Calanques, Luberon villages, the Verdon Gorge and the Riviera, departing from Marseille, Nice, Aix, Avignon, Toulon, Cannes and Antibes
This region in the south-east of France brings together landscapes that look as if they came from different countries: the scrubland and hilltop villages of the Luberon, the white cliffs of the Calanques, the turquoise Verdon canyon, the Riviera's corniche roads above a deep blue sea. Eight pick-up cities give you access to them: Marseille, Nice, Aix-en-Provence, Avignon, Toulon, Cannes, Antibes and Bouc-Bel-Air, with five rental companies.
The coast is the busiest part, with roads jammed in summer and towns that strictly limit motorhome parking. The interior offers more space but needs attention: narrow mountain roads, the mistral wind and, in summer, a fire risk that can close entire massifs. Well prepared, a trip here is easy to build as a loop or a one-way route.
Anywhere Campers
Rental company category:Standard
Autocaravan Express
Rental company category:Standard
Avis Explore
Rental company category:Standard
Public rating of the rental company:
4.1/5
(506 reviews)
BlackSheep
Rental company category:Standard
Public rating of the rental company:
3.9/5
(422 reviews)
Rent Easy
Rental company category:Premium
Choose your departure city: the map shows where rental companies hand over their vehicles.
The loop starts in Avignon, with its Palace of the Popes and its bridge, then heads to L'Isle-sur-la-Sorgue and its canals. It then climbs towards Gordes and Roussillon, whose ochre cliffs change colour with the light, before Bonnieux and Lourmarin at the foot of the Luberon mountain.
The roads between villages are narrow, lined with dry-stone walls, and at village entrances you have to park outside. A one-way hire from Avignon to Aix-en-Provence depends on the rental company and the dates. Failing that, the return via the Durance valley takes half a day.
From Marseille, the road skirts the Calanques massif to Cassis, a small harbour overlooked by Cap Canaille. It continues to La Ciotat, Bandol and Sanary, then reaches Toulon and its harbour, with the Mont Faron cable car. The marinas offer plenty of terraces for dinner facing the boats.
The Calanques trails are walked on foot: leave the vehicle in an official car park and bring water and proper shoes. Access to the massifs can be restricted in summer, depending on the fire risk. This one-way Marseille-Toulon hire depends on the rental company and the dates.
You leave Toulon for Hyères and the Giens peninsula, then follow the Maures coast through Le Lavandou, before reaching Saint-Tropez and the neighbouring gulf. Sainte-Maxime makes a practical stopover, with no rental depot but a large beach. The road then passes through Fréjus, skirts the red rocks of the Esterel and ends in Cannes.
Saint-Tropez is one of the most congested spots on the coast in summer, and access is sometimes at a crawl. Set off early, or park outside and take the shuttle or the boat from Sainte-Maxime.
This route leaves Aix via Brignoles, a stopover with no rental company, then climbs towards Aups and Moustiers-Sainte-Marie, a village clinging to a cliff. It passes Lake Sainte-Croix and follows the canyon via La Palud-sur-Verdon, before Castellane and the descent to Grasse and Cannes.
The canyon's corniche roads are narrow, one-way in places and poorly suited to large vehicles: find out about restrictions before you set off. The Verdon is best explored by campervan. This one-way Aix-Cannes hire depends on the rental company and the dates.
From Nice, you pass through Villefranche-sur-Mer and its bay, then take the Moyenne Corniche road to Èze, a village perched above the sea. Monaco is only a stopover, with no rental company. The trip continues to Menton and its gardens, then returns along the coast road.
This stretch of coast is heavily built up: tunnels, tight bends and height-restricted car parks are common. Check your vehicle's height before entering a covered car park, and favour out-of-the-way sites.
Spring is bright and the sea still cool. In Marseille, highs climb from 17.2 °C in April to 25.5 °C in June, with 11 hours of sunshine a day from April. The Calanques and the Luberon can be explored without crowds, and the sea reaches 21.7 °C in Marseille in June. May remains the wettest spring month in Avignon, with 83 mm.
This is the hottest and driest season: Avignon reaches 31.8 °C in July with 20 mm of rain, and Marseille gets only 9 mm. The sea reaches 26.2 °C in Nice in July, then 26.8 °C in August. On the other hand, beaches and coastal roads are jammed, and the fire risk sometimes closes massifs.
The late season is the nicest for swimming: in Nice, the sea stays at 24.4 °C in September and highs at 25.1 °C. October brings the return of storms and rain: Nice gets 120 mm, Toulon 117 mm. Beaches empty and car parks free up.
Winter stays mild on the coast, cooler inland: in January, highs are 11.5 °C in Marseille and 10.1 °C in Avignon. November is the wettest month, with 125 mm in Nice and 123 mm in Toulon. Sunshine holds at 6.7 hours a day in Avignon in January, and many campsites close in this season.
