Lakeside camping at Lake Annecy: the three shores, and why camping on the bank is banned
West shore, south shore, east shore: three types of lakeside campsite, from the most family-oriented to the most upmarket. And one point the tourist listings keep quiet about: a municipal order bans camping, fires and parking of vehicles you can sleep in on Annecy's public lakeshore.
Lakeside camping at Annecy does not mean a single site but three areas with different profiles: the west shore between the cycle path and the lake, the south shore with the big Doussard campsites, and the east shore, which gets more sun.
Here is what each shore offers, the best documented example in the area, Les Rives du Lac at Sevrier, and one point tourist marketing never puts forward: camping outside official sites is banned.
What are the three shores where you can camp by the lake?
- West shore (Sevrier, Saint-Jorioz): campsites between the cycle path and the lake, with direct or almost direct access to the water. Les Rives du Lac and Le Solitaire du Lac are the best documented examples.
- South shore (Doussard, Lathuile): the largest sites in the area, La Nublière and La Ravoire, with access to the lake by footpath rather than a pontoon on site.
- East shore (Talloires-Montmin): described as the “full sun” shore, with small campsites that have a private beach, such as La Chapelle Saint-Claude.
The big southern campsites are covered one by one in La Ravoire campsite at Doussard and Sandaya La Nublière campsite.
What does Les Rives du Lac, the best documented example, offer?
The campsite is open from 28 March to 3 October 2026 according to its own website, whereas the Lake Annecy tourist office lists it as open from 28 March to 4 October 2026 for the same season, one day apart between the two listings.
It has 90 pitches, 11 to 12 mobile homes and 2 equipped tents. Reception is open 9am to noon and 3pm to 6pm in low season, 9am to noon and 2pm to 6pm in high season.
- Motorhome area: €25 to €32.50 a night.
- Bungalow by the week: €473 to €850.
- Mobile home by the week: €550 to €1,103.
In high season, the boat moorings are fully booked from 19 July to 16 August, an indirect sign of how much pressure the site is under at that time.
On the west shore, hotels and campsites are easy to compare: Sevrier and Saint-Jorioz offer both, a few minutes apart. The search for accommodation in Annecy lets you compare.
Compare west-shore hotels and campsites →Partner link: booking through this link supports the site at no extra cost to you.Can you camp freely on the shore of Lake Annecy?
No, and tourist marketing does not mention it. A municipal order from the City of Annecy strictly regulates the public lakeshore, over the area from the RD1508 to Quai Eustache Chappuis, from Avenue du Petit Port to the RD909, from La Puya to Chavoires.
Camping, caravanning and parking any vehicle or equipment you can sleep in are banned there. Fires, barbecues and cooking equipment are also prohibited. Picnics are still allowed, but without setting up furniture, except for people who need it.
A “lakeside camping” experience therefore has to go through a paying campsite: no public shore can legally be used for a bivouac.
How much does a stay cost depending on the shore?
Non-institutional guides give a general range of €20 to €35 a night in low season for a standard pitch, against €40 to €70 in high season depending on the star rating and how close the site is to the lake. These figures remain orders of magnitude, not an official consolidated rate.
Dates, capacities and distances to the shore for all the lake's campsites, including the contradictions between sources on those distances, are in camping at Lake Annecy.
What isn't published about the lakeside campsites?
There are no figures on visitor numbers, occupancy rates or economic impact per campsite. The total number of campsites around the lake also varies by source, around thirty according to some guides, with no official statistic to confirm it.
User reviews sometimes mention noise from the main road for the west-shore campsites, a nuisance the official listings do not mention.
From any shore, you can enjoy the lake without bivouacking: paddleboarding, kayaking and cruises can be booked in advance. The Annecy activities page groups the options with duration and price.
See water activities on Lake Annecy →Partner link: booking through this link supports the site at no extra cost to you.Sources
Les Rives du Lac (official website, 2024-2026), Lake Annecy tourist office (Les Rives du Lac campsite listing, 2026), City of Annecy (municipal order on the lakeshore, 2026), Sandaya, campinglesolitaire.com, lachapellesaintclaude.fr.
annecy-camping-familial.com (lakeside campsites and campsites near Annecy, 2026), camping-annecy-sevrier.fr. Research compiled on 12 September 2026. No visitor data per campsite is published in the sources consulted.
Frequently asked questions
Can you wild camp on the shore of Lake Annecy?
Which shore of Lake Annecy should you choose for a campsite?
How much does Les Rives du Lac campsite in Sevrier cost?
What are the reception hours at the lakeside campsites?
Camille Perrissin
Camille grew up in Sévrier, on the west shore, and swims in the lake from April to November. She has been taking the water temperature herself since 2019 and knows where the bottom suddenly drops away. She writes about the lake without ever turning it into a postcard.
