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 vacation. 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.
Fall (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.
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.
3 to 5 Days
Bordeaux Wine Triangle (150km loop, 3 days)
Bordeaux to Atlantic Coast (180km round trip, 4 days)
Wine & Medieval Villages (300km loop, 5 days)
7 to 10 Days
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.
Fuel Stations
Dump Stations
Helpful Apps
Requirements
Booking
What's Included
Parking Near City Centre
Getting from Airport/Train
From Bordeaux-Mérignac Airport (BOD):
From Bordeaux Saint-Jean Station:
French Toll Roads (Péage)
How it works:
Costs from Bordeaux:
Budget €0.10-0.12 per miles 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.
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.
For most travelers, a special licence is not necessary to hire a campervan in Bordeaux. A valid driving licence is required, though, to operate any of our vehicles. If you are a non-EU citizen, an International Driving Permit (IDP) may be required in addition to your home country’s driving licence. Additionally, your licence must match the transmission type of the vehicle (manual or automatic). You can find more details about driving licence requirements here.
Yes, our campervans are pet-friendly. Just be sure to add the extra cleaning service when booking. This ensures a professional anti-allergy cleaning is carried out after your trip. Please note that only one pet is allowed per campervan, and it must not exceed 30kg in weight. Also, we are not liable for any legal fees related to traveling with pets. If you’re booking through our marketplace, check the “vehicle rules” section to confirm if the vehicle is pet-friendly.
The sleeping capacity of our campervans and motorhomes varies depending on the model and size. Our Class C motorhomes can typically accommodate 4 to 8 people, while our Class B campervans can sleep between 2 to 4 people. Vehicles equipped with a rooftop tent generally have space for around 2 people. For a full breakdown of our models and sleeping capacities, click here.
If you're exploring Bordeaux in a campervan rental, it's essential to be aware of the country’s official camping regulations. Many natural areas are legally protected, so using designated overnight parking spots or official campsites is strongly recommended. This not only helps preserve the environment but also ensures a safe and enjoyable experience. For more guidance on safety and responsible camping, click here.
We provide three different protection plans to cover any incidents or damages that might occur during your campervan rental. All Indie Campers campervans come with third-party vehicle insurance, and property damage coverage (which varies based on the country). For marketplace rentals, insurance options may differ depending on the host. For further details on campervan insurance, visit this page.
Yes, our search filter makes it easy to rent a campervan close to your location by using a 60km radius system. Depending on where you're searching from, you can quickly find the nearest Indie Campers campervan rental pick-up centre.
Yes, a selected number of Indie Campers RV rentals in Bordeaux include unlimited mileage, allowing you to explore freely and make the most of your road trip! Please note that unlimited mileage applies exclusively to Indie Campers RVs and is subject to responsible use.
Our Campervans
Our Road Trips Itineraries
“Excelente atendimento no local de retirada e atendimento por telefone muito bom. Recomendo muito. ”
“Comme d’habitude, tout se passe très bien. Merci jack et Abhi pour le service donner 🙏”
“Super sortie en famille a travers la France. Camping car récent et pratique. Je suis prêt à repartir”
