9 by the water campsites, individually selected, to book directly with the establishment.
Filter by waterfront, star rating and budget to refine your selection.
A verified selection, presented on equal footing, in an order that changes with every visit.
Arcachon lies in the Gironde department, in Nouvelle-Aquitaine, on the shores of the bay that bears its name, on the Atlantic coast. The 9 campsites listed here all enjoy access to the sea, confirming the fully coastal identity of this historic seaside resort in the south-west.
People camp in Arcachon for this distinctive bay, a semi-enclosed body of water where oyster beds, sandbanks and oyster-farming villages come together, quite different from a simple ocean seafront. The waters here are generally calmer than on the exposed coast, an advantage for families with young children.
Between the nearby Dune du Pilat, the tallest in Europe, and the villas of the Ville d'Hiver built in the nineteenth century, Arcachon combines spectacular nature with old seaside heritage, making it one of the most complete starting points on the Atlantic coast. The 9 campsites listed all enjoy this direct access to the sea, between the bay's beaches and the open ocean on the Atlantic side.
Arcachon has historically been organised into four seasonal "towns", of which the Ville d'Hiver remains the most remarkable, with its Belle Époque villas built in the nineteenth century to welcome visitors taking the cure for the local climate. The district is best explored on foot, through a maze of tree-lined lanes on slightly raised ground.
The Arcachon basin is known for its oyster farming, with dozens of huts and oyster-tasting spots along the harbours, notably at Cap Ferret on the opposite shore. The Thiers pier, right in the centre, remains the classic starting point for watching the activity of the fishing and pleasure-boat harbour.
A few kilometres away, the Dune du Pilat impresses with its size, the tallest sand dune in Europe, with a view stretching to the Landes forest on one side and the ocean on the other. A site apart, which naturally rounds out a stay centred on the bay. Crossing between the bay's various harbours by boat remains a pleasant way to discover this area from the water.
Other campsites less than 30 km away, in neighbouring towns.
Every by the water campsite is checked against its official listing and real photos, not a marketing pitch.
We cross-check public Google ratings and reviews. An establishment below family standards doesn't make the selection.
You book directly with the campsite, no middleman or hidden markup. The price shown is the price you pay.
Your campsite isn't listed yet? Contact Théo
| Campsite | Rating | by the sea | with direct beach access | From | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Camping Le Verdalle | 2 ★ | ✓ | ✓ | — | 4.2/5 |
| Camping Sunêlia Les Embruns | 4 ★ | ✓ | — | — | 4.0/5 |
| Camping Les Goelands | 3 ★ | ✓ | ✓ | — | 4.1/5 |
| Camping Fontaine Vieille | 3 ★ | ✓ | — | — | 4.0/5 |
| Camping Les Viviers | 4 ★ | ✓ | — | — | 3.4/5 |
