Spanish Roads

RayJJ
RayJJ Forum Participant Posts: 13

Has anyone used the A23 between Taragoza and Valencia ?  Is it a good road as an alternative to the AP2 and AP7?  If so, it would cut off quite a chunk of mileage.

Comments

  • peedee
    peedee Club Member Posts: 9,389 ✭✭✭
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    edited October 2017 #2

    Yes I use it most years and it is an excellent free autoroute all the way.

    peedee

  • JimE
    JimE Club Member Posts: 353
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    edited October 2017 #3

    Used the A23 in January this year.  Dual carriageway with smooth gradients and hardly any traffic.  Lots of fuel stations with good access for larger vehicles and plenty of parking for longer outfits.

  • RayJJ
    RayJJ Forum Participant Posts: 13
    edited October 2017 #4

    Thanks JimE and peedee. Most helpful.

  • young thomas
    young thomas Club Member Posts: 11,357 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited October 2017 #5

    seconded....we came back (from Benicassim) this way, our usual route) three weeks ago (lifetimefrown) and the road is virtuslly empty, loads of fuel stations, dual carriageway with good surface....(how it should be done!)....

    we were heading for Irun so had to navigate Zaragosa ring road and here (and for about 20km to the west) the traffic was a lot more dense.

    then thinned out again after that and quiet all the way to Pamplona.

  • MichaelB28
    MichaelB28 Forum Participant Posts: 16
    edited October 2017 #6

    This road puts UK motor ways and dual carriageways to shame. As stated by all before a real good route to Valencia. Used it end of August and going back on it in a weeks time up to Santander.

  • RayJJ
    RayJJ Forum Participant Posts: 13
    edited October 2017 #7

    Thanks everyone.  I feel completely reassured following your responses.  Also how much I agree about the UK roads.  I mistakenly thought that we were one of the wealthy European nations.  It certainly isn’t reflected in our highway system.

  • David2115
    David2115 Forum Participant Posts: 547
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    edited October 2017 #8

    Spanish roads put ours to shame 

  • Unknown
    Unknown Forum Participant
    edited October 2017 #9
    The user and all related content has been Deleted User
  • cyberyacht
    cyberyacht Forum Participant Posts: 10,218
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    edited October 2017 #10

    The Spanish road system is superb. Some of the camino rurals make up for it though.

  • Billyc
    Billyc Forum Participant Posts: 64
    edited November 2017 #11

    This one for Boleroboy; after Pamplona do you take the A15 or the 121 up to Irun?

    BillC

  • young thomas
    young thomas Club Member Posts: 11,357 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited November 2017 #12

    Hi Bill, yes we use the N121a....its a fine road....a few twists and turns, and predominantly downhill....following the river....we pulled in on the off chance at Repsol Legasa Norte (for a cuppa) and you can take the footpath ot the back of the carpark and down into the village of Narbarte, just for 10/20 mins fresh air....

    if you're stopping in Irun, we use the carpark/aire adjacent to Supermarket Venta Sol. Always plenty of vans there to share with..

    Sorry, tried to post a googlemaps link but failed dismally....frown

  • Billyc
    Billyc Forum Participant Posts: 64
    edited November 2017 #13

    Hi BB, thanks for that, good info.     Our next trip is to Beni in mid-Feb so looking forward to that.     I will be following your route except that we will stay at a campsite in Nantes instead of the Aire

    BillC

  • Bandits
    Bandits Forum Participant Posts: 22
    edited November 2017 #14

    Use it every January & May-great road and cleared of snow very quickly if any about. Bit windy around Teruel but easy road with plenty of fuel/parking as others have said-and it's free!!

    If you want to break your journey south, when you get near to Valencia  Valencia Camper park is a really useful overnight stop or longer if you want to see Valencia the facilities are very good, open all year, near to A7 and takes Caravans as well as Motorhomes.

    Mike

  • young thomas
    young thomas Club Member Posts: 11,357 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited November 2017 #15

    in April, we came back this way after a spring trip down to Almeria a d actually stayed overnight (on the aire) in Teruel...we found it a very interesting place...smile

  • Philnffc
    Philnffc Forum Participant Posts: 317
    edited November 2017 #16

    Hi Kontikiboy

    Are they not one and the same the campsite and aire in Nantes, the aire is situated at the front of the campsite and they make Motorhomes stay there. By the way i always use the AP15 not the 121 just my preferred route back home.

