On the Hauts-de-France coast the aires are paid, and the free ones are inland. Budget 10 to 15 euros a night anywhere between Le Touquet and the Baie de Somme. For a free night, drive east into the Cambrésis or the Avesnois, where several communes still open their pitches for nothing and charge only for the borne.

The coast prices itself openly

Le Touquet-Paris-Plage runs two areas, around 70 spaces at the north watersports centre and around 200 at the Canche international park. The town publishes 15.40 euros for up to 23 hours then 1.60 euros an hour on one, and 10.60 euros then 6.60 euros an hour on the other, with a 17 euro charge if you overrun. The meter takes card or cash and gives no change. Two euros at the borne, the French service pillar, buys about 100 liters of water and 55 minutes of power (letouquet.com, checked September 4, 2026).

Le Crotoy charges the same at both of its aires, one on the chemin du Marais and one at the bassin de chasse by the marina: 10 euros for 1 to 24 hours, 20 euros to 48 hours, 30 euros to 72 hours, then 10 euros per further 24 hours. The first hour is free at the bassin de chasse, and of the two meters only the right-hand one takes cards (villeducrotoy.fr, checked September 4, 2026). Carry coins.

Saint-Valery-sur-Somme is the one to aim for in the bay: room for about 200 vehicles on the rue de la Croix l’Abbé, open all year, 15 minutes free once a day, then a sliding scale from 3 euros for an hour to 12 euros for 8 hours and over, within 24 hours. Water, outside freezing periods, and electricity are included in that price, and you pay on the way out (saint-valery-sur-somme.fr, checked September 4, 2026).

Cucq shuts its seafront from March to October

At Cucq, which covers Stella-Plage, stopping and parking a motorhome is prohibited from 1 March to 31 October inclusive on a list of streets and car parks the commune names one by one, among them the Cours des Champs Élysées, the Avenue de la Digue and the Boulevard de la Mer. Everywhere else in the commune it is allowed. The old free 20 space aire on the Cours des Champs Élysées is gone, removed after flooding, but the multiservice station at number 242 runs 24 hours a day (cucq.fr, checked September 4, 2026).

So in season, come to Cucq to fill and empty, not to sleep. And this is Cucq’s own arrêté, not the next town’s: the sign where you actually stop is the one that counts.

Free means inland

Marcoing, on the Saint-Quentin canal, opens 6 free pitches on the site of its old railway station at the Place de la Gare, with waste water disposal, a water point and electricity. The power runs evening and night depending on the public lighting circuit, and only outside the winter period (marcoing.fr, checked September 4, 2026).

Solre-le-Château, in the Avesnois against the Belgian border, holds 20 pitches open all year with a dump point, water and electricity. Tokens cost 2 euros each and buy either water or power, sold at the borne, the Coccimarket or the Boulangerie Au Pêcher Mignon (solrelechateau.fr, checked September 4, 2026). Buy one more than you need: a token does one job.

Grenay, in the old mining belt, has 3 free pitches at the Parc Aragon, capped at 2 nights. Its water point is out of service after vandalism, with no restoration date given (tourisme-lens.fr, checked September 4, 2026). Arrive with full tanks.

The first night off the ferry

Le Portel, just south of Boulogne-sur-Mer, has the fullest service list in the corridor. The aire sits on the Stade André Lefèvre car park with grey and black water disposal, drinking water, electricity and wifi, though the town says only a restricted number of pitches currently have power, and it publishes no tariff you can read. Treat it as paid and turn up with coins and a card (ville-leportel.fr, checked September 4, 2026).

Arras Vallée de la Scarpe, 19 boulevard Robert Schuman, is listed as free in a lot of places and is not: 12 euros a night including services plus 0.60 euros of tourist tax per person, on 46 pitches open around the clock with a borne, a dump point, toilets and a shower (arraspaysdartois.com, checked September 4, 2026). After a late crossing a shower for 12 euros is a fair trade, and Arras is on the A26 anyway.

South on the A16 instead and you are in the Baie de Somme by evening for 10 to 15 euros. Free costs a detour east, which suits the night before you go home better than the night you land. Plan it on the France map before you board, and read how a borne works if this is your first French service point. Winter drains the water rather than closing the parking: Marcoing switches its services off out of season, Saint-Valery supplies water except in frost, and Cucq’s ban lifts on 31 October. If you are still choosing a crossing, ferry pricing moves more than the weather does.

Sources

  1. Aire pour camping-car, Le Touquet-Paris-Plage
  2. Camping-car, Ville du Crotoy
  3. Aire de camping-cars, Commune de Saint-Valery-sur-Somme
  4. Camping-cars, Commune de Cucq
  5. Aire de camping-cars, Commune de Marcoing
  6. Aire de camping-car, Commune de Solre-le-Chateau
  7. Aire de camping-cars de Grenay, Office de tourisme de Lens-Lievin-Henin-Carvin
  8. Aire de camping-cars Arras Vallee de la Scarpe, Office de Tourisme d'Arras
  9. L'aire de camping-caravaning, Ville du Portel

When a source is not in English, follow the link for the official wording.