Motorhome Parking in Calais – Aires
Do you remember the original Motorhome parking in Calais? Early in our motorhome travels, Calais plage was a great place to spend an often windy night beside the sea.
That was back in the day when the motorhome Aire was on the sea front and noise of the ferry gave an exciting, yet disturbing nights sleep.
The area was chaotic, sandy, windswept and always full, yet it was a great place to spend the night.
Right beside the motorhome parking was the ferry sea entrance to the port, giving a birds eye view of the boats coming and going. When you were ready to empty and fill, you’d join the queue for the motorhome service point, often a bit mucky, but nonetheless grateful it was there.
There were once two Aires in Calais
It wasn’t just the Aire at Calais Plage, because there were once two Aires in Calais.
Another popular Aire was at the shopping complex of Cite Europe, beside the Euro Tunnel complex. This popular Aire was a great place to indulge in a bit of shopping, stocking up with supplies at the huge supermarket inside.
Then things began to change, so motorhome habits of those early years took a different direction. Not only did the Aire at Cite Europe close, but the Aire on Calais Plage shut down too.
Despite a replacement Aire opening a short distance away, we began to stay further out of Calais. Then out of habit, we just never came back for those convenient first and last day stays.
The modern day Motorhome Aire in Calais
20 years after our first visit to Calais plage and a decade or more since our last stay, in late 2024, we finally returned.
Arriving on a sunny afternoon, we were pleasantly surprised to see a modern, well-laid out motorhome parking. With a spacious feel and tidy appearance, there’s everything in place for a welcoming night stay.
It’s located next to a campsite, but it’s a separate entity, providing Motorhome visitors with a choice of campsite or motorhome Aire, depending on preference.
Motorhome Aire in Calais – Facilities, Location and Entry set up
- Calais Aire is part of the Camping-Car Park network of Aires.
- There’s a barrier entry using the Camping-Car Park card which we had beforehand (we joined online and the card was sent to our home).
- Camping-Car Park have a system on the entry bollard to join but in our experience people struggle with it.
- Parking terrain is tarmac and gravel and was clean and tidy on our visit.
- EHU bollards for electric is included.
- Parking places are spacious for an Aire.
- The area is large and consists of grassy areas too.
- Fencing surrounds the Aire.
- The Aire was busy during our stay in late October but not full.
- Camping-Car Park usually say they have wi-fi but we find this to be poor, often unable to connect.
- There are 102 parking pitches.
- 1km to a supermarket.
- 700m to Calais beach.
- 5-10 minutes drive to Le Shuttle (Eurotunnel) or the ferry port.
- Address: 275 Rue Asfeld, 62100, Calais
Facilities you don’t get
- This is just an Aire parking – a simple, dedicated area for motorhomes to park overnight.
- There isn’t an amenity building, so there aren’t showers, toilets, dishwashing or laundry.
- Parking is good for an Aire but is not a campsite set up.
- Caravans, Tents, Vans without sanitary facilities are not permitted.
Dump/Fresh Area
Outside the barrier entrance is a large area with 2 separate locations to empty and re-fill. The Camping-Car Park card may be needed to use the facility.
In other words, motorhome visitors don’t have to enter the parking area to use the service facility.
Price – approx €15 per night during our stay.
Calais Plage is superb
Just a short walk from the Aire is Calais plage with its long promenade and boardwalks. This really lovely beach area has undergone major renovation, making it quite unrecognisable to its former self.
Needless to say, swathes of endless sands with beautiful grasses lining the promenade walkways make for a scenic backdrop, while a beautiful beach, with white wood huts add to this alluring setting.
During our visit, the sun began to set on a calm Autumn evening, with a golden sky glistening on the sands.
Not only was the prom bustling with people late into the evening, but the promenade was impeccably clean, modern and inviting.
There are beach stalls selling refreshments, a restaurant on the sands, wooden sun loungers and seating areas too. Then there’s the big moving mechanical dragon, puffing out flames with roars of mechanical fire. A large queue was evident for those wanting to climb the dragon’s back, so we gave it a miss, instead watching from afar.
This re-invention of Calais plage was a big surprise to us. Having by-passed Calais so often in recent years, it was so lovely to return to this hidden gem beside the English Channel.
We’ll no doubt be returning again very soon and are really pleased to see such a good Aire and lovely beach area in this convenient part of France.
- T