France to Italy route

[Desart]

Hi all, we are planning a trip from the UK in late March through eastern France and then into Italy. We've been looking at the mountain pass that goes from Grenoble through to Briancon then onward to Pinerolo and finally Genova. We are in a Peugeot Boxer MWB campervan. Is it doable in a van and has anyone done it and does anyone have any tips or advice for the route. Thanks for any info.

 

[Jofang]

Hi all, we are planning a trip from the UK in late March through eastern France and then into Italy. We've been looking at the mountain pass that goes from Grenoble through to Briancon then onward to Pinerolo and finally Genova. We are in a Peugeot Boxer MWB campervan. Is it doable in a van and has anyone done it and does anyone have any tips or advice for the route. Thanks for any info.

We did this route several years ago through Briancon towing a twin axle caravan. No problem. Italian motorways are expensive, be warned.

 

[Lenny HB]

Italian motorways are expensive, be warned.

???
They are very cheap compared to France.

 

[Sapper520]

March?

Many of the passes are still closed then. We travelled late May, and the pass we used had only been open a couple of weeks. So your route may be limited at that time of year.

 

[suavecarve]

???
They are very cheap compared to France.

Totally agree.
We made it right across to Trieste for about 40 quid from near Briancon.
There's a great summer luge on the border there

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[gpat]

March?

Many of the passes are still closed then. We travelled late May, and the pass we used had only been open a couple of weeks. So your route may be limited at that time of year.

The col du lautaret is normally open all year so you should be OK. Its a major arterial road. It's over 2000m high though so can be treacherous in heavy snow and closed for periods.

 

[Jofang]

???
They are very cheap compared to France.

You may be correct. The last time we were in Italy we came back to France through Briancon from Milan and we had to use several interconnecting motorways albeit for short distances but it stuck in my memory that we paid about 40 euros for the pleasure and this was 8 years ago.

 

[Desart]

Thanks all for your replies, may have to look for an alternative route or do Italy another time. Not too bothered about tolls as we always do toll free routes, cheers.

 

[DDJC]

Thanks all for your replies, may have to look for an alternative route or do Italy another time. Not too bothered about tolls as we always do toll free routes, cheers.

If the destination is more important than the route, its the Mont Blanc tunnel every time.

 

[DDJC]

If you fancy a bit of swiss on your way down, the best campsite near Geneve is the site at Rolle. Literally amazing lake side views of the Jura and the Alps. Mile walk to the station. Swiss trains are legendarily reliable.

Genova is very industrialised. Several sites up in the hills behind.

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[jarcadia]

We use the route Calais,Reims, Lyon, Aix, Nice,Ventimiglia. Mixture of toll & toll free roads.

 

[chaser]

We use the route Calais,Reims, Lyon, Aix, Nice,Ventimiglia. Mixture of toll & toll free roads.

Us too

 

[Lofty1]

Hi all, we are planning a trip from the UK in late March through eastern France and then into Italy. We've been looking at the mountain pass that goes from Grenoble through to Briancon then onward to Pinerolo and finally Genova. We are in a Peugeot Boxer MWB campervan. Is it doable in a van and has anyone done it and does anyone have any tips or advice for the route. Thanks for any info.

Check to see if you need to carry snow chains

 

[Wanders from Glos]

If you fancy a bit of swiss on your way down, the best campsite near Geneve is the site at Rolle. Literally amazing lake side views of the Jura and the Alps. Mile walk to the station. Swiss trains are legendarily reliable.

Genova is very industrialised. Several sites up in the hills behind.

Which campsite is that please? We are heading to the Italian Lakes late May 2023.

 

[Claris]

Hi all, we are planning a trip from the UK in late March through eastern France and then into Italy. We've been looking at the mountain pass that goes from Grenoble through to Briancon then onward to Pinerolo and finally Genova. We are in a Peugeot Boxer MWB campervan. Is it doable in a van and has anyone done it and does anyone have any tips or advice for the route. Thanks for any info.

Think you will find carrying snow chains/socks is still mandatory in this region at that time. The col be lauteret should be OK, as main route through, but some of the roads up from Grenoble might give you a fright in bad weather! Narrow, and typically have big drop offs on one side. If you want a ski stop, Serre Chevalier is great. The road out of Briancon can be a challenge if late snow. An alternative route to Briancon could be via Gap from Grenoble, linger journey, but you might find it less intimidating.

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[Jofang]

We did the route through Gap with our caravan 8 years ago. Good road , good route.

 

[TheMachMan]

We use the route Calais,Reims, Lyon, Aix, Nice,Ventimiglia. Mixture of toll & toll free roads.

If you were heading the Italian Lakes would you still take this route?

 

[Ingwe]

???
They are very cheap compared to France.

