Rent Easy Rental company category:Premium
-
Rent Easy Marseille c/o Deffeuille Loisirs SASAvenue de la Croix d'Or 122, 13320 Bouc Bel AirView map
Hiring a campervan in Bouc-Bel-Air starts your trip in the wooded hills between Aix-en-Provence and Marseille, right along the A51 motorway. Without crossing any city centre, you can reach the coves of the Côte Bleue, the shores of the Étang de Berre lagoon or the Crau plain, gateway to the Camargue, in less than an hour. Our partner company Rent Easy hands over its vehicles at its depot on Avenue de la Croix d'Or.
Aix is 12 km away as the crow flies and Marseille 15 km: arriving by train or plane is easy, and you can head straight off towards a less crowded side of Provence.
1 rental partner
Where to pick up your vehicle à Bouc-Bel-Air?
Road trip ideas
Road trips from Bouc-Bel-Air
1 Côte Bleue and around the Étang de Berre
- Bouc-Bel-Air
- Ensuès-la-Redonne
- Carry-le-Rouet
- Sausset-les-Pins
- Martigues
- Istres
- Saint-Chamas
- Bouc-Bel-Air
Via Les Pennes-Mirabeau, the road drops down to Ensuès-la-Redonne and its small coves, then to Carry-le-Rouet and Sausset-les-Pins, whose harbours still shelter their fishing boats. Martigues is built around its canals and the Île district, nicknamed the birds' mirror. The route then skirts the Étang de Berre via Istres to Saint-Chamas, with its cave dwellings and the Pont Flavien, a Roman arched bridge still standing. Roads and car parks around the coves are tight: a campervan fits in more easily.
- Distance
- about 150 km
- Recommended vehicle
- Campervan or camper van
2 Salon, the Crau plain and the salt-pan Camargue
- Bouc-Bel-Air
- Salon-de-Provence
- Saint-Martin-de-Crau
- Arles
- Salin-de-Giraud
- Barcarin ferry
- Port-Saint-Louis-du-Rhône
- Bouc-Bel-Air
Salon-de-Provence, Nostradamus's town, is best explored around the Château de l'Empéri. The road then crosses the Crau, a vast pebble steppe where rare birds nest, via Saint-Martin-de-Crau to Arles. To the south, the salt-pan Camargue leads to Salin-de-Giraud, with its brick houses and mountains of white salt. The Barcarin ferry crosses the Grand Rhône to Port-Saint-Louis-du-Rhône, from where you return along the Gulf of Fos. A flat circuit with no driving difficulties.
- Distance
- about 230 km
- Recommended vehicle
- All types of motorhomes
3 Lower Verdon gorges and the Corniche Sublime
- Bouc-Bel-Air
- Gréoux-les-Bains
- Esparron-de-Verdon
- Quinson
- Aups
- Bauduen
- Aiguines
- Corniche Sublime
- Trigance
- Bouc-Bel-Air
The A51 leads towards the Durance and Gréoux-les-Bains, then Lake Esparron and Quinson, where the Verdon flows through lower gorges that are calmer than the great canyon. Aups, with its plane trees and winter truffle market, comes before Bauduen and Aiguines, on the shore of Lake Sainte-Croix. The Corniche Sublime then follows the left bank of the canyon, from viewpoint to viewpoint, to Trigance. Narrow tunnels and overhanging sections: a compact vehicle is best.
- Distance
- about 380 km
- Recommended vehicle
- Campervan or camper van
Weather and seasons
When to go à Bouc-Bel-Air?
Best time
April to June, September and October
April to June, September to October
highs 18 to 28 °C, lows 8 to 17 °C
The best times to set off from Bouc-Bel-Air: hills in bloom in spring, a sea already pleasant in June and still mild in September. October stays warm but is one of the wettest months: Mediterranean storms can close a road for a few hours, so keep some slack in your plans.
High season
July and August
July to August
highs 30 to 31 °C, lows 19 °C
High summer is hot and almost rainless, with the sea at its warmest. The Côte Bleue and the Camargue draw big crowds and mosquitoes are active in the delta: book your vehicle and campsites early, and plan visits for the morning or late afternoon.
