Calais to Lake Geneva road trip

[Furbs]

We are planning on visiting friends in Lausanne on Lake Geneva in October. Rather than simply following Google Maps I'd be keen to hear from anyone re a more scenic or interesting route? Was thinking of a one or two night stop each way? All suggestions and advice welcome.

[SaulGoodman]

We lived in Lausanne a while ago and did a trip to Normandy, although just in a day. Not sure about routes, but if you are taking a leisurely drive certainly look at stopping in Lyon the night before you arrive. Food is fantastic. Also look at going through Annecy, it’s a beautiful spot.

It’s a lovely drive along the lake from Lausanne to Montreux - all vineyards and little villages. Assume you know about vignettes and stuff.

[itsnotarace]

If you wanted to avoid the boring French autoroutes and tolls then how about A16 towards Dunkirk and then E42 to Charleroi or Namur and then down through the Ardennes, through Luxembourg and then B500 from Baden-Baden down through the black forest towards Basel where you can pick up the last leg to Neuchatel and then Lausanne

[Furbs]

Thanks folks. I'll get the map out on the kitchen table (just like my dad used to do!)

[Sortie 10]

This is a route I do several times a year & know it by heart! Just got back.

Firstly get yourself a Sanef pass for the autoroute, fits behind your interior mirror & you can avoid the hassle of collecting & paying for tickets (it's the law that your passenger is asleep at toll booths, & if they're not they complain that you are too far away for them to reach). Strangely satisfying to queue jump & see the reaction of the French to see the barrier lift for a rosbif.
There is no easy (or fun) way across northern France, I take the autoroute to just beyond Reims A4, junction for La Veuve (some of the cheapest fuel in France at the Total Express at St Martin Sur le Pré just off this junction) then Châlons, Vitry, St Dizier, Chaumont, Langres, Gray, Besançon, Pontarlier, cross border at Vallorbe then autoroute to the Lake at Lausanne. Only advice is to watch for cameras, I've just been pinged for an adjusted 81km in an 80 zone near Langres, €45 s'il vous plaît.
The alternative, faster route (but less fun) is autoroute as far as Poligny then a great road via Champagnole, Censeau, Malbuisson (my second home), Hôpitaux, Vallorbe (as above) to Lausanne.
& If you are in need of sustenance or a hotel in the Malbuisson area I can recommend several places (there's even a Michelin starred place).
Depending on your timing, I tend to take a late afternoon crossing from Dover & stop somewhere like St Quentin (Hotel Le Florence - available on hotels.com -in the centre of town is comfortable & a short stroll from bars, restaurants & is so much nicer than trading estate motels).
Enjoy!