France Road Trip
Why travel to France
Well, what can I say. I am French and it’s the best country in the world!
On a more serious note, France has so much to offer it would take a lifetime to fully explore every city, town, village, mountain, beach and coastline. France is a great destination for road trips due to how big the country is and therefore the number of amazing roads available.
What I love about France so much is its diversity. Each region looks and feels different depending on landscape, architecture, food, weather and even accent. If you plan to travel across the country you are in for a treat as you will sample a variety of activities.
When is the best time to visit France
It’s best to avoid the summer holidays around mid-July to the end of August since most French people holiday in their own country. It’s also a good thing to note that most businesses will shut down throughout the summer, even in big cities.
If you are looking to go skiing in the mountains you should avoid going in February. It will be heaving as most French people treat the ski holiday in February as the most important holiday of the year.
If you want to enjoy the warm weather I would recommend going to France between May and June, as well as September. You will likely experience warm temperatures up to 20 degrees until October in the South of France.
How many days do you need in France
With a land area of 547,000 square kilometers it is the largest country in the European Union. Imagine how many days you will need to spend in France to cover all grounds? We did our own road trip in two and half weeks which allowed us to cover less than a third of France. To explore most of the country you will need to do it on multiple road trips so it’s entirely up to you how long you want to go.
How to travel around France
You can do both. However, I have a preference for renting a van and doing a mix of wild camping and using campsites. There are plenty of hotels and Airbnb available everywhere if you feel more comfortable with renting a car.
Driving in France is an enjoyable experience with its multitude network of motorways and beautiful regional roads. If you are in a rush it is probably best to pay and use the motorway. If time allows, go through the regional and national roads (marked as R or N) to enjoy the scenic views.
8 things to know when doing a road trip in France
Driving
Remember that the French drive on the right hand side of the road. Giving way to traffic comes from your right even when it’s coming from a small road. You must be over 21 in France to be able to rent a car and have driven for at least a year.
There is very little traffic to worry about in France unless you’re in Paris or any other big cities.
Roads and motorway
Toll roads can be expensive but are a good way to cover ground if in a rush – make sure you plan toll roads within your budget as they can become pricey depending on where you’re travelling to. Visit the French Motorway Companies Association for real time traffic information and toll rates. Alternatively national roads are free and can be pretty scenic – avoid toll roads if you have time and want to take the scenic route.
Breakdown
You’re forced to pay £150 recovery fee no matter if you have a breakdown policy or not – because motorways are considered as private roads.
Petrol
Fuel price is similar to England’s and it’s not cheap. Petrol stations in rural areas tend to be cheaper. If you find yourself in a small town or village make sure that you have filled up with petrol prior as the petrol stations close early and on Sundays.
Visit the official government website for fuel prices in France to have a better idea of real time prices when you travel to France.
Parking
Parking is usually very easy and you rarely need to buy a ticket. This doesn’t always apply if you find yourself in a big French city.
Camping
Every village and town in France will have at least one campsite called, camping municipal. Most campsites open from April to September (October at a push).
You’re not supposed to wild camp in France but there are thousands of air de camping spots often on the outskirts of towns. It’s always worth ringing campsites ahead. Camping municipal standards vary but are usually a safe bet when looking for a night stopover. Avoid campsites with pools as there will be full of family with kids (unless you travel with children, of course).
Speed
Speed limit varies depending on the weather but is generally higher than in England. There are plenty of speed cameras, there are warning signs but the camera are hard to spot. They usually look like a big grey box with a yellow warning sticker.
Mandatory things to have
High vis jackets and warning triangles are mandatory in France so make sure you have those in your boot. Carry your driving license and proof of ID at all times.
Best France road trip itinerary – 17 days
We live in the UK so our road trip journey started in London where we drove to Dover to take a ferry to Calais. There are two main companies running ferry timetables: DFDS and PO Ferries. The crossing time is about an hour and a half and driving to Paris would take you three hours.