Winter
November to March
November to March
highs 11 to 15 °C, lows 3 to 7 °C
Cool but often clear days, and nights only a few degrees above zero in January: a heated vehicle is a must, and November is the wettest month. Yet it is a fine season for the Étang de Berre and the Crau, where many birds spend the winter, and for Arles without the crowds.
Climate à Bouc-Bel-Air, month by month
Most pleasant months: April to October.
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Sun | Sea |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 11 °C | 3 °C | 34 mm | 7 h/day | 14 °C |
| Feb | 13 °C | 4 °C | 49 mm | 8 h/day | 14 °C |
| Mar | 15 °C | 6 °C | 58 mm | 10 h/day | 14 °C |
| Apr | 18 °C | 8 °C | 62 mm | 11 h/day | 15 °C |
| May | 22 °C | 12 °C | 62 mm | 12 h/day | 17 °C |
| Jun | 28 °C | 17 °C | 33 mm | 14 h/day | 22 °C |
| Jul | 31 °C | 19 °C | 11 mm | 14 h/day | 22 °C |
| Aug | 30 °C | 19 °C | 25 mm | 13 h/day | 23 °C |
| Sep | 25 °C | 15 °C | 60 mm | 11 h/day | 22 °C |
| Oct | 21 °C | 12 °C | 86 mm | 9 h/day | 20 °C |
| Nov | 15 °C | 7 °C | 89 mm | 7 h/day | 17 °C |
| Dec | 12 °C | 4 °C | 56 mm | 7 h/day | 15 °C |
Averages 2016–2025 computed from Open-Meteo data (ERA5 reanalysis).
Practical tips
Everything to know before hitting the road
Shopping at Plan-de-Campagne
The Plan-de-Campagne retail park, one of the largest in France, lies just south of Bouc-Bel-Air, in Cabriès and Les Pennes-Mirabeau. Hypermarkets and sports or camping shops let you stock the fridge and buy a cool box or folding chairs before leaving. Avoid Saturday afternoons, when traffic there grinds to a halt.
The Côte Bleue coves by train
The Côte Bleue regional rail line, between Marseille and Miramas, runs along the sea over viaducts and through tunnels, stopping at Niolon, La Redonne, Carry-le-Rouet and Sausset-les-Pins. The coves have narrow access roads and very few spaces, and motorhome parking there is often restricted: leave the vehicle at the campsite and take the train.
Pine forests and wildfire risk
The pine forests of the Côte Bleue, the Chaîne de l'Étoile and the Arbois plateau, all around Bouc-Bel-Air, catch fire easily in summer. Access to the hills is regulated day by day according to the risk level: check the prefecture's information the day before, never light a fire or barbecue outside campsites and never throw away a cigarette end.
Toll-free and toll motorways
Between Marseille and Aix-en-Provence, the A51 running past Bouc-Bel-Air is toll-free, as is the A55 towards Martigues. The A7 towards Salon-de-Provence and Avignon becomes a toll road north of the Étang de Berre, as does the A51 beyond Aix towards the Verdon; motorhomes often pay more than cars there. Check current rates before you set off.
What travellers ask
Your questions about a road trip à Bouc-Bel-Air
Where can I pick up a campervan in Bouc-Bel-Air?
Our partner company Rent Easy hands over its vehicles at its depot at 122 Avenue de la Croix d'Or, in Bouc-Bel-Air; the appointment time is shown in your booking confirmation. If your dates are in high demand, widen your search to Aix-en-Provence and Marseille, about twenty minutes' drive away, where other partners are based.
How much does it cost to hire a campervan in Bouc-Bel-Air?
There is no fixed rate: it changes from week to week depending on the period, the length of the trip and the model. Enter your dates in the search to get the prices actually available from Bouc-Bel-Air, mandatory fees included, and book straight away. Summer holidays and the May bank holidays are when vehicles go fastest.
Can I end the trip in Toulon, Avignon or Nîmes?