Avignon or Aix for inland Provence and the Luberon, Marseille for the Calanques, Toulon for the Var coast, Cannes, Antibes or Nice for the Riviera and its hinterland. Bouc-Bel-Air, north of Marseille, suits arrivals by motorway.
Enter your dates and your city: the search shows the vehicles available from the rental companies there, with equipment and mileage. In Marseille, three rental companies have a depot; the same goes for Nice. For a one-way hire, compare the drop-off depots offered.
Start with the coast for July and August, then the Verdon and Luberon villages. If the trip includes a ferry to Corsica or Sardinia from Marseille, Toulon or Nice, ask the rental company whether the crossing is allowed and tell the ferry operator the vehicle's height.
Confirm the depot's address: several are on the outskirts, in a retail park or at a dealership. Plan the journey from the station or the airport in Nice or Marseille, fill up before returning the vehicle and empty the waste water.
The mistral blows mostly in the Rhône valley and in Provence, sometimes for several days in a row, and buffets tall vehicles: slow down and avoid exposed bridges. In summer, the prefecture restricts or closes access to certain forest massifs depending on the fire risk. Check the daily map before setting off.
Many coastal towns ban overnight stays in motorhomes on public roads and have installed height barriers at beach car parks. Use service areas or campsites, and book them early in summer. Fines exist: ask for the local rule at the town hall or tourist office.
In the massifs, forests and protected natural areas, such as the Calanques, the Verdon or the Alpes-Maritimes, wild camping is mostly prohibited. Barbecues and outdoor stoves are too during periods of fire risk. Sleep at a service area or campsite, and keep your gas for indoor use.
Several of the region's large urban areas, including Marseille, Nice and Toulon, apply or are considering restrictions linked to the Crit'Air sticker. These rules change often and vary by vehicle. Before driving into a city centre, read the official page of the metropolitan area concerned. A depot on the outskirts reduces the problem.
In the Luberon, the Verdon and the hinterland of Nice, roads are narrow, with hairpin bends and little room to pass. Avoid blindly following a GPS designed for cars: it can lead you into a lane that is too narrow. Park the vehicle at the village entrance and visit on foot.
A week is enough for one part: the Calanques and the Var coast, the Luberon or the Riviera. Ten days let you link two of these areas. With two weeks, you can string together Avignon, the Verdon and Nice without driving more than two hours a day.
Depart from wherever you want to start: Avignon or Aix for Provence, Marseille for the Calanques, Toulon for the Maures, Nice or Cannes for the Riviera. Marseille and Nice offer the most choice, with three rental companies each.
The Riviera corniches, between Nice and Menton, are the most spectacular for the sea views. The Verdon canyon offers wilder landscapes but demands slow driving. The coast between Marseille and Cassis appeals to cliff lovers.
Yes, especially on the coast, where winter is mild. Marseille keeps highs of 11.5 °C in January. Many campsites close, but municipal service areas stay open. Avoid November, the wettest month: Nice gets 125 mm.
Lavender flowers mostly from late June to July, depending on altitude and the year, notably on the Valensole plateau and around Sault. It is absent from the coast. Book this period well in advance: campsites on the plateaux fill up quickly.
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.
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.
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!
A category B licence is enough for common rental motorhomes, whose weight stays under 3.5 tonnes. A foreign licence must be accepted by the rental company: check before booking. The minimum age and how long you have held your licence depend on each offer.
Often, depending on the rental companies and the dates. Marseille and Nice, 159 km apart as the crow flies, each have three rental companies. The search shows the possible drop-off depots for your dates; a surcharge may apply and is shown before booking.
This is rarely allowed on the coast and in natural areas. Rules vary by town, and overnight parking is often banned. Use a service area, a campsite or a spot approved by the town hall.
Yes, on the A7, A8, A51 motorways and other sections depending on your route. A motorhome generally falls into class 2 or 3 depending on its height. Check the rate for your category before departure, as it changes with the vehicle's height.
Ferries run from Marseille, Toulon and Nice to Corsica. First ask the rental company whether it accepts the crossing: insurance and conditions vary. Give the ferry operator the vehicle's length and height, and book early in summer.
Yes, from June to September. The sea reaches 21.7 °C in Marseille in June, 26.8 °C in Nice in August and 24.4 °C in Nice in September. Respect the beach flags, and check which swimming areas are off limits in the Calanques.
In just a few kilometres, the region packs together very different worlds: ochre villages, Provençal markets, cliffs, beaches, gorges and corniche roads. In a motorhome, you sleep near a fishing harbour, beside a lake or at the entrance to a hilltop village, without depending on hotel hours or last-minute bookings.
The eight pick-up cities are spread from Avignon to Nice: Avignon, Aix, Marseille and Bouc-Bel-Air in the west, Toulon in the centre, Cannes, Antibes and Nice in the east. You can put together a three-day circuit or cross the region in about a fortnight, one-way or as a loop.
