Safest/Easiest route from Bordeaux to Marbella

[Madmag]

I have done searches & read lots about driving through Spain in winter. I feel a bit daft asking this question as we have travelled down through Spain on numerous occasions in both the Motorhome & previously a caravan. On only one occasion, when we had to do a rapid return home as MiLaw had broken her hip, have we gone the direct route through the centre by-passing Madrid. On this occasion we had a caravan & I remember it was sooooo cold!!! but luckily no snow. On all other occasions we have been meandering down over a number of weeks.
This year our departure has been delayed by 2 months but it looks like we have the go-ahead to leave UK just before Christmas. I have the choice down to one of 3 routes: Zaragoza/Valencia & down onto the coast. Straight over the top, through the middle, detouring round Madrid or Burgos/Salamanca/Caceres.
I have looked at the satellite images on Google & this route looks the "lowest" ?? I know the weather will be the deciding factor, cold we can manage but snow would be a big problem. So couple of questions please, are any of these routes preferable? If snow comes then I know the roads around Madrid are cleared, what about the other routes?
I am favouring the Calcares route , any known issues?
I realise it may be a "how long is a piece of string" type question but just needed to "chat/mull it over" with some helpful folks like yourselves. Thanks

 

[gus-lopez]

The zaragoza-Valencia route has huge areas so traffic can be pulled off the roads & parked up , usually with bars ,restaurants etc; although there are a couple which are parking only, to allow the snowploughs to clear the road . You don't usually have to wait long . Just remember that even our region ,Murcia, has more snow ploughs than the UK.

 

[Madmag]

Thanks. It wasn’t until I realised what those large areas were when we did the central route that the realisation of the severity of the snow in the area hit home!!
Meant to say we are more than happy to pay any tolls as time is more of anissue than cost on this occasion.

 

[gus-lopez]

The A23 Zaragoza-Sagunt/Valencia road is dual carriageway all the way & equal to the toll road unless you want to head more north east wards.

 

[frogijock]

I have used the Zaragoza/Teruel/Valencia route for the last 5 years around Christmas time without any problems, will be doing it again this year leaving here on 18/12

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[Madmag]

I have used the Zaragoza/Teruel/Valencia route for the last 5 years around Christmas time without any problems, will be doing it again this year leaving here on 18/12

Thanks. Looks like we will be a day behind you but looking at your avatar, with matching dogs!!

 

[GWAYGWAY]

Last yuear was sudden and grim for a few hours as the Snowploughs were very fat working in a convoy abreast clearing the roads completely. Very efficient and set up I saw more of them than UK has , or so it seemed. No snow and they were out waiting for it. when it came they were ready and going straight off. Spain is Hot?????????????

 

[Deleted member 57092]

We drove through Italy on the way to Greece last march ,in Ancona it was snowing heavily ,the first time for six years apparently yet the snowploughs were out and clearing the autoroute in one pass with three ploughs staggered across all three lanes.
It was a legal requirement that all vehicles had either snow tyres or chains and the police were ordering people off of the road that didn’t have them.
The year before we drove down to Andalusia in January and it was very cold up on the Castillian Plain, in some areas of Spain snow tyres or chains are mandatory in the winter months.
We are heading to a friends farm in mid France for new years and then down to southern Spain so have the snow chains ready.
(And our hi viz waistcoats for the French roadblocks !)
Paul

 

[Madmag]

Yes got the High Viz! But not the snow chains so I guess if we get unlucky and do get a lot of snow we will just have to park up and wait. Hope not to have to travel again in winter so don’t really want to invest in them and actually prefer not to have to drive in those conditions either. Wimping out! A case of “ been there, done it” now we don’t have to.
Thanks to everyone for their input.