Returning the vehicle in another city depends on the company and the vehicle, and usually involves one-way fees. Enter the drop-off city when you search: only the offers that allow it are shown, fees included. Toulon, Avignon and Nîmes, where our partners also have depots, let you finish on the Var coast, for example, or after the Camargue.
How do I get to the depot from Marignane airport or the TGV station?
Marseille Provence Airport, in Marignane, and the Aix-en-Provence TGV station, set among the Arbois hills, are fifteen to thirty minutes' drive from Bouc-Bel-Air. With luggage, a taxi or ride-hailing car is the simplest option. Let the rental company know your arrival time so the appointment can be adjusted if you are delayed.
What is there to see in and around Bouc-Bel-Air before setting off?
The Jardins d'Albertas, an 18th-century French formal garden adorned with ponds and statues, lie within the municipality, beside the road to Aix, and open according to a seasonal calendar. Nearby, Gardanne, painted by Cézanne, keeps the memory of its mines alive at the Puits Morandat, and the hilltop village of Cabriès overlooks the plain.
Verified customer reviews
They rented à Bouc-Bel-Air 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 Bouc-Bel-Air
What licence do I need to drive a motorhome rented in Bouc-Bel-Air?
Rental campervans, vans and motorhomes rarely exceed 3.5 tonnes, the limit up to which an ordinary category B licence is enough. If yours was not issued in the European Union, also bring an international driving permit or a recognised translation. The rental company states in each offer the minimum age and number of years of driving required at pick-up.
Where can I sleep in a motorhome on the Côte Bleue and around the Étang de Berre?
Campsites dot the Côte Bleue and the Martigues coastline, and several towns around the Étang de Berre have motorhome service areas. Along the sea, overnight parking is often banned by municipal order: follow local signs, and book ahead in July and August, when pitches are in short supply.
Can you swim on the Côte Bleue?
Yes: from June to September the sea is around 22 to 23 °C according to climate normals, and it is still at 20 °C in October. In spring, the water hardly exceeds 15 to 17 °C. The rocky coast alternates small coves and pocket beaches at Carry-le-Rouet or Sausset-les-Pins; long sandy beaches are rather found in the Camargue.
Does the Barcarin ferry take motorhomes?
Yes, this ferry crosses the Grand Rhône in a few minutes between Port-Saint-Louis-du-Rhône and Salin-de-Giraud and carries motorhomes. Waits can get longer at busy summer times, however, and the service may be suspended in strong winds or when the river is in flood. Check that it is running before planning your Camargue loop.
Can I visit the Alpilles from Bouc-Bel-Air?
Yes: via Salon-de-Provence, the Alpilles begin less than an hour's drive away. Eygalières, Saint-Rémy-de-Provence and the Roman ruins of Glanum, then Les Baux-de-Provence and the Carrières des Lumières, combine easily with the Crau loop. The roads through the range are narrow and parking is regulated in Les Baux: use the car parks set aside for motorhomes.
When should I book a campervan in Bouc-Bel-Air?
With a single rental company on site, availability runs out quickly in summer: secure your July and August dates in winter. In spring and autumn, booking a month ahead usually leaves plenty of choice, except around the May bank holidays and the All Saints' school holidays, popular with families. Campervans, sought after for the Côte Bleue coves, go first.
About us
Why start a motorhome trip from Bouc-Bel-Air
Bouc-Bel-Air offers a low-key departure point, between the two big cities of the Bouches-du-Rhône but away from their traffic jams: you take the wheel in a residential town, among hills and pine trees, with the motorway on the doorstep. From this central spot you can head west to the Côte Bleue, the Étang de Berre and the Camargue, or north-east to the Verdon, without ever driving through Marseille.
Rent Easy rents out its vehicles here, and Aix-en-Provence, 12 km away, and Marseille, 15 km away, add to the choice in busy weeks. For a one-way trip, Toulon, Avignon or Nîmes open up the Var coast or the Languedoc. From April to October, the climate suits every itinerary, and the bright winter is ideal for visiting Arles and watching the birds of the Étang de Berre.