Crossing the Vosges on N66

Kontikiboy
Kontikiboy Forum Participant Posts: 304
100 Comments
edited October 2019 in Overseas Campsites & Touring #1

Hi all,

Can anyone advise on the N66 route northwards from Mulhouse to Epinal?     I drove this road 20+ years ago towing a caravan and remember it was exciting, but not sure if I will now 2/3 decades older and in a big heavy van.    The option is to go via Belfort using the autoroute but it would be nice to shave off a few miles on my way home.     All advice welcome.

We are travelling from Lake Garda to Camping du Parc in Epinal, about 380 miles tomorrow.

BillC

Comments

  • eurortraveller
    eurortraveller Club Member Posts: 6,829 ✭✭✭
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    edited October 2019 #2

    I have always crossed the Vosges a bit further north - Colmar to Luneville via the Col de Bonhomme - so I got the maps out to look at your Mulhouse to Epinal stretch over the Col de Bussang, and it doesn't look too bad at all. 

    The climb begins at Thann which is already 485 metres above sea level and it's only a rise of a further 250 metres to the top of the pass which is at 731metres  - winding and twisty uphill for sure but an average gradient of only about 5%. So it looks like foot down and go for it.

    It's your 380 miles of towing in a day which would floor me ! Take care. 

     

  • Kontikiboy
    Kontikiboy Forum Participant Posts: 304
    100 Comments
    edited October 2019 #3

    Hi ET, thanks for that.    I am not towing now and had planned to take 4 o/n’s but as the weather here on Garda is great and lousy in France decided to do it in two legs.     I am happy at long distance driving and should reach o/n at Epinal by 5pm, ‘ish.     Just wondered if anyone had recent experience of this road.    Depending on how well I do by Mulhouse will feed the decision of NR or Autoroute.   Thanks again for your useful info on the Cols.

    BillC

  • meecee
    meecee Forum Participant Posts: 304
    edited October 2019 #4

    From my memory of a few years ago I recall several time consuming villages on this route but otherwise OK.

  • allanandjean
    allanandjean Forum Participant Posts: 2,401
    1000 Comments
    edited October 2019 #5

    A route we have used 2-3 times, last being in 2012, and enjoyed it towing both ways. Our ususal route would be the N66 to/from Nancy and then the N66.

    No severe gradients just the usual traffic calming measures in the frequent villages.

    We stayed at Bussang last time just after the Bussang Pass.

  • Kontikiboy
    Kontikiboy Forum Participant Posts: 304
    100 Comments
    edited October 2019 #6

    Thanks MC

    Alan&Jean,  just what I wanted, a positive report on the do-ability of the N66.    However, this time we had very heavy traffic problems on the Milan RR and such rotten weather and loads of major road works in Switzerland that we were delayed by nearly two hours and to reach our preferred “open” o/n site in Epinal on time decided to use the A36 & N57 from Mulhouse.   For the first time today on those roads I was able to put my foot down and drive to the speed limits and just made it at 7pm.   But thank you for your response.

    We can’t believe where all the money is coming from to do all the major road construction that we have seen on this trip.    On the way down and back on very different routes there was heaps of road construction.

    Perhaps EU money?!

    BillC

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