Rouen Vs Paris which way to go

[SmithA]

we have been driving to Le Mans for the last 6 years and have always gone via Rouen.

is that the best way or is via Paris the better route?

after being stuck behind a horse box for 20 miles yesterday i am starting to wonder.

we will not be getting to Calais until about 3.30 on friday

i know when the new road opens all will be great but for this year i was thinking of giving it a go via Paris

Any help or advice will be much appreciated.

[Bob U]

we will not be getting to Calais until about 3.30 on friday

Does that mean you are on the thursday midnight from Dover?
If so, see you on it

[SmithA]

Unfortunately not, we normaly travel on the thursday early morning but i have to wait for one of our team who does not finish until 10.am on friday   so i am aiming for the 13.15 from dover.

[stuey]

In my opinion the Rouen route is definitely the way to go, the Paris route is too unpredictable.

The Rouen route seems to get easier every year as the roads improve and even though Rouen itself can be a bit of a bottle neck it rarely holds you up for long.

I always make sure that I carry a french road atlas with me, that way when somebody stuffs their car on a single carriageway section (as they often do), I can take to the country lanes for a few miles and divert around the holdup.

Cheers Stuey

[Kpy]

Unfortunately not, we normaly travel on the thursday early morning but i have to wait for one of our team who does not finish until 10.am on friday   so i am aiming for the 13.15 from dover.

No contest. Avoid Paris at all costs that Friday afternoon - unless the French equivalent of the M25 at its worse appeals.  PM me if you need a good route from north of Rouen to LM, avoiding heavy traffic and radar traps. I live near Rouen.

[smokie]

I am considering the Partis route from Dunkerque next Sunday, and returning the same way. I am thinking that with the caravan I will make better progress, with lower fuel costs due to less stop/starting (at all those roundabouts beyond Rouen).

www.mappy.com says Rouen is 287 miles taking 5h 34, €41.80 fuel (I wish!) and €14.80 tolls. Paris is 312 miles in 5h 36, petrol €46.20 and tolls €41.90.

I guess the Paris route is more predictable on Sundays?



btw mappy also lists the fixed speed camers in it's routes.

[DelBoy]

.... mappy also lists the fixed speed camers in it's routes.

You're worried about speed cameras when pulling the 'van?  

My 'van starts to get a bit twitchy over 65mph, in spite of the hitch stabiliser.

Del

[Chrisgr31]

I was contemplating this as well.  With the demise of the Hoverspeed Seacat to Dieppe I am now going Dover-Calais.  Right pain as I only live 25 mins from Newhaven.

Thinking of going Calais Rouen Le Mans, but on the way back we are not on a ferry until Monday afternoon.  Don;t fancy sharing the campsite with the pikeys on Sunday night.  So contemplating a stop at Chartres for bed and shower, then Paris to Calais.

Last year stopped at Evreux on the return leg to Dieppe.

[Neal]

Chris we are back Mon afternoon as well, staying in Rouen overnight on Sunday. Worth thinking about it is quite a place

[Nobby Diesel]

Chris,
Come and join the party in the Paddy Pub in rouen!

[Neal]

I'll second that Nobby

[smokie]

You're worried about speed cameras when pulling the 'van?  

My 'van starts to get a bit twitchy over 65mph, in spite of the hitch stabiliser.

Del

I've been known to go a bit over 65 with the van on, yes I haven't bothered with the stabiliser for the last couple of years as the sheer weight of the contents seems to make it fairly stable without...

[DelBoy]

........the sheer weight of the contents seems to make it fairly stable without...

I know what you mean Smokie.  My old (smaller) van was very stable.  Trouble is, the new one at 20ft long and over 8ft wide is a little more unstable, even though it weighs 1600kgs.

Still, with SWMBO in the car most of the time (not at LM though), I have a built-in speed restrictor.

See you next week - I'll pop over and say hi when we get there (11.00am on wed).
Have a good trip.

Del

[LM Frog]

Avoid Paris at all cost. Definitely!

[smokie]

Even on a Sunday? I think it's only a little way on the Periphique...