Try this website, its very good and suggests a mixture of toll and non toll roads which can cost a small amount but save you 2-3 hours getting through France into Spain
Hi to all
TOLL FREE ROUTE FROM CALIAS TO CAMBRILLS (spain)
yes it can be done !!
I have a 3 axle motorhome and tow a twin axle trailer
5 axles in total
costs a fortune if i use toll roads and hit a manned toll booth
calias A16 west to J31
D240, D901, D1001, ABBEVILLE
A28 ROUEN,D6015 EAST OF THE RIVER
D6154 EVREUX, D6154, N12 DREUX
N154 CHARTRES, N10 BONNEVAL
N10 TOURS
NOW THIS IS DISICION TIME
D910 54 ROUND A BOUTS
OR E5 TOLL ROAD, I USED THE D910 THE FIRST TIME, NEVER AGAIN, WITH A MOTORHOME TOWING A TRAILER, UP AND DOWN THE GEARS FOR HOURS, MY ADVICE, PAY THE TOLL TO POITIERS
E5 OFF J30, D910,N10 E5, E70, A62, LEAVE AT J11 D1113
LANGON N524 SOUTH, CAPTIEUX, D932, D934, D824, D834, D289
LESCAR, D2,D834,GOES, N134,AND THROUGH THE
TUNNEL DE SOMPORT INT TO SPAIN
N330 HUESCA, ZARAGOZA N232 HIJAR,N420 REUS
AND THEN TARRAGONA, CAMBRILL OR WHERE EVER YOU WANT
THIS ROUTE IS PROVEN, AND WE ALSO HAVE A LIST OF CHEAP FUEL STATIONS WITH CANOPIES 3M AND OVER, PLUS FREE QUIET OVER NIGHT STOPS
YEHA SPAIN HEAR WE COM
CALAIS TO VENICE IS A GOOD TRIP AS WELL, TOLL FREE FOR UNDER 3500KG
HAVE FUN
About 30 years ago when we first started going on holidays involving driving in France we often noticed radar speed traps on non toll roads in the open countryside. Do these still happen these days as obviously the cost of an on the spot fine would negate any non toll road savings a few times over?
Don't forget to leave a review of the French and other European campsites you have visited!
I'll just add be careful of Sat Navs ( even caravan sensitive ones) once on worse than N roads
ours sent us from la rochelle to La tranche whilst towing through every village, including a sharp tighter than right angle junction surrounded by high buildings up to the road, where we had the joy to meet a petrol tanker.
------------- 2022
North and West wales grand tour (in T5)
Matlock (in T5)
New forest and IOW (in T5)
New Forest
La tranche sur mer
jevea (Valencia)
2023
Cotswolds
Tenby
(added a Compass Rallye to crew)
Royan
La tranche Sur Mer
2024
royan
La tranche
Quote: Originally posted by Boxman on 16/5/2017
About 30 years ago when we first started going on holidays involving driving in France we often noticed radar speed traps on non toll roads in the open countryside. Do these still happen these days as obviously the cost of an on the spot fine would negate any non toll road savings a few times over?
There are still radar traps, but if you don't speed you don't have any fines to pay! We've never had a speeding fine in thirty-seven years of driving in Europe. (Though I was caught on the M62 near Hull, but got away with a 'talking to'!)
Presumably it's a bit easier not to speed when you tow a van but if solo it's very easy to accidentally(?) go a bit faster than 90kph on the open road.
Touch wood over about 100k miles I have never had a speeding fine either, just been flashed a couple of times on restricted sections of autoroutes and fast dual carriageways for slightly exceeding the local limit (no 10% tolerances in France!). No follow ups through the post though but would seem that from this year I would not be so lucky under the same circumstances.
Don't forget to leave a review of the French and other European campsites you have visited!
What sort of difference in charges on French toll roads for a small motorhome (2 axles 6m 3.5 tonne) compared to a car is there - or is there an easy website to check on?
Quote: Originally posted by Lukeledge on 16/5/2017
What sort of difference in charges on French toll roads for a small motorhome (2 axles 6m 3.5 tonne) compared to a car is there - or is there an easy website to check on?
You will pay class 2 tolls - roughly 50% more than a car which is class one.
Use ViaMichelin website to get accurate costs - put in your start and finish points and and tick the box marked Caravan - you will pay the same as a caravan.
Magicmax ... I have never understood the rationale of going down the west side of France to get to the East Med coast of Spain.
Granted the route you quote is, by and large, one of the non toll routes recommended in Via Michelin ... but it is not the shortest, or cheapest (fuel) ... The Limoges, Toulouse route is also an hour shorter (comparatively) ... so why not use that?
For anyone else travelling to Beziers, there is a good non-toll route, which will take you all the way. Calais to Abbeville using the free A16 to Boulogne and then the old N road, then join the free A28 to Rouen, by pass Rouen using the D6015, along the left bank of the Seine towards Pont de L'Arche, then the N154 down to Evreux, Dreux, Chartres, Orleans (where you can pay a small toll to avoid the city), Vierzon. At Vierzon cross-country towards Bourges, or St Pierre le Moutier, then Nevers, Moulins, St Pourcain sur Sioule, Gannat, Clermont Ferrand, and then the wonderful free A75 south.
With a caravan, doing this route entirely toll-free will save you about 100 euros if you pay tolls to skirt Paris, and use the N10 before joining the A75, or 142 euros if you travel via Lyon.
We've done it with an overnight stop immediately we arrive from the ferry, a very early start, and then just one further overnight stop in mid-France somewhere. It's two long driving days, but worth it with the caravan as the savings over paying tolls both ways (low season) can pay for our campsites for a good part of the holiday.
Val
I was going to ask a question about a variation on this route. From Chartres staying on the N154/D2020 and then skirting around the top end of Orleans, following the Loire and then picking up the A77 to Nevers/Moulins and Clermont. Have you tried this? Also, Any pleasant campsites and must-see sights?
Keith, until Val answers I will just chip in to say that's a perfectly pleasant way to go. Things to see along the way include M.Eifel's remarkable aqueduct carrying boats across the river at Briare, good white wine at Sancerre and the lovely garden at Apremont sur Allier. Campsites in every village along the way - small municipal sites interspersed with bigger commercials.
We have used the Nevers/Moulins to Clermont route in the past and have found it relatively quiet and trouble free. As it is only half a day's trip from memory, we have never overnighted en route here though.
Nowadays we almost always use the Evreux/Dreux/Chartres route. That road has improved over the years!
We love the A75 too and would recommend it to anyone.
------------- Freedom is a light caravan and an open road.
Amazing family weekend with old steam engines, classic car displays, market stalls, and full catering and bar. And camping on site - Save £25 by booking in advance.
Topic: Avoid Tolls or not to avoid tolls?
