to reach the Col de Villefranche panorama viewpoint: on the right, Villefranche bay curves below with Cap Ferrat extending into dark blue water and the Esterel Massif visible 60 km to the southwest on a clear day. The road continues to the access point for Èze village (GPS: 43.7270°N, 7.3620°E, 429 metres altitude, 12 km from Nice, 20-25 minutes). Èze is a cluster of medieval stone buildings on a vertical rock outcrop above the sea, crowned by the Jardin Exotique (GPS same as village; open daily 09:00-16:30 November to March, 09:00-18:30 April to June and October, 09:00-19:30 July to September; adult admission €8-9; cactus and succulent garden in 12th-century castle ruins with a view that covers 40 km of coastline). Below the garden, the Fragonard perfume boutique distils and sells the Èze signature fragrance. Campervans park at the designated motorhome area at Place Figuiera on the D6007 and walk up. The Chemin de Nietzsche footpath descends 1.5 km from the village to Èze-bord-de-Mer in 40 minutes (90 minutes back up); the philosopher claimed to have written part of Thus Spoke Zarathustra on this path. Road suitability for campervans: good. This is the recommended Corniche for campervans: better width than the Grande, less congestion than the Basse, access to the best viewpoints.

Grande Corniche (D2564) is the highest road, built by Napoleon on the ancient Roman Via Aurelia, reaching over 550 metres with sheer cliff drops and minimal crash barriers in sections. Alfred Hitchcock filmed the car chase in To Catch a Thief here in 1955; Princess Grace Kelly died on this road in 1982. La Turbie (GPS: approximately 43.7489°N, 7.3970°E): the Trophée des Alpes, a Roman monument built in 6 BC to celebrate Augustus's conquest of Alpine tribes, stands here largely intact — 50 metres tall, white limestone, visible from the coast below. Adult admission: approximately €7 (Tuesday to Sunday). Road suitability for campervans: caution for large vehicles. The road is narrow in sections with tight hairpins and limited passing places; large motorhomes (over 7 metres) are explicitly discouraged. Suitable for small to medium campervans with experienced drivers on dry days.

Recommended loop: Drive the Moyenne Corniche eastbound from Nice to Monaco (views, Èze, La Turbie optionally), then return on the Basse Corniche westbound (coastal villages, Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat). Total circuit: approximately 70 km, half a day with stops.

Gorges du Verdon and Lac de Sainte-Croix: 138 km

Europe's largest canyon is 138 km from Nice (2h15 via A8 and then N85 to Castellane and D952 westbound), 25 km long, with cliff walls dropping 700 metres to the turquoise river below. The colour is caused by glacial rock flour suspended in the water from the Verdon's Alpine sources; on a clear July morning with the sun directly overhead, the river appears lit from below.

Road choice matters. Two roads rim the gorge: the D952 (north/right bank) from Castellane to Moustiers-Sainte-Marie, and the D71 Corniche Sublime (south/left bank). The D71 is the better driver's road, wider, sweeping, better tarmac, the classic engineering of the 1930s Route des Alpes, and carries fewer visitors than the D952. The D23 Route des Crêtes, a 24-km loop with 14 viewpoints above the gorge launched from La Palud-sur-Verdon (GPS: approximately 43.7953°N, 6.3447°E), is too narrow for campervans and is posted as a one-way road in summer.

Key viewpoints:

Balcons de la Mescla (GPS: approximately 43.6739°N, 6.2849°E, D71 Corniche Sublime): where the Verdon and Artuby rivers converge in the gorge 250 metres below. Stop at the signed pull-off; walk to the railing and look straight down.
Pont de l'Artuby (GPS: approximately 43.7076°N, 6.2931°E, D71): Europe's highest bungee-jump bridge at 182 metres; free to drive over, paid activity to jump. The parapet view into the gorge is free and vertiginous.
Point Sublime (GPS: approximately 43.7833°N, 6.3483°E, D952 north bank): the canonical gorge viewpoint, with the Samson Couloir — the vertical slot where the Verdon disappears into the rock — visible directly below. The Sentier du Blanc-Martel (15 km, 7-8 hours one way, requires shuttle from Mayreste car park back to Point Sublime) starts here; the 40-minute out-and-back to the Baou tunnel viewpoint is the efficient version.

