Sites in France en route to Winter Sun Rallies
Hi everyone, I am sure this must have been asked before ,but have not been able to find them.
We are thinking of trying a winter sun rally next year 2024.As not good sailors we want to drive through France
and was wondering if anyone can recommend overnight/short stay sites on route.
Also any other information you think might be useful will be gladly received.
Mant thanks John.
Comments
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John, If you would like to decide which way you are going across France then several of us will suggest overnight sites. But prepare for conflicting opinions !0 -
PS. I have never gone that way in winter - I was always on a plane toThailand or Kerala, or Sri Lanka or Bali at that time of year - but if I absolutely had to drive across France to Spain in winter it would be with stops in Paris, Lyon and Avignon.- they each have campsites open all year . They would probably each be two night stops to include a day in each city, and then onward via Perpignan and down the Spanish coast.
Good wishes
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As eurortraveler points out, essentially, there are 4 routes to drive through France in search of some winter sun in Spain - here's my opinion (starting east to west), other people may have entirely different opinions !
- A26/A7 : Reims-Lyon-Beziers The most expensive route for tolls and by far the heaviest traffic, particularly around Lyon and the Rhone valley. Probably the most reliable for winter weather as it is relatively low level.
- A16/A71/A75 : Rouen(or Paris)-Orleans-Clermont Ferrand-Beziers Much of this route is toll-free after Clermont and carries less traffic than the A7. The scenery is spectacular on the southern half, but it is a high altitude route from Issoire onwards and is often subject to wintry weather.
- A16/A71/A20/A61 : Rouen(or Paris)-Vierzon-Limoges-Toulouse-Beziers Another route which has lighter traffic than the A7 and which is toll-free from Vierzon to just north of Souillac. The 200 mile stretch between Limoges and Toulouse has a number of ascents and descents but is lower than the A75, so not quite so prone to bad weather; but snow can still be present.
- A16/A28/A10(or N10)/A63 : Rouen-Le Mans-Bordeaux-Biarritz The most westerly of the routes and relatively low level for the most part. Being closer to the Atlantic, it seems to be more prone to wet, windy weather but less likely to have snow. Tolls are higher than the previous 2 routes. Bordeaux can sometimes be a bottleneck.
Being a motorhomer, I don't often use sites when travelling long distance, prefering to decide at lunchtime where to stop for the night, thereby avoiding the need to press-on or stop early (if making good time). I use the search4sites app to help decide.
Hopefully, I will be travelling to Spain this January and will be following this route most of which I have used before.
One final thing : if you haven't already done so, book your sites in Spain NOW as many of the popular ones are already fully booked.
Happy travels
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My contribution to this thread would be that caravan or solo, I avoid Paris like the plague. We have always used the western route, for reasons stated above. We live in Oxfordshire ,so always use the long channel crossing from Portsmounth to Ouistreham (Caen) which avoids the drag down the French coast from Calais and the M25 to Dover/Folkestone, but that depends on where you live in the UK.
Enjoy
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The most risk of encountering snow is when passing through the Pyrenees. A useful web site for keeping an eye on conditions is >here<.
I do much the same as JimE when travelling to Spain but avoid the tolls as much as possible (I get charged at the Class 3 rate) and from Bordeaux, weather being favourable, I like to head for the Somport Tunnel to cross the Pyrenees. My route looks like >this< and for a blow by blow account of a winter trip I have recorded one of the journeys on >Polarsteps<
peedee
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Depends on your route. If you use the Clermont Ferrand route you will just as likely encounter snow as over the Pyrenees. Stay west through France, although likely to get torrential rain for much of the way.
I have found the autoroute from Henday up to Pamplona is kept clear of snow, with ploughs permanently stationed at intervals along the route. Also kept clear to Zaragoza, and then over the plain before dropping down to Valencia. Done this route often (pre covid) in January/February and never had a problem. Warm coat needed though as very often below freezing.
PS - 4x4 with statutory winter tyres.
