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We're driving from le Havre to Forges St Marie or Lac d'Orient camp site leaving ferry at 8in morning. How horrendous is most direct route  using via michelin and going clos to paris near Versailles? Prefer to go further round but it does add on hours.

Take the most direct route and go round the peripherique. As with all motorways, there's a chance that it will clog up (not a big chance if you avoid the rush hours) but you won't waste as much time as you would going out miles out of your way. It's certainly nothing like as bad as the North Circular or the M25.

The thing is to know which exit you're going to take and prepare yourself to exit by getting into the righthand lane (if travelling clockwise) - otherwise, stay out of the outside lane (or is it the inside, I'm much happier with left and right?)  or you may be filtered off!

we were directed off the periphique over easter as there were numberous roadworks  going on in the exits.  we were sent right through Paris in our motorhome, which, tbf probably set us up for life in confidence for driving anywhere(although nearly gave us a heart attack in the process!!) it was our first big trip.  It does save a huge amount of time though!! just be aware that it might happen  though!!!

I wouldn't hesitate to go by the route you are suggesting.  The périph is not as bad as some make out even with a van on the back - just know your exit, indicate in good time and go for it!!

MInd I'm mad enough to actually drive into Paris.

But the via michelin recommended route isn't round the peripherique at all- it's A13 then A86 etc.etc and staying south of the perpherique. I think several of you are misleading Bridie by steering him that way much closer to the city centre.

 But I agree that you need a good map reader or a good sat nav to get into the right lane well ahead. Roads swoop in and out in dizzying succession. I'd look at real time traffic web cams and see how the congestion looks at different times of day. 

The last time we went on the Peripherique was the last time we'll go on the Peripherique.  It was really a nightmare, and we weren't even towing!  We witnessed a nasty motorbike accident, the Pompiers and ambulances were everywhere, traffic was help up for ages, and before and after that the French drivers were ruthlessly pushing in everywhere and anywhere (including right in front of the poor biker).

Because it's so easy to find alternative routes around Paris now that the outer/and outer/outer ring roads are almost complete, we keep well clear.  These days, actually, Rouen is about as near as we get!

Quote: Originally posted by Berriow on 09/5/2011

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But the via michelin recommended route isn't round the peripherique at all- it's A13 then A86 etc.etc and staying south of the perpherique. I think several of you are misleading Bridie by steering him that way much closer to the city centre.

 But I agree that you need a good map reader or a good sat nav to get into the right lane well ahead. Roads swoop in and out in dizzying succession. I'd look at real time traffic web cams and see how the congestion looks at different times of day. 

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I apologise if you think I was directing around the périph, I wasn't meaning to.

As I said I wouldn't hesitate to use the route OP is suggesting.

I was merely also saying that I haven't personally found the périph to be that bad. 

We have been round Paris a few times on our way to and from the South of France via Dover  in the last few years and can honestly say we have never had any problems though we do have sat nav which helps when you miss the turn off you are supposed to take!!  I think the satnav actually takes us on the inner ring rather than the outer one but this has never proved a problem.

We did once go into Paris via a campsite coach  as we were staying near and went for a day out) and did see some of the terrible traffic mentioned on here then. 

For anyone going that way I would still say use it if it is the obvious route but just time things so that you are not on it in rush hour.  Maybe stop for tea/breakfast just before to get your timings right if need be.

We have had many an adventure getting round Rouen though!   In the days before we had satnav and did not think to download routes from the internet (if indeed you could actually do that in the 90s) we often got lost there and would spend hours trying to get out again!   Yes I know there is a by pass so no idea why we kept ending up in there.  We even managed to miss a ferry once due to taking a wrong turn in Rouen and then not being able to get off a long motorway!  I am surprised our marrige survived the experience as there were many choice words going on in the car!

I would not worry now though but would use auto route guides and/or a satnav just to be sure.

its a bit daunting at first but its realy not that bad when travelling towards callais look for charles de gaule and going south head for orly or is it the other way round  best to check on the map but if you follow the airports it seems to work its way easier than madrid now thats a challenge like all major cities best tackled in the early hours of the morning