French Alps by Campervan with Kids: Annecy, Bourg-Saint-Maurice (Les Arcs) & Aix les Bains

The French Alps might immediately make you think of skiing and winter holidays, but they are just as beautiful for a family campervan trip in summer.

Turquoise lakes, huge mountain views, cable cars, waterfalls, easy family walks and plenty of outdoor activities make this one of the most exciting regions of France to explore with kids.

Travelling by campervan also gives you the freedom to combine different places in one trip. You can wake up next to a lake, spend the afternoon swimming, and a few days later find yourself high in the mountains surrounded by alpine peaks.

When travelling with smaller children, it is worth chosing only a few places rather than trying to see every lake and every mountain chain as activities are similar. It is much nicer to choose two or three bases and really enjoy them.

This post includes affiliate links. I may receive a small commission with no extra cost for you.

Looking for a campervan rental for your trip? If you don’t have your own van, platforms like CamperDays and Goboony can help you compare campervan rental options for your destination and travel dates. CamperDays is useful for comparing professional rental companies, while Goboony offers many privately owned campervans and motorhomes. We recommend checking availability early, especially for school holidays and summer road trips, as family-friendly campervans can book out quickly.

For our family trip, we combined two very different parts of the French Alps: Annecy and its beautiful lake, followed by Bourg-Saint-Maurice and Les Arcs deeper in the mountains and then went back to the lakes in Aix les Bains.

It is a route that works particularly well with children because you can alternate active mountain days with slower lake days, cable cars with playgrounds and other fun activities for kids and cycling with swimming.

If you are planning a longer campervan trip through France, the French Alps are also easy to combine with other regions, such as Jura, Auvergne or Vosges. You can also easily combine your French Alps trip with a trip to Switzerland.

Planning a family campervan trip in France?
Have a look at our guide to the best campervan routes in France for families and our practical guide to campervan travel in France before planning your route.

Our French Alps campervan route at a glance

For a relaxed family trip, I would allow at least 1-2 weeks.

A simple itinerary could look like this:

Days 1–3: Annecy and Lake Annecy
Day 4: Drive towards Bourg-Saint-Maurice
Days 5–7: Bourg-Saint-Maurice and Les Arcs Days 8-10: Aix les Bains and lake Bourget

You can easily extend the trip if you want more hiking, lake days or mountain activities. During our French Alps trip, we spent a whole week on a campground in Bourg Saint Maurice without getting bored.

One thing I would avoid is trying to cover too much of the Alps in one trip. Distances may not always look huge on the map, but mountain roads take time.

Stop 1: Annecy and its lake

Annecy is probably one of the most beautiful places to start a family campervan trip through the French Alps.

The combination of the historic town, turquoise lake and surrounding mountains makes it feel like you get several destinations in one.

You can spend the morning exploring the old town, the afternoon swimming in the lake and the evening enjoying the mountain views from your campsite.

For families, this combination works especially well because sightseeing does not have to dominate the day.

Children can explore Annecy for a while and then look forward to swimming, cycling or simply playing by the lake.

Explore Annecy Old Town

Annecy’s historic centre is compact and easy to explore on foot.

The canals running through the old town have given Annecy its nickname, the Venice of the Alps, and the colourful buildings, bridges and narrow streets make it a lovely place for a slow family walk.

One of the most photographed places is the Palais de l’Île, sitting in the middle of the Thiou canal.

With kids, I would not try to follow a long sightseeing itinerary. You can however, opt for a guided tour, either with a walking tour or by bus.

Walk through the streets, stop for an ice cream, cross the little bridges and enjoy the atmosphere.

Annecy can become very busy during summer, so visiting earlier in the morning can make the experience much more relaxed.

We also enjoyed the atmosphere in the evening when the bars start to fill for the famous French Apero.

Next to the Old Town, there is a nice park, which is great for a relaxed picnic and break for the kids.

Spend a day at Lake Annecy

The lake is one of the biggest reasons to include Annecy in a family campervan itinerary.

The clear turquoise water surrounded by mountains is beautiful, but more importantly for families, there are many easy ways to enjoy it.

