Our Summer Campervan Road Trip to Lake Annecy, France 🇫🇷

Summer Road Trip to Lake Annecy: 2,000 Miles of Sunshine, Wine & Van Life

Every now and then you have a trip that reminds you exactly why you built a campervan in the first place.

For us, this year’s 10-day road trip to Lake Annecy was exactly that.

We left North East Lincolnshire on Friday 26th June, which happened to be one of the hottest days of the year. It got hotter the further south we went, 7 hours later we arrived in Dover before catching an early ferry on Saturday morning. By the time we arrived back home 10 days later, we’d covered just over 2,000 miles, explored some incredible places across France, Luxembourg and Belgium, and experienced one of the hottest weeks France had seen in years.

Stop One – Champagne 🍾

Our first overnight stop was at a beautiful vineyard in the Champagne region, where we had actually stayed the year before.

It was somewhere we knew we wanted to return to, not only because of the stunning surroundings but because of how welcoming the hosts are. They offer free overnight stays for motorhomes, and in return you can enjoy a generous tasting of their own Champagne.

It’s such a lovely way to experience the region and a perfect first stop after crossing into France. Sitting among the vines with a glass of Champagne after a long day of travelling felt like the perfect start to our road trip.

With temperatures reaching around 40°C, it was certainly a warm welcome! Although our van doesn’t have air conditioning, our MaxxFan and air cooler did an amazing job of keeping us comfortable.

That evening, the weather completely changed and we experienced one of the craziest thunderstorms we’ve ever seen. Watching the lightning light up the vineyards while the storm rolled through was incredible and made our first night even more memorable.

Dijon & A Homestay

The next day we headed to Dijon.

As it was a Sunday, lots of places were closed, but we still enjoyed having a wander around, stopping for a drink and taking in the atmosphere before continuing our journey.

That evening we stayed on someone’s land, for only €8 we had a secure spot in a peaceful area where we relaxed, watched the sunset and enjoyed the quiet surroundings.

Later that night another storm rolled in, which was quite a contrast after the intense heat we’d been experiencing.

Finding Blue Water Before Annecy 💙

Before arriving at Lake Annecy, we stopped at a beautiful man-made lake to cool off.

After days of driving in the heat, getting into the water was exactly what we needed. The colour of the lake was incredible — bright blue and crystal clear — and the best part was that we seemed to be the only English people there.

It felt like we’d discovered a little hidden gem.

After lunch and a swim, we finally set off towards our main destination…

Four Days at Lake Annecy

We had been to Annecy two years previously, but this time it felt completely different.

Last time the weather was cloudy, but this visit we arrived during a heatwave with endless blue skies, which made the turquoise water and mountain scenery even more incredible.

We stayed near Doussard for four nights at a motorhome park we found through Park4Night.

It cost €22 per night, which included all facilities and electric, and we thought it was fantastic value. Campsites around Annecy were fully booked because of the summer season, so finding this spot was a real bonus.

Exploring Lake Annecy

One of our favourite days was catching the ferry across the lake into Annecy town.

The old town was just as beautiful as we remembered, with colourful buildings, canals, cafés and the amazing mountain backdrop. It’s easy to see why Annecy is often called one of the prettiest places in France.

We also spent time driving around the lake, finding different swimming spots and stopping wherever the views took our breath away.

One of the highlights of the whole trip was driving up the mountain to the famous paragliding launch point.

The view from the top was incredible — looking down over the bright blue lake surrounded by mountains is something we’ll never forget.

If you’re visiting Annecy, this is one thing we would definitely recommend doing. The drive up is completely worth it.

Living in the Van During a Heatwave

Travelling in 40°C heat without air conditioning sounded slightly worrying at first, but the van handled it brilliantly.

Our MaxxFan and air cooler kept us comfortable, and it reminded us how well thought-out our build is for travelling.

The only thing we’re looking to improve for future trips is our outdoor setup. We definitely need a better table and chairs — something practical but still matching the Coy Cruisin aesthetic!

Clairvaux-les-Lacs

After leaving Annecy, we headed north towards another beautiful lake — Clairvaux-les-Lacs.

This ended up being one of the most relaxing days of the whole trip.

We spent the day sunbathing by the water, swimming, enjoying a bottle of wine and just slowing down after the busy days exploring.

That evening we stayed at a brand-new motorhome aire nearby for just €18 per night, which was excellent.

One thing we love about travelling through France is how welcoming and accommodating they are for motorhomes. There are so many affordable places to stay, often in beautiful locations.

A Surprise Favourite – Nancy

Next, we headed to Nancy.

This wasn’t somewhere we’d heard loads about before visiting, but we were honestly blown away.

The city was beautiful, incredibly clean and had such a lovely atmosphere.

We parked at a motorhome aire by the boats for the day, where you could also stay overnight for around €20, and spent time exploring the city.

That evening we drove just 20 minutes to a farm stay where we cooked pasta, drank wine and watched the foals playing in the field as the sun set.

It was one of those simple moments that ends up being one of your favourite memories.

Luxembourg & Heading Home

The following day we drove around 2.5 hours to Luxembourg.

It was a great stop on the way home — a beautiful city to explore and also a good way to avoid some of the expensive French autoroutes.

After spending the day there, we headed into Belgium and stayed at another farm stay close enough to Calais for our ferry the following morning.

We love doing this on the final night of European trips. It means we’re close enough for the ferry without feeling rushed, but we still get to enjoy one last peaceful evening.

Would We Recommend Lake Annecy?

Absolutely.

We loved this trip. The weather made it extra special, but the places we visited, the people we met and the freedom of travelling in our own home on wheels made it unforgettable.

We drank plenty of wine, ate lots of fresh bread and cheese, brought home more wine than we probably needed, and made memories that reminded us exactly why we built our van.

Lake Annecy is still one of our favourite places we’ve visited in Europe, but we were also surprised by how much we loved places like Nancy and Clairvaux-les-Lacs.

Our biggest tip for anyone visiting Annecy?

Drive up to the mountain viewpoint where the paragliders launch. The view is incredible and it’s something you won’t forget.

Until the next adventure…

Coy Cruisin 🚐✨