Thanks neil,we're going dover calais and then heading for Rouen,and trying to get to clermont-ferrand for a overnight stop, not sure how long this will take
cheers Dean
Calais to Clermont Ferrand via Paris is around the 5 to 6 hour mark.
According to via michelin Via Paris Just over 6 hours.
Calais to Clermont via Paris took us 6 hours at night in May (excl. a couple of quick breaks) doing very slightly more or slightly less than the speed limit.
Paris (not the peripherique but the ring) at 2.30am is IMHO more utterly mad than driving round the Champs Elysee in rush hour. We saw the result of 2 x absolute wipe outs, but the Gendarmes just cone off the necessary bit and wave you through!
Coming back the Paris bit (on a Saturday afternoon) took a fair fair bit longer. Due to traffic jams, which I found were more tiresome than doing the entire journey to Spain in one leg.
I'd still opt every time for the Paris route from Calais, unless I had good reason.