South of France drive - likely jammed with tourists?

[nobrakes]

Planning next summer's hols and have what I hope is a great road planned. Probably v scenic, but likely to be packed with tourists, so I wondered if anyone would care to volunteer any info on the road?

Back roads driving from Rousillon to Nice (StPaul De Vence)

Planning on through the Parc de National on D900 , from Rousillon, near Avignon, east to south east along the D85 Route de Napoleon to Grasse & Nice. Aboout 130 miles, and multimap says about 3 hours, but excluding tourist stops, it looks more like a 4 and a half hour drive due to all the windy hairpins etc (will be in a hire car though!).

The last part if it is on an AA recommended driving route.

It will probably be a mid week day drive.

Cheers.

[falstone]

Good roads, I live here! If you are after a decent drive head for the South road of Gorges de Verdon to Castellane then down into Grasse. Even in the summer, generally fairly traffic free. Best roads if you get the opportunity are heading North from Castellane to Lac de Castillion (fantastic lake) and there are endless options of roads between there and Nice used in the Monte Carlo rally (Turini is a legendary drive..). Enjoy.

[Andrew Coates]

falstone said:

Good roads, I live here! If you are after a decent drive head for the South road of Gorges de Verdon to Castellane then down into Grasse. Even in the summer, generally fairly traffic free. Best roads if you get the opportunity are heading North from Castellane to Lac de Castillion (fantastic lake) and there are endless options of roads between there and Nice used in the Monte Carlo rally (Turini is a legendary drive..). Enjoy.

+1
I went there on holiday last summer, also in a hire car, and the roads were fantastic. I found that the southern Verdon Gorge road is better than the northern one, but I did the Col du Turini and that road is legendary! Just watch out for the French tailgaters who refuse to overtake and prefer to sit on your bumper for miles and miles

[geordieexpat]

Iam SW of Toulouse, around 80kms from the airport in the SW there is some great driving roads if I head to the UK and back, the TVR wil do this route next year sometime with additional stops to spain, italy, germany and maybe others who knows

Derrick

[dopamine]

Hi,

I just drove my Chimaera from the uk to just outside of Nice. We drove the motorway to Lyon, then headed over to the Route Napoleon for the final leg. We had amazing weather and the twistys on day two were awesome. I can't recommend it enough. Of course once you do arrive it is a fantastic part of the world to explore too

Cheers

TC