Depending on where you stay, you can find beaches and swimming areas around the lake where you can spend a simple family afternoon.

Pack a picnic, swimming things and a blanket and you already have most of what you need.

Cycle around Lake Annecy

Cycling is another great way to experience the lake.

A cycle path follows much of the shoreline, making it possible to explore without constantly getting back into the campervan.

With younger children, you do not need to cycle around the entire lake.

Simply choose a manageable section, stop at a beach or playground and cycle back when everyone has had enough.

We did this twice during our trip to Annecy. We started at the campground, stopped for lunch at a nice beach, spent the afternoon swimming with the kids and cycled back afterwards.

If you do not travel with bicycles, bike and e-bike rental options are available around Annecy.

Get onto the water

One of the nicest ways to experience Lake Annecy is from the water itself.

Depending on the age of your children, you can rent a pedal boat, kayak or pedalboard, or simply take a boat trip across the lake.

With smaller kids, you can also rent an electric boat without lisence or a pedalboat.

Where to stay with a campervan near Annecy

Annecy is extremely popular in summer, so I would avoid arriving without a plan during peak season.

Rather than trying to park the campervan in central Annecy, it is often easier to stay at a campsite around the lake and use bicycles, buses or other local transport to explore.

For families, a lakeside campsite can also become part of the experience rather than simply somewhere to sleep.

Having access to swimming, outdoor space and perhaps a playground means you can easily spend a slower day without driving anywhere.

Family campervan tip: Annecy is one of those places where staying an extra night can completely change the rhythm of the trip. Give yourself at least one day where the only plan is enjoying the lake.

Driving from Annecy to Bourg-Saint-Maurice

After Annecy, continue deeper into the Alps towards Bourg-Saint-Maurice.

The scenery becomes increasingly mountainous as you travel towards the Tarentaise Valley.

Do not underestimate driving times in the Alps.

Even relatively short distances can take longer than expected, especially with mountain roads, summer traffic and children who need regular breaks.

Instead of treating the drive as something to get through as quickly as possible, leave enough time for stops.

A picnic, viewpoint or playground break can turn the transfer day into part of the road trip.

Stop 2: Bourg-Saint-Maurice

Bourg-Saint-Maurice is a very practical base for exploring this part of the French Alps.

Unlike the mountain resorts higher up, the town sits down in the valley, which makes it easier to access by campervan.

It is surrounded by mountains and provides access to several alpine destinations, including Les Arcs. A funicular brings you up to the Arcs in only 10 minutes.

For campervan families, this can be a good strategy: stay lower in the valley and travel up into the mountains for activities.

The town itself is useful for shopping, restaurants and practical supplies and also has a nice Huttopia campground with a pool.

Explore Bourg-Saint-Maurice

Bourg-Saint-Maurice is not a destination where you need a long sightseeing checklist. Its value is really its location. Spend some time walking through the town, visit the local shops or market if your visit coincides with market day, and enjoy the slower atmosphere before heading into the mountains.

With children, this is also a good place to park your campervan. During our trip, we spent a whole week at Huttopia Bourg-Saint-Maurice. During the summer holidays, a free shuttle bus brings you from the campground to the funicular. The shuttle runs every 30 minutes and is well coordinated with the funicular’s departure times.

The campground itself is simple but also very nice. Having a pool after a long day in the mountains is a real plus and animations for kids and families make it a great base for some days at the Arcs.

Take the funicular to Les Arcs

One of the easiest ways to reach the mountains from Bourg-Saint-Maurice is the funicular connecting the town with Arc 1600.

For kids, the journey itself is part of the adventure.

Instead of driving the campervan up winding mountain roads and searching for parking, you can leave the vehicle lower down at the campground and travel directly into the resort.

Once you arrive at Arc 1600, you are immediately surrounded by mountain scenery and can continue exploring Les Arcs using local lifts and transport depending on the season.

Les Arcs with kids in summer

Les Arcs is best known as a ski destination, but summer transforms the mountains into a huge outdoor playground. Our favorite place was Les Arcs 1800 which can be reached from the funicular by a free shuttle bus.

You will find hiking trails, mountain lifts, cycling, playgrounds and family activities, all surrounded by spectacular alpine views.

