Driving from Caen to The Three Valleys
Discussion
Does anyone have any experience of routes from Caen to The Three Valleys? We're driving to Meribel for a week this winter, the ferry to Caen is booked. Most route planners take a route up to Paris before heading down to Lyon but I'm wondering whether there's a better route that avoids Paris. As it'll be a Saturday I'm expecting Paris (A13 & N118) to be quite busy.
Many thanks,
Many thanks,
I suppose that Le Mans is on the way to Caen.
Have driven many times to Val d’Isere and I always go down to Clermont Ferrand and past Lyon.
It’s much better now the motorway loop is open north of Lyon.
Up the A71 to Vierzon over to Tours then up past Le Mans. I wouldn’t go anywhere near Paris.
You will be surprised how quiet the roads on the west are.
Are you doing it in one go? I allowed 8 hours for my trips think your looking at 10 hours plus
Have driven many times to Val d’Isere and I always go down to Clermont Ferrand and past Lyon.
It’s much better now the motorway loop is open north of Lyon.
Up the A71 to Vierzon over to Tours then up past Le Mans. I wouldn’t go anywhere near Paris.
You will be surprised how quiet the roads on the west are.
Are you doing it in one go? I allowed 8 hours for my trips think your looking at 10 hours plus
The 'scenic route' via Le Mans and Tours to avoid Paris is only half an hour longer according to Google maps, so not much of a detour.
If the goal is just to get there quickly then just use Waze or similar satnav tool to avoid traffic/weather in real time and see where that takes you.
If the goal is just to get there quickly then just use Waze or similar satnav tool to avoid traffic/weather in real time and see where that takes you.
Le Man, Tours, Clermont Ferrand to Lyon looks like a decent route. I haven't been that way before. Is that mostly dual carriageway? I'd prefer easy rather than fast as the journey will be long regardless and it'll be dark by the time we start winding up the mountains whichever way we go.
Plan to do it in one hit. The ferry gets in at 6:45am so there should be plenty of time to take it easy.
I'm all for avoiding Paris as I know the traffic could become heavy very fast.
Thank you.
Plan to do it in one hit. The ferry gets in at 6:45am so there should be plenty of time to take it easy.
I'm all for avoiding Paris as I know the traffic could become heavy very fast.
Thank you.
It's almost entirely autoroute (only the part around Caen is not, and that is good dual carriageway).
Take the A85 east from Tours, then the A71 to CF and on to Lyon on the A89.
I would strongly advise taking a lot of time and seeing the sights of the Loire (and eating the food, drinking the wine). I am biased with a holiday home near Tours though.
Take the A85 east from Tours, then the A71 to CF and on to Lyon on the A89.
I would strongly advise taking a lot of time and seeing the sights of the Loire (and eating the food, drinking the wine). I am biased with a holiday home near Tours though.
It’s an easy route in that it’s not complicated, few junctions all simple, and low traffic volumes.
It’s more or less motorway all the way past Lyon then dual carriageway with the single roads when you get close.
Watch out on Saturdays and Sundays as it’s change over day so busy with cars and coaches, all in a rush to get there.
Are you 4x4 or chains? Could be mandatory if the conditions need it.
You will not be in anybody’s good books if you block the road.
It’s more or less motorway all the way past Lyon then dual carriageway with the single roads when you get close.
Watch out on Saturdays and Sundays as it’s change over day so busy with cars and coaches, all in a rush to get there.
Are you 4x4 or chains? Could be mandatory if the conditions need it.
You will not be in anybody’s good books if you block the road.
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