Motorhome holidays in Corsica: everything you need to know for a great stay on the east coast

Do you dream of rolling down the ferry ramp at the wheel of your motorhome, window open to the scent of the maquis, and driving towards the sea with no timetable to keep? Corsica lends itself wonderfully to that kind of freedom. And the east coast, gentler and wider than the dizzying roads of the west, is probably the most beautiful part of the island to travel by motorhome. Here’s everything you need to know before you park up with us in Ghisonaccia.

Touring Corsica by motorhome gives you the best of both worlds: the freedom of the open road and the comfort of carrying your home with you. But the Isle of Beauty has its own particularities — a ferry to book, roads that demand respect, and rules to be aware of if you want to avoid nasty surprises. In this guide, we take you through it step by step, from the crossing to your shady pitch beneath our pines, so that your stay is as relaxed as possible.

Why the east coast is ideal for a motorhome trip

When people picture Corsica, they often think of the winding roads of the west coast, those spectacular bends carved into the cliffs above the sea. It’s sublime, but at the wheel of a six- or seven-metre motorhome, meeting another vehicle on a hairpin bend suspended above the void is anything but relaxing.

The east coast tells a different story. Here, the eastern plain unrolls wider, flatter roads lined with vineyards, orchards and long sandy beaches. You drive relaxed, elbow out of the window, without gripping the steering wheel. It’s the Corsica you discover at your own pace, the Corsica of motorhome travellers who want to enjoy the scenery rather than watch every bend.

And then there’s the location. From Ghisonaccia, you’re ideally placed at the heart of the island: Corte and its mountains an hour away, Porto-Vecchio and its picture-postcard beaches a little over an hour to the south, Bastia and Cap Corse to the north. Our campsite becomes a true base camp, from which you can explore without having to pack up every morning.

Getting to Corsica by motorhome: the ferry, step by step

The only way to bring your motorhome to Corsica is by ferry. Several companies link the mainland to the island from Marseille, Toulon and Nice, with arrivals at Bastia, L’Île-Rousse, Ajaccio or Porto-Vecchio. To reach Ghisonaccia, the port of Bastia is the most convenient: it puts you on the east coast, about an hour’s drive from our campsite.

Booking your crossing

For a motorhome, booking ahead isn’t a luxury, it’s a necessity. Spaces for tall, long vehicles are limited on every ship, and they go quickly, especially in July and August. When you book, you’ll be asked for the exact length and height of your vehicle: measure them precisely, as both the price and availability depend directly on them.

Day or night crossing?

Both options have their charm. A day crossing treats you to the sight of the Corsican coast gradually taking shape on the horizon, its bluish mountains rising from the sea. A night crossing gains you a day: you board in the evening, sleep on board and disembark in the morning fresh and rested, ready to drive towards the sun.

Driving a motorhome on Corsican roads

Once you’ve disembarked, it’s time to hit the road. Driving a motorhome in Corsica requires a little care, but nothing insurmountable if you know a few golden rules.

The east coast remains by far the most welcoming for large vehicles. The main road running along the eastern plain is wide and well maintained. It’s the backbone you’ll use to reach our beaches, our villages and, of course, our campsite.

Where to park and sleep in a motorhome in Corsica

This is probably the most important question, and the one where it pays to be best informed. In Corsica, as elsewhere in France, wild camping and overnight parking in the countryside are largely prohibited and increasingly checked, particularly along the coast and in protected areas. Fines do exist, and the island’s fragile beauty deserves to be respected.

The most relaxed, comfortable and respectful solution is to park up at a campsite. You gain water, electricity, waste disposal, washrooms and security — and everything else: the pool, the restaurant, and neighbours to share an aperitif with when evening comes.

Our motorhome pitches at U Casone

Here, motorhomes are welcomed on large pitches of more than 100 m², designed so that you can manoeuvre, put out your awning and set up your table without jostling with the neighbours. But the real treasure of our pitches is the shade.

U Casone — “the big house” in Corsican — is above all extensive wooded grounds. Our maritime pines and broadleaf trees weave a generous canopy above you that filters the sun and keeps your vehicle cool, even in the height of summer. Anyone who has spent an August night in a motorhome in full sun will understand how precious that shade is. Here, it’s the cicadas and the smell of warm resin that wake you in the morning, not the furnace.

Practical services at the campsite

Travelling by motorhome also means logistics: filling up with water, emptying waste water, recharging batteries. On our pitches, you have an electric hook-up and access to water, and our washrooms complement what your vehicle doesn’t provide. Enough to set off each day with full tanks and a light heart.

Everyday life on site is simpler too. Our mini-market saves you trips to the supermarket for the morning bread, fresh fruit or the evening bottle of rosé. Our restaurant, open seven days a week from mid-June to mid-September, takes care of the evenings when you don’t feel like cooking in the motorhome — with, once a week, a special moules-frites, paella or spit-roast veal evening. And our pizzeria delights young and old whenever the craving for a pizza shared beneath the pines strikes.

When to come to the east coast by motorhome

Our campsite is open from 1 May to 8 October, and each period has its own colour. On a motorhome trip, being free to choose your dates is a luxury — so you might as well make the most of it and aim for the finest seasons.

With its 2,800 hours of sunshine a year and nearly 300 days of fine weather, the east coast guarantees you, in almost every season, the clear skies that make you want to drive with the windows down.

Exploring from the campsite: the freedom of the motorhome

One of the great pleasures of motorhome travel is heading out for the day and coming back in the evening to your cosy, well-established nest. From U Casone, there’s no shortage of excursions. Head up to Corte and the Restonica gorges for a day in the mountains. Drive south to Porto-Vecchio and the beaches of Palombaggia and Santa Giulia. Carry on to the Étang de Diane to taste oysters overlooking the lagoon. Or venture into the Fiumorbo hinterland, just a few minutes away, to breathe in the real inland Corsica.

And when evening comes, there’s no need to look for somewhere to sleep: your shady pitch is waiting for you, and so are your neighbours, while the smell of pizzas fresh from the oven drifts between the pines. That’s the quiet luxury of a motorhome well parked.

• Corte and the Restonica gorges — about 1 hr by road, a mountain atmosphere
• Porto-Vecchio, Palombaggia and Santa Giulia — just over 1 hr to the south, dream beaches
• The Étang de Diane — a few kilometres to the north, oysters and nature
• The Fiumorbo and its gorges — 30–40 min away, authentic inland Corsica
• The Pinia forest — very close by, the last great maritime pine forest on the Corsican coast

Our checklist before you set off

To get your trip off to a good start, a few simple checks before leaving the mainland: book your ferry early, especially in high season, and declare your vehicle’s dimensions accurately. Book your pitch with us, giving the length of your motorhome. Remember a European electrical adapter, a water hose and what you need to empty your tanks cleanly. And don’t forget the Corsican essentials: sun cream, shoes for the rocks, a good novel for your siesta in the shade, and the desire to slow down.

Corsica by motorhome, at your own pace

Travelling by motorhome on Corsica’s east coast combines the freedom of the nomad with the comfort of a little corner of paradise you look forward to returning to every evening. Relaxed roads, beaches within easy reach, mountains an hour away, and extensive wooded grounds where you can park your home on wheels in the shade of the pines: everything is in place for a holiday where you can finally breathe.

Here at U Casone, your motorhome has its place — a real place, wide and shady, 700 metres from the sea. All that’s left is to choose your dates and set sail.

You might also enjoy: Road trip along Corsica’s east coast: the perfect itinerary · Tent camping in Corsica: our best pitches. You’ll find all our tips on the campsite blog, and for your stay, discover our campsite in Ghisonaccia, 700 m from the sea.