What’s the Best Campsite in Auvergne? Our 2026 Selection
Dormant volcanoes, lakes nestled in craters, spa villages and wide open spaces as far as the eye can see: Auvergne is one of France’s most sought-after regions for a camping holiday.
But with several hundred sites across the Puy-de-Dôme, Cantal, Allier and Haute-Loire, one question keeps coming up: what’s the best campsite in Auvergne for a stress-free family holiday? We compared several well-rated campsites in the region on concrete criteria — facilities, location, customer reviews — before presenting our selection, including Camping de la Croze, in Châtel-Guyon, which we know well.
What to look for when choosing a campsite in Auvergne
Before comparing sites, here’s what really makes the difference:
- Location: proximity to major sites (volcanoes, lakes, spa towns) and ease of access (A75 motorway, mountain roads)
- Water facilities: a heated pool remains families’ top criterion, ahead of waterslides and paddling pools
- Accommodation and pitches: mobile home comfort, pitch size, shade
- Customer reviews: the best indication of actual welcome and upkeep quality, best checked on Google or TripAdvisor rather than the star rating alone
- Atmosphere and entertainment: family-friendly calm or evening entertainment, depending on what you’re after
- Value for money: a 3- or 4-star rating doesn’t tell you much about the actual rates during peak season
It’s by weighing these criteria together that we selected the campsites below.
Camping de la Croze, in Châtel-Guyon: our favourite
Camping de la Croze genuinely ticks most of these boxes. A 3-star site, it’s set in Saint-Hippolyte, just 2.4 km from the Châtel-Guyon thermal spa and about 30 minutes from the Puy de Dôme and Vulcania — an ideal base for exploring the Chaîne des Puys, a UNESCO World Heritage site.
On the facilities side: a heated pool with a paddling pool for children (mid-June to mid-September), comfortable mobile homes and chalets (sleeping up to 6), spacious pitches from 80 to 110 m², a snack bar with terrace, a laundry, bread delivery, and gentle entertainment (trampolines, table tennis, petanque, pony rides, bike hire).
And the reviews back up this reputation: 4.7/5 from 136 TripAdvisor reviews, where it ranks #1 among accommodation in Châtel-Guyon, and 4.6/5 from 643 Google reviews. Holidaymakers especially highlight the welcome, cleanliness and spacing of the pitches — with, as an acknowledged trade-off, a more modest pool than some large resorts and no evening entertainment, to preserve the calm family atmosphere it’s known for.
4 other great campsites to consider in Auvergne
If you’re after something different, or visiting another part of the region, here are four well-rated sites, each with a different approach:
Camping Le Repos du Baladin, in Murol (Puy-de-Dôme) — In the heart of the Volcans d’Auvergne Regional Nature Park, facing a 12th-century castle. Two heated pools (one indoor with a jacuzzi), a free kids’ club in summer, and direct access to the 650 km of trails in the Sancy massif and Lake Chambon. Rated 4.6/5 from 511 reviews. Ideal for hiking families.
Camping Le Chanset, in Ceyrat (Puy-de-Dôme) — A 3-star municipal campsite renovated in 2017, just outside Clermont-Ferrand. Heated outdoor pool, mini-golf, tennis, wooden cabins and upscale chalets. Rated 4/5 from 566 reviews. Perfect for combining the city with nature.
Camping Sérendipité, in Neuvéglise-sur-Truyère (Cantal) — A quieter, more eco-conscious approach: 35 bare pitches, 9 chalets and 2 unusual pods, no pool, but with a stunning view over the Truyère gorges. Rated 4.6/5 from 341 reviews. For lovers of unspoiled nature, at the gateway to the Aubrac.
Camping Les Moulettes, in Vorey (Haute-Loire) — A 4-star site on the banks of the Arzon, 20 km from Le Puy-en-Velay, with a heated lagoon pool and waterslides. Rated 4.4/5 from 254 reviews. A good option for exploring southern Auvergne and its medieval villages.
Comparison table
| Campsite | Location | Rating | Reviews | Standout facility | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Camping de la Croze | Châtel-Guyon (63) | 3★ | 4.6/5 (643 reviews) | Heated pool + close to volcanoes/Vulcania | Families seeking calm and volcanoes |
| Le Repos du Baladin | Murol (63) | 3★ | 4.6/5 (511 reviews) | 2 pools, one indoor | Hiking families (Sancy) |
| Le Chanset | Ceyrat (63) | 3★ | 4/5 (566 reviews) | Mini-golf, tennis | Combining city and nature |
| Sérendipité | Neuvéglise-sur-Truyère (15) | 3★ | 4.6/5 (341 reviews) | View over the Truyère gorges | Unspoiled nature, no pool |
| Les Moulettes | Vorey (43) | 4★ | 4.4/5 (254 reviews) | Lagoon pool + waterslides | Southern Auvergne, riverside |
Our verdict: which campsite should you choose?
If you’re after a family-friendly, well-rated campsite at the heart of the thermal spa-volcanoes-Vulcania triangle, Camping de la Croze remains, based on these criteria, one of the safest choices in the region: excellent reviews, a convenient location and facilities designed for kids without sacrificing calm.
For a more mountainous, active stay, Le Repos du Baladin in Murol will suit you better; for a wilder approach with no pool, head to Sérendipité in the Cantal; and to explore southern Auvergne by the water, Les Moulettes in Vorey rounds out this selection nicely.
Whichever you choose, book early: peak season (July-August) fills up fast on the best pitches.
Want to explore further?
Want to know more about the Châtel-Guyon area? Find all our information on our dedicated Châtel-Guyon page. To plan your activities on site, check out our selection of hikes starting from the campsite and our top 5 hikes on the volcanoes of Auvergne.
Fancy booking your stay? Check our availability and rates on our booking page.
