👍 At a glance:
- Best for: Grown-up campers who want peace, good drainage and easy tram access
- Avoid if: You want to be close to the pits, village or grandstands on foot
- Vibe: Civilised and relaxed — race fans over party animals
- Distance to village: Walk or tram — 10–15 min to tram stop
- Noise level: Low — music generally off before midnight
- Likelihood to sell out: Easier to get than Houx
- Ideal for: Experienced Le Mans fans who value a good night's sleep
- Generally flat, well drained and civilised — one of the better kept sites
- Distance to viewing spots is the main drawback — plan your walking routes
- Toilet blocks are on the edges of the site — can be a trek from the middle
- Access road is gravel race track — cars get dusty in dry weather, mucky in wet
- 👉 If you want peace and a well-run site, Hippodrome delivers
- 👉 If you need to be close to the action on foot, look at Houx instead
🧠 Camper profile
Typical crowd:
- Grown-up, civilised race fans
- Experienced Le Mans regulars
- Couples and small groups who prioritise sleep
- Motorhome owners who appreciate a flat, well-drained pitch
- Party crowd or first-timers chasing atmosphere
- Anyone who wants to walk everywhere without using the tram
📍 Location
- Outside the circuit, south side
- Close to:
- Tram stop and Mulsanne bus — 10–15 min walk
- Epinettes campsite — circuit access via Epinettes entrance next to Houx
- V&B Cave — almost exclusive access to the best beer selection in town
- Far from:
- Village and pits on foot — use the tram
- Main grandstands — plan ahead
🚶 Getting around
- Village: tram or bus — 10–15 min to stop, then a short ride
- Circuit entrance: via Epinettes — easy on foot or bike
- Houx entrance: 5–10 min walk
- Mulsanne: bus from nearby stop
🔊 Noise & atmosphere
- Evenings: relaxed — a few camps with music but nothing excessive
- Night: very few playing loud music, and those that do turn it down before midnight
- Overall: one of the quieter ACO sites — you will actually sleep
🚿 Facilities
- Toilets and showers: clean and well maintained temporary blocks
- Blocks are on the edges of the site — can be a walk from central pitches
- Showers at Epinettes (2 min walk) also accessible with short queues if you avoid peak times
- No electric hook-up
- Well drained — good in wet weather unlike some other sites
👍 Pros
- Peaceful and civilised — genuinely good for sleep
- Flat and well drained — good in all weather
- Tram and Mulsanne bus nearby
- Circuit access via Epinettes is quick and easy
- Almost exclusive access to V&B Cave — best beer selection in town
- Easy to find on arrival, quick to exit on Sunday evening
- Quite a long walk to any viewing spots without the tram
- No electric hook-up
- No shade — no trees on site
- Access road is gravel race track — dusty or muddy depending on weather
- Toilet blocks on the edge of site — central pitches have a trek to facilities
🧭 Verdict
If you want a calm, well-run base camp with easy tram access:
👉 Hippodrome is quietly one of the best kept secrets at Le Mans
It won't win prizes for atmosphere, but it's flat, well drained, civilised, and the tram makes the distance manageable. If you've done BSJ or Houx and want something more relaxed, this is the upgrade.
🔄 Alternatives (based on what you want)
- Want better walking access → Houx
- Want more atmosphere → Beausejour
- Want trackside → Mulsanne / Arnage
💡 Top Tips for Hippodrome
- Use the tram — it transforms the site's location from a weakness to a non-issue.
- Try the Epinettes showers — 2 min walk, shorter queues than the main blocks.
- Get to V&B Cave early in the week — the best selection goes before Saturday.
- If you're in the middle of the site, note where your nearest toilet block is before it's dark and urgent.
- Arrive early to pick a pitch closer to the tram stop end of the site.
- Bring something to cover the car — the gravel access road throws up a lot of dust in dry weather.
- Bike recommended — circuit access via Epinettes is very easy on two wheels.
🏆 Beermountain Special Award
Almost exclusive access to V&B Cave — widely considered the best selection of beers available at Le Mans. Get there before Saturday for the full range.
★
Our Ratings — Hippodrome
| Category | Rating | Comments |
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Photos, maps and member reviews
Review by J17, 2026
I've used Hippodrome the last couple of years (having used Houx/Maison Blanche/Bleu Nord/Bleu Sud over the years). Generally flat, well drained and civilised, just a bit of a walk to any action. Security is the usual, with a slight advantage of being so out-of-the-way. Toilets are the usual clean and tidy temporary blocks, just on the edges of the site so can be a bit of a stroll if you're right in the middle. Very few camps playing loud music and those that do tend to turn it right down before midnight. More race fans than party animals. Pros: Peaceful and civilised, well drained site with a private path up to the tram and access to the circuit via Epinettes. Cons: Quite a long walk to any viewing spots. While the campsite is good both wet and dry, access is via the gravel race track so cars get either dusty or mucky driving in and out. Close by: Tram/Mulsanne bus 10–15 min. Houx entrance 5–10 min.
Review by Stuart D, 2026
I was on Hippodrome last year — the smaller pitches where you park on the sand track oval and pitch tents on the grass oval, with a very short walk between the two. Access to the track on foot or by bike is via Epinettes and then the circuit entrance next to Houx. Very easy. No electric, no shade from any trees. Toilet blocks were fine and the closest showers for us were in Epinettes (2 min walk) with short waiting times if you avoid the peaks. Overall it was very good value. A few party tents but very much the minority. Easy to find on arrival and quick to exit on Sunday evening. No security concerns if you follow basic common sense.