Lac de Sainte-Croix (GPS: approximately 43.7742°N, 6.1381°E at the Galetas bridge, Aiguines): 22 km² of reservoir at the western end of the gorge, the colour of glacial melt. From the Galetas car park, canoes and pedalos put in to paddle 2 km into the gorge entrance before navigation is restricted. Verdon Canoe (verdoncanoe.com) and MYC Plage (mycplage.com, Aiguines) both hire pedalos from approximately €25/hour. The lake swim, 22°C in July, is the logical reward for the drive.

Moustiers-Sainte-Marie (GPS: approximately 43.8456°N, 6.2217°E, 5 km north of the lake): a medieval village on a cliff above a gorge with a gold star suspended between two rock pinnacles on a chain — hung there in the 13th century by a knight returning from the Crusades. The village has been producing the distinctive blue-and-white Moustiers faience (tin-glazed earthenware) since 1679; 12 potters' ateliers are currently operating in the village.

Camping option near Lac de Sainte-Croix: Camping de l'Aigle (Campasun network, Aiguines, near the lake; motorhome pitches from approximately €19/night off-peak).

Parc National du Mercantour: 65-96 km

France's seventh national park (1979), covering 1,801 km² of high alpine terrain along the French-Italian border with over 2,000 plant species, 9,000 animal species, and the second largest wolf population in France. The nearest entry point to Nice is the Vésubie Valley (D2565 north from Nice via Levens; Saint-Martin-Vésubie at GPS: 44.0676°N, 7.2534°E, 65 km from Nice, 1h15).

Wild camping in Mercantour: Strictly prohibited in the heart zone (identified by green hexagonal boundary signs). In the peripheral zone, bivouac sleeping is permitted from 19:00 to 09:00, one night maximum, minimum 60 minutes' walk from park boundaries, roads, and water sources. Campervans must use designated campsites or motorhome aires in gateway villages; overnight parking at trailheads is not authorised.

Vallée des Merveilles (Bronze Age rock engravings, Lac des Mesches trailhead GPS: 44.0843°N, 7.5244°E, accessed from Saint-Dalmas-de-Tende, approximately 90 km from Nice, 1h45 via A8/Tende): Europe's largest concentration of open-air Bronze Age petroglyphs — approximately 40,000 engravings on glacier-polished rock faces around Mont Bégo at 2,300 metres altitude. The classified archaeological area requires a certified Mercantour National Park guide; guided 2-day hikes with overnight at the Refuge des Merveilles (2,111 metres) are the standard visit format. Season: June to October.

Col de la Bonette: 96 km, altitude 2,802 metres

The highest paved point in France: the Cime de la Bonette loop road reaches 2,802 metres (the actual mountain summit is 2,860 metres; the col itself is 2,715 metres — all three figures are technically correct for different reference points). GPS of the summit loop: approximately 44.3164°N, 6.8080°E. Accessible typically from June to October; snow can close the road outside those dates with no advance warning.

The approach from Nice: N202 up the Var valley to Guillaumes (fuel here), then D2205 to Saint-Étienne-de-Tinée, then D64 to Jausiers over the col. This is the standard south-to-north crossing. Distance: 96 km, 2-2h30. The mountain section begins 60 km from Nice; the final approach through 26 hairpin bends is the section that takes the time.

Fuel warning: There is no petrol station on the col route itself. Fill in Jausiers (north approach) or Saint-Étienne-de-Tinée (south approach) without fail. "Next fuel 80 km" is a real possibility if you misread the map. Campervans over approximately 7 metres: the road is narrow with steep drops and is explicitly not recommended for large motorhomes; small to medium campervans with experienced drivers only.

Gorges de Daluis and Gorges du Cians: 75-86 km

Two adjacent river gorges cut through completely different rock types, 90 minutes north of Nice via the N202.

