It's very likely that NitNat will be limited to 55 mph (90 kph) too, as that's a big caravan, and to tow it you'd need a biggish car, with a consequent speed restriction. Viamichelin calculates speeds at maximum allowed speed and takes no account of reductions for combinations with a gross train mass of more than 3500 kgs.
NitNat haveyou taken into account the reduced speed limits for a large caravan/car combination in your calculations?
Motorway
Dual carriageway
Single carriageway
Vehicle towing a caravan/trailer where the vehicle has a gross train mass of under 3.5 tonne – or a motorhome that has a gross vehicle weight under 3.5 tonne*
130**
110**
90**
Motorhome which has a gross vehicle weight over 3.5 tonne*
110
100
80
Vehicle towing a caravan/trailer where the vehicle has a gross train mass over 3.5 tonne
90
90
80
Copied from the Caravan Club website. Sorry the columns don't line up properly.
Thanks Val, we haven't worked any of our own speed calculations yet, I was looking at the stated times and then increasing accordingly, and am now doing so based at 55mph, so thank you.
I will sit down with a map and hubby and try to establish our timings, as I say we are very used to 'long' journeys so that's not an issue I'm just more concerned about splitting the journey appropriately and ensuring the overnighters are on the correct route and we can secure a booking!
'Knowledge' only comes from years of experience, and I must admit even in our 'with children' days we never booked anywhere on return journeys because we always found our journey times to be so variable. Some days we seemed to have really good runs, and got more miles under our belts, other days we got less. However, I do understand why you need to book.
I would decide (absolutely) on which route you're going to take, then calculate likely best and worst distances and pick somewhere in the middle of that area then I'm sure someone will know of a site to suit you and your requirements.
I must admit, if I were in your shoes, with a deadline of a ferry, then I would pay the tolls and use the Rhone Valley route. The A75/A71/Rouen route always seems to take longer coming back than going down (anyone else thought the same thing?)
Thanks Val we are using tolls, always prefer the easy option! We are on the tunnel so do have some flexibility time wise, and always book a later one than we would actually want too, to help time wise.
So would you suggest the Rouen (depending upon how you find it with the road closures etc when you go!) going down(I trust there are tolls that route too?) and then Rhone valley route coming home from Perpignan? Does that take us nearer Paris? Not that it should be a problem, and surely the tolls bypass it all anyway?
Going to get the big map out when I get chance to study and familiarise myself with regions etc!
I worry that if we don't book overnight stays we would keep arriving at some and then be turned away either full, or van too big, or even worse end up down some tiny little lane not suitable for our caravan!
Once we've done the journey this year we will be fine...it's new territory and unknown that leaves me wobbly!
------------- Nat
Don't forget to leave a review of the French and other European campsites you have visited!
We are already leaving a day early as its my sons birthday the day we should be coming back and under normal circumstances we would do that but typically both sites we are using are Saturday to Saturday only so we are all paid up. The time and distance isn't really a concern as we usually do a 13 hr trip home anyway, it's just securing an overnighter in the most convenient place on route!
Have a look at my suggested stop over as you come off at one juction, drive to site and then join the motorway at the next juntion on so no doubling back on yourself. I know you may not be travelling on the sunday but from that site upto Calais is just a dream, hardly any traffic what so ever. The only time we went up through the centre of France (around Paris) we had been driving for 9 hours and only covered 140miles. It took us 16 hours to get just above Paris to give an easy drive to Calais the next day. We were so tired we pulled into an aire, dropped the legs and went to bed, we didnt even eat that night. Worst part was we very soon discovered we were parked up right next to the ATV line with trains going past every 30 mins all night.... Never again
------------- "All I ask is the chance to prove that money can't make me happy."
Quote: Originally posted by nitnat on 13/3/2013
Thanks Val we are using tolls, always prefer the easy option! We are on the tunnel so do have some flexibility time wise, and always book a later one than we would actually want too, to help time wise.
So would you suggest the Rouen (depending upon how you find it with the road closures etc when you go!) going down(I trust there are tolls that route too?) and then Rhone valley route coming home from Perpignan? Does that take us nearer Paris? Not that it should be a problem, and surely the tolls bypass it all anyway?
Going to get the big map out when I get chance to study and familiarise myself with regions etc!
I think I would do Rouen/Chartres downwards, and then the Rhone Valley back, yes, because you've go deadlines to keep to and it's more straightforward and motorway all the way.
Using the Rhone Valley route you can head up towards Paris from Dijon, but then use the E104 (Francilienne) to avoid Paris itself. This is less busy than the M25. Or you could go via Reims, as I mentioned above, and keep well away from Paris.
The toll roads usually bypass cities - but in Paris most SatNavs try to direct you on to the Peripherique which is the inner ring road, and that can be very hairy indeed at times, and sometimes very congested, so personally I would avoid that. The E104 is much further out and easier to negotiate.
It's quite a while since we went that way - we prefer non-toll routes these days, but I'm sure there'll be other suggestions of places to stay en-route. We've stayed at the municipal site in Troyes, which is on your route - and I think that's fine for bigger caravans, and they take bookings - but perhaps someone can confirm that?
We've stayed at Salbris before and it's a good little overnight stop - close to the autoroute and dh loved the fishing for mirror carp in the lake on site.
I prefer to book overnighters as well, even if we get to somewhere earlier it's nice to have a wander round and a small glass of something cold before sleep - I tend to be fairly conservative with daily travel times - my dd's are a bit like dogs in that they need a run round a field every so often :)
Just take the Rheims route its so much better than going anywhere near Paris...I and a coach driver colleague have both been lead on to the peripherique in Paris and finding your way out of the city is a nightmare especially if you find yourself in queues in some very rough areas. I would use the Rheims route both ways.
camping municiple de Humes in Humes-Jourquenay very near Langres is a brilliant small un-manned campsite ideal for stopovers, not far from the motorway..although go into Langres first for a supermarket if you need supllies just a few km further along the road.
Thanks acdcnchc. Will take a look at that site. We are now traveling home over 3 days so will have 2 stops 250 miles on each time so we'll do about 5 hrs each day. Just trying to find the first stop after leaving Perpignan at the moment!
We will head out towards Rouen on the way down as are in the Dordogne first and stoping a Chartres.
A day of all things motorhome and campervan. The show is held both in the main indoor arena and across the grounds. Catering, hot drinks and food options are available. Easy access to the site and free parking included. Win one of five pairs of day tickets
Topic: Rute home from Perpignan to Calais
