After some persuasion, OH is happy to go to France in the tent - providing we have another non-camping break for our annivesary in September
I'm thinking Drome but, want to avoid the 'bouchon' that is Lyon, especially on a Sat/Sun. Is there a route around Paris and then misses Lyon, or are we better set to go via Rouen, Chartres, Vierzon on A75 then at Clermont Ferrand go cross country to join Autoroute du Sud south of Lyon?
Any experience of this?
Also, as we are intending to go at the start of July, should we book sites or see what the weather brings and go with the sun?
------------- Do campers 'peg it'?
Don't forget to leave a review of the French and other European campsites you have visited!
We've debated about this many times, and in the end we just go through the centre of Lyon on our way to the Cote d'Azur. The alternatives seem to take a lot longer. We do travel out of season, and try to go through mid morning, by planning the previous night stop carefully. We have seldom had a huge queue.
We normally go the Lyon route, A6 - A7, mainly because we have used Calais and Dunkerque.
However last year we used Dieppe, spent one night near Chartres and then took the route you describe, Vierzon A75 then Clermont Ferrand.
Then we took the A89 and A72 to Saint Etienne and then cut the corner off using the D1082 and D82 to Andance, south down the west bank of the Rhone to Valance and joined the N7 there. We eventually stopped for the night at the municipal at Brignoles.
I were delighted with the A89, A72 section, which is a beautiful road and relatively quiet. It certainly does end you up with a bit of a compromise approaching the Rhone valley but by then we were happy to get off autoroute for a while. We would certainly go that way again.
Get your timings right, and going straight through Lyon is not a problem, speed restrictions yes, but apart from that it is plain sailing.
There is an autoroute that goes around to the East of Lyon, but that can be just as bad at the busy times, and even in the quiet period, the extra distance it takes you, means that it is as broad as is long, compared to going straight through Lyon.
Post last edited on 15/04/2016 08:29:05
Don't forget to leave a review of the French and other European campsites you have visited!
We have found that Lyon is busy but not bad enough that we choose to avoid it. When 'jammed' the traffic still moves just slower than normal and probably never taken longer than 45 mins to go through.
But if everyone chooses to go round or by another route that would be good.
------------- Ollie
2016
Monplaisir - Provence
Camping Les Gorges du Loup
After seeing mile after mile of queue's heading South at Lyon we always now go around it. Parts of this road were getting an upgrade last year, so this year it really should be plain sailing.
------------- XVI yes?
As well is two words!
How does a sage know everything about everything? or does he? or does he just think he does?
Remember, if you buy something you bought it, not brought it.
Map time ! From Rouen via Orleans, Gien, Nevers, Moulins, Roanne, and St Etienne - then you have a choice of the dog leg zig zag via Vienne, or straight over the hill to Annonay.
Post last edited on 15/04/2016 08:50:24
Don't forget to leave a review of the French and other European campsites you have visited!
Quote: Originally posted by OliverDay on 15/4/2016
We have found that Lyon is busy but not bad enough that we choose to avoid it. When 'jammed' the traffic still moves just slower than normal and probably never taken longer than 45 mins to go through.
But if everyone chooses to go round or by another route that would be good.
Agree with Ollie, most of the time it is no worse than M25 on a normal day. Aim to hit it around lunchtime and the volume is less.
Thank you for all the suggestions and views of the optimum route v time v annoyance factor
It's 3 years since we went that way and there were lots of roadworks near a tunnel overlooking Lyon if I recall. I'll have a ponder, as the route from Clermont Ferrand looks interesting, although the D roads from Chartres across country were not exactly exciting from what I recall. Oh well, time to plan as not booked anything yet!
Agree with most of posts on here. We just go through Lyon. Even if traffic is heavy it still seems to move and plenty to look at along the river to keep you interested!