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Anywhere Campers AuxerreAuxerreView map
Hiring a campervan in Auxerre starts your trip on the quays of the Yonne, below an old town whose cathedral and Saint-Germain abbey overlook the river. The vineyards of Irancy and Chablis begin less than half an hour away, the Puisaye and the medieval building site of Guédelon less than an hour away, and the Cure valley and Vézelay a little further south. Our partner company, Anywhere Campers, has a depot here.
Served by the A6 between Paris and Dijon, Auxerre is also the starting point of the Nivernais Canal, whose towpath runs alongside many of the roads towards the Morvan.
1 rental partner
Where to pick up your vehicle in Auxerre?
Road trip ideas
Road trips from Auxerre
1 Chablis, Tonnerre and the Serein valley
- Auxerre
- Saint-Bris-le-Vineux
- Irancy
- Chablis
- Tonnerre
- Tanlay
- Ancy-le-Franc
- Noyers-sur-Serein
- Auxerre
To the south-east, Saint-Bris-le-Vineux and its cellars dug beneath the village come before Irancy, nestled in an amphitheatre of slopes planted with Pinot Noir. Chablis and its grands crus lead to Tonnerre, where the Fosse Dionne, a karst spring with an 18th-century basin, stands next to the old medieval hospital. The Renaissance châteaux of Tanlay and Ancy-le-Franc come before Noyers-sur-Serein, a town of half-timbered houses where you park outside the ramparts.
- Distance
- about 150 km
- Recommended vehicle
- Campervan or camper van
2 The Puisaye, from Saint-Fargeau to Guédelon
- Auxerre
- Toucy
- Saint-Fargeau
- Rogny-les-Sept-Écluses
- Briare
- Guédelon
- Saint-Sauveur-en-Puisaye
- Auxerre
To the west, the Puisaye unfolds its countryside of ponds and forests. After Toucy, the pink-brick château of Saint-Fargeau and the disused flight of locks at Rogny-les-Sept-Écluses lead to Briare, on the Loire, and its iron canal bridge. The way back passes Guédelon, where craftspeople are building a castle using 13th-century techniques, then Saint-Sauveur-en-Puisaye, the village where the writer Colette was born.
- Distance
- about 180 km
- Recommended vehicle
- All types of motorhomes
3 Nivernais Canal, Vézelay and the Arcy caves
- Auxerre
- Mailly-le-Château
- Saussois rocks
- Clamecy
- Vézelay
- Avallon
- Arcy-sur-Cure
- Auxerre
Follow the Yonne and the Nivernais Canal upstream to Mailly-le-Château, perched on its cliff, then pass the Saussois rocks, a favourite of climbers. Clamecy, once the capital of floating timber down to Paris, comes before the hill of Vézelay and its basilica. Avallon and its ramparts overlook the Cousin valley; the drive back to Auxerre stops at the caves of Arcy-sur-Cure, decorated with prehistoric paintings.
- Distance
- about 160 km
- Recommended vehicle
- Camper van or low-profile motorhome
Weather and seasons
When to go in Auxerre?
Best time
May, June and September
May to June, September
highs 19 to 24 °C, lows 9 to 14 °C
The most balanced months for touring the Yonne: long days, moderate warmth and quiet sites. May is still fairly wet, with as much rain as January, while September brings the grape harvest to Chablis and Irancy and colours the banks of the Nivernais Canal.
High season
July and August
July to August
highs 26 °C, lows 15 °C
High summer, with twelve hours of sunshine a day in July and August the driest month of the year. Guédelon, Vézelay and the canal banks draw the most visitors, and campsites in the Yonne valley fill up: book your pitches as soon as your dates are set.
March, April and October
March to April, October
highs 13 to 18 °C, lows 4 to 9 °C
Quiet shoulder seasons, ideal for wine cellars, abbeys and exploring towns on foot. April is the driest spring month in Auxerre, while October stays mild but often rainy; several sites in the Puisaye and the Arcy caves only open from spring, so check their dates.
Winter
November to February
November to February
highs 7 to 11 °C, lows 1 to 5 °C
A cool, damp winter, with December and January among the wettest months and four hours of sunshine a day. Average lows stay above freezing, but many campsites close: choose motorhome areas open all year and a well-heated vehicle for a getaway to the Chablis cellars.
Climate in Auxerre, month by month
Most pleasant months: May to October.
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Sun |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 7 °C | 1 °C | 78 mm | 4 h/day |
| Feb | 10 °C | 2 °C | 55 mm | 6 h/day |
| Mar | 12 °C | 4 °C | 73 mm | 8 h/day |
| Apr | 16 °C | 5 °C | 56 mm | 10 h/day |
| May | 19 °C | 9 °C | 82 mm | 11 h/day |
| Jun | 24 °C | 14 °C | 73 mm | 12 h/day |
| Jul | 26 °C | 15 °C | 49 mm | 12 h/day |
| Aug | 26 °C | 15 °C | 44 mm | 11 h/day |
| Sep | 22 °C | 12 °C | 61 mm | 9 h/day |
| Oct | 17 °C | 9 °C | 75 mm | 7 h/day |
| Nov | 11 °C | 5 °C | 72 mm | 5 h/day |
| Dec | 8 °C | 3 °C | 77 mm | 4 h/day |
Averages 2016–2025 computed from Open-Meteo data (ERA5 reanalysis).