Gorges de Daluis (GPS: approximately 43.9650°N, 6.8750°E, 86 km from Nice, 1h30-1h45 via N202 and D2202): the Var river's tributary has carved through deep terracotta-red porphyry rock, with overhanging cliff faces and natural tunnels on the D2202 road through the gorge. A Réserve Naturelle Régionale since 2012. The road is manageable for standard campervans; campervans over approximately 7 metres should check width restrictions before entering. The tight sections have overhanging rock rather than road narrowing — height is rarely an issue, but confidence at slow speed is necessary.

Gorges du Cians (GPS lower gorge entrance: approximately 44.0000°N, 7.0400°E, 75 km from Nice, 1h15-1h30 via N202 then D28): immediately north of Daluis, the Cians river has cut through white limestone in the lower section and deep terracotta-red shale in the upper. The contrast between the two rock types on a single drive is the visual attraction. The main D28 through the lower gorge is passable; the upper gorge village roads to Pierlas and Roubion have weight restrictions of 3.5 tonnes on some sections. Stick to the D28.

Both gorges are regularly missed by coastal visitors who do not look at the N202 valley. If the Gorges du Verdon is too far for the day, the Daluis/Cians double gorge loop (approximately 180 km return trip, 3 hours driving, allow 6 hours total with stops) is the most accessible mountain half-day from Nice.

Route Napoléon (N85): Nice to Castellane and the Alps

Napoleon Bonaparte walked this route in March 1815 after escaping from Elba, covering 330 km from Golfe-Juan (near Antibes) to Grenoble in 7 days to reclaim power before Waterloo. The N85 from Grasse north to Castellane and then to Grenoble is now marked throughout with the imperial eagle emblem. Join it at Cannes/Golfe-Juan (A8 exit 41) and head north through Grasse (35 km from Nice), then Escragnolles, then Castellane (100 km from Nice, the gateway to the Gorges du Verdon). The N85 south of Castellane is a well-maintained two-lane road through Pre-Alpine hills, a direct and scenic alternative to the A8 motorway for reaching the Verdon, and the most efficient way to combine Grasse with a Verdon day trip.

Get Inspired

Our Road Trips Itineraries

Why Hire a campervan in Nice

The French Riviera has three public transport realities. The train covers the coast: Nice to Monaco in 22 minutes (€3.80), Nice to Cannes in 40 minutes (€7.50), Nice to Antibes in 25 minutes (€4.20). These are excellent connections. The bus covers the Corniches: Bus 100 from Nice to Menton via the Basse Corniche runs every 15 minutes for €1.50. These connections are also fine.

What public transport does not cover: any of the interior. There is no public transport to Gorges du Verdon, no bus to the Gorges de Daluis or Cians, no scheduled service to the Mercantour park interior, no public access to the Vallée des Merveilles trailhead at Lac des Mesches, no way to reach the Bellet AOC vineyards 8 km northwest of the city. The Col de la Bonette has no public transport between June and October and no road at all for the other eight months. Saint-Paul-de-Vence — 30 km from Nice — has one bus an hour from Cagnes-sur-Mer station that stops running at 19:30.

The specific argument for a campervan from Nice is altitude. The coast is accessible and overrun; the interior above 400 metres is not. The Mercantour's 1,801 km² of high alpine wilderness, the gorges, the perched villages of the Préalpes Niçoises — none of this is reachable without a vehicle. A campervan gives you the mobility and the means to stay overnight at the trailheads that are three turns of a switchback road from the nearest campsite.

Why Choose Indie Campers in Nice

Unlimited kilometres: A 7-day circuit covering the three Corniches, Gorges du Verdon, Mercantour, and Grasse covers approximately 700-900 km. No daily distance limit regardless of route.

One-way hire: Pick up in Nice and drop off in Marseille (202 km, 2h10), Lyon (470 km, 4h40), or any French Indie Campers location.

24/7 roadside assistance: Included on every booking. All standard Riviera and Alps circuit roads are within coverage.

Flexible cancellation available: Cancel without penalty up to 31 days before pickup.

Book now, pay later: Campsites near Nice fill for July-August from May onward. Securing the vehicle in advance without full payment allows campsite and ferry bookings to be made simultaneously.