Alternatively, you can take the Eurotunnel which is the quickest and easiest way to cross the channel. All you do is drive your car to the train and stay in it for 35 minutes for the duration of the crossing.
Etretat – 1 day + 1 night
It takes 2h40 to drive from Calais to Etretat so make sure you drive during the day and have your accommodation booked for the night before heading there.
To see: Falaises d’Etretat, the Coast – Honfleur, Barfleur, Deauville, Cabourg.
Loire Valley – 2 days + 2 nights
Takes just over 3 hours to drive from Etretat to Angers, the first stop in the Loire region. Angers is located on the edge of the Loire Valley and is definitely worth a visit for the old town and its château. Did you know there are around 300 châteaux in the Loire Valley?
City stops: Angers, Saumur, Amboise, Chenonceau, Blois, Chambord
To see: chateau de Chaumont (on way to Blois), château de Blois, St Nicolas church (Blois), St Louis cathedral (Blois), château de Chambord, château de Chenonceau (can be seen from the other side of the river for free)
Dordogne – 2 days + 2 nights
A stunning area that offers four different types of landscapes: Périgord Vert for valleys, rivers and streams, Périgord Blanc for limestone plateaux, wide valleys, and meadows, Périgord Pourpre for the wine region and Périgord Noir for the woods of oak and pine.
City stops: Brantôme, Périgueux, Sarlat, Beynac, Vitrac, La Roque Gageac, Domme
To see: Lascaux caves, Marqueyssac gardens, château de Castelnaud, château de Puymartin
Arcachon – 1 days
Arachon is an area that is famously known for La Dune du Pilat, the largest sand dune in Europe going 100m high. Once you reach the top you see a beautiful forest in the background and the view is just breathtaking (3h30 drive from Vitrac).
City stops: Arcachon, Cap Ferret, Biscarosse
To see: La Dune du Pilat
Biarritz – 1 day + 1 night
Widely know for its surfing conditions, Biarritz is a beautiful seaside town that makes you feel like you’re on holiday. Definitely worth walking around town before heading to the main beach (1h30 drive from Arcachon).
City stops: Hossegor, Cap-breton, Bayonne, Biarritz
To see: WW2 bunkers at Cap-breton beach
Pyrenees – 3 days + 2 nights
The Pyrenees have the highest mountain peaks and its National Park is worth visiting to see a wide range of lakes, torrents, forests and peaks. Allow 2h30 to drive from Les Landes to the Pyrenees.
To see: cirque de Gavarnie, Niaux caves, cathar castle
Narbonne – 1 day + 1 night
It’s preferable to leave early in the morning as it’s a 4 hour drive from The Pyrenees to Narbonne.
To see: the seaside and the beach
Marseille – 2 days + 2 nights
The third largest city in France, Marseille is famous for its Old Port, Old Town Almost and food of course. Use it as a base to travel around nearby towns. It’s a 3 hour drive from Narbonne.
City stops: Marseille, La Citotat, Cassis
To see: Marseille Vieux Port, Fort St Nicolas, basilique St Victor, cathédrale Nouvelle Majeure, The docks, Notre Dame de la Garde, Les Calanques
Ardèche – 2 days + 2 nights
The Gorges de l’Ardèche which begins at the Pont d’Arc is a must stop when visiting the Ardèche region. Best to avoid during the summer holiday as it will be extremely busy. A 3 hour drive from Cassis.
To see/do: kayaking, bike ride, gorge de l’Ardèche, Cévennes National Park
Lyon – 2 days – 1 night
Lyon is a beautiful and charming city that is well-known for its gastronomy. There are more restaurants in the old town of Lyon than anywhere else in the world. Take a walk around the city and just enjoy the architecture and the view. A 2h20 drive from Ardèche.
To see/do: Lyon’s restaurants, wine, basilique Notre-Dame de Fourviere, old town
Bosnia & Herzegovina
A 7 day road trip across Bosnia and going through Trebijne, Mostar, Sarajevo and Travnik.
