Drive from Calais to Sete (Cap d' Agde)
Discussion
It is certainly possible, Google maps says that avoiding tolls will take you around 14 hours rather than 11 by using the toll roads so certainly practicable. Avoiding motorways altogether will take about 17 hours and would probably be the route I would choose if you have a week to play with. A couple hours per day and stop wherever takes your fancy.
We did Strasbourg to Calais earlier this year and avoided motorways for a large chunk of the journey. It was a very enjoyable drive but you can end up driving a long way without seeing any amenities once you are off the main roads so take that into account.
What is your reasoning behind avoiding toll roads?
We did Strasbourg to Calais earlier this year and avoided motorways for a large chunk of the journey. It was a very enjoyable drive but you can end up driving a long way without seeing any amenities once you are off the main roads so take that into account.
What is your reasoning behind avoiding toll roads?
No-More-Nights said:
Is it practicable to almost avoid most, not all toll roads ?
100% if your not in a rush.We do the a run down to South of France each year avoiding almost all tolls in our old Defender.
The drive through France is amazing, trundling through villages and watching the landscape change towards the Alps is amazing.
Daytime progress is restrained, but overnight everyone, including the truckers absolutely fly down the back roads.
Lots of this
Followed by more of this
Rebew said:
It is certainly possible, Google maps says that avoiding tolls will take you around 14 hours rather than 11 by using the toll roads so certainly practicable. Avoiding motorways altogether will take about 17 hours and would probably be the route I would choose if you have a week to play with. A couple hours per day and stop wherever takes your fancy.
We did Strasbourg to Calais earlier this year and avoided motorways for a large chunk of the journey. It was a very enjoyable drive but you can end up driving a long way without seeing any amenities once you are off the main roads so take that into account.
What is your reasoning behind avoiding toll roads?
I am driving a campervan, and was looking to keep a steady 55 mph, so I was thinking toll roads for me, would be a waste.We did Strasbourg to Calais earlier this year and avoided motorways for a large chunk of the journey. It was a very enjoyable drive but you can end up driving a long way without seeing any amenities once you are off the main roads so take that into account.
What is your reasoning behind avoiding toll roads?
I am only planning around a max 2 hour drive morning, and a max 2 hour drive afternoon.
I have all the time in the world.
tommobot said:
No-More-Nights said:
Is it practicable to almost avoid most, not all toll roads ?
100% if your not in a rush.We do the a run down to South of France each year avoiding almost all tolls in our old Defender.
The drive through France is amazing, trundling through villages and watching the landscape change towards the Alps is amazing.
Daytime progress is restrained, but overnight everyone, including the truckers absolutely fly down the back roads.
Lots of this
Followed by more of this
This 100% is what I am after,
What speed do you normally try to stick to ?
No-More-Nights said:
Rebew said:
It is certainly possible, Google maps says that avoiding tolls will take you around 14 hours rather than 11 by using the toll roads so certainly practicable. Avoiding motorways altogether will take about 17 hours and would probably be the route I would choose if you have a week to play with. A couple hours per day and stop wherever takes your fancy.
We did Strasbourg to Calais earlier this year and avoided motorways for a large chunk of the journey. It was a very enjoyable drive but you can end up driving a long way without seeing any amenities once you are off the main roads so take that into account.
What is your reasoning behind avoiding toll roads?
I am driving a campervan, and was looking to keep a steady 55 mph, so I was thinking toll roads for me, would be a waste.We did Strasbourg to Calais earlier this year and avoided motorways for a large chunk of the journey. It was a very enjoyable drive but you can end up driving a long way without seeing any amenities once you are off the main roads so take that into account.
What is your reasoning behind avoiding toll roads?
I am only planning around a max 2 hour drive morning, and a max 2 hour drive afternoon.
I have all the time in the world.
We simply doddle off down the jolly A75, but, if you've a mind to then the back roads are super, what would stop me is the fact that every single village is now 30kph with some of the most brutal speed humps in existence. Amusing at first it soon starts to grate. When you get there please say hello to the Plage des 3 digues for me? Will you?
No-More-Nights said:
100% if your not in a rush.
We do the a run down to South of France each year avoiding almost all tolls in our old Defender.
The drive through France is amazing, trundling through villages and watching the landscape change towards the Alps is amazing.
Daytime progress is restrained, but overnight everyone, including the truckers absolutely fly down the back roads.
