Travelling through Auvergne with a campervan is a wonderful experience, especially with children. The region is known for its wide open landscapes, volcanic scenery and peaceful atmosphere, making it ideal for a campervan trip.
What we particularly enjoyed is how varied the region is. Within short distances, you can move from volcanic peaks to lakes, small towns and forest walks. This makes it easy to combine different types of activities and keep the journey interesting for the whole family.
In this guide, we share some of the best things to do in Auvergne with your family, focusing on places that are both accessible and enjoyable for children.
| Our highlights Accomodation: Campground Huttopia Royat Things to do: Puy du Dome, Volcan de Lemptégy, Vulcania |
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Before you go, check if you have the right equipment for your campervan road trip in our article Best Campervan Equipment for Europe (Essentials for a Road Trip)
Still looking for your campervan rental? You can use comparison platforms like CamperDays to compare different rental companies or opt for a peer to peer rental, directly renting from private owners on platforms such as Goboony.
Puy de Dome
One of the most iconic places in the region is the Puy de Dôme. Reaching the summit is an experience in itself, and it is surprisingly easy with children thanks to the panoramic train that takes you to the top.
From there, the views over the chain of volcanoes are impressive and give a good sense of the landscape. There are also walking paths along the ridge, which are manageable and enjoyable even with smaller children. It is very easy to visit with a baby as long as you bring your baby carrier.
At the summit, we particularly enjoyed the astonishing Temple of Mercury and its small interpretation area and museum that help explain the history of the site and its importance during Roman times. This adds an interesting cultural dimension to the visit.
Travelling with a campervan is easy as there is a special free campervan parking area near the information center. Unfortunately, the parking is forbidden at night.
Find more information directly on their website.
Vulcania
Vulcania is one of the most family-friendly attractions in Auvergne. The park combines interactive exhibitions, films and attractions focused on volcanoes and natural phenomena.
It is both educational and entertaining, making it a good option for a full day activity. For families travelling with children, it offers a nice balance between learning and fun.
Volcan de Lemptégy
Another very interesting place to explore with children is the Volcan de Lemptégy. Unlike other volcanic sites, this one allows you to go inside a volcano and understand how it was formed.
The visit is well organised and often includes guided tours or small trains that make it accessible for families. It is both educational and engaging, and gives a more concrete understanding of the volcanic landscape of Auvergne. It is extremely well done for travelling with children as the museum is interactive, there is a huge playground and inflatable castle and you can do the visit of the volcano either walking or with a small train. When travelling with our two little children we chose the little train and had a very good time. At the end of the tour you can even take you own little part of the volcano back home. The tour was a highlight of our Auvergne trip.
The parking is free of charge and usually allows enough space for campervans, although in the high season you might need to make some rounds before finding a space.
You can find more information on the visit here.
Le Puy de Sancy
The Puy de Sancy is the highest peak in the region and offers some of the most impressive landscapes in Auvergne. The area around the summit is well suited for outdoor activities, with a range of walking paths that can be adapted depending on the level and age of your children.
For an easier option, a cable car allows you to reach higher elevations without too much effort, making it more accessible for families. From the top, the views extend across valleys, ridges and volcanic formations, giving a good sense of the scale and beauty of the region.
You can find more information directly on their website.
Le Puy-en-Velay
The town of Le Puy-en-Velay is one of the most distinctive places to visit in Auvergne. Built among volcanic rock formations, the setting is quite unique, with narrow streets, small squares and historic buildings spread across different levels of the town.
One of the highlights is the Le Puy Cathedral, which stands prominently above the town and is known for its striking architecture and historic importance as a starting point of the pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela. From there, you can continue exploring the town’s elevated viewpoints. Climbing up to the Notre-Dame de France offers wide views over the surrounding landscape.
We particularly liked the iconic Chapelle Saint-Michel d’Aiguilhe, which can be reached by a staircase carved into the rock. The climb is manageable even with smaller kids and adds a sense of adventure. On the top you will find a small chapel carved into the rocks.
Walking through the town itself is also part of the experience. The atmosphere is calm and authentic, with small shops and cafés where you can take a break. While some streets are steep, taking your time makes it enjoyable, and the different viewpoints along the way make it worthwhile. It is a place that combines history, landscape and a slightly unusual setting, which makes it stand out during a campervan trip through the region.
Check hotels in Puy-en-Velay on Booking.com. For those traveling in a campervan, there is a campground in the heart of the city but in the summer months, reservation is recommended. For shorter stays, a small and free campervan parking area can also be sufficient.
Fortress of Polignac
Just a short distance from Le Puy-en-Velay, the fortress of Polignac was one of the hidden gems of our Auvergne road trip. The fortress is built on top of a volcanic rock formation, which can be seen from far away. Walking up to the fortress is a rewarding experience, with wide views over the surrounding landscape once you reach the top. The setting is both scenic and slightly unusual. In the high season, regular guided tours are included in the ticket.
