Traveling from Calais to Northern Spain

[The Tafia]

Hi Funsters
We are traveling form Calais to Northern Spain in April after using Le Shuttle. My wife gets very sea sick.
We don't want to use the motorway and are wondering what is the best route through France to get to San Sebastian. Time is not critical but would like to get there in about 5 days.
Many Thanks

 

[InvictaMoto]

I expect there are many answers.

We went to Aragón in September on the "N10 Route" and not a toll paid. Back on the "N20 Route" again with not a eurocent spent on tolls.

Just used the AA map book of France and traced the road with my finger and chose places to stop by distance. About 150 miles or so a day ..

Staying in camping-car park aires each way.

 

[Two on Tour]

Just use Google Maps to plan your route.
Set your start point and finish point and then in the "options" menu, chose avoid Motorways and Tolls, and Google Maps will give you a route as per my example.

 

[BouncyBoatFolk]

The optional route that avoids Rouen looks a good option.
Mike

 

[Basa]

Have a look at the “about France” website. It gives good options for Calais to Spain routes.
it shows the pros and cons of using or not using tolls and even a combination of the two.
eg use the toll route to avoid Tours , minimal cost but it could save you an hour due to the many, many roundabouts on the non toll rout.
same for the route between Bordeaux and the Spanish border.

 

[Just smiffy]

I have a Garmin sat-nav and in the settings I set it to avoid tolls, there is even a setting to avoid motorways, most of the major roads in France are only duel carriageways anyway and don’t really feel like a motorway.

I drive that route regularly and 5 days is plentiful to see some nice places on the way…

 

[nicholsong]

Hi Funsters
We are traveling form Calais to Northern Spain in April after using Le Shuttle. My wife gets very sea sick.
We don't want to use the motorway and are wondering what is the best route through France to get to San Sebastian. Time is not critical but would like to get there in about 5 days.
Many Thanks

Five days Monsieur? Pas problem.

Look for the 'Routiers' (Truckers stop which do excellent plat du jour)

Pick one 250km away, get up at 0700 to get there by 1200(or the truckers will have noshed it all). Ask if you can stay in CP. Have a good lunch with at least 2 1/2 lts wine. Kip in afternoon. Have a walk in the French countryside/sightsee. Supper, early bed.

Repeat for 5 days. Voila! - here is Spain.

Then start looking for Bodegas. but change the timetable.

 

[The Tafia]

Have a look at the “about France” website. It gives good options for Calais to Spain routes.
it shows the pros and cons of using or not using tolls and even a combination of the two.
eg use the toll route to avoid Tours , minimal cost but it could save you an hour due to the many, many roundabouts on the non toll rout.
same for the route between Bordeaux and the Spanish border.

Thanks for the about France tip Basa, I'd not come across this before. Its very good.

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[Speve]

We usually do a mixture of tolls and other roads as we tow a car trailer and with o/a length of 12m the roundabouts and speed ramps are a right pain so try to avoid the sections like that.

 

[SteveandSueJ]

Route planning with via Michelin worth using, vehicle details can be set to calculate fuel and toll options/costs......

 

[brynric]

Just to compare, we crossed into Spain this morning (Friday) having got off the shuttle on Tuesday afternoon.
We travelled on motorways where we could but obviously had to detour to find aires - Incheville, Lac de St Cyr and Capbreton.
I noted the details as we crossed the border ( I know, I know I need a life) 974 miles in a few minutes over 20 hours driving.
I much prefer setting cruise control and eating the miles (and the toll charges) when the weather is poor and the light is short in the winter. When we come back to visit France later in the year we’ll be much more leisurely and off the beaten track.
PS. We’re now in Llanes Aire, just a car park but only a few minutes walk from the sea.

 

[ChrisL]

Be aware that if not travelling on motorways that many towns have speed bumps and 30km speed limits on main through roads, I found these tedious after a while so ended up on the peage.

 

[jongood]

Is it just the tolls, or is there another reason for avoiding motorways?

