First trip to Europe - across France and into Barcelona during Easter 2025

[ItaMotorhomer]

Hi

Our first trip to Europe its booked

Entering France via ferry (Dover-Calais)

Then travelling the full length of France and heading towards Barcelona where we then catch a ferry to Sardinia

It’s our first time in Europe with out Moho,

unfortunately the only dates available to us ment arriving into Calais on the 19th of April, our ferry from Barcelona leaves on the 22nd of April around 8pm.

So travelling across France right in the middle of Easter / Easter Monday

Now what should we expect:

Are roads going to be busier? And so Aires and Campsites ?

Are all the shops and supermarkets closed during the Easter dates ? What about petrol station?

We were planing to minimise the use of toll roads in France and travel around 5/6 hrs a day.

with been water holidays should we book a campsite for each night in advance so not to run the risk of struggling to find an Aire space available?

We’re travelling with our 2 dogs

Finally any suggestions of any app to use in the continent would be very appreciated

Many thanks in advance

 

[grasscutter]

I think you need to look at more than 5-6 hrs a day if going non toll.Probably double that.

 

[Brains]

Calais/Barcelona via whatever route is about 1,500km
Basis 5-6 hrs per day

At (tolled) motorway speeds via Dijon/Lyon that is about 20 driving hours, so 4 days.

Using the non-tolled route (Via Limoges) is also about 1,500km, but closer to 30 driving hours, or 6 days.

You are going to be running against the clock the entire way down.
You need to produce a time line that starts from when you get up on the 19th to the time you need to be in the ferry queue on the 22nd.

If there is a way of doing the channel crossing earlier (the night before ?) then I'd do it, there is all the faffing around in the ferry queue and loading as well as ferry time and time getting clear of the port.
Which means, including the extra hour you loose the ferry crossing is at last 5 hours of your precious time.

 

[Brains]

Just looking at the map.

Given your start point of Leeds, you would be much better off heading to Harwich and getting the overnight ferry to Hoek of Holland.
You arrive at 8am (Dutch time) and you would be on the French motorways within 3 hours.

The overall distance is slightly shorter, but it's still a three full days drive, but Harwich might give you a half day head start.

(Leeds/Harwich is 4hrs. The night ferry starts loading at 8pm)

 

[suavecarve]

Either Limoges or Clermont and although long days I don't see an issue.
Non toll most of the way but perpignan needs consideration.
I wouldn't worry about aires en route presuming not staying overnight from Montpellier to Spain then b and c plans will be required

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[fishplug]

I wouldn't overthink the availability of petrol and France is excellent in terms of campsites or even free Aires which will have water and waste dumps etc.

As others have mentioned 5 hours per day gives you a limited range irrespective of motorway/non motorway.

We just did a trip to Italy that we've done a hundred times before - but went non-motorway for the first time. Added 1.5 hours which is irrelevant on a 1,000 mile trip.

However, I drove something like 8-9h per day in order to do the trip in two days which is probably comparable mileage to your proposed trip.

I actually found the non-motorway route less tiring as you get a mix of 60Mph and then slowing down for towns where you actually drive for a bit rather than sit on cruise control. Longer days were easier for me than the monotonous drone of the motorway.

You know your limits and if 5h is safe driving for you then you need to allow more time to do the trip. Alternatively, if you want to do the trip in the time, then you have to allow for more hours behind the wheel.

 

[ItaMotorhomer]

Calais/Barcelona via whatever route is about 1,500km
Basis 5-6 hrs per day

At (tolled) motorway speeds via Dijon/Lyon that is about 20 driving hours, so 4 days.

Using the non-tolled route (Via Limoges) is also about 1,500km, but closer to 30 driving hours, or 6 days.

You are going to be running against the clock the entire way down.
You need to produce a time line that starts from when you get up on the 19th to the time you need to be in the ferry queue on the 22nd.

If there is a way of doing the channel crossing earlier (the night before ?) then I'd do it, there is all the faffing around in the ferry queue and loading as well as ferry time and time getting clear of the port.
Which means, including the extra hour you loose the ferry crossing is at last 5 hours of your precious time.

Hi

Thanks for that, unfortunately holidays date and ferry etc this was the only best option.

-We’re in Calais at 12:45 on the 19th
-The ferry need to be in Barcelona for 19:00 on the 2nd


So I think driving something like:
19th - 4/ 5 hrs drive
20th 6/7 hrs drive
21st. 6/7 hrs drive
22nd 4/5 hrs drive

 

[ItaMotorhomer]

I wouldn't overthink the availability of petrol and France is excellent in terms of campsites or even free Aires which will have water and waste dumps etc.

As others have mentioned 5 hours per day gives you a limited range irrespective of motorway/non motorway.

We just did a trip to Italy that we've done a hundred times before - but went non-motorway for the first time. Added 1.5 hours which is irrelevant on a 1,000 mile trip.

However, I drove something like 8-9h per day in order to do the trip in two days which is probably comparable mileage to your proposed trip.

