Calais to Millau avoiding Paris (1 Viewer)

Dec 18, 2011
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Since 2006
Having endured another crawl around Paris surrounded by crazy drivers,can someone please suggest the best way to Millau without going anywhere near Paris.Dont mind toll roads but obviously would prefer a suitable alternative,as long as it doesn’t add hours onto the journey.Thanks in advance.
 
Jan 2, 2015
2,460
8,598
Cumbria
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Burstner Solano t725
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since 2014
Calais - Abbeville - Rouen - N154 to Evereux - Dreux - Chartres - Allains Mervilliers then onto Orleans - Vierzon - Bourges - Clermont Ferrand - Millau
Most of it is free motorway or Dual Carriageway

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joka250

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Jul 29, 2017
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Rouen, Chartres, Orleans then A75 towards Clermont Ferrand?
Don't know how much extra time or distance this might or might not add but we now always go this way and love it. A plus is plenty of small Aires near the route and rarely find other users (in winter not sure about summer).
 

Camdoon

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Sep 22, 2012
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The REDC (Rouen Evreux Dreux Chartres) route as specified above is our favourite. Remember easier to travel mid week most of July and all of August. Here is our get it done route:-

Take a crossing 1700hr ish via the Chunnel - this ensures you are travelling on the M25 outside rush hour (if only it was an hour).
Into Cite d'Europe for French goodies and or fuel or overnight.
Usually drive for an hour-ish along to the Baie de Somme Motorway Aire for an overnight (tend to avoid buying fuel or anything here). It does have paid for showers.
Down to Rouen, we take the east bank of the Seine passing through Igoville where there is a Super U for fuel and food. There is a further Aire at Pont-de-L'Arche if you want to get further down the road on night 1.
We tend to press on here for Issoire where we refuel at the Carrefour and if the boys are in tow there is also a McD's.
We overnight at La Canourgue 90 miles further on which is delightful (other Villages Etapes/ aires available). There is a free aire, a take away and a number of restaurants. We usually eat at Portalou, largely because of the name.
Easy run down to Spain in the morning.
This is fairly brutal for day 2 and you need a light foot or a good fuel tank to make Calais-Issoire without re-fuelling but if you are heading for Millau can stop far further north.

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OP
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Camper634
Dec 18, 2011
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Since 2006
Do you have the above excellent route saved to your sat nav as an itinerary?
 

Camdoon

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Sep 22, 2012
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Do you have the above excellent route saved to your sat nav as an itinerary?
If only ! I got my hands on a new 10" Android radio last week and bought Sygic; I have the free maps for Copilot but got the money to buy the caravan version off the seller; I am starting to use Waze in my Iphone; I have a Garmin 760D kicking about and sometimes find it easier to use the TomTom app on my iPad on which support ran out about 2 years ago :)
Looking at it though I will get the co-ords together as it will be the easiest way for me to manage this :) as my lads are driving down this year and that will be the easiest way for them (Goodness knows which app they will be using).
 
Dec 31, 2017
647
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South East
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51,792
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Burstner T690G
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Caravanner 40 years. Motorhome 8
The REDC (Rouen Evreux Dreux Chartres) route as specified above is our favourite. Remember easier to travel mid week most of July and all of August. Here is our get it done route:-

Take a crossing 1700hr ish via the Chunnel - this ensures you are travelling on the M25 outside rush hour (if only it was an hour).
Into Cite d'Europe for French goodies and or fuel or overnight.
Usually drive for an hour-ish along to the Baie de Somme Motorway Aire for an overnight (tend to avoid buying fuel or anything here). It does have paid for showers.
Down to Rouen, we take the east bank of the Seine passing through Igoville where there is a Super U for fuel and food. There is a further Aire at Pont-de-L'Arche if you want to get further down the road on night 1.
We tend to press on here for Issoire where we refuel at the Carrefour and if the boys are in tow there is also a McD's.
We overnight at La Canourgue 90 miles further on which is delightful (other Villages Etapes/ aires available). There is a free aire, a take away and a number of restaurants. We usually eat at Portalou, largely because of the name.
Easy run down to Spain in the morning.
This is fairly brutal for day 2 and you need a light foot or a good fuel tank to make Calais-Issoire without re-fuelling but if you are heading for Millau can stop far further north.