BTW Bayonne off motorway is an absolute pain and Bordeaux isn't easy

 

[TONCAZ]

Have a look at https://www.outandaboutlive.co.uk/m...uth-a-motorhome-route-through-france-to-spain.
Only tolls are om a63 done this lots of times

 

[bigtwin]

We just set the sat nav to fastest route, avoiding tolls, and just crack on with it. Works every time.

Ian

 

[The Tafia]

Is it just the tolls, or is there another reason for avoiding motorways?

BTW Bayonne off motorway is an absolute pain and Bordeaux isn't easy

I tend to find motorways boring and you miss a lot.

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[jongood]

I tend to find motorways boring and you miss a lot.

I agree a d try and do so, but have you tried routing through Bayonne in a larger vehicle?

Sorry Ian bigtwin I'm going to disagree with your suggestion as imo sometimes a cheeky few miles on toll can save you a load of grief and wear and tear. This is a good example

 

[bigtwin]

I agree a d try and do so, but have you tried routing through Bayonne in a larger vehicle?

Sorry Ian bigtwin I'm going to disagree with your suggestion as imo sometimes a cheeky few miles on toll can save you a load of grief and wear and tear. This is a good example

I’m sure your right Jon, I guess the trick is trying to figure out where and when to take the toll option.

Ian

 

[Basa]

Ian , the “about France “ website does exactly that, it recommends what tolls to use, the cost and how much time you would save

 

[Abgs]

Is it just the tolls, or is there another reason for avoiding motorways?

BTW Bayonne off motorway is an absolute pain and Bordeaux isn't easy

The motorway 'ring road' bit around Bordeaux is toll free - the toll sections start and finish about 15km or so from the centre.

 

[Abgs]

Route planning with via Michelin worth using, vehicle details can be set to calculate fuel and toll options/costs......

Mappy.fr is also good for route planning as you can set 'Camping Car' to get the correct toll / peage price for a route. Camping Cars seem to be 1.5 x the price of standard car toll prices.

 

[The Tafia]

Thanks to all for your ideas, advice etc.

 

[Suenliam]

We have found that motorway ring roads are usually toll free. We can guarantee to get lost in Tours with or without the sat nav. We have also been known to get lost on the motorway past Tours......... Always avoid the city now.
Sue

 

[jongood]

The motorway 'ring road' bit around Bordeaux is toll free - the toll sections start and finish about 15km or so from the centre.

I know. The OP originally said they wanted to avoid motorways and I was pointing out a couple of examples where its really difficult.

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[jongood]

We have found that motorway ring roads are usually toll free. We can guarantee to get lost in Tours with or without the sat nav. We have also been known to get lost on the motorway past Tours......... Always avoid the city now.
Sue

we've been through on the motorway today and they seem to finally getting towards the end of the roadworks. its much simpler without bollards everywhere.

 

[bigtwin]

Ian , the “about France “ website does exactly that, it recommends what tolls to use, the cost and how much time you would save

Thanks for that, I’ll take a look.

Ian

 

[TerryL]

Abbeville (not worth avoiding toll) then Rouen*, Evreux, Dreux, Chartres, Chateaudun, Vendome, Chenonceau, Tours (take the autoroute round the city, toll free), Chatellerault, Poitiers, Angouleme, Bordeaux. A63 from there is free for maybe 50km and it's possible then to come off and route via Mont de Marson. However at that point I'd stay on the toll road until across into Spain because it's a bit convoluted and you should certainly avoid the Irun border crossing unless you're in no rush.

This trip we used the Somport Tunnel from Mont de Marson as we were headed for Valencia (you need winter tyres or carry chains but no snow this time) but it's too far out for San Sebastion. I only mention it in case it might fit in with your onward plans.

* Stick to the autoroute into Rouen then when you come to a series of slip roads watch for Evreux and get into the centre lane at the traffic lights - you'll be taking a bear right at the next lights. If you miss it and find yourselves crossing the river take the second exit which will put you on the eastbound carriageway on the south side of the river then follow Pont de L'Arche. This avoids the dreaded low bridges.