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We are catching the morning (9:30) Newhaven Dieppe ferry and then heading down to near Domme in the Dordogne. Ferry docks at 2:30 French time which would mean hitting Paris at rush hour if we take that route as suggested by Via Michelin. So am looking at avoiding Paris using the following route:

Dieppe - Rouen - Le Mans (overnight camp at Le Chateau de Chanteloup)

then:

Tours - Poitiers - Limoge - Brives - Domme

Has anyone else tried this route and, if so, how did it go? Have a tent and not towing so should be able to make decent progress on clear roads.

Camping de Sologne at Salbris, between Orleans and Vierzon - kids can feed the coypu in the lake!  Walking distance to the village, around the lake, with plenty of pizza places/bars/restaurants.  Just a bit further up the road is a supermarket.  The site is off the autoroute, but easy to get to.

Camping des Alicourts, at Pierrefitt sur Sauldre is similar area, more all-singing site, and more expensive, bit further from the main route.

Further south municipal sites at Vierzon, and a bit further still Camping Rouelle des Loups, at Vatan (we got there from Abbeville last year) - so perhaps that will be OK.  Small site, near a lake, children's play area nearby, municipal swimming pool adjacent, and a walk into the village.  Just off the A20, with entry/exits to the autoroute (free) from both north and south of the village.

Isn't that a long way around?  According to Viamichelin it costs the same in tolls from Orleans to Blois as it does from Orleans to Vierzon on the A71.  Viamichelin states the route from Orleans to Vierzon will take 1 hour 40 minutes, where going via Blois takes 1 hour 54.  

You can cut out the toll section from Orleans to Vierzon by using the old N20 which runs alongside the autoroute.  Despite going through three or four little 'towns' this is a good quick road, and costs nothing.