Best Time to Hire a campervan in Nice

Winter (December to February)

Nice averages 300 days of sunshine annually; January daytime temperatures reach 12-14°C with regular clear days when the Mercantour peaks behind the city hold fresh snow and the Promenade des Anglais is quiet enough to walk at pace. The Gorges du Verdon is fully accessible in winter — no crowds, no peak-season campsite pressure, cold but dry. The Col de la Bonette and high Mercantour passes close with snow from November or December; the Vésubie valley floor remains accessible year-round. Monaco and all three Corniches operate normally; Antibes and Cannes have their full complement of open restaurants without the August compression.

The Nice Carnival runs in February (typically mid-February, coinciding with Menton's Fête du Citron): the city's main annual event, dating from 1294, attracting 1 million visitors across the two-week programme. If the carnival is the goal, book campsites 3-4 months in advance.

Best for: off-season prices, Clear Riviera light, Verdon without crowds, winter Carnival, snowcapped Alps visible from the coast.
Skip if: sea swimming and high-altitude mountain passes are essential to the trip.

Spring (March to May)

Temperatures: 14-20°C. Wildflower season in the Mercantour begins in April at lower altitudes (1,000-1,400 m) and progresses upward through June. The Vallée des Merveilles opens in June; the Col de la Bonette loop typically opens in late May or early June depending on snow. Campsite availability is excellent; the Corniches are driveable without summer congestion.

The Grasse perfume flower harvest begins in May: the rose de mai (the Centifolia rose used in Chanel No. 5) is picked from mid-May for approximately three weeks. Visiting a Grasse perfume house in May means seeing the harvest context rather than just the museum.

Best for: Mercantour wildflowers (April-May at lower altitudes), pre-season campsite prices, uncongested Corniches, Grasse rose harvest (May), full Col de la Bonette and high pass access from late May.
Skip if: sea temperature is critical; the Baie des Anges reaches 20°C in June.

Summer (June to August)

Temperatures: 26-32°C. Mediterranean sea temperature: 22-26°C in August. The Lac de Sainte-Croix at the Gorges du Verdon reaches 22°C in July; the Mercantour mountain lakes are cold (12-16°C) and clean. All passes and trails are open.

The central constraint: the coast is at maximum compression in July and August. The A8 motorway eastbound on Friday evenings and Sunday evenings is a car park. The Basse Corniche through Monaco is bumper-to-bumper from 09:00. Campsites near Nice fill from May onward for peak weeks; book the Cagnes-sur-Mer sites 6-8 weeks ahead minimum.

The practical response for a campervan traveller: spend July-August nights in the interior rather than on the coast. The Vésubie valley campsites, the Verdon campsites, the Var valley villages are cool, uncrowded, and quiet after 21:00. Drive to the coast in the morning, be back in the mountains by 17:00.

Best for: sea swimming (Basse Corniche, Villefranche, Antibes, Juan-les-Pins), Lac de Sainte-Croix kayaking, Vallée des Merveilles guided hikes, all high-altitude passes.
Skip if: you expect coastal campsite availability without advance booking in August.

Autumn (September to October)

Temperatures: 22-28°C in September, 16-22°C in October. The Mediterranean holds at 22-24°C in September, the warmest sea temperature of the year is typically the second week of September. The Corniches lose their peak-season congestion; the Col de la Bonette loop stays open until October and the Mercantour wildflower second bloom (gentians, saffron crocus) runs through September.

September is the strongest practical month for a Nice campervan circuit. All attractions are open, all passes accessible, sea swimming still warm, campsites available without mandatory 6-week advance booking. The only September risk is the first autumn storms on the Italian border coast; check the Météo-France mountain forecast for any Mercantour itinerary.

Best for: peak sea temperature (September), uncrowded Corniches, Mercantour autumn flora, Gorges du Verdon in golden light, full pass access before October closures.
Skip if: guaranteed high-altitude access after mid-October; the Col de la Bonette can close from October with early snow.

The highest-demand hire months in Nice are July and August. Book 6-8 weeks ahead for peak summer weeks.

