How far south can we get from Calais in August?
Hi we are travelling to the South of France (Montpellier area) on friday 4th August with our caravan. We're giving ourselves 2 stopovers to break up the journey as we'll have our 6 year old daughter with us. We had thought to just drive and drive and stop
at an Aire to bed down and then continue early the next day but I'm think it would be better to book a campsite just so the journey becomes part of the holiday experience for our daughter. Bearing in mind it's the first weekend in August (tres busy!) do you
think we would be able to make it as far as Orleans going via Rouen if we left Calais around 10.30am? Or is that a bit optimistic? We've heard the traffic can be horrendous that weekend. Another option is to stop around Chartres. We'd like to travel around
6 hours and then stop around 4.30 ish to give our daughter some run around and play time. Any advice would be much appreciated as we'd need to book a campsite in advance. Our second stop would be around Millau as I've read other posts that says that is a
good 2nd stopover before reaching the south. TIA
Comments
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It all dpends on traffic which is always an unknown quantity. It is unfortunate that you are starting from Calals as that makes the number of driving miles so much greater and trtaffic is busier in N.E, France than it is the West. I must confess to a little
bias as we prefer crossing to Roscoff which is, of course, the other extreme. When we were younger - I mean 40's - we used to do 300 miles in a day in France. Now - 70's - we prefer to do less than 200.0 -
Calais to Orleans via Rouen is around 280 miles which if towing might take you a bit more than 6 hours, allowing for breaks and heavy traffic. Equally, if you are prepared to press on and get a clear run, it's doable.
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Definitely doable and a great site to stay at is Chateau des Marais. We are stopping here mid august on route to the med.
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Yes Orleans doable in a day. However, you may meet horrendous problems on the Saturday as I suspect this is a BLACK WEEKEND when the whole of France is on the move (a change over weekend)! But in principle Orleans to Millau also ok. Good luck.
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I would think it is doable but not in 6 hours, particularly with a young child. Traffic on a busy weekend can move at a snails pace in France. If you have to use the toll booths rather than a tag, this will add extra time. When we were younger we often did
400 miles in a day with a trailer. However, now find 200 our limit. Personally if I was aiming for a booked site I would look at Chartres.0 -
As you are planning to drive for about six hours over there I presume you are stopping near Dover for the night so would it be possible to get an earlier ferry? We like to get on the road before the others get started so that we have a clear run for the
first couple of hours.0 -
we did calais to agde one year in one go,stopped lots of times.would never do again,there again we were 20yrs younger.
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We have done this run many times and only once had some difficulty getting through Rouen. Orleans is possible but a bit unlikely in 6 hours during an August weekend however. 7 hours would be more realistic.
Your satnav will want to take you around Paris but I would definitely would avoid Paris in August and for Orleans go through Rouen and Dreaux. Is there any particular reason for choosing Orleans? For the south west we would normally aim for Le Mans.
Finally do not book anything inland. We always just travel in France, take the Caravan Club book and find a camping municipal when we want to stop. When towing my limit is about 300 miles in a day but I know that many people travel much further. Above
all, relax, take your time, don't rush and enjoy your holiday!0 -
I wold advise very strongly against any driving on the first Saturday in August - it is horrendus with many traffic jams unless you can keep well away from motorways. The French Bison Fute website gives some very good advice on predicted traffic densities
on French motorways wihich you may find useful.0 -
Personally I wouldn't go that way, although I have done it. Fastest is straight down the Autoroute A26, Reims, Lyon. We used to get the "midnight ferry" from Dover and stop at an Aire one hour south from Calais. From their, first stop Sennecy-le-grand then
you can get to the south next day.You will hit traffic but the northern part should be fine. When you get towards Lyon follow the signs to Marseille which take you around the outer loop (free Autoroute). Don't try and go straight through Lyon when it's busy; you might never come out the
other side!0 -
If you are travelling south through Rouen towards Orleans then a suitable overnight could be the municiple at St Remy sur Arve (near Nonancourt in the overseas guide). It is about 4 1/2 hours from Calais on reasonable roads with only the bit through Rouen a potential holdup at busy times. The last couple of miles getting into St Remy can also be a pain if you arrive at the teatime rush but if you leave Calais at 10.30ish then you should have no dificulties
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I cannot stress too much the problems the OP could face travelling through France on the first weekend in August. I used to live there (near Beziers) and there was no way we went anywhere on that weekend, 30k+ holdups are not unusual. If you must travel
that weekend avoid the Paris area at all costs, Lyon should also be a no go area. A night drive may be a little easier, but with kids? Rouen, Orleans, Clermont Ferrand, A75 then to Montpellier is the route I would recommend and allow for 2 night stops -
stopping about 4 - 5 pm to ensure a place.0 -
Apart from the fact you have been told how bad the traffic is that W/E, you mention stopping at an Aire, they are for Motor homes not caravans.
