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Conseils pratiques

Pont d’Arc: parking, shuttle and beach

By Le Mas d'Eylieux teamPublished on Updated on 3 min

To see the Pont d'Arc, prepare the parking lot, the shuttle ride and the beach separately. Their calendars are not identical. As of October 6 2026, the seasonal paid parking, shuttle and surveillance periods shown here have ended. Consult the announcements for the year of your stay and compare visiting periods in Ardèche.

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Parking rates published for 2026

The community of communes publishes a paid range of 10:00 to 19:30 for the Méandre and Belvédère du Pont d'Arc car parks, for the 2026 season. Its publication contains a discrepancy: the text announces an end to 27 September, while the table mentions a range from 4 April to 28 September and free access from 28 September. For a visit at the end of the season, the on-site display or confirmation from the community must specify the last paying day. The first two hours cost €0,80 per quarter hour; then, 0,90 €.

Here is the calculation for a duration entirely included in the paid range, in full quarter hours:

Time on site Calculated cost
1 time 3,20 €
2 hours 6,40 €
4 hours 13,60 €

Check the display on site, especially at the end of the season. Use the parking lots and routes provided: stopping on the road to take a photo is not a parking solution.

The shuttle is free, the departure parking has its price

The leaflet 2026 plans a shuttle between the Vallon bus station and the Pont d'Arc on certain dates from 4 April to 27 September. The service is daily during certain periods and limited to weekends during others.

The bus station–tourist office car park has its own pricing: during the 2026 paid period, the first half hour is free, then each quarter of an hour costs 0,50 €. So add this parking to the budget, even if transportation is free.

Check the timetable and the last return before leaving the car in Vallon. A summer shuttle does not guarantee any fall departures.

See the arch and choose the beach

The publication on monitored beaches ad for Pont d'Arc Amont monitoring from 2 July to 30 August 2026, from 12:30 to 18:30. This concerns this perimeter and these times, not the entire river. The period ends on the date this article is updated.

Obey signs, check the conditions of the day and prefer supervised areas when they are open. Supervise children at all times and do not jump from rocks, bridges or cliffs. The current, the passage of canoes and the obstacles cannot be judged by the appearance of the water alone. The swimming rules detail these preparations. For another output, compare the controlled beaches of South Ardèche.

Canoes on the Ardèche at the foot of the Pont d’Arc arch
At Pont d’Arc, canoes and swimmers share the river sector.

Chauvet 2 and Pont d’Arc in the same day

You can combine a visit to Chauvet 2 and a stop to see the arch. Start by booking the guided departure, then add travel and parking margin: our Chauvet guide 2 specifies the requested arrival.

If you want to paddle, choose the canoe course and its reservation on another day. Since the Mas gîtes in Saint-Montan, plan the return without imposing a swim on the program. The village of Saint-Montan can take up another day. For dates and accommodation, contact Pascale.

Practical questions

Does the free shuttle mean parking is free?

No. The car park used from Vallon has its own dates and prices. View them separately from the shuttle schedule.

Is Pont d’Arc beach supervised all year round?

No. Publication 2026 concerns Pont d'Arc Amont from 2 July to 30 August, from 12:30 to 18:30. For another stay, consult the announcements of the year and local signs.

To check the information and prepare for your visit

Message Pascale