How Many Days Do You Need in Nice

3 to 5 Days

French Riviera Circuit: Nice, Corniches, Monaco, and the Hinterland (approximately 250-300 km, 4 days)

Day 1: Collect vehicle. Cours Saleya market provisioning (open Tuesday to Sunday from 06:00; arrive before 09:00 for best selection). Vieux-Nice walk: Cathédrale Sainte-Réparate (free), Rue Pairolière socca at Chez Thérésa, Place Rossetti Fenocchio ice cream. Colline du Château free lift and noon cannon (fire at 12:00 daily). Promenade des Anglais evening walk. Overnight Camping La Rivière, Cagnes-sur-Mer (GPS: approximately 43.6513°N, 7.1425°E, 15 km west of Nice; from approximately €25-60/night).

Day 2: Moyenne Corniche (D6007) east from Nice. Col de Villefranche viewpoint (stop at the pull-off; the full Villefranche bay from above, Cap Ferrat extending into blue water). Èze village: park at Place Figuiera, walk up to Jardin Exotique (€8-9). Continue D6007 to Monaco. Monaco visit: Prince's Palace changing of the guard at 11:55 (free, just be there 10 minutes early); Oceanographic Museum (adult €22.50); Casino de Monte-Carlo facade (free). Park at Cap d'Ail on the French side or use the Fontainebleau car park. Return to Nice via Basse Corniche (D6098) westbound through Villefranche and Beaulieu: the coastal villages from road level after the morning altitude drive. Overnight Cagnes-sur-Mer.

Day 3: Saint-Paul-de-Vence (GPS: approximately 43.6970°N, 7.1180°E, 30 km from Nice, 35-40 minutes via A8 exit 47 then D436). Fondation Maeght (GPS: 43.6995°N, 7.1185°E; adult approximately €18; Miró Labyrinth sculpture garden; Giacometti courtyard; park at the Fondation, 10-minute walk to the village). Village lunch. Afternoon: Grasse (37 km from Saint-Paul, 45-50 minutes). Fragonard factory tour (20 Boulevard Fragonard; free, no booking for individuals; daily 09:00-18:45; GPS: approximately 43.6590°N, 6.9283°E). Overnight Villeneuve-Loubet area: La Vieille Ferme (GPS: approximately 43.6295°N, 7.1074°E, 22 km west of Nice; from approximately €35-90/night).

Day 4: Antibes (GPS: approximately 43.5805°N, 7.1278°E, 23 km from Nice, 30-40 minutes). Picasso Museum in the Château Grimaldi (Place Mariejol; adult approximately €8-12; Picasso worked here in 1946 and donated the 23 works he produced that autumn). Fort Carré (GPS: approximately 43.5923°N, 7.1303°E; open daily except Monday from 14:00; Napoleon imprisoned here briefly in 1794). Antibes covered market (Marché Provençal, Cours Masséna; Tuesday to Sunday morning). Return to Nice. Return vehicle Day 5.

7 to 10 Days

Riviera, Alps, and Gorges Circuit (approximately 700-900 km, 7 days)

Days 1-4: As above (Nice, Corniches, Monaco, Saint-Paul-de-Vence, Grasse, Antibes).

Day 5: Nice to Gorges du Verdon (138 km, 2h15 via A8 west then N85 north from Cannes/Grasse to Castellane, then D952 west). Castellane (GPS: approximately 43.8499°N, 6.5138°E): fuel stop and the start of the gorge. Point Sublime viewpoint (GPS: approximately 43.7833°N, 6.3483°E; Samson Couloir overview, 40-minute out-and-back walk from the car park). D952 west to Moustiers-Sainte-Marie (GPS: approximately 43.8456°N, 6.2217°E): village with the suspended gold star and active faience ateliers. Overnight near Lac de Sainte-Croix: Camping de l'Aigle/Aiguines area.

Day 6: Morning at Lac de Sainte-Croix: kayak or pedalo into the gorge mouth (Verdon Canoe or MYC Plage; from approximately €25/hour). D71 Corniche Sublime westbound: Balcons de la Mescla viewpoint (GPS: approximately 43.6739°N, 6.2849°E), Pont de l'Artuby bridge (GPS: approximately 43.7076°N, 6.2931°E, 182 m bungee drop, free to walk across). Return to Nice via A8 (138 km, 2h15). Overnight Cagnes-sur-Mer.

