Pointe du Hoc
Cricqueville-en-Bessin, France
A headland still pitted with bomb craters and shattered bunkers, where US Rangers climbed the cliffs on 6 June 1944. Stay on the marked paths, the cliff edge is eroding.
The headland of Pointe du Hoc juts into the English Channel with a cliff 30 to 35 m high. In 1943 the Germans built a battery there for six French 155 mm guns dating from the First World War; concrete casemates and an observation bunker followed. On 6 June 1944 elements of the 2nd Ranger Battalion under Lt. Col. James Rudder scaled the cliff. The guns had already been removed; the Rangers found five of them nearby and destroyed their firing mechanisms.
The site, about 13 hectares in area, is still pockmarked with bomb craters. A granite monument stands at the cliff edge. Since 1979 the land has been in American care. Keep to the marked paths; according to the ABMC the platform on top of the observation bunker has been closed since August 2024 (as of October 2026). One to two hours is enough; for access and times see the ABMC website.
- Nearest town
- Cricqueville-en-Bessin, France
- Category
- History & culture
- GPS
- 49.3963, -0.9893
- Editor's pick
- ★
Hours, fees and access change. Confirm with the operator or park before you go.
Good to know
Best time to go
The most pleasant months are usually May–September. Still fine, with some compromises, in April and October. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)
Getting there
- France: Motorway tolls. Tolls on most autoroutes; the limit drops to 110 km/h in rain. Motorway limit for cars: 130 km/h.
Sources
Featured in these trip guides
Nearby
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Campsites nearby
- Camping Omaha BeachCampsite6 km from Pointe du HocTentsCaravansMotorhomesElectricityDrinking waterShowersToiletsWaste disposalWi-Fi
- La Ferme du LavoirCampsite9 km from Pointe du Hoc · 10 pitchesTentsCaravansMotorhomesElectricityDrinking waterWaste disposalWi-Fi
- Sous Les PommiersCampsite11 km from Pointe du Hoc · 66 pitchesTentsCaravansElectricityDrinking waterShowersToiletsWaste disposalDogs allowed
- Aire de camping-cars communale d'Isigny-sur-MerMotorhome stopover12 km from Pointe du HocMotorhomesElectricityDrinking waterWaste disposalDogs allowedFree
- Camping la baie des VeysCampsite14 km from Pointe du HocTentsCaravansElectricityDrinking waterShowersToiletsWaste disposal
- Port'LandCampsite17 km from Pointe du HocTentsCaravansElectricityDrinking waterShowersToiletsWaste disposalDogs allowed
All campsites in France · Campsite data: © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL 1.0 · Updated October 3, 2026
FAQs
Where is Pointe du Hoc?
Pointe du Hoc is in Cricqueville-en-Bessin, France, at GPS 49.3963, -0.9893. It is about 24 km from Sainte-Mère-Église.
Can you camp near Pointe du Hoc?
Yes. The nearest campsite listed in OpenStreetMap is Camping Le Pont du Hable, about 2 km away; within 25 km there are 54 campsites and motorhome stopovers.
Which road trips pass Pointe du Hoc?
Pointe du Hoc is a stop on these CampingSpirit trip guides: Normandy’s D-Day beaches.
What is there to see near Pointe du Hoc?
Places worth a stop nearby: Normandy American Cemetery (11 km), Utah Beach Museum (14 km), Arromanches Mulberry harbour (27 km) and Pegasus Bridge (55 km).
When is the best time to visit Pointe du Hoc?
The most pleasant months are usually May–September. Still fine, with some compromises, in April and October. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)