Lots of this
Followed by more of this
This 100% is what I am after,
What speed do you normally try to stick to ?
Just stick as a minimum to the speed limits... (not rushing but at the same time not dawdling)We do the a run down to South of France each year avoiding almost all tolls in our old Defender.
The drive through France is amazing, trundling through villages and watching the landscape change towards the Alps is amazing.
Daytime progress is restrained, but overnight everyone, including the truckers absolutely fly down the back roads.
Lots of this
Followed by more of this
This 100% is what I am after,
What speed do you normally try to stick to ?
We can do around 70 on the dual carrageways / and plenty fast up the hills but its just really a lovely drive.
We usually go towards Reims, then down to Lausanne and over and around alps and down through Aosta Valley and to the coast if required.
The first 3 hours from Calias is motorway (non toll) which is dull as anything, but from then on its really a lovely drive
Landlubber said:
We simply doddle off down the jolly A75, but, if you've a mind to then the back roads are super, what would stop me is the fact that every single village is now 30kph with some of the most brutal speed humps in existence. Amusing at first it soon starts to grate. When you get there please say hello to the Plage des 3 digues for me? Will you?
Yes, sure, My route , Calais, Abbeville, Rouen, Chartres, Nevers, Millau, Cap d' Agde, almost the same coming back North.
A71 then A75 , la Méridienne
My route is thus,
I have campsites booked for all nights.
Some campsites just staying 1 night, some 2, nights, Millau is a 3 night stopper each way, then two 6 night camp sites on the Med coast.
Just really chilling out, and short morning and afternoon drives, some afternoon drives may not be needed, as they might be a short driving day.
I have campsites booked for all nights.
Some campsites just staying 1 night, some 2, nights, Millau is a 3 night stopper each way, then two 6 night camp sites on the Med coast.
Just really chilling out, and short morning and afternoon drives, some afternoon drives may not be needed, as they might be a short driving day.
dundarach said:
I quite enjoy the toll roads, they're just so easy and not really all that much, but the back roads are lovely too.
I agree, the toll roads are great for getting from A to B if your limited on your holidays, and you just want to get down there as quick as possible.Sure they cost money, and I believe roughly about 100 euro North to South, and same back again.
The tolls I know I will use are Calais to Abbeville on A16 : 9.30 Euros
South exit from Rouen on A 13 > A154 : 2.30 Euros
Motorway Riom to Clermont Ferrand: 2 Euros
So tolls are 13.60 euros, from Calais to the Med, excluding the Millau Viaduct, which we have done twice previously, so not going over it again this time
No-More-Nights said:
My route is thus,
I have campsites booked for all nights.
Some campsites just staying 1 night, some 2, nights, Millau is a 3 night stopper each way, then two 6 night camp sites on the Med coast.
Just really chilling out, and short morning and afternoon drives, some afternoon drives may not be needed, as they might be a short driving day.
Personally, if your in a campervan I wouldn't bother with campsites.I have campsites booked for all nights.
Some campsites just staying 1 night, some 2, nights, Millau is a 3 night stopper each way, then two 6 night camp sites on the Med coast.
Just really chilling out, and short morning and afternoon drives, some afternoon drives may not be needed, as they might be a short driving day.
France is so camper freindly its untrue.
Every small village (almost every) has a dedicated camper spot, where it is acceptable to camp up, sleep and move on.
Download Park4night, pay a few quid for the premium and it shows an amazing amount of parking / sleeping spots.
tommobot said:
No-More-Nights said:
My route is thus,
I have campsites booked for all nights.
Some campsites just staying 1 night, some 2, nights, Millau is a 3 night stopper each way, then two 6 night camp sites on the Med coast.
Just really chilling out, and short morning and afternoon drives, some afternoon drives may not be needed, as they might be a short driving day.
Personally, if your in a campervan I wouldn't bother with campsites.I have campsites booked for all nights.
Some campsites just staying 1 night, some 2, nights, Millau is a 3 night stopper each way, then two 6 night camp sites on the Med coast.
Just really chilling out, and short morning and afternoon drives, some afternoon drives may not be needed, as they might be a short driving day.
France is so camper freindly its untrue.
Every small village (almost every) has a dedicated camper spot, where it is acceptable to camp up, sleep and move on.
Download Park4night, pay a few quid for the premium and it shows an amazing amount of parking / sleeping spots.