For families travelling by campervan, spending a few days adds a completely different experience to the lake atmosphere around Annecy.

Take the mountain lifts

One of the easiest ways to experience high mountain scenery with children is to use the summer mountain lifts.

You can gain altitude without asking young children to complete a long uphill hike.

Once higher up, choose a short walk suitable for your family’s ability, enjoy a picnic with mountain views or simply spend some time exploring.

For children, cable cars and chairlifts are often an attraction in themselves.

Always check which lifts are operating during your visit, as summer opening dates and schedules can vary.

Choose an easy family hike

You do not need to attempt a major alpine hike to enjoy Les Arcs. With children, shorter walks are often much more enjoyable.

Look for trails with a clear destination: a viewpoint, lake, waterfall or picnic area gives children something to walk towards.

Mountain weather can change quickly, so always carry an extra layer, water and basic rain protection even when the morning looks sunny.

Enjoy the mountain playgrounds and activities

Mountain resorts have become increasingly family-focused during summer.

Depending on when you visit, you may find playgrounds, trampolines, adventure activities, mountain biking, swimming pools and organised children’s activities.

This makes Les Arcs particularly useful if you are travelling with children of different ages.

You can combine a short morning hike with a more playful afternoon rather than expecting everyone to spend the whole day walking.

Go higher for the views

If the lifts are operating and weather conditions are good, going higher into the mountains can give you some of the most impressive views of the trip.

On clear days, the panorama across the Alps is spectacular.

With younger children, however, altitude deserves some thought.

Do not rush from the valley straight to very high altitude and immediately start a demanding activity. Keep the day relaxed, watch how everyone feels and choose activities appropriate for your children’s age.

Sometimes simply taking a lift, enjoying the view and coming back down is enough.

A slower family day in Les Arcs

Not every day in the Alps needs to involve hiking.

One of the advantages of staying in a mountain resort area is that you can also plan a slower day.

Take the lift up, have lunch with a view, let the children play, walk a short trail and simply enjoy being surrounded by mountains.

When travelling by campervan with kids, these slower days often become some of the nicest memories. There is no pressure to tick off attractions as the mountains themselves are the attraction.

Explore the Valley around Aime La Plagne

If you have more time, you can also explore the activities around the Valley.

The lakeside of Aime La Plagne

With smaller kids the lakeside of aime La Plagne, easily accessible by bike from Bourg Saint-Maurice is worth a quiet family day. The lake is surrounded by activities for the kids: a Splah pad, a huge playground, a nice pic nic area and a restaurant give you plenty to do during one day.

Other activities in the Valley

With older kids, there are a couple of other fun activities that you can do. Aime La Plagne is a famous rafting spot and also offers lots of canying possibilities for adventure lovers.

Where to stay with a campervan around Bourg-Saint-Maurice and Les Arcs

For campervan travellers, staying around Bourg-Saint-Maurice can be easier than taking the campervan high into the resort.

You have better access to shops and services in the valley, while the funicular makes it possible to reach Les Arcs without driving up every day.

Depending on your travel style, there are several possibilities in Bourg-Saint-Maurice.

During our trip, we spent a whole week at Huttopia Bourg-Saint-Maurice. During the summer holidays, a free shuttle bus brings you from the campground to the funicular. The shuttle runs every 30 minutes and is well coordinated with the funicular’s departure times. The campground itself is simple but also very nice. Having a pool after a long day in the mountains is a real plus and animations for kids and families make it a great base for some days at the Arcs.

During the summer, Bourg Saint-Maurice also offers several large parking areas where campervans seem to be accepted. Before having kids, this would have probably been our choice but with smaller kids we preferred the comfort of a campground.

During busy summer periods, booking a campsite in advance can make the trip much more relaxed.

Stop 3: Aix-les-Bains and Lac du Bourget

After the mountains, Aix-les-Bains makes a lovely second lake stop before heading back.

The town sits on the shores of Lac du Bourget, the largest natural lake entirely in France, and the atmosphere is more relaxed than in Annecy. For families, this makes it a very easy place to slow down for a day or two.