I actually found the non-motorway route less tiring as you get a mix of 60Mph and then slowing down for towns where you actually drive for a bit rather than sit on cruise control. Longer days were easier for me than the monotonous drone of the motorway.

You know your limits and if 5h is safe driving for you then you need to allow more time to do the trip. Alternatively, if you want to do the trip in the time, then you have to allow for more hours behind the wheel.

Hi

That’s no a problem and more then happy to drive for longer if needed.

We’ve done similar trips in the past but with car so I was probably not taking into consideration the fact that in the Moho it’ll be a lot slower.

Any recommendations on best route ?

Thanks

 

[fishplug]

Been a while since I drove to Barcelona so any route info would be out of date. I'm thinking 15 years ago now!

What I will say is that while the MoHo is slower, it's much easier to stop somewhere for a power nap and you get a better rest in a proper bed than in a car seat - so it can be swings and roundabouts....

I think your proposed 4 day plan in terms of driving hours seems sensible. I always like to allow some leeway as there are days when I just wake up at 4am and can do three or four hours driving before stopping for breakfast and there are others where you find yourself somewhere beautiful and there's a castle that just wants exploring or whatever...

...sometimes it's a Check Engine Light that needs dealing with (yes, this happened to us on the way to Italy) or some other unexpected delay.

The point being that there's no point being too prescriptive about it as things change. Some days I feel up to more driving hours than others. As long as there's flexibility built in to the 'plan' then you're never chasing some arbitrary deadline and potentially putting yourself under undue pressure 'to get there'.

Drive to arrive, as they say.

 

[billym]

The port of Barcelona is in the clean air zone (ZBE)
Foreign vehicles have to register but then if you've got a modern engine that will probably be it.
If you've got an old one it's about £5 a day once you've jumped through all the hoops to register.

- Àrea Metropolitana de Barcelona

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[Brains]

Blimey

Hi

Thanks for that, unfortunately holidays date and ferry etc this was the only best option.

-We’re in Calais at 12:45 on the 19th
-The ferry need to be in Barcelona for 19:00 on the 2nd


So I think driving something like:
19th - 4/ 5 hrs drive
20th 6/7 hrs drive
21st. 6/7 hrs drive
22nd 4/5 hrs drive

Blimey!
You have made things difficult for yourself!

I'd have done the Harwich/Hoek of Holland ferry
Pootled from Leeds to Harwich in the evening to arrive at 8pm
Arrived at Hoek of Holland at 8am
Gone to Marseilles and got the ferry to Sardinia from there
750 miles, two driving days easy!

Instead you have route of over 1,000 miles and going within 50 miles of Marseilles port!

I think your driving hours are right.
I'd not over do it on day one, as ferry crossings are stressful.

But you need to boot it on day two and three, at least 350 miles each day
Aim to be on the Med by end of day 3

For the 200 mile run into Barcelona on the last day

At least you can sleep on the ferry !
Hope you booked a cabin!

 

[BikerGraham]

What’s the issue
We got off the tunnel on 15th December at around d 10:20 and we’d at vallariosa south of Benidorm by 13:00 hrs on Wednesday 18th December in the motorhome. So Barcelona is easily done.

 

[ItaMotorhomer]

Blimey

Blimey!
You have made things difficult for yourself!

I'd have done the Harwich/Hoek of Holland ferry
Pootled from Leeds to Harwich in the evening to arrive at 8pm
Arrived at Hoek of Holland at 8am
Gone to Marseilles and got the ferry to Sardinia from there
750 miles, two driving days easy!

Instead you have route of over 1,000 miles and going within 50 miles of Marseilles port!

I think your driving hours are right.
I'd not over do it on day one, as ferry crossings are stressful.

But you need to boot it on day two and three, at least 350 miles each day
Aim to be on the Med by end of day 3

For the 200 mile run into Barcelona on the last day

At least you can sleep on the ferry !
Hope you booked a cabin!

Yes we’ve done the Toulon/Nice/Marseille in the past various times- I’m from Sardinia originally.

Unfortunately the timing & days with Sardinia /Corsica ferries was not an option, ferry on the 20th no more space for Moho and then next crossing I think was 4 days later and goes via Corsica too 16 hrs crossing.

Never done it from Barcelona and never done it with the Moho though

Appreciate all the info and suggestions

 

[ItaMotorhomer]

The port of Barcelona is in the clean air zone (ZBE)
Foreign vehicles have to register but then if you've got a modern engine that will probably be it.
If you've got an old one it's about £5 a day once you've jumped through all the hoops to register.

- Àrea Metropolitana de Barcelona

Yes seen that, out is an oldish one (2005) but looked at the map and access to the port (motorway) and post itself it’s excluded from the ZBE, correct ?

How do we apply for access if not?

Thanks

 

[ItaMotorhomer]

What’s the issue
We got off the tunnel on 15th December at around d 10:20 and we’d at vallariosa south of Benidorm by 13:00 hrs on Wednesday 18th December in the motorhome. So Barcelona is easily done.

How many hrs of driving was that please ? Tolll or not toll roads?

Thanks

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