We are travelling to troyes in france first, then over to loire valley, then to beaney riviera. I am looking to avoid the toll roads as much as possible due to the cost. I am struggling to sort out the route as i am unsure what are tolls and which roads are not.
Do you know of any good sites i can map out our route, also i have to try and avoide tight roads as the unit is going to be 50 foot long.
Would welcome any feedback, thanks guys.
Don't forget to leave a review of the French and other European campsites you have visited!
You need to buy a Michelin road atlas of France. Available from any UK bookshop. On the maps the toll autoroutes are marked on junctions with red/orange circles. non toll sections are marked blue/white circles at junctions. All other roads toll free.
The A26 Autoroute Calais-Troyes is mainly toll. If you trace the route on your map you will see toll free roads follow the route of the toll rd all the way down, but porogress will be slow tho.
To get from Troyes across to Loire valley you take a cross country route via Orleans. For plotting routes like these it is good to get a large single sheet map of France & spread out on floor.
In this instance, I think with a fifty feet long outfit that I'd stick to the toll roads, to be honest. We have a much more modest (just under 12 metres outfit) but sometimes corners can be tight and tricky especially when you're going through a town.
In Clermont Ferrand, for instance, on our way back to the autoroute (toll free, fortunately) from our campsite at Royat we missed a turn, and had to make an illegal left turn as the right turn we were 'obliged' to take was much too tight and narrow for even our modest outfit.
I would imagine that a route planner used by lorry drivers might be more use to you, then you can be sure that the route you've been given will accept your long outfit. Perhaps someone on here may know of such a route planner.
Don't forget to leave a review of the French and other European campsites you have visited!
I just looked at a map when I drove me truck in France & that was an artic, certainly there are weight limits to force trucks off N rds & onto the toll autoroute beside them but generally the N rd(often downgraded to D rd) that runs beside the autoroute was originally the main route anyway. Trucks of all sizes use local rds no problems when delivering.
It depends If you want to get there quickly or not. For the circular route you describe you will probabley save over well 100€ at classe2 rate by avoiding toll rds.
A route finder is just somebodies'(computer aided)opinion of how to get somewhere. It is no substitute for looking at a map & working it out for yourself.
A truck route finder, if one did exist it would be of little use anyway as it would just direct you onto the toll rds you want to avoid as plenty of N rds have weight limits(over 7.5t)for reasons as stated above.
Quote: Originally posted by Tentz on 20/6/2010
A truck route finder, if one did exist it would be of little use anyway as it would just direct you onto the toll rds you want to avoid as plenty of N rds have weight limits(over 7.5t)for reasons as stated above.
Post last edited on 20/06/2010 17:48:02
In fairness at 50 foot long I would hazard a guess it would weigh in over 7.5t. so would need to avoid the weight restrictions anyway.
Don't forget to leave a review of the French and other European campsites you have visited!
Thanks guys lots of usefull info to look at. I am off to plan my route the old fashioned way with a map. wish me luck lol. Any other info would be much appreciated.x
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: Avoiding tolls