Towed caravans can stay on any Autoroute Aire overnight. Many people are concerned about security; all I can say is that we did it every year for many years with two young children and never felt insecure or saw any problems. It's a goof option if you have
a late crossing as there are not many sites where you can turn up at 1.00 to 2 am.0 -
Personally, I would go with Hitchglitch's route. My difference is that I would cross Dover/Calais in the late evening and do an overnight drive. I understand that this would not be everyone's cup of tea, but the roads would be quieter and the youngster would be asleep in the back of the car and you would avoid the 'are we nearly there yet' syndrome. However, you need to be really honest with yourself about whether or not you are able to cope with this. Don't put yourself and others in danger by 'falling asleep at the wheel'. If you are an insomniac, like me, then it's a good way to travel.
David
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As noted the Bison Fute site gives you all the details you need about traveling in France in the summer
http://www.bison-fute.gouv.fr/calendrier-bison-fute,10375,langen.html
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We travelled the route in August the OP is asking about last year with two children and had a good trip. I would think leaving Calais at about 10.30 is a little to late to arrive in good time for a first night stop. We left Calais at about 9am after being
delayed at the Tunnel, and arrived at our first stop, Le Chateau des Marais, an excellent site at about 5pm that was with some nice stops on the way. We also travelled on the so called Black Saturday, which was very busy, ok if you have a Tag, so no waiting
at the tolls with everyone else. The service areas though are also very busy, so it's a lot of driving in and out of them to try to find a space but hey it's part of the trip. The next stop on the way south I can recommend is Les Rivges, at Milau, again we
did this in about 6 hours. From there you have three or four hours the next day and your in the sunshine south! We are again doing the same trip this year saying at same sites on the way to La Brasilia, can't wait.Enjoy your trip, book ahead, leave early!
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We have taken the route suggested when we have travelled to Agde in the South of France.
It would take us between 5 to 6 hours to arrive at Chartres via Rouen. We would overnight at Chartres and leave early the following morning.
We once did it over a weekend in August (never again), the traffic towards Orleans was horrendous. However past Orleans it became better. If you leave very early from Chartres you may miss the worst of it.
We would then stop over again at St Flour where there is a convenient night halt just off the autoroute,Camping International Roche Murat . The following morning we would move onto Agde. The last part of the journey not being so long.
Enjoy your holiday, the route you are considering is a pleasant one, especially over the Massif Central.
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I agree with Mistrom - that s a lovely route and the site at St Flour is a good choice. But really DONT travel on French motorways on the first Saturday in August - it will ruin the start of your holiday as there is a great likelyhood of trafic jams, accidents
and delays.0 -
Yes it is a lovely route, and yes it will be busy that weekend.
But if you absolutely MUST travel at that time then start on the all-motorway route which Hitchglitch outlined two days ago, carry a site guide and be prepared to pull off and find an unplanned campsite if the going gets sticky. And maybe cut across from Chalons sur Saone to Clermont Ferrand to miss Lyon altogether. Good luck.
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