Not only relatively cheap (when compared to France) but oh so much better than struggling on normal roads. We travelled across the PO Valley (via Briancon) en route to Ancona. When we got to Fontenallata for the night after our first day in Italy, a fellow Dutch camper laughed when we complained about how rough the Italian roads were. He said always, where possible, stay on the Autostrada. We didn't make that mistake again. Luckily, all the fillings in our teeth, shaken loose, have been replaced.

 

[Lenny HB]

Not only relatively cheap (when compared to France) but oh so much better than struggling on normal roads. We travelled across the PO Valley (via Briancon) en route to Ancona. When we got to Fontenallata for the night after our first day in Italy, a fellow Dutch camper laughed when we complained about how rough the Italian roads were. He said always, where possible, stay on the Autostrada. We didn't make that mistake again. Luckily, all the fillings in our teeth, shaken loose, have been replaced.

As we had plenty of time we went down the the coast road from Rimini to Ancona oh boy that was a mistake took hours at 20mph trying to avoid the mammoth potholes.

 

[DDJC]

Which campsite is that please? We are heading to the Italian Lakes late May 2023.

The one we use is Tenuta Squaneto, about 90 minutes from Genoa on the Liguria/Piedmont border. It is run by a Dutch couple and is very popular with Dutch motorhomers and campers.

Very very off the beaten track! Once there, the welcome is great, but it is not cheap.

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[DDJC]

Not only relatively cheap (when compared to France) but oh so much better than struggling on normal roads. We travelled across the PO Valley (via Briancon) en route to Ancona. When we got to Fontenallata for the night after our first day in Italy, a fellow Dutch camper laughed when we complained about how rough the Italian roads were. He said always, where possible, stay on the Autostrada. We didn't make that mistake again. Luckily, all the fillings in our teeth, shaken loose, have been replaced.

Agree, but even the Autostrada is hit and miss the further south you go. In 2017, the main motorway link between Roma and Napoli was like a cobbled road, it was so broken up!

I truly love Italy and the Italian life, and it is our usual destination, but the roads can be awful.

 

[Wanders from Glos]

The one we use is Tenuta Squaneto, about 90 minutes from Genoa on the Liguria/Piedmont border. It is run by a Dutch couple and is very popular with Dutch motorhomers and campers.

Very very off the beaten track! Once there, the welcome is great, but it is not cheap.

Great thanks, have made a note of it.

 

[Ingwe]

Agree, but even the Autostrada is hit and miss the further south you go. In 2017, the main motorway link between Roma and Napoli was like a cobbled road, it was so broken up!

I truly love Italy and the Italian life, and it is our usual destination, but the roads can be awful.

Yes, I too have loved what we've seen of Italy and its people (not to mention the food and wines). But the roads (and some their drivers) leave a lot to be desired.

 

[jarcadia]

If you were heading the Italian Lakes would you still take this route?

We don’t go to the lakes, always stay on the coast but there is an autostrada from Savona going north.

 

[Alan Atkin]

Hi all, we are planning a trip from the UK in late March through eastern France and then into Italy. We've been looking at the mountain pass that goes from Grenoble through to Briancon then onward to Pinerolo and finally Genova. We are in a Peugeot Boxer MWB campervan. Is it doable in a van and has anyone done it and does anyone have any tips or advice for the route. Thanks for any info.

we did this route in 2018 in april its a fasinating route the roads are patrolled by police snow chains are a must have at least until end of march.
another route would be brugge and then onto the german motorways (free ) we stayed over night at Llahnstien stelle platz and then onto oberamagau for another night then to Austria purchased a vinette for eight euro and on into northern Italy and stayed at Trento. Our destination was Mantova stayed on a camp site motor homes only just out side the city all mod cons and right on the lakes.
Have a nice time.

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[Loftyjeff]

We use the route Calais,Reims, Lyon, Aix, Nice,Ventimiglia. Mixture of toll & toll free roads.

 

[Molly A]

We did this route several years ago through Briancon towing a twin axle caravan. No problem. Italian motorways are expensive, be warned.

They are not for the distances you travel...

 

[Molly A]

If you were heading the Italian Lakes would you still take this route?

Would have thought quicker through the Alsace to Basle, through Switzerland to the Gottard tunnel or over the pass from May onwards, then down through the Ticino to the lakes

 

[ChrisL]

One of my sisters lives in Briancon, you must have snow chains on board in the winter, also personally, I would plan your trip to make sure you go over the Col de lauteret in daylight, I normally stop at Beaune overnight and leave from there in the morning.

 

[Reallyretired]

I have used mont cenis and mont genevre passes but only later in the year. Both easy for a large motorhome and scenic. That early in the year I would fork out and take the tunnel though.