You can find more information directly on their website.
The place is also a great campervan stopover because there is a beautiful and free campervan service area just below the fortress, which you can find on Park4night.
Lake Chambon
For a more relaxed day, Lake Chambon is a great option. The lake is surrounded by gentle hills and offers a calm environment for families.
There are small beaches, walking paths and plenty of space to relax. It is a good place to slow down, enjoy the scenery and let children play safely near the water.
There is a very nice campground just next to the lake (Camping Le Pré Bas). You can check it out and book your stay on camping.info.
For shorter stays, there is also a campervan service area, which you can find on Park4night.
Murol Castle
Château de Murol is a great stop if you are travelling with children. The castle is well preserved and often features interactive visits or demonstrations that make the experience more engaging.
Exploring the different levels of the castle and learning about its history adds a different dimension to the trip.
You can find more information on your visit directly on their website.
Parc Animalier d’Auvergne
The Parc Animalier d’Auvergne is another great stop when travelling with family. Located in a natural setting, the park is home to animals from different parts of the world.
The layout makes it easy to walk through at your own pace, and the experience feels more immersive than a traditional zoo. It is a good option if you are looking for a full day activity that combines nature and discovery.
You can find more information on their website here.
Clermont-Ferrand and its Michelin museum
The city of Clermont-Ferrand is often a convenient base when travelling through the region and offers a slightly different experience compared to the surrounding countryside. Known for its distinctive dark volcanic stone architecture, the city has a unique atmosphere and is worth a short stop during your trip. One of the highlights is the L’Aventure Michelin, which tells the story of the famous tyre company and its connection to travel. The museum is well designed and interactive, making it interesting for both adults and children. It provides a different perspective on road travel and mobility, which fits naturally into a campervan journey through Auvergne. The big parking space in front of the museum makes it easy to travel in your campervan.
You can find more information directly on their website.
Cheese tasting
One of the simple pleasures of travelling through Auvergne is discovering its local food, and cheese plays an important role in the region. Auvergne is known for several traditional cheeses, often produced in small farms or local dairies. Stopping at a market or a farm shop gives you the opportunity to taste and learn more about these products in a relaxed and authentic setting. For families, this can also be a nice way to take a break from driving and experience a different aspect of the region. Whether enjoyed as part of a picnic or during an evening stop with your campervan, it adds a local touch to the journey.
When traveling in a campervan, you can find your campervan stopover at a small farm by using France Passion. This gives you the possibility to directly taste and buy your cheese from the producer.
Why Auvergne Works Well for Families
One of the main advantages of travelling through Auvergne with children is the combination of nature and accessibility. Distances between highlights are relatively short, and many activities are outdoors and flexible.
This makes it easy to adapt your days depending on the weather and energy levels, which is particularly helpful when travelling as a family.
Where to stay
When travelling through Auvergne by campervan, there are several options for overnight stays depending on your travel style. The region has many quiet and scenic spots, as well as well-equipped campsites that offer more comfort. Aires are also widely available and provide a convenient solution for short stays.
If you prefer more facilities such as electricity, showers or playgrounds for children, campsites can be a good choice, especially when travelling as a family. It can be helpful to check available options in advance using platforms like camping.info, which allow you to compare different campsites across the region. Combining campsites with occasional overnight stops in nature usually works best for our family. If you are planning your trip, it can also be useful to compare campervan rental options beforehand using platforms such as CamperDays, especially if you are starting your journey in a larger city nearby.
During our stay in Auvergne, we spent a few night at the Huttopia Royat campground, which combines activities for kids, an outdoor pool for warm summer days and a good location not far from the most important sights of the region.
If you don’t want to travel by campervan, there are also many hotels in the area. You can check-out your options on Booking.com.
This mix of options makes it easy to adapt your itinerary and enjoy the region at your own pace. To help you plan your trip, also have a look at our article How to best find the most scenic campervan spots.
Conclusion
Auvergne is a destination that works very well for family travel, especially by campervan. The mix of volcanoes, lakes, small towns and outdoor activities creates a varied and enjoyable experience.
Whether exploring the slopes of the Puy de Dôme, spending a day at Vulcania or relaxing by a lake, there are plenty of ways to enjoy the region at your own pace.
Map
To help plan your trip, we created a map highlighting the main places to visit across Auvergne. The map brings together some of the most interesting stops in the region, from the volcanic landscapes of the Chaîne des Puys and the summit of the Puy de Dôme to the historic towns of Le Puy-en-Velay and nearby Polignac. It also includes natural spots such as Lac Chambon and family-friendly attractions like Vulcania and the Volcan de Lemptégy. Seeing these locations on a map helps to understand distances and makes it easier to organise your itinerary at your own pace.
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