Le Mans to Bordeaux

tkk

Joined
Jun 9, 2014
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notts
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31,911
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Frankia i640
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newbie but learning fast
Hi,
Anyone have any experienced views on the N10 option versus the tolled A10 section?
Thanks
 
Hi,
Anyone have any experienced views on the N10 option versus the tolled A10 section?
Thanks
It depends how you feel about getting to your destination I have driven from Le Mans to Bordeaux about 3 weeks ago and I enjoyed it. From Piotiers it's dual carriageway all the way to Bordeaux with 3 or 4 aires just of the dual carriageway, one with free EHU.

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It's possible to use the A10 most of the way yopu can get on the N10 to bypass toll booths then get back on again. Done that a couple of times, and a couple of times thought "Ahhhh, sod it .."
Aren't they swapping over to gantry cameras? Big Brother is always watching and all that. I've always found I've made satisfactory progress on the N10 anyway. You do get a 'lorra, lorrra lorries' though.
 
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We did it last year. N10 north instead of A10. It’s ok BUT if you are over 3.5t you will be stuck in a convoy of trucks most of the way and restricted to 90 kph. It’s not even a particularly pretty run!

But if thats your bag, then its an ok way to get from A-B
 
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When driving down the N10 it's mostly 80kph and no overtaking for vehicles over 3.5T, so the only lorries you have overtaking you are foreign to France. Same after Bordeaux to Bayonne.

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Hi,
Anyone have any experienced views on the N10 option versus the tolled A10 section?
Thanks
Its the N10 for me. We came back from Urunge (near Irun) all the way back to Eurotunnel without any Tolls using N roads and D roads. Even the D roads are better than our UK A roads! Much more interesting than sitting on Toll Motorways hour after hour. Fuel is always cheaper off The Tolls too. Obviously down to how much time you have .
 
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N10 is fine at weekends but it's a procession of trucks midweek. We find it's fine and it's a good road surface, Watch where the trucks slow down as they know the speed cameras, you can generally overtake easy enough if you want but as others said legally it's 80kph over 3.5t but of course being a little van I'm only 3.5t like the frenchies anyway😁

Edit. Given the choice I'd do A10 but it's tolled and costs! We always used to before retirement as time was precious and we had income.....
 
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Hi,
Anyone have any experienced views on the N10 option versus the tolled A10 section?
Thanks
I do this journey a couple of times a year. If you are over 3.5T then there are lots of 80km/h restrictions on N10 so you will make much better progress on A10. If you travel on a Sunday most of the trucks are off the road so N10 a reasonable option, but on a weekday the inside lane can be blocked with lorries travelling at 80km/h, leaving only one lane for everything else. Having said all that the A10 can be busy in summertime as well.
 
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Having said all that the A10 can be busy in summertime as well.
Yep when we had the kids with us it took over an hour to get thru the toll booths at Bordeax in July.

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Living in SW France, we use either the A10, or N10, every time we go back to see family in the UK. This is nearly always in a car, or our van (Transit Custom). We much prefer the N10, it's now nearly all 110km/hr all the way and so the difference in time is negligible.
I would say there is always one lorry, each trip, that overtakes but mostly that's when they have nothing behind them. Or they're Spanish.... Otherwise they're not really a problem.
As for fuel, there is a shopping complex at the top end of the N10 with cheaper fuel and also one in Bordeaux at the Carbon Blanc exit/area.
We have seen police speed traps, using guns and motos but only once in about 10 years.
We do use the A10 occasionally, mainly when heading north, or when we fancy getting coffee and food at the Paul at Saint Leger services (only northbound).
Realistically why use the A10, it costs more, is pretty boring, has less opportunities to exit and is only 5/10 minutes quicker!
 
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Hi,
Anyone have any experienced views on the N10 option versus the tolled A10 section?
Thanks
There's a nice out of town overnight lake side stop here,
Screenshot_20240503-100504_Maps.webp


Mike.
 
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The section to the North of Poitiers from, say Futurescope,
is the capital of roundabout, traffic light City.

Even if you are 'hardcore' deep pocketed Tyke, that section is a serious hit
to your pocket, fuel economy wise.
 
