The Rhône is an exceptional river for pleasure boating, stretching from the Swiss border to the Mediterranean, through three regions of France and over several hundred kilometres. Here’s a closer look at the marinas on the Rhône, to make your next river trip as comfortable as possible.
Marinas on the Rhône
The river route allows boaters to discover the riches of France’s heritage and explore breathtaking landscapes.
There are a number of marinas and stopping places along the Rhône, managed by the CNR (Compagnie Nationale du Rhône), the CCI (Chamber of Commerce and Industry), local authorities and sometimes local organisations.
These ports and rest areas are located all along the river, offering easy access to the towns and areas concerned.
The advantages of marinas
Thanks to their strategic location, the river stops and marinas on the Rhône often enjoy excellent access from the main roads and sometimes even from the railway lines.
What’s more, these marinas and river ports offer facilities tailored to the needs of yachtsmen, making their stay easier.
Finally, from Lyon, Beaucaire or Arles, for example, links with other canals, ports and rivers enable yachtsmen to sail to other regions of France, to rivers leading to Europe and to the Mediterranean coast(Canal du Rhône à Sète, Canal d’Arles à Bouc) or the Atlantic (Canal du Midi).
Marina services and facilities
The marinas on the Rhône River offer a wide range of services and facilities, which vary from place to place.
These include :
- secure moorings
- sanitary facilities,water supply and access toelectricity
- refuelling services
- inland waterways andtourist information points
- nearby shops to meet all yachtsmen’s needs.
Business opportunities in ports
The marinas on the Rhône offer a variety of activities to suit all tastes.
These include boat competitions (rowing, jousting, sailing or motoring), nautical festivals and themed cruises on the river. These events and activities attract thousands of visitors every year.
Each port also offers a range of sporting and cultural activities to suit all ages and interests: parks and nature reserves, greenways, museums, historic sites, etc.
Navigating the Rhône: practical advice
Accessible for most of its course, the Rhône River nevertheless has non-navigable or low-gauge waterways on the upper Rhône, in its delta and on the canals that branch off from it.
If you want to sail on the Rhône, it’s important to get all the information you need before you set off:
- accessibility according to the size of your boat
- toll and lock tariffs
- booking arrangements at marinas and rest areas
- opening and closing times navigation conditions (weather, flooding*, works, etc.).
It is also advisable to consult a tourist map of the Rhône* and the river signs to ensure safe navigation.
Maps of marinas on the Rhône
And to make your future boating trip easier, here are a few maps of the river stops and marinas. They complement the digital and paper versions of the navigation maps of the Rhône river.
Map of stops and ports from Lyon to the Mediterranean
- Towns and kilometre points (KP) :
- Extract from the map of France’s waterways:
- Detailed interactive map: ports, stopping places, locks and dams along the Rhône :
List of marinas on the Rhône
Here is a non-exhaustive list of some of the marinas and stopping places along the Rhône:
- Lyon-Confluence river station
- Les Roches-Condrieu marina
- Tournon-sur-Rhône marina
- Épervière marina in Valence
- Beaucaire marina
- Bellegarde marina
- River stopover inArles
- Port-Saint-Louis-du-Rhône marina
The Rhône is an essential waterway for pleasure boating, offering unique opportunities for discovery and adventure. Its modern, well-equipped ports allow you to take full advantage of the cultural and natural treasures offered by this majestic river.
In addition to its hydroelectric uses and industrial ports, pleasure boating on the Rhône is a booming economic and tourist asset.
Travel+
- Destination: Rhône Valley
- Rhône and Mediterranean flood warning system
- Map of river tourism on the Rhône
- Territories, towns, and villages crossed by the Rhône
- Map of the Rhône River and its tributaries
- By bike: ViaRhôna and Route du Rhône
- Where to stay along the Rhône River?
- IGN maps: Rhône Valley