On this page
Driving from the UK through France to Spain takes two days for most people. There are two main routes: the western route via Bordeaux to the border at Hendaye and Irun, for northern Spain, Madrid and Portugal, and the eastern route via the A9 to the border at Le Perthus, for Barcelona and the Mediterranean coast. From Calais, the drive to the border area is about 11 hours either way; the western ferries cut that to under 8 hours.
The two main routes
| Route | Border crossing | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Western: via Bordeaux and the A63 | Hendaye and Irun, into the Basque Country | Bilbao, San Sebastián, Santander, Madrid, central and southern Spain, Portugal |
| Eastern: via the A9 | Le Perthus, south of Perpignan | Barcelona, the Costa Brava and the Mediterranean coast |
There are also crossings through the Pyrenees, such as the Somport tunnel, which suit some destinations in central Spain but involve mountain roads.
Drive times to the Spanish border area
Biarritz is close to the western crossing at Hendaye; Carcassonne and Montpellier are on the way to the eastern crossing at Le Perthus. Drive times from each French port, without stops or traffic:
| To | From Calais | From Dieppe | From Caen | From Cherbourg | From St Malo | From Roscoff |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bordeaux | 9h 00m 543 miles | 7h 25m 445 miles | 6h 25m 384 miles | 7h 35m 432 miles | 5h 45m 329 miles | 7h 30m 416 miles |
| Biarritz | 11h 00m 666 miles | 9h 30m 568 miles | 8h 30m 507 miles | 9h 35m 555 miles | 7h 50m 452 miles | 9h 30m 538 miles |
| Toulouse | 10h 05m 601 miles | 9h 10m 526 miles | 8h 50m 532 miles | 10h 00m 580 miles | 8h 10m 477 miles | 9h 50m 563 miles |
| Carcassonne | 11h 00m 658 miles | 10h 00m 583 miles | 9h 45m 589 miles | 10h 50m 637 miles | 9h 05m 533 miles | 10h 45m 620 miles |
| Montpellier | 10h 40m 657 miles | 9h 55m 571 miles | 9h 50m 582 miles | 11h 05m 649 miles | 10h 20m 601 miles | 12h 00m 688 miles |
- Western route: St Malo is the shortest drive to Biarritz, at 7 hrs 50 min, against 11 hrs from Calais. Caen is about 8 hrs 30 min.
- Eastern route: the drive is similar from most ports, between about 9 and 11 hours to Carcassonne or Montpellier. St Malo and Caen are slightly shorter than Calais.
Compare all eight crossings for your trip, including the UK drive and fuel:
Driving times and distances are road-routing estimates from OpenStreetMap data (calculated 6 October 2026), from the French terminal to the city centre, without traffic, stops or check-in. Crossing times are from the ferry companies and LeShuttle, checked October 2026. Tolls aren't included. Checked 10 October 2026.
Where to stop overnight
France’s road safety advice is to stop for at least 15 minutes every two hours. Breaking the journey roughly halfway, by drive time:
- Western route from Calais: the Loire around Tours (5 hrs 35 min from Calais) is about halfway to Biarritz; Poitiers (6 hrs 40 min) is a little further on.
- Western route from St Malo or Caen: after an overnight ferry, many drivers reach the border in one day.
- Eastern route from Calais: around Clermont-Ferrand (7 hrs 20 min) on the A75, or Lyon (7 hrs 35 min) on the A7.
What you need
For the drive through France you need everything on our what you need to drive in France checklist: licence, passport, V5C, insurance, a hi-vis vest for each person, a warning triangle, the UK identifier and headlamp adjustment. A few things to check for the Spanish leg:
- Warning triangles and V16 beacons: Spain is replacing triangles with V16 warning beacons for Spanish vehicles, but its traffic authority, the DGT, says foreign-registered vehicles comply if they carry and use triangles. You don’t need a V16 beacon in a UK car.
- Insurance and breakdown cover: make sure both cover France and Spain for the length of your trip.
- Low-emission zones: you may need a Crit’Air sticker for French cities on the way, and Spanish cities have their own low-emission zones with their own rules. Check before you go.
- Caravans and trailers over 750kg: Spain doesn’t require trailer registration, but GOV.UK says you must register one with DVLA to tow it through France. See caravans and motorhomes.
Crossing the border
France and Spain are both in the Schengen area, so there’s no routine passport control between them, but police checks can take place near the border. Keep your passport in the car. The 90 days in any 180-day rule counts all your time in the Schengen area, so days in France and Spain add together.
Spain also drives on the right, with limits in km/h, but its speed limits, fines and rules are different from France’s. Look them up before you cross.
Tolls
Both main routes use long stretches of French toll autoroute. A French toll tag also works on Spanish toll roads with some providers, so check if you’ll use both. See French toll roads.
On a long drive we always use autoroutes as they are much quicker, and we have a toll tag as it makes paying much easier. No stopping, just use the 30 km/h lane and drive straight through. Payment is taken direct from bank account on our return.
Fuel is much cheaper at supermarkets than on the autoroute services.
The alternative: a ferry straight to Spain
If you’d rather not drive through France, ferries sail direct from the UK to northern Spain:
The crossing is much longer and usually costs more than a short Channel crossing, but it saves two days of driving, fuel, French tolls and hotels.
Driving through France to Spain: routes, border crossings and rules FAQs
How long does it take to drive through France to Spain?
From Calais to Biarritz, near the western border crossing, about 11 hours without stops or traffic; to Carcassonne, on the way to the eastern crossing, also about 11 hours. From St Malo, Biarritz is about 7 hrs 50 min. Most people take two days.
What is the best route through France to Spain?
For northern and western Spain, Madrid and Portugal, the western route via Bordeaux and the A63 to the border at Hendaye and Irun. For Barcelona and the Mediterranean coast, the eastern route via the A9 to the border at Le Perthus. The western ferries from Portsmouth and Plymouth cut the drive through France on the western route.
What do I need to drive through France to Spain?
Everything you need for France: UK photocard licence, passport, V5C, insurance, a hi-vis vest for each person, a warning triangle, the UK identifier and headlamp adjustment, and a Crit'Air sticker for any French low-emission zone. Check that your insurance and breakdown cover include both countries.
Do I need a V16 beacon to drive in Spain with a UK car?
No. Spain's traffic authority, the DGT, says foreign-registered vehicles comply with Spanish rules if they carry and use warning triangles, or a similar device allowed in their own country. The V16 beacon rule applies to Spanish-registered vehicles.
Is there a border check between France and Spain?
France and Spain are both in the Schengen area, so there's no routine passport control, but checks can happen at the border. Carry your passport, and remember the 90 days in any 180 rule covers your whole time in the Schengen area, France and Spain together.
Do I need to register my caravan to drive through France to Spain?
Yes, if it's over 750kg. Spain doesn't require trailer registration, but France does, so GOV.UK says you must register a caravan or trailer over 750kg to tow it through France to reach Spain.
Is it better to drive through France or take the ferry to Spain?
The direct ferries from Portsmouth and Plymouth to Santander and Bilbao avoid the drive through France altogether, at the cost of a longer, more expensive crossing. Driving through France is usually cheaper on the crossing and lets you break the journey, but adds fuel, tolls and one or two nights' stay.