France really know how to do camping.
The first time we went through France, was with a Land Cruiser, and a roof tent, that was amazing.
Then we sold the roof tent, and bought a caravan, pulled by the trusty Land Cruiser,
That was the seed for traveling and camping through France.
The first thing I did was download and buy the App, Park4Night, its very good, and well worth the couple of quid.
edited for spelling
Edited by No-More-Nights on Tuesday 12th May 10:25
No-More-Nights said:
Landlubber said:
We simply doddle off down the jolly A75, but, if you've a mind to then the back roads are super, what would stop me is the fact that every single village is now 30kph with some of the most brutal speed humps in existence. Amusing at first it soon starts to grate. When you get there please say hello to the Plage des 3 digues for me? Will you?
Yes, sure, My route , Calais, Abbeville, Rouen, Chartres, Nevers, Millau, Cap d' Agde, almost the same coming back North.
A71 then A75 , la Méridienne
Landlubber said:
No-More-Nights said:
Landlubber said:
We simply doddle off down the jolly A75, but, if you've a mind to then the back roads are super, what would stop me is the fact that every single village is now 30kph with some of the most brutal speed humps in existence. Amusing at first it soon starts to grate. When you get there please say hello to the Plage des 3 digues for me? Will you?
Yes, sure, My route , Calais, Abbeville, Rouen, Chartres, Nevers, Millau, Cap d' Agde, almost the same coming back North.
A71 then A75 , la Méridienne
Over the last few years we've driven down to Venice, then Southern Spain and all over France/Germany/Austria/Switzerland whilst avoiding toll roads and motorways, Autoroutes, Autobahns etc. and it's a far more pleasurable way of travelling. Yes it takes longer but you see so much more and arrive at your nightly stops in a much better frame of mind.
All we do is turn off toll roads and motorways on Waze and just follow where it takes us. If we see an interesting place on the way we might take a diversion and stop at a cafe for lunch. If you need a comfort break McDonalds etc. are fairly abundant and they do a surprisingly good cup of coffee or even a decent ice cream in the form of a McFlurry if you so desire.
All we do is turn off toll roads and motorways on Waze and just follow where it takes us. If we see an interesting place on the way we might take a diversion and stop at a cafe for lunch. If you need a comfort break McDonalds etc. are fairly abundant and they do a surprisingly good cup of coffee or even a decent ice cream in the form of a McFlurry if you so desire.
Landlubber said:
No-More-Nights said:
Landlubber said:
We simply doddle off down the jolly A75, but, if you've a mind to then the back roads are super, what would stop me is the fact that every single village is now 30kph with some of the most brutal speed humps in existence. Amusing at first it soon starts to grate. When you get there please say hello to the Plage des 3 digues for me? Will you?
Yes, sure, My route , Calais, Abbeville, Rouen, Chartres, Nevers, Millau, Cap d' Agde, almost the same coming back North.
A71 then A75 , la Méridienne
I have a couple of days spare, built into my rough schedule.
Voodoo Blue said:
Over the last few years we've driven down to Venice, then Southern Spain and all over France/Germany/Austria/Switzerland whilst avoiding toll roads and motorways, Autoroutes, Autobahns etc. and it's a far more pleasurable way of travelling. Yes it takes longer but you see so much more and arrive at your nightly stops in a much better frame of mind.
All we do is turn off toll roads and motorways on Waze and just follow where it takes us. If we see an interesting place on the way we might take a diversion and stop at a cafe for lunch. If you need a comfort break McDonalds etc. are fairly abundant and they do a surprisingly good cup of coffee or even a decent ice cream in the form of a McFlurry if you so desire.
This is almost exactly what our trip is about.All we do is turn off toll roads and motorways on Waze and just follow where it takes us. If we see an interesting place on the way we might take a diversion and stop at a cafe for lunch. If you need a comfort break McDonalds etc. are fairly abundant and they do a surprisingly good cup of coffee or even a decent ice cream in the form of a McFlurry if you so desire.
Sure it takes longer, but our holiday starts when I slowly see them White Cliffs disappearing into the distance.
Our big Boxer campervan is self-sufficient.
I generate loads more solar, and have lithium capacity, than I ever use, and that's with toaster, kettle, microwave, and air fryer.
And certainly have the diesel heater for any chilly nights up on the tops of the A75 plateau.
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