Home

   Log in or Register



Insurance Quotes
forums Campsite Search Comp Directory tips virtual brochure Profile
Tent and Awning Reviews Competitions Caravans and Motorhomes For Sale Shopping Diary Advent Calendar

Advertisement

Message Forums

Welcome Guest Register Login Search The Forum Posts Since Last Visit
 Reception - All Forums
  Caravanning and Camping Abroad
Share   Post on X / Twitter  Share on Facebook  Email  Printer Friendly Version Print
Subject Topic: Overnighting On French Motorway Services Post Reply Post New Topic
09/6/2019 at 9:05pm
 Location: None Entered
 Outfit: Elddis Avante
View davethedog's Profile View Profile   Reply to davethedog Reply   Quote davethedog Quote  
Joined: 28/1/2007

Standard Member
Standard Member

Forum Posts:   65

Site Reviews Total: 7
Site Reviews 2024: 0  
Site Reviews 2023: 0  
Site Reviews 2022: 0  
Site Reviews 2021: 0  
Site Reviews 2020: 0  
Site Reviews 2019: 5  
Site Reviews 2018: 0  
Site Nights 2024: 0
Site Nights 2023: 0
Site Nights 2022: 0
Site Nights 2021: 0
Site Nights 2020: 0
Site Nights 2019: 10
Site Nights 2018: 0

Hello
At the end of July we are heading down to the Dordoyne in our campervan via a Dover Calais ferry. We are landing in Calais, subject to P&O being on time, at approximately 8pm.

Now our idea is to get as much mileage in that evening so to make our journey the following day as easy as possible. I've previously overnighted in the Aire's but that has been when I've travelled from North to South and avoided the major French towns and cities.

This time our journey is going to be via the motorways diaganolly through France. Our aim is to try and get a few hundred miles but that means that we may end up in the Paris area which I want to try and avoid.

I've heard or issues with crime in the aires especially around the Paris area. Is this still a problem? My intention is only to stay in the major service areas with facilities rather than the minor aire stops. I will have a wife and large dog with me.

Have you any experience of this? Many thanks


Don't forget to leave a review of the French and other European campsites you have visited!


09/6/2019 at 9:49pm
 Location: West - North Yorkshire
 Outfit: Swift Speedbird 490 Mondeo Estate
View Val A's Profile View Profile   Reply to Val A Reply   Quote Val A Quote  
Joined: 19/10/2004

Diamond Member
Diamond Member

Forum Posts:   18741

Site Reviews Total: 30
Site Reviews 2024: 0  
Site Reviews 2023: 0  
Site Reviews 2022: 1  
Site Reviews 2021: 0  
Site Reviews 2020: 0  
Site Reviews 2019: 0  
Site Reviews 2018: 0  
Site Nights 2024: 0
Site Nights 2023: 0
Site Nights 2022: 4
Site Nights 2021: 0
Site Nights 2020: 0
Site Nights 2019: 0
Site Nights 2018: 0

Like you, we've stayed on Aires, but these days there is only one where I would stay overnight - the Aire de la Baie de Somme, near Abbeville. If I were you I would go no further than there, stay overnight, and have an early start, then another overnight somewhere south of Chateauroux, and you'll arrive in the Dordogne just one day late, but with your campervan, your wallets, your holiday cash, and your dog all safe and sound and your wife untroubled by your decision on where to stay overnight. There is no way that I would stay on any Aires around Paris (and going to the Dordogne I wouldn't go that way anywhere. Whilst it's extremely unlikely that anything will happen, you're already concerned enough to be asking about it so avoid even that remote possibility.

My preferred route would be Calais, Abbeville, Rouen, Evreux, Dreux, Chartres, Orleans, Vierzon, Chateauroux, Limoges............ off to the Dordogne either east or west of the autoroute (it's a long river).


