Routes through France and Spain without using toll roads

[jeremyburns]

I have driven cars extensively in France and Italy and always used toll roads to get to my destination quickly. I am new to motorhome life, I am about to start planing trips through France then onward to Spain and Portugal. My question ….is there an easy way to find good direct routes that do not include toll roads.

 

[Figaro]

This may help

Road map of France with motorways & main routes

The French motorway network, showing toll and free motorways, plus other main trunk routes or highways

about-france.com

 

[leann53]

N10 south but you will be an expert on roundabout,s . From south of bordeaux best to use motorway to cross into Spain enjoy

 

[EuroTrotters]

Go on Ebay and buy some old

ITINAIR'BIS maps​

 

[jeremyburns]

This may help

Road map of France with motorways & main routes

The French motorway network, showing toll and free motorways, plus other main trunk routes or highways

about-france.com

Thank you

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[jeremyburns]

N10 south but you will be an expert on roundabout,s . From south of bordeaux best to use motorway to cross into Spain enjoy

Thank you

 

[jeremyburns]

Go on Ebay and buy some old

ITINAIR'BIS maps​

Thank you

 

[garry55]

Get a good sat nav (something like a Garmin Camper etc) and select "Avoiding Tolls"
That's how we do it.

 

[Jimbohorlicks]

We have an xgody sat nav ( cheapo at circa £60)with all maps up to date. Just select no tolls and motorhome dimensions and it's good to go.

 

[Kups]

Try this website.

Through France avoiding tolls - Calais-Bayonne and Southwest France

Drive from Calais to the Spanish border at Irun, avoiding most tolls. Route guide and hotels

about-france.com

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[Bill-H]

Does the free Michelin on-line mapping have the option to ask it avoid toll roads?
As mantioned above, some satnavs give you that option

 

[Just smiffy]

Get a good sat nav (something like a Garmin Camper etc) and select "Avoiding Tolls"
That's how we do it.

This is what I do too, takes me on some great routes and see things you’ll never see on a toll motorway…

 

[Jo662]

There also Tonkas route,using some tolls .

Tonka's Western route to Spain

My often used, mostly toll free, route into Spain and to Benidorm in particular.

www.motorhomefun.co.uk

 

[NewToMH]

Vielha tunnel is great way to get between France and Spain. The tolls have been removed from some of the motorways in Catalunya. We have travelled a lot between the UK and Catalunya, initially we avoided the toll roads but found overtime that the traffic calming measures on the old main roads through the towns added so much to the time taken and fuel consumption that it was worth using the motorways, especially getting very hill areas such as around Cahors. That said, now we are retired and have more time the plan is to potter on byways and take more time over the trip so we will just motorways to get around difficult bits (Rouen and Orleans spring to mind).

 

[MichaelT]

Via Michelin you can put in to avoid tolls, if you set vehicle as car with caravan it will also give you class2 tolls so you can compare.

As NewToMH says avoiding tolls can literally take its toll 9n you and your vehicle

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[DandJ]

Both google maps and viaMichelin can show non toll routes. With a bit of time planning (some of us love it, some hate it) you can find a mix and match route...and with a few tabs open, it is straightforward to plan an interesting route to include a few places you wish to visit.
Calais to Alicante as an example
I wanna get there quickly.....it will show the quickest and shortest routes...often with 2 or 3 slight variations on screen...but using toll roads. (A visit to Sanef site will let you calculate the cost too)
I have 4 days to get there...easily done without tolls....untick the 'use toll roads' box and see what crops up. Use the mouse to click and drag the route to any towns or sites you wish to visit on route and a new route will be calculated. (Google mapping)
We do all of the above.....(and then I jot a few notes down on old fashioned paper with one of those ink pen thingies...belt and braces and all that..I've never had a notepad spend time 'buffering' or need to be switched off and on again)
First pic.....google maps direct route inc tolls
Second pic....direct route avoiding tolls
Third pic....I've decided to stop at Chateau de Chambord in the Loire, Josephine Bakers chateau in the Dordogne and a nice Spanish pyrenean town, Ainsa.