Once you join the A9 after entering France, you will find a series of luxurious rest areas known as “Aires de...”.

They offer free access to large parking areas, tables and benches, coffee and food vending machines, recycling bins separated by type, public toilets, and at some locations, electric vehicle charging points.

Some of them are combined with petrol stations, which are usually very spacious and offer a wide range of products and services.

All of these rest areas have plenty of trees and shade, making them truly an oasis along the road.

We also saw several trucks and motorhomes parked there. However, we cannot confirm that these are designated overnight parking areas, although some vehicles appeared to have stayed overnight.

These Aires are available both when travelling to and from Spain. We also found rest areas on smaller local roads, with fewer services but everything a traveller needs: plenty of shade and tables where you can stop and have something to eat.