A more relaxing camping experience can certainly be found in campsites without cars. But how do you find them? In France, there is a website called campingpieton.com, recently launched on the web by Guillame Watine, manager of numerous campsites and a strong advocate for pedestrian-friendly camping, which refers to facilities that do not allow vehicular traffic either entirely or partially within their premises. This makes the vacation safer for children, more respectful of wildlife, and less polluting (including noise pollution). The website serves as an important platform for campsites that have adopted this vacation philosophy, making it a distinguishing feature compared to the competition.
Three categories of campsites
When browsing the website, we find three categories of campsites to distinguish between the most virtuous ones that are completely pedestrian and those that limit the presence of cars without completely disrupting the habits of travelers. Among the 100% pedestrian campsites, there are currently 18 accommodations listed on the website. Here, cars are strictly parked outside the entrance, and alternative transportation systems provided by the campsite itself, such as carts for transporting personal belongings between the car and the accommodation, are used for getting around within the campsite.
The category of “partially pedestrian campsites” includes structures where vehicles are allowed inside the campsite but only on an exceptional basis (e.g., for unloading and loading luggage). Lastly, the website also lists campsites that do not prohibit vehicle access but guarantee guests one or more car-free areas, with designated parking available nearby.
