France has practically elevated the “aire” along the autoroute to an art form—as every camper knows. The Swiss ANWB conducted a thorough investigation of rest areas in France, Italy, Spain, and their own country. Their German colleagues examined the rest areas along the Autobahn.
The TCS—short for Touring Club Suisse, also known as Schweiz or Switzerland—surveyed rest areas along highways leading to Southern European vacation destinations both this year and in 2025. The study focused particularly on amenities for campers. To start with the good news: the “aires” in France came out on top in the test. Many rest areas have a theme, are architecturally designed, and blend into the landscape. In general, there are good facilities and entertainment for all ages—think of playground equipment and baby-changing stations, as well as fast-charging stations for electric cars and service points for RVs, such as those for disposing of wastewater and refilling with fresh water.
German Autobahn
Incidentally, our German colleagues at the TCS and ANWB also conducted a similar test in their own country this year, focusing primarily on so-called unstaffed rest areas without gas stations. The results along the Autobahn turned out to be downright dismal, as half failed to meet the requirements, and in 62% of cases, the restrooms were broken, dirty, or unsafe. So it’s best to keep driving, although the highway authority, in collaboration with the German government, has now come up with an action plan. A new, standardized restroom unit has been developed that will be rolled out over the coming years and will definitely be cleaned more frequently. At locations with a gas station, you’ll usually find Sanifair restrooms, where you do have to pay, but you also receive a voucher for a discount on coffee.
Best rest stops in France
In the 2026 Swiss survey of Southern Europe, the entire top 10 list of best rest areas consists of locations in France. In fact, no less than 86% of all “aires” surveyed there received 4 or 5 stars. This year’s big winners are the Besançon rest area in the direction of Mulhouse, Macon la Salle in the direction of Dijon, and Bolleville in the direction of Le Havre. Last year, the Village Catalan rest area on the A9 toward Spain took top honors, thanks to its excellent infrastructure. Among other things, you’ll find two waste disposal stations for RVs, a lovely picnic area, a playground, a soccer and volleyball field, a small church, a camping supply store, regional products, and modern charging stations. The Montélimar Est rest area on the A7 toward Lyon impresses with, among other things, large green spaces, numerous shaded picnic areas, a dog park, a climbing wall, and a playground.
Rest stops in Spain score lower
These are exceptions in France, but you should drive right past the rest areas at St. Augustin La Grau toward Marseille and Bougenais toward Bordeaux. Both rest areas ranked at the very bottom in 2025 and 2026. Among the countries surveyed, Spain brings up the rear; many rest areas there offer only basic parking facilities, are partly poorly maintained, and are poorly lit. Restroom hygiene varies, and litter is often a problem. According to the TCS, Spanish rest areas are particularly problematic for campers with dogs: few walking areas, little shade, and no trash cans for dog waste. In 2025, only Area de Monsenyt on the AP-7 toward Barcelona achieved a score of over 50%, and this year an even better spot was found: La Caridad along the highway to Gijón (score 63%).
Portugal and Switzerland
This year marked the first time Swiss experts visited Portugal. The 17 Portuguese rest areas surveyed scored significantly better than those in neighboring Spain, with the food and beverage offerings and fast-charging facilities standing out in particular. Last year, the testing team was highly critical of the quality of rest areas in their own country, where there is a particular lack of designated parking spaces and facilities for RVs and trailers. Nevertheless, La Côte Lac (between Geneva and Lausanne), Neuenkirch West toward Lucerne, and Kemptthal toward St. Gallen achieved scores well above 80%. The rest areas at Prattein Nord and Süd (between Brugg and Winterthur) and Weinland toward Zurich proved to be well below par and really intended only for refueling.
No playground equipment
The 2025 test also included 33 rest areas along Italian highways, and the experiences there proved to be mixed. Some rest areas have special zones for RVs, and modern fast chargers stand alongside outdated charging stations or substandard installations. It’s generally a good place for dogs to hang out along Italy’s highways, but children, on the other hand, won’t find any playground equipment at the locations surveyed. The Sillaro Ovest rest area heading toward Rimini scored by far the highest at 87%, but if you’re approaching the Foglia Ovest rest area on your way to Bari… keep your foot on the gas, because the score here was a dismal 11%.
