Sleeping in a tent by a lake, away from everything: it's a dream. But in France, camping outside an authorised campsite is subject to specific rules. They're not very complicated, as long as you distinguish between two practices that are often confused: wild camping and bivouacking.
Wild camping or bivouacking: what's the difference?
We talk about wild camping (or free camping) when you set up outside a campsite, possibly for several days, with your car, a large tent or equipment. Bivouacking, on the other hand, refers to a lightweight shelter put up in the evening and taken down in the morning, for just one night, usually during a hiking trip. The law doesn't treat them quite the same way, and protected natural areas often make all the difference between the two.
The principle: possible with the owner's permission
Urban planning law sets out a simple rule: isolated camping is permitted, away from roads and public highways, with the agreement of whoever has use of the land. In other words, a field, meadow or woodland always belongs to someone – a private owner, municipality or the State. The safest approach is therefore to ask. A farmer will often accept a tent for one night if you ask politely.
A municipality can also ban camping on certain parts of its territory by order. These bans are common on the coast and around busy sites: look for signs at the entrance to car parks and beaches.
Where it's forbidden
Article R111-33 of the urban planning code forbids isolated camping, except by exemption, in several types of locations:
- on the seashore;
- in listed or designated sites;
- near historic monuments and in listed heritage sites;
- within 200 metres of water points used for drinking water supply.
Pitching a tent on a beach or at the foot of a castle is therefore, unless authorised, not allowed. Nature reserves and national parks have their own additional regulations.
No fires in the forest
Forest law forbids anyone other than the owner and their representatives from lighting or carrying fire in woods, forests, heathland, scrubland and garrigue, and up to 200 metres from these areas. A campfire or barbecue at the edge of a forest thus falls under this ban, all year round. During high-risk periods, prefectures can tighten these rules. For cooking, a small camping stove used on clear ground and under supervision remains the safest option, provided no local order forbids it.
Bivouacking in national parks: the example of Écrins
Each national park sets its own rules, and they change over time. The Écrins national park, straddling Hautes-Alpes and Isère, published a new order on 16 June 2026, in response to a sharp increase in the number of tents. Bivouacking remains authorised in its core area, subject to several conditions:
- setting up after 7 pm and dismantling before 9 am, except in bad weather that would put hikers at risk;
- a small tent, one you can't stand up in;
- only one night in the same spot;
- stricter rules around certain popular lakes, such as Lauvitel and Muzelle.
In Vanoise, bivouacking is regulated around certain mountain huts. Before you go, always check the relevant park's website: it's the only up-to-date source.
Good practices, everywhere
- Arrive late, leave early, stay just one night in the same spot.
- Set up away from lakes, streams and footpaths.
- Take all your rubbish with you, including toilet paper.
- Don't use soap in watercourses, even if it's presented as biodegradable.
- Keep a low profile: no music, no bright lights.
The alternative: a small campsite close to nature
To enjoy nature without any worries, small campsites and natural camping areas are a good option: few pitches, a rural setting, facilities and drinking water. This is the case, for example, with the Ferme de la Borde natural camping area in Aveyron.
In the mountains, a campsite at the foot of the trails lets you go hiking during the day, or spend one night bivouacking before getting a hot shower: La Gravelotte at La Grave, facing Meije, the Ferme Noémie at Bourg-d'Oisans, or Alpes Lodges at Pralognan-la-Vanoise.
To find a site near your route, open the campsite map or browse the list of campsites: nearly 4,000 establishments throughout France.