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Living in SW France, we use either the A10, or N10, every time we go back to see family in the UK. This is nearly always in a car, or our van (Transit Custom). We much prefer the N10, it's now nearly all 110km/hr all the way and so the difference in time is negligible.
I would say there is always one lorry, each trip, that overtakes but mostly that's when they have nothing behind them. Or they're Spanish.... Otherwise they're not really a problem.
As for fuel, there is a shopping complex at the top end of the N10 with cheaper fuel and also one in Bordeaux at the Carbon Blanc exit/area.
We have seen police speed traps, using guns and motos but only once in about 10 years.
We do use the A10 occasionally, mainly when heading north, or when we fancy getting coffee and food at the Paul at Saint Leger services (only northbound).
Realistically why use the A10, it costs more, is pretty boring, has less opportunities to exit and is only 5/10 minutes quicker!
According to Tom Tom it's 1hr 23 faster on A10
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1000019921.webp




1000019920.webp
 
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The N10 is a good road, all the trucks heading to Spain and Portugal use it. If you are over 3500kg you will be restricted to 90km and look out for the Carrefour speed limits. A nice free aire is a place called Verteuil-sur-Charente. Itsv48 hrs free with black and grey disposal and fresh water. Lovely little village which is unusual in that it has cafes and bars for a place so small.

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The N10 is a good road, all the trucks heading to Spain and Portugal use it. If you are over 3500kg you will be restricted to 90km and look out for the Carrefour speed limits. A nice free aire is a place called Verteuil-sur-Charente. Itsv48 hrs free with black and grey disposal and fresh water. Lovely little village which is unusual in that it has cafes and bars for a place so small.
If you just want a stop this is a good one, all services except EHU just off N10, nothing in village but it's quiet.
 
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Perhaps I am being presumptuous but I thought the OP meant the section from Poitiers to Bordeaux. Taking the A28 and then A10 until Poitiers where there is the option to use the A10 or N10.

AFAIK (and possibly pedantically 😳) both roads don't actually link Le Mans and Bordeaux and the N10 was renamed the N910 (for the most part) until Poitiers.

From Poitiers it is then the N10, which according to google maps takes 2hr 33 from junction 30 on the A10 to the centre of Bordeaux. On the A10, google is currently saying 2hr 45.

Perhaps the reason there is so much difference is that your first route is via Saumur, which seems a strange option but then we are talking about a GPS routing. None of which ever seem to use the best routes. 🤪
 
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Perhaps I am being presumptuous but I thought the OP meant the section from Poitiers to Bordeaux. Taking the A28 and then A10 until Poitiers where there is the option to use the A10 or N10.

AFAIK (and possibly pedantically 😳) both roads don't actually link Le Mans and Bordeaux and the N10 was renamed the N910 (for the most part) until Poitiers.

From Poitiers it is then the N10, which according to google maps takes 2hr 33 from junction 30 on the A10 to the centre of Bordeaux. On the A10, google is currently saying 2hr 45.

Perhaps the reason there is so much difference is that your first route is via Saumur, which seems a strange option but then we are talking about a GPS routing. None of which ever seem to use the best routes. 🤪
OP said le man's to bordeaux which is what I input and Tom Tom is set to heavy camper🤪😜😛

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Just done this route and thought the 90kmph was for wagons over 3.5t and thought overtaking all those trucks were fair game 😇.
Also went through Rouen but didn’t have a crit air thing. Should I be worried?
 
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Perhaps I am being presumptuous but I thought the OP meant the section from Poitiers to Bordeaux. Taking the A28 and then A10 until Poitiers where there is the option to use the A10 or N10.

AFAIK (and possibly pedantically 😳) both roads don't actually link Le Mans and Bordeaux and the N10 was renamed the N910 (for the most part) until Poitiers.

From Poitiers it is then the N10, which according to google maps takes 2hr 33 from junction 30 on the A10 to the centre of Bordeaux. On the A10, google is currently saying 2hr 45.

Perhaps the reason there is so much difference is that your first route is via Saumur, which seems a strange option but then we are talking about a GPS routing. None of which ever seem to use the best routes. 🤪
That’s the section I was most interested in. I would probably use A28 for Le Mans to poitiers
 
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