You can walk along the lake, spend time at the beach, rent a paddleboard or kayak, take a boat trip, or simply enjoy a picnic by the water.

Spend time at Lac du Bourget

Lac du Bourget is the main reason to include Aix-les-Bains in your campervan itinerary. The lake is surrounded by mountains and offers plenty of space for swimming, watersports and relaxed family days. Depending on where you stop, you will find beaches, grassy areas and places where children can move around freely.

With younger kids, you can keep the day simple with swimming and a picnic. The Aix les Bains waterfront also offers a splash pas which works well for children of all ages. A very well maintained cycling path around the lake, also gives you the possibility for a short cycling trip.

Explore Aix-les-Bains

Aix-les-Bains is also worth a short walk through the town itself. Known historically as a spa town, it has elegant buildings, cafés and a slower atmosphere than many larger Alpine destinations.

It is not a place where you need to rush from sight to sight. For families, it works best as an easy half-day stop combined with lake time.

Where to stay with a campervan near Aix-les-Bains

For campervan travellers, staying close to Lac du Bourget can be very practical. There is a very practical camping car park spot next to the lake.

If you prefer a campsite with direct or easy lake access there is a simple campground a bit further at le-Bourget-du-Lac. From there, you can easily reach Aix-les-Bains by bike.

Our suggested 10-day French Alps campervan itinerary

Day 1: Arrive at Lake Annecy

Settle into your campsite and keep the first day simple.

Walk by the lake, swim if the weather is good and enjoy your first mountain views.

Day 2: Annecy Old Town and lake

Visit Annecy in the morning before it becomes too busy.

Explore the canals and old town, stop for lunch or an ice cream, then spend the afternoon relaxing by the lake.

Day 3: Lake Annecy family day

Choose a slower activity: cycling, swimming, a boat trip or simply a beach day.

This gives everyone a break before heading deeper into the mountains.

Day 4: Annecy to Bourg-Saint-Maurice

Travel towards Bourg-Saint-Maurice.

Take your time and stop along the way rather than treating it as a long driving day.

Settle into your campsite or campervan stop and explore the town.

Day 5: Les Arcs

Take the funicular from Bourg-Saint-Maurice to Arc 1600.

Explore the resort, use the mountain lifts if they are operating and choose an easy family walk.

Day 6: Les Arcs

Return to Les Arcs for another activity.

Depending on your children’s ages, choose hiking, cycling, a family activity or simply another lift ride followed by a picnic in the mountains.

Day 7: Bourg Saint Maurice and Les Arcs

You can also take half a day to discover the main streets of Bourg Saint-Maurice with its shops, cafés and market.

Day 8: Bourg Saint Maurice to Lake Bourget

After the drive you can already enjoy the beach in the afternoon.

Day 9: Lake Bourget and Aix-les-Bains

Cycle around the lake and enjoy its beaches.

Day 10: Morning at the lake and ongoing journey

After a slow morning at the beach, continue your road or head back.

Is the French Alps a good campervan destination with young children?

Yes, but the key is to adapt the trip to your children’s rhythm.

The Alps do not have to mean long hikes and difficult mountain adventures. You can enjoy the beaches at the lakes, do short lake walks,

The combination of Annecy, the lakes and Les Arcs works particularly well because these destinations offer very different experiences.

Annecy and the lakes give you water, swimming and a beautiful town.

Bourg-Saint-Maurice and Les Arcs give you the real mountain experience and the most stunnfing viewpoints.

Practical tips for a French Alps campervan trip with kids

Do not plan too much driving

Mountain roads take longer than normal roads.

Keep your itinerary compact and stay several nights in each place. The activities are similar from one place to another so no need to do them all.

Book popular campsites in summer

Annecy in particular becomes extremely busy during the summer holidays.

If you want a specific lakeside campsite, booking ahead is a good idea.

Pack for several seasons

You can be swimming at Lake Annecy one day and wearing jackets high in the mountains the next.

Bring layers, rain jackets, sun protection and good walking shoes.

Keep altitude in mind

If you are travelling with babies, be cautious about rapidly gaining significant altitude.

Choose age-appropriate destinations and activities and allow everyone time to adapt.