     

    Phil

     

  • young thomas
    young thomas Club Member Posts: 11,357 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited November 2017 #17

    the aire we use is actually in Les Sorrinieres at the southern end of Nantes and handy for reaving frm the ring road.....and Lidl round the cornerwink  

  • cyberyacht
    cyberyacht Forum Participant Posts: 10,218
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    edited November 2017 #18

    Worth remembering that statistically, Teruel is the coldest place in Spain.

  • Billyc
    Billyc Forum Participant Posts: 64
    edited November 2017 #19

    Hi BB 

    AFter leaving the aire at Les Sorriniers, do you use the D137 or pay the tolls on the A183.     If its not too much trouble, give me your route to Bordeaux, The rest after that has already been addressed.  Thank you.

    BillC

  • young thomas
    young thomas Club Member Posts: 11,357 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited November 2017 #20

    hi Bill. i think the question is how many stops does one want to make in getting to (say) Benicassim/Valencia?

    as we have done this trip twice this year in the spring down and back (Jan and April) and again this autumn (returning October) we didnt really want to hang around....

    so, we reckon to be able to do the trip back to Cherbourg with two stop.

    in order to do this, the tolls (in france) are essential, IMV.

    so this would be A83, A10 (to Bordeaux) and A63 to Irun (overnight parking as upthread)

    (going non toll via 137 to Bordeaux is around 5 hrs, you could even go via Cholet, Poitiers, Anguleme and save 20 mins.....)

    this will still leave another long day through spain N121a, A23 to the coast.

    one thing to remember, your 5 tonner will probably be speed restricted compared to our 3.5 t one....

    if you fancy an extra stop, you could consider this...

    from Les Sorinieres to Motorhome Parking Corsaire (between Biarritz and Bayonne) is 5.5 hrs toll...

    then from there to Teruel is another 5.5 hrs (parking in the town centre next to the Gendarmerie...) 

    and this then leaves an easy 2 hrs to either Valencia or (say) Benicassim.

    i only recommend stops ive actually used...

    of course, if you wanted to take a more leisurely aproach, id go non toll from Nantes to (say) Blaye (4hrs, overnight at the Vauban Chateau free aire) and then still use the toll from Bordeaux to Irun.

    then split up the remaining non toll 7 hrs with stops at Zaragosa or Teruel.....if required...

    good luck.

  • Billyc
    Billyc Forum Participant Posts: 64
    edited November 2017 #21

    Hi BB, thanks again for more really good info.    Like you we dont mind taking our time when we have long warm days, but in the off season we dont mind the tolls to get us there quickly, but we will use an N road if it is obviously quick and direct.    By the way, our van is the entry level Kon-tiki and only 4.25t and quite sprightly, but I take your point about the lower speed limit in Spain.     I think I have all that I need now to get their quickly and with plenty of options and might even persuade the wife to try an Aire, or two!

    Our problem at the moment is that Barfluer is in for a refit during the first 3 weeks of Feb, just when we want to travel.    The wife does not like the sea and has reservations about the Amorique because of its size, so if the weather is rough, I have to detour via the tunnel and add an extra night.    This means booking very late and more expense.   So be it!

    Our friends stayed at a good camp site in Alberracin, just before Teruel and highly recommended it for a few nights.   Run by a Cuban who likes to cook everything on the BBQ griddle followed by good Rhum cocktails, sounds marvellous!   Best regards.

    BiilC

     

  • young thomas
    young thomas Club Member Posts: 11,357 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited November 2017 #22

    Bill, good luck to you...

    if you have the time to go that way (and you want to give your wife the gentlest, nicest introduction to how lovely an aire can be, show her this webpage from Camperstop of the Chateau de Vauban at Blaye.

    our own photos are pretty much identical to those shown here and you can have a 48hr stay for free including electric.

    the OH and I were just totally surprised at how lovely a stopover could be....

  • young thomas
    young thomas Club Member Posts: 11,357 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited November 2017 #23

    sorry, posted french version..

    select MENU top right and English .....