Driving in France, wine routes and distances for UK tourists

"Are We There Yet?"

Your wine route will involve driving long distances. If this is your first time driving in France, careful planning is essential for a safe and comfortable journey.

France is big country, roughly 2.5 times the area of the UK, but with about the same number of people. Traffic density therefore tends to be lower than in the UK, except in major cities such as Paris, Lyon, Marseille, Bordeaux and Toulouse.

When planning your wine and vineyard routes, always allow time for regular rest stops

The distance from Calais to Toulouse in the south of France is roughly the same as the distance from Aberdeen to Portsmouth while the equivalent of driving the entire length of England will only take you half way through France.

Limoges, in the centre of France, makes a good reference point for estimating traveling times. To compare scale, just roll your mouse over the map on the right.

Choose the 'right' port for your wine route

Before booking your Channel crossing, balance the distance and time to UK ports with the distance and time you will spend driving in France. You may find an overall saving by using a more distant departure point in UK.

For example, taking the Plymouth / Roscoff ferry is ideal for Brittany and the west of France and for parts of the centre such as the Loire Valley region, but not for the northern and eastern part of the country. Although the road structure is good, there are still many kilometres to cover.

Also, work out if it is really necessary to cross Paris.This can be nightmare with constant heavy traffic and frequent snarl-ups. Paris is best avoided unless you intend staying there as part of your visit.

Two of the quickest ports to get away from reducing both time a distance for western and central France, are Caen / Ouistreham and St - Malo. In general, saving time on the French side of the Channel is to be recommended.

Distances from Channel ports to Saumur in the Loire Valley
(assuming motorway use - excludes rest stops)

Motorways are usually the fastest route, but beware during August when the Parisians go on holiday. Long tail backs are the norm. On hot summer days these ‘bouchons’, as the French call them, can be very frustrating and tempers often get frayed. Also, once trapped in a snarl-up, it can be very difficult to escape.

The National roads are very good and most now bypass towns. They could add up to a third to your driving time, but there are no toll charges and you get a chance to see the local scenery. This can be more relaxing than driving from one blockage to the next with hundreds of other frustrated motorists.

Note that the Gendarmerie are getting very hot on speeding and fines have been introduced for using mobile phones while driving. An on-the-spot fine is not the best way to begin your holiday. See Rules and Regulations page.