From Calais to southwest France & Spain without tolls 2016-09-19

[PhilandMena]

PhilandMena submitted a new resource:

From Calais to southwest France & Spain without tolls - Route From Calais to southwest France & Spain without tolls

A relevant page from about-france.com

Read more about this resource...

 

[Allan & Loren]

There is a mapped route in MMM magazine this month that is good too. It then splits at the Spanish border depending on final destination for winter sun.

 

[Boringfrog]

PhilandMena submitted a new resource:

From Calais to southwest France & Spain without tolls - Route From Calais to southwest France & Spain without tolls



Read more about this resource...

Link has been updated a little to include the A63 toll sections, but I think the title is still a little misleading say Toll free route.

 

[tonka]

Why does that look very familiar ???
Even down to "the tolls worth paying" and cost of motorhome fees..

The part about coming off the A63 and back on again is certainly something posted on here in the past by a funster but i cant remember who..

 

[Allan & Loren]

The MMM magazine route is toll free and includes details of Aires, mileage, etc.

We don't winter in the sun as still doing that awful thing called work but will try this route next summer.

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[PhilandMena]

There is a mapped route in MMM magazine this month that is good too. It then splits at the Spanish border depending on final destination for winter sun.

Any chance of you putting it on for members

 

[PhilandMena]

Why does that look very familiar ???
Even down to "the tolls worth paying" and cost of motorhome fees..

The part about coming off the A63 and back on again is certainly something posted on here in the past by a funster but i cant remember who..

Page two tomorrow then LOL

 

[tonka]

Page two tomorrow then LOL

It's got a better layout than mine and with hotels will be handy for when i go in the car, although I already have my cheap B&B motels sorted.

 

[PhilandMena]

It's got a better layout than mine and with hotels will be handy for when i go in the car, although I already have my cheap B&B motels sorted.

I think your's is great for Funsters (and other's) who are looking for a route with stopoversand (if I may be so bold) it could become the bee's knee's by adding the further options for the non toll route between Calais and Abbeville, the route from Dieppe through Rouen and onto the A13 express way and finally how to get down the A63 south of Bordeaux using minimum tolls. I tend to advise members to look at the whole about-france and about -spain databases (webpages) as they offer alternative options and alternative routes but like you, use the N10 route myself. It's getting a bit to familiar now.

 

[PhilandMena]

Link has been updated a little to include the A63 toll sections, but I think the title is still a little misleading say Toll free route.

Agreed! It's a very big read and offers a lot of great options and advice. Extremely well researched and has won a few awards.

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[Allan & Loren]

Route on MMM magazine this month. Hope you can read this!

 

[PhilandMena]

Thank you, I appreciate your contribution.

 

[Allan & Loren]

Thank you, I appreciate your contribution.

Your welcome. All in the spirit of FUN. If there's any bit anyone can't read that you need, let me know. Things like co-ordinates, etc

 

[PhilandMena]

PhilandMena updated From Calais to southwest France & Spain without tolls with a new update entry:

From Calais to Spain (Irun) without Tolls

Minor update to include 2019 prices.

Read the rest of this update entry...

 

[Wh05apk]

Interested in this, assuming 55-60mph, what is a realistic driving time to get to Spain?

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[Mikeco]

Interested in this, assuming 55-60mph, what is a realistic driving time to get to Spain?

Using non toll roads you will be lucky to average no more than 40mph and in reality probably quite a bit less.

 

[PhilandMena]

Using non toll roads you will be lucky to average no more than 40mph and in reality probably quite a bit less.

If you read the detail, you will see that the whole journey is mostly duel carriageway and non toll motorway.

 

[PhilandMena]

Interested in this, assuming 55-60mph, what is a realistic driving time to get to Spain?

How long is a piece of string ? How much driving are you willing to do in a day ? It can be done in 2 days but that's solid driving. I would say 3-4 days depending on how many hours you want to drive each day. 4 hours per day and you will do it in 3 days.

 

[Janiemou]

Like PhilandMena, we used the N10 going south in March ... it was a delight to drive on.

 

[SpeedyDux]

Interested in this, assuming 55-60mph, what is a realistic driving time to get to Spain?

Except on the dual carriageways and motorways the French national speed limit is now only @50 mph (80 kph).

To achieve 55-60 mph as an average you would need to use toll motorways as well.

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[tonyl]

How long is the section of dual carriageway on this route where 3.5t and above vehicles are limited to 80kph and not allowed to overtake? It seemed to go on forever, though we were one of a very small number of vehicles even attempting to comply.

I’m a great fan of the toll free routes but I do think Macron and his cronies are beginning to win. If you just want to get from A to B with no hassle and little chance of a speeding ticket, I am coming to the view that judicious use of tolls is the answer. I’ll be doing some checking of rates, etc, before our next trip to Spain to try and determine where a further 10, 20 or 30 euros could best be spent in addition to the sections mentioned.