Day 7: Nice to Mercantour and Vésubie Valley (D2565 north through Levens and Roquebillière to Saint-Martin-Vésubie, 65 km, 1h15). Mercantour valley hiking. Optional: continue D2565 to La Bolline and walk to a high-altitude alpine lake. Overnight: Camping à la Ferme Saint-Joseph, Saint-Martin-Vésubie (GPS: approximately 44.0676°N, 7.2534°E; from approximately €15-30/night). Return to Nice Day 8.

14 Days or More

Full French Alps and Gorges One-Way: Nice to Lyon or Paris (approximately 1,000-1,200 km with detours)

Days 1-7: As above (Riviera circuit, Verdon, Mercantour).

Day 8: Nice to Col de la Bonette (96 km, 2h-2h30). Fill fuel at Saint-Étienne-de-Tinée or Jausiers before the final climb. Summit loop at 2,802 metres; walk the short trail around the Cime de la Bonette loop (30 minutes, 2,802 metres altitude, no technical skill required). Overnight Jausiers or Barcelonnette.

Day 9: Barcelonnette to Gorges de Daluis (via D900/N202, approximately 55 km, 1h): the red porphyry canyon with overhanging rocks on the D2202. Continue to Gorges du Cians (D28, 20 km further north): white limestone lower gorge and terracotta-shale upper section. Overnight Guillaumes or Entrevaux.

Days 10-14: North via Digne-les-Bains and the Route Napoléon (N85 from Castellane to Grenoble), Grenoble, Lyon (final destination). Return vehicle in Lyon.

Where to Refuel and Refill in Nice

Fuel Stations

Côte d'Azur fuel prices run slightly above the French national average, particularly at motorway service stations on the A8. Fill at supermarket forecourts consistently.

Best fuel near the depot/airport: Intermarché Saint-Laurent-du-Var (approximately 8 km west of Nice city centre, near the airport on the N98). Convenient for arrivals from NCE before heading to the depot, or for the first fill before leaving the city.

Carrefour: large hypermarket forecourt; budget fuel; accessible for campervans. Use this before heading north on the N202 to the Mercantour, the Bonette, or the Var valley gorges.

Leclerc: consistently the cheapest fuel on the Côte d'Azur stretch; good for the westbound A8 departure toward Marseille or the Verdon via Cannes.

Before the Col de la Bonette: Fill in Jausiers (north approach) or Saint-Étienne-de-Tinée (south approach). There is no petrol station on the col road itself for approximately 80 km.

Before the Mercantour valley: Fill in Nice or at Saint-Martin-Vésubie village. The D2565 into the Vésubie valley has a fuel station in Roquebillière.

Government fuel price tool: prix-carburants.gouv.fr (France's official real-time price tracker by commune) gives current pump prices to the centime. Use it the morning of departure before deciding which forecourt to use.

LPG / Autogas

LPG autogas for vehicle fuel is available in France at approximately €0.98/litre (May 2025 data). France has approximately 1,763 LPG stations nationally. Coverage on the Côte d'Azur is reasonable in larger towns; it drops sharply in Alpine villages above 1,000 metres. Fill LPG before heading into the Mercantour or toward the Bonette. Use mygpg.eu or gaslow.co.uk to locate current LPG stations near Nice before departure.

Gas bottles (butane/propane for cooking): Camping Gaz and Butagaz canisters are reliably stocked at all large French supermarkets. Note that French bottle fittings differ from UK and German standards; a Camping Gaz threaded canister is the most universally available format.

Dump Stations and Water

The Saint-Laurent-du-Var motorhome aire (GPS: approximately 43.6617°N, 7.1933°E, near the airport, approximately 8 km west of Nice) provides motorhome services. The Cagnes-sur-Mer campsites (La Rivière, Le Colombier, Village Green Park) all have full facilities for grey and black water disposal and fresh water.

Tips for Hiring in Nice

Age and Licence Requirements

Minimum hire age: 21 years.

EU licence holders: a full EU driving licence is valid throughout France.

UK licence holders: UK photocard driving licence is accepted in France without an IDP (RAC guidance, 2026).

