The aim of this work was to study the effects of stocking rate and outdoor access on the spatial distribution, the reactivity to a new environment, behaviour and performance of growing rabbits between 31 (D31) and 73 days of life. Two hundred and ninety nine weaned rabbits were distributed into four groups according to a 2 × 2 factorial design including the access (O group) or not (N group) to an outdoor range of 23.2 m² and the indoor stocking rate (high or low: 17 or 9 rabbits / m²; H or L groups, respectively), leading to 4 groups: OH (n=100), NH (n=99), OL (n=50) and NL (n=50). Every week, live weight and health status were checked on each rabbit. The rabbits' behaviour was assessed at D57 and D71 at 07h00, 14h00 and 19h00. Reactivity to a new environment (access to the range) was assessed during 20 min at D34, D51 and D62. Stocking rate had no effect on mortality, however outdoor access tended to increase mortality rate (7.3 vs 2.7 %, P<0.10). Average daily weight gain was higher in N compared to the O groups (+3.6 g/day; P<0.001) and L compared to H groups (+1.2 g/day; P<0.05). The latency time for the rabbits to access outdoor area for the first time increased with age (50 seconds at D34 against 10 min at D62; P<0.001), without effect of stocking rate. Regarding activity and space use, rabbits were more often active in the outdoor area than in the indoor pens (39% vs 18% at D57, P<0.001, and 34% vs 21% at D71, P<0.05). Stocking rate did not impact behaviour traits measured at D57 and D71. In conclusion, outdoor access increased the diversity of the behavioural repertoire of growing rabbits, but slightly reduced health status and growth without interaction with stocking rate.