Even using dual carriageways where possible, I reckon 40mph is the high end of what you can expect to achieve as an average, taking into account loo breaks, tea breaks, lunch, etc. Mind you, I haven’t reached the point where tea and coffee are banned in the van and sipped water is the only accepted refreshment, as some friends do! I’d much rather stop for a few minutes for an instant coffee and associated emptying activity.

 

[Clarky]

Interested in this, assuming 55-60mph, what is a realistic driving time to get to Spain?

If you don't want to be driving for many hours in a day a very simple formula that I use is 'a river a day'.
Day 1. Channel to the Seine
Day 2. Seine to Loire
Day 3 Loire to Dordogne
Day 4. Dordogne to Spanish border

Get to you days destination in time for a late lunch, go for a walk and explore, bottle of local wine and a nice supper, time for bed.
Repeat each day.
Arrive in Spain relaxed and in full holiday mode.

Richard.

 

[Clarky]

How long is the section of dual carriageway on this route where 3.5t and above vehicles are limited to 80kph and not allowed to overtake? It seemed to go on forever, though we were one of a very small number of vehicles even attempting to comply.

I’m a great fan of the toll free routes but I do think Macron and his cronies are beginning to win. If you just want to get from A to B with no hassle and little chance of a speeding ticket, I am coming to the view that judicious use of tolls is the answer. I’ll be doing some checking of rates, etc, before our next trip to Spain to try and determine where a further 10, 20 or 30 euros could best be spent in addition to the sections mentioned.

Even using dual carriageways where possible, I reckon 40mph is the high end of what you can expect to achieve as an average, taking into account loo breaks, tea breaks, lunch, etc. Mind you, I haven’t reached the point where tea and coffee are banned in the van and sipped water is the only accepted refreshment, as some friends do! I’d much rather stop for a few minutes for an instant coffee and associated emptying activity.

I agree!
We have been using non toll routes for the last few years but are now starting to pay for short sections of peage.
Instead of going through busy, narrow town streets with their speed bumps and endless roundabouts it's just so much easier to jump on the motorway and whiz straight past. The few euros paid is partly saved by using less fuel than stop-start and less wear and tear on the vehicle and driver.
I have even invested in a toll tag which is brilliant. No more fumbling and trying to reach the ticket which is either too high or too low without climbing half out of the window.

Richard.

 

[PhilandMena]

I agree!
We have been using non toll routes for the last few years but are now starting to pay for short sections of peage.
Instead of going through busy, narrow town streets with their speed bumps and endless roundabouts it's just so much easier to jump on the motorway and whiz straight past. The few euros paid is partly saved by using less fuel than stop-start and less wear and tear on the vehicle and driver.
I have even invested in a toll tag which is brilliant. No more fumbling and trying to reach the ticket which is either too high or too low without climbing half out of the window.

Richard.

Agree with much of that. Although the title of my resource states non toll, it does indeed use some very cheap and short toll sections to get through Tours and the bottom end of the A63.

 

[Wh05apk]

When I said 55-60mph I meant as a cruising speed where possible not an average, have previously done home to South of France by car in a day (900miles) but now prefer to relax so possibly 3 easy days (up to 6 hours?) is realistic?

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[tonyl]

Calais to Irun is around 650 miles, so three easy days is realistic. We normally do three stints of two hours and end up going 200 to 250 miles a day finishing mid-afternoon.

You could do it in two easy(ish) days by using all the toll roads, especially if you increase your speed slightly as well, but you will be travelling at a much more constant speed, so it might not hit consumption too much. Is it worth the toll (about 150€ for Class II) though?

One of these days we will go to France and slow down and enjoy it, rather than rush through to Spain. We try to have a slower journey home but that just seems to result in a longer route involving roundabouts, speed bumps, chicanes, etc.

 

[Clarky]

but that just seems to result in a longer route involving roundabouts, speed bumps, chicanes, etc.

I'm sure there is a conspiracy to make driving through towns and villages as awkward and as slow as possible to add to the slow 80kph speed limits on those long straight roads.
They just want to divert us all onto the Peage system.

Richard.

 

[JockandRita]

I'm sure there is a conspiracy to make driving through towns and villages as awkward and as slow as possible to add to the slow 80kph speed limits on those long straight roads.
They just want to divert us all onto the Peage system.

Richard.

If we had proper sea legs Jon, we wouldn't be driving through France at all, but as there is no guarantee for a smooth sailing through the BoB, it has to be the long drive down for us.

We do it reasonably slowly over 5-6 days, from Calais to Valencia. By the end of the year, apparently there won't be any Spanish tolls to pay, although they are very reasonable charges........................unlike the French.

Cheers,

Jock.