US, Canadian, and Australian licence holders: IDP strongly recommended alongside the national licence. Obtain before departure; not available at NCE or the depot.

Credit Card and Deposit

A credit card in the primary driver's name is required at pickup. Deposit amount varies by vehicle class and selected protection plan.

Crit'Air Sticker for Personal Vehicles

If driving your own vehicle rather than a hire: order the Crit'Air sticker before departure at certificat-air.gouv.fr (€3.72 delivered). Allow 7-10 days for postal delivery. Hire vehicles from Indie Campers already carry the correct sticker.

Italian Border Crossing

Ventimiglia (Italy) is 47 km from Nice (50-60 minutes via A8 and Menton). No passport check for Schengen-area travellers; UK passports require the standard 90-day Schengen rules. Italian toll roads (Autostrade) begin immediately at the border and are expensive: Nice to Genoa costs approximately €20-25 in Italian tolls. Fill fuel in Nice or France before crossing; Italian motorway petrol is consistently more expensive than French.

Seasonal Booking Notes

Campsites near Nice book up for July-August from May onward. Ferry crossings to Corsica (if including a Corsica extension) sell vehicle berths from April. Book the campervan hire, the campsites, and any ferry crossings at the same time.

Driving Tips for the Riviera

Average speed on Corniches: 30-50 km/h including stops and town speed limits. Plan time, not kilometres.
Basse Corniche (D6098) eastbound: suitable for all categories; congested in summer from Monaco direction.
Moyenne Corniche (D6007): recommended for campervans; adequate width; Èze village parking at Place Figuiera.
Grande Corniche (D2564): caution for vehicles over approximately 7 metres; narrow sections; not recommended for large motorhomes.
D71 Corniche Sublime (Verdon): suitable for all categories; the better gorge road.
N202 (Nice to the Alps): suitable for all categories to Guillaumes (86 km); narrow beyond toward the Bonette.
Col de la Bonette final approach: suitable for small to medium campervans with experienced drivers; large motorhomes not recommended.

Estimated Costs for a 7-Day Nice Campervan Trip

campervan hire: €800-2,000 (varies by vehicle size and season; July-August highest; November to March lowest)

Fuel: €80-130 (diesel approximately €1.65-1.85/litre at supermarket forecourts; a 7-day Riviera and Alps circuit covers 600-900 km; A8 motorway stations run approximately €0.10-0.15/litre above this)

Tolls: €25-50 (A8 Nice to Cannes and return plus one Verdon circuit via A8; entirely avoidable by using N85 Route Napoléon from Cannes instead)

LPG: €10-20 (Camping Gaz canisters at Carrefour or Intermarché; LPG autogas approximately €0.98/litre at dedicated LPG stations)

Campgrounds: €100-280 (€25-40/night x 7 days; La Rivière Cagnes-sur-Mer from approximately €25/night off-peak; La Vieille Ferme Villeneuve-Loubet from approximately €35/night; mountain sites from approximately €15/night)

Food: €140-350 (self-catering from Cours Saleya and Carrefour Lingostière: €25-40/day; set lunch at a Vieux-Nice restaurant: €18-28/person; La Merenda dinner for two: approximately €60-80; Fondation Maeght café)

Activities: €30-120 (Colline du Château free; Cours Saleya free; all Corniche driving free; Jardin Exotique Èze approximately €8-9 adult; Fondation Maeght approximately €18 adult; Oceanographic Museum Monaco approximately €22.50 adult; Picasso Museum Antibes approximately €8-12 adult; Gorges du Verdon free trails; Lac de Sainte-Croix pedalo approximately €25/hour)

Budget: approx. €800 (excluding hire) - Self-catering throughout, Cours Saleya provisions, free trails and viewpoints only, mountain campsites at €15-20/night, avoid Monaco and A8 tolls, N85 via Grasse to Verdon instead of A8.

Mid-range: approx. €1,500 (excluding hire) - Cagnes-sur-Mer and Villeneuve-Loubet campsites with hookup, two restaurant meals (La Merenda Niçois dinner, Verdon Auberge lunch), Fondation Maeght, Èze Jardin Exotique, Monaco Oceanographic Museum, Lac de Sainte-Croix pedalo, A8 tolls for speed.