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Dec 31, 2017
647
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Oops! Have just returned from France and the Bai de Somme is having major works carried out at moment and very difficult to park. Neufchâtel en Bray is an excellent stop but you do have to pay. It is also getting very popular so best to book.
 
Feb 9, 2008
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Corby, Northants
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This may help!
Firstly, routes and route maps for France and Spain. This first link is an award winning database about France. It has a host of information on best routes to many locations. I have selected the famous N10 route from Calais to Irun which is used by many motorhomes when travelling to Spain. It’s almost Toll free (more on that a little later) and almost all duel carriageway from start to finish with the exception of about 100 K. This route is great for motorhomes small, medium and large. Note: (HGV’s are not allowed on French roads, Sunday’s, so plan your journey over a weekend if possible).

https://about-france.com/tourism/no-tolls-routes.htm

Tolls: Avoid the toll road from Calais to Abbeville and save 12.50 Euros. The non-toll route is quite scenic and fairly straight forward, between Boulogne-sur-Mer and Abbeville.

At Abbeville, join the A28 and cross the river Sein at Rouen. We take the second exit immediately after crossing the bridge (about 50 m past the first exit at the end of the bridge), swing down and under the bridge you have just crossed and continue on this road and join the A13 motorway until the N154 which takes you down to Evreux. (Note: there are a number of different options for getting through Rouen and no doubt other members will have their own preferences. We find this very straight forward on both outward and return legs). Approaching Tours on the D910 join the A10 toll road at Jct. 19 and exit at Jct. 23. This will take you through the city via the toll road, (€1.80). At Jct. 23 take the exit lane for Montbazon which returns you to the D910. (Reverse for the return leg). That’s the last toll to pay until you hit the bottom of the A63 after Bordeaux.

To save toll fares on the A63 south of Bordeaux please read the route recommendations in the above link. Do not come off the A63 near the bottom as all roads will be heavily congested and it’s worth paying the last few tolls. (From Jct 6 €8.90 in total) (Fuel costs approx. €147.84 (Based on 1056 K @10K per Ltr. @€1.40 per ltr. 3.5T motorhome)). This route is also recommended during winter, due to its proximity to the Atlantic ocean, which means little to no problems with ice and or snow, unlike using the A75 to cross the Massif Central. Although the A75 is quickly cleared, it is advisable to have winter tyres fitted and there may be some small delays due to snow ploughs clearing this route.

If heading to the Mediterranean side of Spain, it’s worth taking the N121-A to Pamplona after crossing the Spanish boarder on the A63 at Irun. It’s clearly sign posted (Large white sign) about 300 m after passing through the last toll booth and crossing the river. Also here are Repsol fuel stations and shopping opportunities. You will find more details in this link for the N121-A and how to navigate Spain toll free.

https://about-spain.net/travel/no-tolls.htm

If you decide to pay Tolls in order to save time getting to Spain, your best route options are in this link.

https://about-france.com/tourism/routes-to-spain.htm

Should you choose to plan your own routes anywhere in Europe and also establish Toll costs, (or toll free costs) use this link. Under route options, select caravan then select toll roads. Toll costs for a class 2 motorhome will be calculated for the whole journey. You can also choose Non toll routes and other options. This is currently one of the best online free route planers.

https://www.viamichelin.co.uk/

As for stop overs on routes, you can’t go wrong using the App below which is free but I would recommend getting the paid version for about £6.00 which you can then use off line. You will find numerous places to stop along the above route and I have deliberately not made any recommendations so drivers can make their own choices. This app is also brilliant for finding other places too and highly rated by many users.

https://www.campercontact.com/en/content/app

There is another popular app/website that is used which you may also find useful if you’re doing a lot of wilding and looking for free overnight stops. It too is used by many motor homers in Europe. Get the paid version to use off line for around £9.00

https://www.park4night.com/

Finally, probably the best off line maps ‘App’ and used by many. It also includes a sat-nav function which is quite good and can also be used off line. Again many motor homers use this, especially in Morocco.

Broken Link Removed
 
Apr 12, 2010
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The A 75 has got to be one of the best roads in France, and its no toll. A cracking drive from Clermont down to Millau. Also some great aires in the Ardeche.
Phil

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