Avoid driving the campervan everywhere

One of the nicest things about this route is that you can leave the campervan parked.

Cycle around Annecy, walk by the lake and use the funicular or mountain transport around Les Arcs.

It makes the trip much more relaxing.

What to pack for a French Alps campervan trip

The Alps require slightly more preparation than a simple summer beach road trip.

We would recommend bringing:

• layers for changing temperatures
• waterproof jackets
• comfortable walking shoes
• child carrier if travelling with a baby or toddler
• refillable water bottles
• picnic equipment
• sun hats and sunscreen
• swimwear for the Lakes
• small backpack for mountain days
• basic first-aid supplies

Packing for your campervan trip?
Have a look at our campervan equipment essentials for the items we find most useful when travelling through Europe as a family.

How to connect the French Alps with a longer France campervan trip

The French Alps work well as part of a longer campervan route through France.

You could combine them with other mountain and nature destinations or use Annecy as the beginning or end of a longer Alpine road trip.

If you are still deciding which region to visit, compare this route with our other best campervan routes in France for families.

The Alps are particularly good if your family enjoys outdoor activities.

If you prefer shorter driving distances and gentler landscapes, you might prefer the Vosges.

For volcanoes, lakes and wide open landscapes, Auvergne is another excellent family campervan destination.

That is one of the things we love most about travelling through France by campervan: every region feels completely different.

Final thoughts

A French Alps campervan trip with kids does not need to be an extreme mountain adventure.

For us, the perfect family route combines different experiences.

Swim in Lake Annecy. Walk through the colourful streets of Annecy. Wake up surrounded by mountains. Take the funicular from Bourg-Saint-Maurice. Ride a cable car into the Alps. Walk a short trail. Have a picnic with an incredible view. And then return to your little home on wheels at the end of the day.

Combining Annecy, Bourg-Saint-Maurice and Les Arcs gives you a wonderful introduction to the French Alps without spending the entire trip driving from one destination to another.

It is exactly the kind of campervan trip we love as a family: enough adventure to feel exciting, but enough flexibility to slow down whenever the kids need it.

Map of our French Alps campervan itinerary

To help you plan your trip, we have marked all the places included in this French Alps campervan itinerary on the map below. The route takes you from the crystal-clear waters of Lake Annecy and Aix-les-Bains to the heart of the Alps around Bourg-Saint-Maurice and Les Arcs. Use the map to get an overview of the driving distances, discover where each stop is located, and adapt the itinerary to the time you have available. One of the great advantages of exploring the French Alps by campervan is the flexibility to stay longer in your favourite places and enjoy the journey at your own pace.

FAQ: French Alps by campervan with kids

Are the French Alps good for a campervan trip with kids?

Yes. The French Alps offer lakes, family hikes, cable cars, outdoor activities and mountain resorts with plenty to do in summer. The key is to keep driving distances manageable and choose activities appropriate for your children’s ages.

How many days do you need for Annecy and Les Arcs?

I would recommend at least 5 days, but 7 days gives you a much more relaxed trip. Spend around three days near Lake Annecy and another three around Bourg-Saint-Maurice and Les Arcs.

Can you visit Annecy by campervan?

Yes, but rather than driving and parking in central Annecy, it is often easier to stay at a campsite around Lake Annecy and use public transport or bicycles to explore.

Is Lake Annecy good with children?

Yes. Lake Annecy is one of the highlights of the region for families, with swimming, beaches, cycling and water activities surrounded by mountain scenery.

Can you reach Les Arcs without driving a campervan up the mountain?

Yes. Bourg-Saint-Maurice is connected to Arc 1600 by funicular, making it possible to leave your vehicle in the valley and travel up into Les Arcs without driving the mountain road.

Is Les Arcs worth visiting in summer?

Yes. Les Arcs offers hiking, mountain lifts, cycling and family activities during the summer season, although exact activities and lift opening dates vary.

Where should you stay with a campervan near Les Arcs?

Bourg-Saint-Maurice can be a practical base because you have access to shops and services in the valley and can use the funicular to reach Les Arcs. Check current campsite and campervan-area options before travelling.