Route from Calais

[Jem]

Due to the exhorbitant ferry prices we've decide to give the tunnel a go this year.

Which is the best route - via Paris or down the N roads and Rouen ?

Thanks

Jem

[Nordic]

The auto route is almost fully open between Calais and Le Mans via Rouen now.

Rouen can be a bit tricky but the rest of the trip is easy if uninteresting.

[DelBoy]

Jem

Go to the CAguide:  www.clubarnage.com/caguide

and have a look at Ch 10.  All the routes are listed there.

Del

[Jem]

Thanks for the advice, via Rouen it is then.

Jem

[mgmark]

Thanks for the advice, via Rouen it is then.

Jem

Just have a more detailed map of Rouen to hand in case of severe traffic.....

MG Mark

[termietermite]

Listen carefully, for I will say this only once...

When you approach Rouen you will go through a tunnel at Darnetal. Get in the slow lane and stay there.  When you exit the tunnel, DO NOT change lanes.  That way you will automatically drive across the river, wind to the right under the main road and find yourself parallel to the railway line.  Just stick to that road - through the large industrial estate until you get to the "cow" roundabout where the motorway is clearly signposted.

[Lawnmower Man]

Hi Termie,

Is that the route given by mapquest if you ask for Reading Le Mans?    The GPS in my two year old French car doesn't have the motorway in it.    So it's recomending a route via Paris.    So I'm goning to have to do some Navigation using the good old Map.

T.

[termietermite]

Tom, as you know doubt realise, I've ploughed quite a furrow from LM to Calais and back in the last few years!  I've tried going via Paris, I've tried rural routes, I've tried going via the Pont de Normandie and Le Havre, and in spite of this, I've never found a quicker route than via Rouen.  Timing is all.  Avoid the rush hour like the plague ie. don't get there between 8 and 9 in the morning or between 5 and 7 in the week (4 and 6 on poets' day.)  I realise that for LM you're restricted because of crossing times but better to just stop and have a long relaxed lunch or whatever to get your timing right than get there when the locals are going home. 
I don't know about mapquest, as I've always used the old paper kind myself, being an old-fashioned gal!  However, maybe it's worth your entering say "Reading to Rouen" then "Rouen to LM" - to force it to give you the info you want?

[Jem]

Termie,

Advice noted and the slow lane until we see the cows it is.  Thanks for that.

If we were to drive in , how shall we say a spirited manner !!, how long do you reckon to get from the tunnel.  We arrive in France at about 8.30 am so I guess we will miss the rush hour at Rouen. The CA guide ( which is now printed off ) says 4.5 hours.

Jem

[termietermite]

If I stick to the speed limit  according to my on-board, it takes 4 hours not counting the stops.

[Lawnmower Man]

  I realise that for LM you're restricted because of crossing times but better to just stop and have a long relaxed lunch or whatever to get your timing right than get there when the locals are going home. 

Timing is not going to be a problem.  I'll be driving in the early hours.

I don't know about mapquest, as I've always used the old paper kind myself, being an old-fashioned gal!  However, maybe it's worth your entering say "Reading to Rouen" then "Rouen to LM" - to force it to give you the info you want?

That won't help as such.  That will take you in to the centre of Rouen and that's probaly a bad thing.   It's like if you use a GPS on boat.  If you program in the Lat /Long  of bouys on a course then put the boat on auto-pilot it will run straight in to the bouys.  So what you really need is road junctions.    It looks to me like it's the A28 most of the way If thats the case I'll fine.  I'm sur ethe GPS will sort out the raods though/around Rouen.

T.

[Canada Phil]

Hi Tom,
          An alternate to Mapquest. http://www.mappy.fr/
Phil