Premium: approx. €2,800+ (excluding hire) - Large motorhome, all campsite hookups, daily restaurant lunches, Bellet AOC tasting at cellar door, all Monaco attractions, Fondation Maeght, Vallée des Merveilles guided 2-day hike with Refuge des Merveilles overnight, Italian border day to Ventimiglia and back.

One-Way Hire from Nice

Nice → Marseille (202 km, approximately 2h10 via A8): The classic Riviera-to-Provence one-way. Cannes (33 km), Saint-Raphaël and the Esterel Massif red rock coast (70 km), Fréjus and the Roman theatre, the Var coast, and Marseille. Best as a 5-7 day one-way with campsite stops along the Esterel coast and in the Var department.

Nice → Lyon (470 km, approximately 4h40 via A8/A7): The Rhône valley one-way. Leaves the coast at Aix-en-Provence (200 km) and follows the autoroute north through Orange (271 km, the best-preserved Roman theatre in France), Avignon (310 km), and then Lyon. Best as a 10-14 day one-way with substantial interior detours: Gorges du Verdon (east from Aix), the Luberon villages (Gordes, Roussillon, Bonnieux), the Pont du Gard (near Avignon), and the Ardèche gorges (north of Orange).

Nice → Paris (930 km, approximately 9h via A8/A7/A6): The full Route du Soleil. Sensible only as a 14+ day trip with significant detours; the motorway alone is not the point. Aix, Avignon, Lyon, Burgundy wine villages, Dijon, and finally Paris covers the distance with purpose.

Nice → Bastia, Corsica (ferry from Nice, then 147 km across the island to Ajaccio, or a full island circuit): Corsica Ferries operates Nice to Bastia in approximately 6h30-8h (daytime) or Toulon to Bastia overnight. A Corsica circuit from Nice is a logical 10-14 day one-way: Nice to Bastia by ferry, Cap Corse, Mercantour comparisons with the Corsican interior, one-way finish in Ajaccio or Bonifacio.

Why Start Your Campervan Trip in Nice

Nice Côte d'Azur Airport is France's third busiest and the primary international gateway to the French Riviera. Direct routes from London (Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted), Amsterdam, Frankfurt, Munich, Copenhagen, Oslo, Stockholm, Montreal, and Toronto mean that for most northern European and North American visitors, NCE is the right airport — closer, less congested, and with fewer transfer connections than Marseille for a Riviera start.

Three specific reasons Nice is the correct pickup point for a French Riviera and Alps circuit. First, the depot enable a same-day start for afternoon arrivals. Second, the A8 motorway eastbound to Monaco and the N202 northbound to the Alps both leave the city within 20 minutes of the airport, with no preliminary transit driving. Third, the Cours Saleya market (Tuesday to Sunday, 06:00-13:30) provisioning stop is the best city-centre food market between Marseille and Genoa: socca, pissaladière, Niçoise olives, charcuterie from Var producers, and the hyperlocal Bellet AOC rosé all in one pedestrian street, 10 minutes from the Vieux-Nice car parks.

One-way logic: Indie Campers supports one-way hire across the entire French network. Starting in Nice and finishing in Marseille (202 km, 2h10 via A8), Lyon (470 km, 4h40 via A7/A8), or Paris (930 km, 9h) are all viable for longer trips. A one-week Riviera-to-Alps circuit can logically return to Nice; a 14-day itinerary extending west along the coast toward Marseille or north into the Rhône valley works as a one-way.

Frequently Asked Questions in Nice

Do I need a special licence to hire a campervan in Nice?

In general, a special licence is not required to hire our campervans in Nice. 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.

Are pets allowed in your campervans?

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.

How many people can sleep in a campervan/motorhome?

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.

Where can I stay overnight in Nice with a campervan hire and is it safe?

If you are travelling in a campervan, motorhome or caravan around Nice, 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.

Is it safe to hire a campervan in Nice, will I be protected?

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.

Can I hire a campervan hire near me?

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.

Do your campervan hire in Nice come with unlimited kilometres?

Yes, a selected number of Indie Campers campervan hire in Nice 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.