09/6/2019 at 10:04pm
 Location: 
 Outfit: 
View SGThomas's Profile View Profile   Reply to SGThomas Reply   Quote SGThomas Quote  
Joined: 16/10/2007

Diamond Member
Diamond Member

Forum Posts:   6707
Tent Reviews:   1

Site Reviews Total: 116
Site Reviews 2024: 0  
Site Reviews 2023: 0  
Site Reviews 2022: 4  
Site Reviews 2021: 0  
Site Reviews 2020: 0  
Site Reviews 2019: 0  
Site Reviews 2018: 15 
Site Nights 2024: 0
Site Nights 2023: 0
Site Nights 2022: 40
Site Nights 2021: 0
Site Nights 2020: 0
Site Nights 2019: 0
Site Nights 2018: 98

We always overnight at the baie de somee and get that really early start.


09/6/2019 at 10:33pm
 Location: 
 Outfit: 
View Netherton's Profile View Profile   Reply to Netherton Reply   Quote Netherton Quote  
Joined: 12/1/2019

Platinum Member
Platinum Member

Forum Posts:   1230

Site Reviews Total: 3
Site Reviews 2024: 0  
Site Reviews 2023: 0  
Site Reviews 2022: 0  
Site Reviews 2021: 0  
Site Reviews 2020: 0  
Site Reviews 2019: 0  
Site Reviews 2018: 3  
Site Nights 2024: 0
Site Nights 2023: 0
Site Nights 2022: 0
Site Nights 2021: 0
Site Nights 2020: 0
Site Nights 2019: 0
Site Nights 2018: 3

Dave, your " a fewhundred miles" is ambitious" at night, but If you use the route Val A has suggested and if you will settle for 180 miles then overnight free parking in the Motorhome aire at Nonancourt might suit you - it's between Rouen and Chartres. But that still leaves you over 300 miles the next day .



Don't forget to leave a review of the French and other European campsites you have visited!


10/6/2019 at 7:43am
 Location: kent
 Outfit: Adria Twin 640 SPX
View badger54's Profile View Profile   Reply to badger54 Reply   Quote badger54 Quote  
Joined: 30/5/2011

Diamond Member
Diamond Member

Forum Posts:   1602

Site Reviews Total: 19
Site Reviews 2024: 0  
Site Reviews 2023: 0  
Site Reviews 2022: 0  
Site Reviews 2021: 0  
Site Reviews 2020: 2  
Site Reviews 2019: 2  
Site Reviews 2018: 1  
Site Nights 2024: 0
Site Nights 2023: 0
Site Nights 2022: 0
Site Nights 2021: 0
Site Nights 2020: 4
Site Nights 2019: 7
Site Nights 2018: 1

We are heading off again on Sunday, and like many others on here we tend to arrive in Calais in the evening and then head down to the Aire de la Baie de Somme for the night, and then an early start the next morning.
I tend not to cover long distances during the day (no need to now retired), but have comfortably got south of Limoges by 4 pm from there.


Advertisement



10/6/2019 at 8:52am
 Location: 
 Outfit: 
View Netherton's Profile View Profile   Reply to Netherton Reply   Quote Netherton Quote  
Joined: 12/1/2019

Platinum Member
Platinum Member

Forum Posts:   1230

Site Reviews Total: 3
Site Reviews 2024: 0  
Site Reviews 2023: 0  
Site Reviews 2022: 0  
Site Reviews 2021: 0  
Site Reviews 2020: 0  
Site Reviews 2019: 0  
Site Reviews 2018: 3  
Site Nights 2024: 0
Site Nights 2023: 0
Site Nights 2022: 0
Site Nights 2021: 0
Site Nights 2020: 0
Site Nights 2019: 0
Site Nights 2018: 3

It's just that it's still about 450 miles from Baie de Somme service station to the sunny waters of the Dordogne river and the OP said he wanted to go further on his first evening in France.


10/6/2019 at 10:51am
 Location: Northern Ireland
 Outfit: Sterckeman Alize Concept CP480
View Kelper's Profile View Profile   Reply to Kelper Reply   Quote Kelper Quote  
Joined: 21/4/2011

Diamond Member
Diamond Member

Forum Posts:   7948
Tent Reviews:   1

Site Reviews Total: 93
Site Reviews 2024: 0  
Site Reviews 2023: 8  
Site Reviews 2022: 9  
Site Reviews 2021: 0  
Site Reviews 2020: 0  
Site Reviews 2019: 8  
Site Reviews 2018: 6  
Site Nights 2024: 0
Site Nights 2023: 50
Site Nights 2022: 49
Site Nights 2021: 0
Site Nights 2020: 0
Site Nights 2019: 52
Site Nights 2018: 53

Have you used via michelin?


