I wouldn't go near Paris either - we've done it late at night on a holiday weekend and spent four hours queueing along with the rest of the Parisians who were apparently going home!
To Orleans from Dunkerque you can pay up to 56 euros in tolls using the peage via Paris, if you use the A16 via Paris. Viamichelin shows three alternatives from Dunkerque (via Lille and the A1, via Abbeville and Paris on the A16, or via Rouen and Chartres using the peage of the A16 and sections where possible). There is 50 minutes difference between the most costly route and the cheapest. For us, 56 euros is five nights, or more, campsite fees, so you can guess which way we go!
We've just come back from a stay near the Bay of Roses, and didn't pay a penny in tolls to get there BUT we do have plenty of time. If I had children then I would cough up and use the shortest route, but even so I would think about Paris a bit more seriously than just following the TomTom most direct route! The advice given earlier in this thread suggests the best route(s).
You certainly don't follow satnav's most direct route, you go around Paris, not through it, we found the eastern route fine (apart from a broken down lorry which held us up for a while. Can't remember the road numbers but it's called La Francilienne. Then we picked up the road via Lille. All was good until we approached Dunkerque, did not remember that the ferry port is quite a bit west of the town.
Anne
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The A71/A75 is one route you could choose - probably the most direct, and only a short section on the peripherique, and you'll know whether it was the best choice once you've tried it.
The bottom part of the route is free, all the way from Clermont Ferrand to Beziers, so tolls are less at 112.30 - rather than the 142.60 you could be paying using the A6.
Yes that follows the route through Paris around the middle ring as alluded to in post7. Either trust your satnav or simply follow signs A10 Bordeaux as mentioned.
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We tried Rouen route but was put off by roundabouts as time is an issue more than tolls. We have tried several routes but our personal preference is the road to Amiens, then A86 duplex tunnel (we dont have a caravan)as it is not busy. Last year we saw three cars in the tunnel. The family liked spotting all the important landmarks in Paris!Good luck with whichever route you choose.
Quote: Originally posted by bl03 on 17/6/2014
We tried Rouen route but was put off by roundabouts as time is an issue more than tolls. We have tried several routes but our personal preference is the road to Amiens, then A86 duplex tunnel (we dont have a caravan)as it is not busy. Last year we saw three cars in the tunnel.
Couldn't agree more. Wouldn't go any other way now - but don't tell everybody
Quote: Originally posted by bl03 on 17/6/2014We tried Rouen route but was put off by roundabouts as time is an issue more than tolls. We have tried several routes but our personal preference is the road to Amiens, then A86 duplex tunnel (we dont have a caravan)as it is not busy. Last year we saw three cars in the tunnel.
Couldn't agree more. Wouldn't go any other way now - but don't tell everybody