Motorhome Aires and Overnight Stops in Europe

Q: What is a motorhome aire?

An aire is a dedicated overnight parking area for motorhomes, often with basic services like water, waste disposal and electric. France invented them as Aires de Camping-Cars and most of Europe now has something similar. They range from free village car parks to paid privately run sites with full hookup.

Q: Are motorhome aires free?

Some are, some are not. French municipal aires are often free, or charge 5 to 12 EUR a night with a barrier-operated ticket machine. Privately run aires and Stellplatze in Germany typically cost 10 to 25 EUR. Always carry small coins and a card with a chip in case the machine is fussy.

Q: How do I find motorhome aires in Europe?

The two apps most UK motorhomers use are Park4Night and Campercontact. Both crowdsource aire locations, reviews and photos across Europe. Motorhome Stopovers and the French France Passion scheme are good supplements. Arrive by 5pm in peak season because the best spots fill early.

Q: What is the maximum stay at an aire?

Most aires cap stays at 24 or 48 hours, with a few allowing 72. The limit is usually posted on a sign at the entrance. Overstay and you risk a fine or being moved on. If you want to stay longer in one place, use a campsite.

Aires are the real reason Europe is so much better for motorhoming than the UK. Free or cheap overnight parking, a tap, a chemical dump, sometimes an electric post, and you are off again in the morning. France pioneered the idea, Germany has taken it industrial, Spain and Portugal are catching up. Here is what to expect on the ground and how to find them.

Last verified: 19 April 2026

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What an aire actually is

An aire is a dedicated motorhome-only parking area. Most sit just outside a village, on the edge of a town car park, or next to a marina. The basics are a hard-standing pitch, a service point for water and waste, and often an electric hook-up post. You pay by coin or card at a barrier, or leave a note at the mairie, or in some cases stay free.

It is not a campsite. You park on tarmac, not grass. You do not put out the awning, the chairs and the washing line. Quiet hours are strict, usually from 10pm. Stay one or two nights, use the services, move on. That is the deal.

How aires work by country

FranceAire de Camping-Cars

France invented the concept and has the densest network, with over 7,000 aires covering almost every sizeable village. Many are municipal and free, others charge 5 to 12 EUR via a barrier or ticket machine. Service points (vidange, water, electric) are standard. Stay limits are usually 24 to 48 hours.

GermanyStellplatz

Germany's equivalent is the Stellplatz, and they are everywhere. Often better equipped than French aires, with reliable electric, water and sometimes WiFi. Charges are usually 10 to 20 EUR. Many are council-run at edge-of-town car parks or next to thermal baths, marinas and sports grounds.

SpainAreas de Autocaravanas

Spain is building out its network fast, especially in the north and Galicia. Expect 5 to 15 EUR, often paid by card. Quality varies more than France: some are brilliant modern set-ups, others are gravel patches with a single tap. Park4Night reviews are essential here.

PortugalAreas de Servico

Portugal has a growing network, concentrated along the Algarve and north coast. Some are free, most charge 5 to 10 EUR. Wild camping is banned in much of Portugal (see our wild camping guide), which has pushed more development of official aires.

ItalyArea Sosta / Area di Sosta

Italy's areas are more uneven than France or Germany. The north has a decent network, Tuscany and the lakes in particular. The south is patchier. Most charge 15 to 25 EUR, higher than French rates. Some are privately run and feel closer to small campsites than to aires.

Belgium, Netherlands, Austria

All three have equivalents, generally called by the local term for Stellplatz. Coverage is thinner than France or Germany but the ones that exist are well maintained. Expect 15 to 25 EUR.

How to find them

Park4Night. The app UK motorhomers reach for first. Crowdsourced listings with photos, reviews and coordinates across every European country. Free tier is usable, the paid tier (roughly 10 GBP a year) adds offline maps and advanced filters.
Campercontact. Dutch-built competitor with a cleaner interface and excellent curation, particularly strong in northern Europe. Paid subscription around 25 EUR a year.
Motorhome Stopovers. Smaller community app, good for France and Spain.
France Passion (French-only, roughly 35 EUR a year). Private network of over 2,000 farms, vineyards and producers who let you park overnight for free, in exchange for you buying a bottle of wine or a box of eggs. Not an aire as such but a brilliant complement.
Searchforsites.co.uk. UK-built database that also covers European sites. Handy for planning before you go.

Use two apps, not one. Park4Night has the widest coverage but the review quality varies. Campercontact is better curated. Cross-check before committing.

Practical tips

Arrive by 5pm in high season. The best aires (waterfront, village centre, scenic) fill fast in July and August. By 7pm in peak you are looking at the overflow.
Check size and depth restrictions. Some aires have height barriers (2.5m is common) or length limits (7m or 8m). If you are over 7.5 metres, confirm before you commit to a route.
Carry 10 EUR in coins. Barrier machines in rural France in particular can be fussy with contactless. A small stash of 1 and 2 EUR coins will save you.
Respect quiet hours. Genuinely. These schemes survive because locals tolerate them. A loud gathering at 10pm is the fastest way to get an aire shut down.
Use the services properly. Grey water goes in the grey water grate, black water (cassette) in the cassette disposal. Mixing them up is how you get evicted.
Leave it cleaner than you found it. Quick rule for any stopover: a 30-second sweep before you pull out keeps the aire alive for the next traveller.

Common questions

What is a motorhome aire?

A dedicated overnight parking area for motorhomes, usually with water, waste disposal and sometimes electric. France calls them Aires de Camping-Cars, Germany calls them Stellplatze. Some are free municipal spots, others charge 5 to 25 EUR a night.

Are motorhome aires free?

Some are, many are not. Small French municipal aires often cost nothing, or charge a token 5 EUR. Germany's Stellplatze tend to be 10 to 20 EUR. Keep small coins on you for the old-school ticket machines.

How do I find motorhome aires in Europe?

Park4Night and Campercontact are the two apps UK motorhomers use. Cross-check both before committing. Arrive by 5pm in peak season so you actually get a pitch.

What is the maximum stay at an aire?

Usually 24 or 48 hours, occasionally 72. The sign at the entrance tells you. Overstay and you risk a ticket. For anything longer than that, use a campsite.