Don't forget to leave a review of the French and other European campsites you have visited!


10/6/2019 at 10:54am
 Location: None Entered
 Outfit: Elddis Avante
View davethedog's Profile View Profile   Reply to davethedog Reply   Quote davethedog Quote  
Joined: 28/1/2007

Standard Member
Standard Member

Forum Posts:   65

Site Reviews Total: 7
Site Reviews 2024: 0  
Site Reviews 2023: 0  
Site Reviews 2022: 0  
Site Reviews 2021: 0  
Site Reviews 2020: 0  
Site Reviews 2019: 5  
Site Reviews 2018: 0  
Site Nights 2024: 0
Site Nights 2023: 0
Site Nights 2022: 0
Site Nights 2021: 0
Site Nights 2020: 0
Site Nights 2019: 10
Site Nights 2018: 0

that's my next stop, I have 6 weeks left for planning time


10/6/2019 at 11:14am
 Location: Teesside
 Outfit: Caravan and XC90
View thechief's Profile View Profile   Reply to thechief Reply   Quote thechief Quote  
Joined: 16/4/2005

Gold Member
Gold Member

Forum Posts:   282

Site Reviews Total: 5
Site Reviews 2024: 1  
Site Reviews 2023: 0  
Site Reviews 2022: 0  
Site Reviews 2021: 1  
Site Reviews 2020: 0  
Site Reviews 2019: 0  
Site Reviews 2018: 0  
Site Nights 2024: 3
Site Nights 2023: 0
Site Nights 2022: 0
Site Nights 2021: 2
Site Nights 2020: 0
Site Nights 2019: 0
Site Nights 2018: 0

Not sure what your range would be before you need to bunk down for the night, but if you could get to nouan-le-fuzelier (South of Orleans) then there is an aire for motorhomes in the village (right outside camping la grande sologne). That trip might be around 300 miles. Could that be 5 hours for you?

Nouan is a quiet village and would only leave you 220 miles to somewhere like Sarlat the next day.

TC


10/6/2019 at 11:22am
 Location: None Entered
 Outfit: Elddis Avante
View davethedog's Profile View Profile   Reply to davethedog Reply   Quote davethedog Quote  
Joined: 28/1/2007

Standard Member
Standard Member

Forum Posts:   65

Site Reviews Total: 7
Site Reviews 2024: 0  
Site Reviews 2023: 0  
Site Reviews 2022: 0  
Site Reviews 2021: 0  
Site Reviews 2020: 0  
Site Reviews 2019: 5  
Site Reviews 2018: 0  
Site Nights 2024: 0
Site Nights 2023: 0
Site Nights 2022: 0
Site Nights 2021: 0
Site Nights 2020: 0
Site Nights 2019: 10
Site Nights 2018: 0

Thank you. That's a possibility, I may try for an earlier ferry. I have a P&O season ticket which gives you full flexibility when you arrive at the port



In order to post a reply you will need to register, or if already registered please log in here

Prev       Next
Quick Links - All Forums - Caravanning and Camping Abroad - Top of Page

Printer Friendly Version Printable version      Share   Post on X / Twitter  Share on Facebook  Email


Latest News, Discounts and Competitions  see all...














9347 Visitors online !

Free UKCampsite.co.uk Window Sticker  -  Recommend to Friend  -  Add a Missing Campsite

[Message Forums]  [Caravan Sites & Camping]  [Company Listings]  [Features / Advice]  [Virtual Brochure]  [Shop!]
[Reception]  [Competitions]  [Caravans & Motorhomes For Sale]  [Event Diary]  [Contact Us]  [Tent Reviews



Please note we are not responsible for the content of external sites & any reviews represent the author's personal view only. Please report any error here. You may view our privacy and cookie policy and terms and conditions here. All copyrights & other intellectual property rights in the design and content of this web site are reserved to the UKCampsite.co.uk © 1999 - 2024


Advertisement


Advertisement


UKCampsite.co.uk
2024 Advent Calendar


Advent Calendar

24 Daily Prizes PLUS a Christmas Day Star Prize worth £999

Request a Reminder