Practical tips
Everything to know before hitting the road
Parking near the old town
Auxerre's historic centre climbs the left bank of the Yonne, with narrow, steep streets around the clock tower. Park instead on the right bank or along the quays, following the signs, then cross on foot: the view of the cathedral and the abbey from the opposite bank is the finest in town.
Tolled A6, toll-free valleys
The A6 serves Auxerre with two exits, north and south of the town, towards Paris and Lyon; it is a toll motorway. The roads along the Yonne valley towards Joigny and Sens, and those of the Chablis area and the Puisaye, are free and easy to drive, but wine villages call for slowing down.
The Nivernais towpath
The Nivernais Canal begins in Auxerre and its surfaced towpath heads south, lock after lock, along the Yonne. If you bring bikes, ask the rental company whether it supplies a bike rack: the flat, shaded stretch to Mailly-la-Ville is easy to ride with children from the riverside motorhome areas and campsites.
Sites open in the warm season
The Guédelon building site, the caves of Arcy-sur-Cure and several châteaux in the Yonne close in winter and keep seasonal opening hours. Check their calendars before planning your route, and arrive early at Guédelon in summer: the entrance queue grows quickly around midday, and the visit takes half a day.
What travellers ask
Your questions about a road trip in Auxerre
Where can I pick up a campervan in Auxerre?
Anywhere Campers, our partner company, has a depot in Auxerre. The exact address and the vehicle handover time are given in your booking confirmation. If you arrive by train, let the company know your arrival time and allow for the vehicle inspection before heading for the Chablis vineyards or the Puisaye.
How much does it cost to hire a campervan in Auxerre?
The price varies with the dates, length of hire, model and options: a harvest weekend in September does not cost the same as a week in November. Run a search with your departure and return dates in Auxerre; every price shown includes mandatory fees and can be booked straight away.
Can I return the campervan in Dijon or Orléans?
Dijon and Orléans are other departure cities of our partners, the first towards the Côte-d'Or, the second towards the Loire châteaux. A one-way hire may be accepted depending on the company and the vehicle, for a fee: enter the return city in your search to see only the possible offers, fees included.
How many days should I plan from Auxerre?
A long weekend is enough for the Chablis area and Noyers-sur-Serein, three days for the Puisaye or the Cure valley. In a week you can combine all three loops without long drives, since Auxerre lies at the centre of the Yonne. With ten days, add the Morvan or continue to the Loire.
Verified customer reviews
They rented in Auxerre with CoolDrive Nomad
4.3
818 reviews
The two service providers made me pay for the insurance for the car. And when I request a refund for one of them, I no longer get a response. I will travel by motorhome again, but certainly not with CoolDrive, nor with my friends.
(anonymous)
France · Sep 2019
Avis Vérifiés
The two service providers charged me for insurance for the car. And when I request a refund for one, I no longer receive a response. I will travel again in a camper van but certainly not with CoolDrive, nor with my friends.
(anonymous)
France · Sep 2019
Avis Vérifiés
First rental of this type of vehicle in a professional context where the rental must take place from France to Canada. Many questions and Cooldrive (Marlène) has been a valuable support in guiding my choices. Efficiency and responsiveness beforehand, and on-site a vehicle and service that met our expectations. No complaints. Great!
Alain L.
Canada · Oct 2025
Avis Vérifiés
Frequently asked questions
FAQ — Campervan and motorhome hire in Auxerre
What licence do I need to hire a motorhome in France?
Almost all rental campervans, camper vans and motorhomes weigh less than 3.5 tonnes: a category B licence is enough to drive them. A driver whose licence was issued outside the European Union may need to show an international driving permit. The minimum age and years of driving required are stated in each offer.
Where can I sleep in a motorhome in the Yonne?
Campsites line the banks of the Yonne and the Nivernais Canal, and many villages have set up a service area. Winegrowers around Chablis and Irancy also welcome motorhomes for a night. Elsewhere, parking is allowed unless a local bylaw forbids it, provided nothing is set up around the vehicle.
How do I get to Auxerre without a car?
Direct trains link Paris-Bercy to Auxerre station in about two hours, and connections at Laroche-Migennes complete the service. There are no scheduled flights to Auxerre: travellers from further away land at Paris-Orly or Paris-Charles de Gaulle, then head to Paris-Bercy for the train.
Can I reach the Loire or Champagne from Auxerre?
Yes, both make easy side trips. Through the Puisaye, the Loire is reached at Briare or Gien in a little over an hour, before Sancerre and its vineyards. To the north-east, Troyes and its half-timbered houses are about an hour away, at the gateway to the Côte des Bar vineyards.
When should I book a campervan in Auxerre?
With only one depot in town, the choice shrinks quickly for July, August and the May bank holidays: book several months ahead for those dates. September, the harvest month, is also in demand. For a spring or late-autumn departure, a few weeks' notice is usually enough.
About us
Why start a motorhome trip from Auxerre
Auxerre lies at the heart of a département where everything is within an hour: the white wines of Chablis, the reds of Irancy, the Renaissance châteaux of the Tonnerrois, the Puisaye countryside and the limestone cliffs of the Cure valley. The roads are quiet, the villages close together, and both the Yonne and the Nivernais Canal offer waterside stops at every stage.
Anywhere Campers, our partner company, caters for couples in a campervan as well as families. Dijon and Orléans, other departure cities of our partners, open the way to a one-way trip towards the Côte-d'Or or the Loire Valley. From May to October, the Auxerre climate is particularly suited to the road, with long days and temperatures that are rarely excessive.