Distance and drive times (Calais - Le Mans)

[GingaNinga]

Hello,

I am a Le Mans regular but this year instead of from Portsmouth we're doing Calais to Le Mans on the Thursday, does anyone know how long to allow to get there and how far it is? (only manage about 220 miles on a tank full in the Chimaera)

It's more important for the ferry home on the Monday as getting up and driving with that hangover is a nightmare so we'd like to leave it as late as possible (and yes, we have had members of our party miss the ferry before now!).

[dax_j]

look at www.theaa.com then select route planner should give you distance and e.t.a .Actually just looked it up myself it states 418km and 4hr43min

[alfa dave]

I'd go along with that estimate. Assuming you go via Rouen, it can be done in 4 hours but allow 5. Last bit is very traffic dependant. That's assuming you don't stop, which of course you must to fully appreciate the trip.

[Mark B]

F ing long way, did it one Pre Qual weekend. Vowed never to do it again.

Still, we did 270 miles in 3 hours in a 1600 Orion!

[Mark B]

F ing long way, did it one Pre Qual weekend. Vowed never to do it again.

Still, we did 270 miles in 3 hours in a 1600 Orion!

[dontlift]

Calais to Le-Mans took me 8 hours last year - But it was in a Motorhome with top speed of around 69.83 MPH, and yes we did push it to find out

[GingaNinga]

Eight hours, that's not good. Do I take it that the roads aren't as good from Calais then as we just fly from Cherbourg - some 170 miles in no time at all.

[johnny boy]

We usually take the 'boring route' and go on the autoroutes via Paris.

It takes about 5 hours including stops for food/fuel etc. and does provide for some interesting top speed testing!

John

[Lensey]

I go A16 to Rouen - N138 to Alencon, (New) autoroute to Le mans, takes about 4 hrs with just petrol stops.

[prancing]

Well I'm taking the Calais to Le Mans route, I took me 12 hours to get from Calais to Madrid (Spain) last summer, so I guess it should take 2 hours to Le Mans

G.

[Graham]

we did the tunnel run a few years back and the traffic on the monday was terrible it took 7 hours to get back and that was in a tvr convoy and boy was it hot....

[Lensey]

prancing said: Well I'm taking the Calais to Le Mans route, I took me 12 hours to get from Calais to Madrid (Spain) last summer, so I guess it should take 2 hours to Le Mans

G.

I normally do Calais to Costa Blanca (going same route as Le Mans) in 16 hours, difference is there are never 60,000 English all going to Le mans at the same time

[johnny boy]

Lensey said: I go A16 to Rouen - N138 to Alencon, (New) autoroute to Le mans, takes about 4 hrs with just petrol stops.

We're hitting Calais at about 11AM on Thursday morning - what's the traffic likely to be like on this route?

[Lensey]

The traffic is normally fine from Calais to Rouen but from Rouen to Alencon it normally gets busy at around 1pm when you hit it. I'm going over early this year so I can take a few more stops on the way down and admire the sights

[GingaNinga]

We've started going down on the Thursdays too as the traffic is a lot lighter and you get more time on the Friday at Le Mans (durr - obviously!). We pretty much drove straight into Le Mans without hitting too much traffic around 2-3pm last year (Cherbourg route admitedly).

[shok]

Anyone know if the new road through Rouen has been opened yet. We got stuck in the road-works there on the way back last year and I had a few over-heating problems. Those road-works appear to be taking bloody ages - it's like being at home.

[lateconvert]

We always get the 8.30am (ish) from Calais, go A16 to Rouen then N138 to Alencon finishing on new autoroute to Le Mans. We have a coffee and petrol stop, a very leisurely lunch around Bernay and always arrive about 25 miles south of Le Mans at our hotel for drinkies around 5.30pm. Never been a problem.

[FLAT 6]

IMHO Calais to Rouen is the less interesting part of the drive so we normally go on the peage (toll road/autoroute). Careful about the average speed - the traffic gendarmes sometimes wait at exits and can nick you on the basis of timed entry and exit printed on the ticket! Means short periods of rapidity broken up by longish stops for coffee to bring down the averages..!

Rouen to Le Mans via Alencon is what the Le Mans trip is all about! Long, tree lined straights, plenty of small towns and villages for lunch, like a condensed Cannonball basically.

Usually leave Calais c. 10 am (having taken lait Wed ferry and stayed there) and get to Le Mans c. 4 pm. No rush, enjoy the trip.

10 weeks! Bring it on!!!

[chrisgr31]

I usually go Dieppe to Le Mans, however this year can't get on the Seacat on Monday so going back via Calais.

Last year the traffic back on Monday was terrible. Queuesat the end of the new Motoray at Alecon or wherever it ends. Big queues elsewhere on the road up to Rouen but can't recall where they were!

I made Dieppe in time to catch my Seacat, only problem was it wasn't running so managed to get an extra meal in Dieppe. A friend who was going back via Calais missed the ferry due to traffic delays.

Missing the ferry isn't really a problem as they just put you on the next one.

The whole point of the post is that the journey should be quick but usually consists of periods of great speed, followed by traffic jams.

[smifffy]

I heard a vicious rumour that if you pay via credit/debit card at the payeage stations, then they can automatically fine you on your c/card too based on your average speed?

May be an urban legend, but who knows. Either way, the gendarmes will certainly be around.

However when CZ and I went 2 years ago we were literally standing still compared to some of the exotica that when hooning past.