VAN-COMPARATOR Guide
Motorhome Rental in Clermont-Ferrand: Volcanoes, the Sancy and Wide-Open Spaces
The UNESCO-listed Chaîne des Puys, Auvergne lakes, the Sancy massif and the toll-free A75 heading south: the guide to renting a motorhome or campervan in Clermont-Ferrand.
Few cities offer such a departure backdrop: from Clermont-Ferrand, the Chaîne des Puys lines up its eighty volcanoes twenty minutes from the city centre. The “Chaîne des Puys – Limagne Fault” ensemble has been a UNESCO World Heritage site since 2018 — a study by Olivier Merle, Pierre Boivin and their Clermont colleagues, published in 2023 in the journal Geosciences, sets out the exceptional geological value of this “tectonic arena” (open-access study). Suffice to say the motorhome is in its element here.
The volcano loop, obviously
The great classic is our Auvergne volcanoes by motorhome itinerary: the Puy de Dôme (climbed on foot or by the Panoramique des Dômes rack railway — the summit is closed to vehicles), Vulcania for families, Lake Pavin resting in its crater, then the Sancy massif and its stone shepherd huts. Allow an unhurried week, sleeping in village aires — the Auvergne is generously supplied, and our guide to motorhome stopovers explains how they work.
Further out: the Cantal, the Aubrac and the mighty A75
South of the Sancy, the Cantal unrolls Europe’s largest volcano, its star-shaped glacial valleys and the Puy Mary. Clermont’s logistical trump card is the A75: a toll-free motorway (except the Millau Viaduct) running due south across the Aubrac towards the Mediterranean — one of France’s most beautiful motorways, and an ideal launch ramp towards the Tarn gorges. To the west, the neighbouring Limousin combines well for a green loop (Limoges-Limousin guide).
Driving in Auvergne: relief, four seasons
Auvergne roads are excellent but bracing: Sancy and Cantal passes, long ramps, high-altitude fog — the reflexes of mountain driving apply from autumn onwards. In winter, Super-Besse and Le Lioran turn the region into a budget ski destination for well-equipped vans (our winter motorhome guide covers the essentials); in summer, altitude tempers the heatwaves — a genuine argument these past few summers. Spring and autumn bring daffodils then russet forests: the Auvergne is one of the few genuinely four-season French destinations.
Compare before you book
Van-Comparator queries Yescapa, Goboony, Roadsurfer and Indie Campers in a single search for pickups in Clermont-Ferrand, total price shown — and automatically surfaces neighbouring cities such as Lyon when they offer more choice on the same dates. For a first volcanic trip a compact van is plenty; families will aim for a semi-integrated or an alcove for snow weeks at Super-Besse.
Free checklist: your first campervan trip
Licence and vehicle size, pick-up inspection, stopovers or campsites, water and electricity, insurance, drop-off: everything to check before and during a first trip. Sign up — the link to the full checklist appears immediately.