The best places to camp at Le Mans
Excited for the world’s most famous endurance race? Le Mans 24h attracts hundreds of thousands of spectators every year, which makes it one of the largest annual sporting events in Europe. Without a doubt, the ultimate way to experience the Le Mans 24-hour race is by camping near the circuit – whether to hear the sound of the cars hurtling by or being able to pick and choose your viewing point as the race develops. Find out the best Le Mans camping spots and get close to the action.
What is Le Mans 24h?
Originally named Grand Prix de Vitesse et d’Endurance (Grand Prix of Speed and Endurance), Le Mans 24h has been one of the world’s most famous automobile races since 1923. It takes place every year at the Sarthe road-racing circuit near the city of Le Mans, France and is part of the eight races that compose the FIA World Endurance Championship[CD(S1] . The racing circuit is around 8.5 miles (13.6 km) long and has 38 turns. The car that travels the greatest distance around the track in 24 hours wins.
This year is the 100th anniversary of Le Mans and the 2023 race is on the 10-11th of June. It’s also the Porsche 911's 60th race anniversary, so there is so much to look forward to.
The JOTA team sponsored by Hertz Racing Gold brings to the racetrack four exciting drivers [FA(S2] that you won’t want to miss: Antonio Felix Da Costa, Will Stevens, Yifei Ye and David Beckmann. The team already won 1st place in Sebring and came 5th in Portimão.
Why visit the Le Mans 24h?
Le Mans 24h [CD(S3] is the world’s most famous long-distance race, gathering around 270,000 visitors every year in the French city and more than 220 million watching on TV worldwide. It’s also a highly challenging race, with almost 75 percent of each lap driven at full throttle. Only the very best pilots, pit crew and cars can handle this immense undertaking over the course of a full day. Alongside F1 Monaco Grand Prix and the Indy 500, visiting LM24h [CD(S4] is on the bucket list of any motorsport fan.
So far, only Graham Hill has won the unofficial ‘Triple Crown of Motorsport’ title, winning the three most prestigious races of Indianapolis 500 in 1966, 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1972 and the Monaco GP in 1963, 1964, 1965, 1968 and 1969. This makes any Le Mans win an important accolade for any race driver.
Why do people camp at Le Mans?
Camping at Le Mans allows spectators to experience the race up close and for less than a hotel or other fixed accommodation. The campsites have become a tradition over time since there has historically been little space to accommodate more than a quarter of a million people every year. For this reason, some even call it the ‘Glastonbury of motorsport’.
Motorsport is for many people all about the thrills, spills and sounds of pure racing, and camping offers the best way to take in this automotive feast.
What are the best viewing spots at Le Mans?
Because the campsites are placed right next to the circuit, camping gets you right in the best viewpoints [CD(S5] of Le Mans 24h. Some of the most popular spots include the Dunlop Curve, the Porsche Curves and the Mulsanne Corner. If you like capturing the action on your camera, check out our page on the best places to take photos at Le Mans[CD(S6] .
Where are the best campsites at Le Mans?
All campsites at Le Mans are accessible to cars with a tent, caravans and campervans, and offer sanitary facilities. There is only one campsite that supplies electricity. Free shuttles are available between the camping area, the grandstands and the entertainment area. Please note that you must hold a pedestrian general admission ticket to access any of the campsites.
Beausejour
This campsite owned by the Danish operator K-rejser offers the best view of the fast and flowing Porsche Curves. It’s located inside the circuit enclosure right next to the iconic bends so you’ll get a great feel for the speed the cars carry as they streak by. For the true speed demons who want to see these machines in full effect.
Houx
This is the only Le Mans 24h campsite that has electricity. It’s a wooded area right at the heart of the racetrack, close to the village and the paddocks, tramway terminus (Antarès/MMArena) and the grandstands. This is a handy site for those looking to easily get to many other parts of the circuit.
T Rouge
For easy access to The Mertreuseum of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, we recommend camping at Tertre Rouge, located outside the circuit enclosure. This site looks down the track and is also close to the Dunlop Bridge and the Dunlop Curve, where plenty of overtaking happens early on in the lap.
Mulsanne
Situated on the other side of the track at Mulsanne Curve, one of the most difficult braking points of the circuit at the end of the long, full-throttle Mulsanne straight. The campsite is near the supermarket, the golf course and it has a big screen to catch televised footage.
Camping Le Pont Romain – Onlycamp
This site is about a 12-minute drive from the circuit, on the eastern side of the city, along the Loire Valley. It’s the perfect retreat for those who want to be a bit more out the way – and comfortable, with a heated outdoor swimming pool and a choice of Canadian tents, wooden chalets or bungalows.
If you’re planning to go to LM24h, do it the right way and camp overnight to get the best views of the most thrilling endurance race of them all. If you like going to bed and waking up to the sound of Hypercars, “Le Mans” Prototype 2’s (LMP2) and the Le Mans Grand Touring Endurance (LMGTE) cars[FA(S7] roaring past, consider camping at Le Mans.
