Route Calais to Montpellier

vwornoutmum

Sorry this is a long one, we had our route and overnight stops planned to travel this month from UK to Montpellier, we had planned an overnight stop on a Friday night at Troyes and then to continue the drive through Dijon and Lyon and then accross to Montpellier, this week someone has told us that it is a bad idea as the traffic will be a nightmare. We have previously travelled via Paris and Milau but thought Paris would be a nighmare as we would arrive at about 6pm on a Friday night.
We would hit Lyon mid morning to early afternoon on a Saturday. Does anyone have experience of both routes?
Is there a nightmare tunnel in Lyon? We have been told of traffic jams and people being stuck for hours is this true?
Also is Diesel cheaper in UK or France and can you pay for tolls with credit card we can't remember?

thamespirate

diesel cheap[er in france, and yes you can use credit card, try this site www.drive-alive.co.uk

knightstyle

Just filled up, 05/06/2010, and French supermarket price was 1.125@ a litre.

kb36

We have experience of both routes down to Montpellier!

If you do a search on viamichelin.co.uk the Lyon route will come up as the quickest but the Paris/ Millau route is the Michelin preferred route.

If you are travelling in June neither will be greatly different in terms of hitting traffic and congestion.

The tunnel in Lyon is the Fourviere tunnel which often causes jams as the 4 lane motorway leads to a dual carriageway but having navigated this often it has never been that meorable in terms of congestion!

mackemdave

I did Reading to Lyon via the tunnel a few years ago and managed it in about 8hrs ...itwas on a Sunday though and traffic was very light

Boxman

Oddly enough we will be driving from Calais to Montpellier next Saturday and Sunday. The way we plan to go is through Rouen, Chartres, Orleans, Clemont Ferrand and Millau with an overnight stop in a nice little hotel nr Orleans going and one near Evreux coming back. The distance is about 660 miles which all being well (not towing) should take just over 10 hours driving time and as a lot of the autoroute distance is free should cost about 45 € in tolls.

If we went via Troyes, Lyons and down the Rhone valley the distance would be about the same, if no hold ups would be a little quicker (30 mins or so?) but I guestimate the tolls would be in the region of 80€. The roads would be significantly busier from Beaune onwards with the associated extra stress on the driver going this way as well.

vwornoutmum

Thanks for your replies we have been told of A46 bypass around Lyon this adds 10 mins to journey so we'll stick to the Lyon route, good news for me as I hate heights :j:j:j bad news for hubby because he wanted to cross the Milau Viaduct as we haven't been that far south since it was complete.

kb36

Where are you staying in Montpellier? Do you have any plans for things to see and do? Some of the neighbouring villages are really worth a visit and the roads to the nearest beaches are very scenic with the flamingos, bulls and Camargue horses...

Don't be scared of the Millau bridge as you really don't get the feeling of how high you actually are unless you get out that is.

vwornoutmum

We're staying just outside Montpellier we plan to beach holiday mostly but plan to go to Carcassonne and to Nimes, any suggestions of good beaches for a toddler that loves to swim most welcome or good days out especially vineyards

kb36

Do you know the name of the place you are staying..? We know the area well (OH grew up there)!

If you are a Rose fan the Listel vineyard is well worth a visit. The wines are called the Vins de Sables as the vines grow in the sand.

Aigues Mortes is a walled city maybe not on the scale of Carcassonne but charming and closer to Montpellier. Close by you will be able to see the salt production in the Marais Salants....

La Grande Motte is a seaside resort which pays homage to the architecture of the late 60s & early 70s so although not the most picturesque place to visit has a long stretch of shelved beach ideal for toodlers and with good facilities. Carnon, further along or Palavas les Flots also good. Great time of year to visit as you wil be avoiding the hordes of holiday makers who descend on the south in July and August. I loved Saintes Marie de la Mer

Could recommend other places - lovely local rivers to swim and prettier beaches along the coastline but it might depend on where you are staying! An hour an half to the Gorges du Tarn which are stunningly beautiful....

Boxman

I would second kb36's description of the Millau bridge, when crossing you really do not notice the height.