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I agree there is just as much likelyhood of encountering snow on this route in winter as in the Pyrenees. Even in the summer months I don't like the Clermont Ferrand route very much. It is more demanding of fuel and engine power plus the Millau Bridge is a hefty toll for other than Class 1 and 2 vehicles. In the winter, it would definitely be a no no for me.
peedee
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Jim, just be aware that, while parking is still permitted in the area outside the guardian civil offices (used it ourselves) the new 'aire' is a few hundred yards away between MacDonalds and Dinopolis. Large open area, loads of room and pretty quiet despite a few lorries using it.
thanks for the route info.
for other travellers, the starting point is also significant...we live in Somerset and either Poole, Portsmouth even Plymouth are far easier than the trek to Dover, especially for favouring the western route and you're ok with ferries.
we will be using Caen and will pick up you're route a bit further south.
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....just to add, many use the municipal at Zaragosa but it can be tricky to get into the city to visit this lovely area...as an alternative for motorhomers, the new free aire to the north of the city is right next to a tram stop and is really easy to get to the centre. For those who like a stroll it's about 45 mins.
the aire is fairly large, but can be busy, we had a quiet night there last time.
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Thanks for the info on the new Teruel aire, I'll give it a try next trip.
As regards Zaragoza, we don't stop in the city itself, but use a very quiet aire on the banks of the Rio Ebro at Buñuel just off the old A-68. Mind you last year it was -7°C overnight, but then that was also the daytime temperature for most of the journey from Pamplona to beyond Teruel.
BTW, the AP-68 was still a toll road when we used it earlier this year, whereas the old A-68 dual carriageway which runs alongside is toll-free.
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Jim, thanks for the heads up, nice looking stopover. If you do fancy a city stop, nice aire right in centre of Tudela, too.
we often come from Irun via Pamplona, Zaragosa etc and use the A-68.
nice new free aire stop in Haro, too...
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Hi fellow Caravanner,
My input after 4 mid winter grey & dreary tows down France to Almeria ….
Likely depends on your home base but we, ex Leeds, have previously stopped overnight at Folkstone to get the AHC’s for dogs and in readiness for Tunnel.
Prompt Tunnel then down to Rouen, Dreux before dark for overnight stop. Chartres, Orleans, Limoges to overnight just south at Camping Montreal. Then Toulouse, then east over to Perpignan area, border into Spain, overnight at Capmany, shorts on & cheap easy fuel, then drift down the quite scenic AP7 Med coast route south.
Tips. France in January is bleak, dreary & also short days. Central Spain in Winter can be very cold, Med coast is usually mild. Ring sites to confirm they're actually open. Fill with fuel when you can - some fuel stops are awful or very restricted access especially if off Motorway Peage. Don’t feel pressurised by setting unrealistic daily distances or legs, stay flexible.Enjoy ….
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From many previous posts on this topic it seems that the westerly routes to Spain are the most popular, maybe due to the toll free sections of the A75. For many years we have travelled to Avignon using the tunnel then Reims, Lyon etc. From Avignon on several trips we have continued South towards Montpelier then turned North on the A75 for Millau, Lot valley and ultimately through Rouen back to the tunnel.
The shortest, fastest route is via Reims and Lyon though the tolls are probably highest. The only decision to make is whether to transit Lyon on the old motorway route or do the tedious bypass which adds around 20 miles. It depends on the time of day and judgement of traffic. By the way, Lyon is a great city to visit and there is a site on the “old” route which is perfect for public transport into Lyon. My guess is that it would be open in winter but you would have to check.
I have a personal dislike of the A75/Rouen route as the northern part where there is no Autoroute is busy, slow and tedious. You should also be aware that there are very few services on the A75 (because it’s free!). Most people seem to disagree with my preference but they probably haven’t tried the fast Lyon route.
Cant help with out of season sites but well lit 24 hour Autoroute services are a good option in an emergency. Again, many will disagree.
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