Calais to Cap d'Agde, via Rouen or Lyon?
We are arriving in Calais at 2.40pm on Friday 11th August. Last year we drove through the night via Rouen and returned via Lyon during the day as we were staying at Saint Quentin. Does anyone have any suggestions as to the pros/cons of these routes at this time of day or any other suggestions (other than through Paris which is NOT happening!) We got lost in Rouen on a previous visit to the Dordogne and the thought of this happening while towing fills me with absolute horror!!
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Can't help you personally but this thread might help.
Hope it works first time I've added a link that might open in its own right 😉
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From Agde/Cap d'Agde we'd use the A75 to Clermont Ferrand every time. After that we've used various routes, but one suggestion is the A71 to north of Orleans, then the N154 Chartres, Dreux, Evreux, Rouen route to the A28, then all the way to Calais. Plenty of overnight stops on that route as well.
Sorry, I thought you meant coming back when I first read your post. It's the reverse of the above, ie A 16 from Calais to Abbeville, then A28 to Rouen, and it's really easy going through Rouen, keep following the signs for Evreux all the way through. After that the N154 to Chartres and after that the A71 onto the A75, then all the way south.
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Went that way in May this year. We were on the 0800 ferry, landed 1100 at Dunkerque and went south via Rouen. We normally go via the south bank of the river finding it easier to navigate the city, headed south on the N154(non toll). Stopped overnight outside of Chartres on. Camping cheque site. Continued south on non toll roads until we got on the toll free motorway at Clermont-Ferrand. Stopped overnight at St Flour, arriving at about 1600 after a 0900 start, handy site just off the motorway, ascii site. Short drive next day to the coast. Coming back we retraced our path up the toll free A75. Left about 0830. Off the motorway at clermont to Vichy, overnight at camping cheque site arrived about 1530. Left next morning about 0900, north via Nevers, auxerre and overnight outside Troys arriving about 1530. Next day back to dunkerque through Chalons, Reims, St Quentin. Overnighted at dunkerque, chateau du Gandspette then 1000 ferry home. Only toll roads we used was the one from Boulogne to Abbeville and the Millau bridge. We went through the town of millau on the way back as was in No hurry and didn't want to pay the €12 toll again, only saved me 1/2 hour anyway.Only busy spots were Clermont and Reims but kept moving.
going around Rouen using a sat nav put a way point on the south bank to get it to route you that way, easy off the motorway a short distance off the dual carriageway then over the river and straight forward. (https://goo.gl/maps/Nsgiu92ubxk).
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This question comes up many times and I will mention some of my previous comments as they are contrary to other people's.
The route via Rouen is the cheapest as there are toll free Autoroutes for large parts. My biggest problem is the section from Rouen to Chartres which both of us hate. It is slow with many lorries and few stopping places. We will not do it again and might even risk Paris. Once you get beyond Chartres it's fine and there are lots of overnight stops including Millau which is a nice town and avoids the bridge toll. Have rarely been South that way so can't advise how to negotiate Rouen BUT, going North you must stay on a the Autoroute including a short toll section until you see the Calais sign. This takes you over the river and is a good and well signposted route.
The Lyon route is very fast all the way but you have to decide whether to follow the signposted route which takes you about 25 miles extra around Lyon. It depends on the time of day. Going South is usually better going direct through Lyon but we have been stuck going North. You could stay at the site close to Lyon which is next to the cheap public transport and spend a day in Lyon which is well worth a visit.
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Hi Brommie,
My strong advice would be to use the Rouen/A75 route and to avoid Lyon at all costs.
We returned from France last weekend after a fortnight in Burgundy. While we were there, the traffic news regularly featured traffic jams in Lyon as the ‘Perepherique Nord’ is closed for July and August causing horrendous jams for the Fougere Tunnel on the A6 through the centre. If you do go that way, you must use the A46/N346/A46 outer bypass to the East, Also, if you look at the Bison Fute app or website, the weekend you will be travelling is shown as red/black (very congested) on the Saturday.
Rouen should now be straightforward. We normally use the route along the right bank of the Seine. After descending through the tunnel on the A28 (watch for the 70km/hr speed limit well in advance, as well as through, the tunnel) follow the turn off marked by the green signs to Evreux and Vernon. It takes you off to the right and then you turn left at traffic lights and then keep straight on (D6015), which eventually runs alongside the Seine. After 15km, you join the A13 towards Paris and then take the A154, which becomes the N154 towards Evreux, Chartres and Orleans. I agree with Hitchglitch that there are few stopping places along the N154, but there is a reasonable Aire just before you get to the N12 at Nonancourt. However, we have not found this route congested, except for the stretch along the N12 from Nonancourt to Dreux.
There is a good campsite for an overnight (or more) near Nogent Le Roi, which is Camping Les Ilots de St Val (entered under Maintenon in the CMC guide). This is easily accessed from the N154 by taking the D26 towards Nogent and then using the new bypass, which circles the southwest of the town towards Maintenon.
Have a good trip and enjoy France.
Cheers
Paul R T
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I have watched debates re Rouen ever since one of the main bridges was shut for 2 years which disrupted traffic but now open. Even without this, I also found Rouen a nightmare and it is essential to be very wary of a sat nav taking you through a quicker but very stressful route for a caravan. Some routes also have the carriageway dividing whereby cars can take an underground pass but the warnings are very late and easy for us towing to end up in the entrance.
After such an experience I plotted a route north which went via Yvetot. Adds 20 mins to the journey but is a delightful drive through countryside on good class roads with nil stress and suited me as I have an overnight stop and a lovely site in Le Bec-Hellouin. I haven't done Valdas route but have also seen plenty of posts from people who have and recommend
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If you fancy something a bit different and aren't too pushed for time, we have done the route - A26(toll) - Calais, Reims. Troyes, N151, D977 - Auxerre, Nevers, N77- ,Moulins, D2009 joining A71 (toll) C.Ferrand (free after C.F). I don't like Rouen or Lyon for routes, preferring quieter N or D roads which although make a longer route often don't seem to take much more time and certainly are less stressful. Good luck whichever way you go
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There is no problem with Lyon if you use the outer ring road which, in any case, is the signposted route and is toll free. I only mention going straight through Lyon as many French people choose that route to avoid the extra distance. Have used the peripherique but can't se the point as the traffic is variable and you might as well risk going straight through the middle.
Concernng Rouen, definitely you need to ignore the SatNav and follow the through signs. Coming North this year the robot kept telling us to turn off on to the South bank whereas crossing the river was very fast and signposted CALAIS in VERY BIG LETTERS. Going South, take the advice in this thread.
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