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The drive from Calais to the south of France takes about 10 hours to Avignon or Montpellier and 12 hours 30 minutes to Nice, without stops or traffic. Most British drivers split it into two days, stopping around Dijon or Lyon. Which crossing is best depends on where in the south you’re going: Calais and LeShuttle for Provence and the Riviera, and the western ferries for the south-west, where St Malo cuts Toulouse to about 8 hours.
Plan your drive south
Choose your destination, and your UK starting point if you like, to compare all eight crossings.
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.
Drive times to the south from each port
| 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 |
| Avignon (Provence) | 10h 00m 612 miles | 9h 25m 547 miles | 9h 50m 577 miles | 11h 10m 648 miles | 10h 50m 630 miles | 12h 35m 717 miles |
| Marseille | 10h 50m 664 miles | 10h 15m 599 miles | 10h 40m 629 miles | 12h 00m 700 miles | 11h 40m 683 miles | 13h 25m 769 miles |
| Nice | 12h 30m 763 miles | 11h 55m 698 miles | 12h 15m 728 miles | 13h 40m 798 miles | 13h 20m 781 miles | 15h 05m 868 miles |
Times are road-routing estimates without stops or traffic. In summer, the A7 and the roads around Marseille and Nice are often slower.
The main routes south
To Provence and the Riviera
From Calais, the usual route is the A26 (the Autoroute des Anglais) past Reims, on towards Dijon, then down to Lyon and the A7 through the Rhône valley, known with the A6 as the Autoroute du Soleil. From the A7, the A8 runs along the coast to Nice. This route avoids Paris, and it’s almost all toll autoroute.
If you’re crossing to Dieppe, the drive to Nice and Marseille is about 35 minutes shorter than from Calais, but the crossing is about four hours.
To Languedoc and the Pyrenees
The A75 through the Massif Central, via Clermont-Ferrand, is a popular alternative to the A7 for Montpellier, Béziers and the Languedoc coast. Much of it is free, but there’s a toll to cross the Millau viaduct. It climbs high, so check the weather in winter.
From Caen, Dieppe or St Malo, Montpellier is about 10 hours, slightly less than from Calais.
To the south-west
For Bordeaux, Toulouse, Carcassonne and Biarritz, the western ferries save the most driving:
- Toulouse: 8 hrs 10 min from St Malo, against 10 hrs from Calais.
- Biarritz: 7 hrs 50 min from St Malo, against 11 hrs from Calais.
- Carcassonne: 9 hrs 5 min from St Malo, against 11 hrs from Calais.
Portsmouth to St Malo sails overnight, so you can sleep on board and start the drive in the morning. See driving through France to Spain if you’re going further.
Where to stop overnight
Driving more than ten hours after an early start and a Channel crossing is a long day, and France’s road safety advice is to stop for at least 15 minutes every two hours. Natural places to break the journey, by drive time from Calais:
| Stop | From Calais | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| Reims (Champagne) | 2 hrs 45 min | An afternoon or evening crossing |
| Dijon (Burgundy) | 5 hrs 40 min | About halfway to Provence |
| Lyon | 7 hrs 35 min | About two-thirds of the way to Marseille |
| Clermont-Ferrand (Auvergne) | 7 hrs 20 min | The A75 route to Languedoc |
Book your overnight stop ahead in July and August.
When to go: avoid the black Saturdays
The busiest days are summer Saturdays, especially in July and August, when French families head south at the same time. The government’s traffic service, Bison Futé, publishes a forecast rating each day green, orange, red or black. If you can, travel midweek, avoid red and black days, or set off very early. Expect the A7 through the Rhône valley and the approaches to the big southern cities to be busy.
Turn your radio to 107.7 FM for traffic news on the autoroute: see driving on French autoroutes.
What it costs
- Fuel: London to Nice via LeShuttle is about 833 miles. At 45 mpg and £1.50 a litre that’s about £126 one way; the planner above works it out for your car.
- Tolls: most of the route south is toll autoroute. Prices depend on your route and vehicle class, so use a motorway operator’s calculator. See French toll roads, and consider a toll tag for a long drive.
- Crossing: compare ferries and LeShuttle on our sister site’s guide to the best ferry to the south of France.
- Overnight stop: a hotel on the way, or an overnight cabin on the western ferries.
Fuel is much cheaper at supermarkets than on the autoroute services.
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.
Driving in the south
- Low-emission zones: some southern cities have low-emission zones where you need a Crit’Air sticker. Check the rules for the city you’re visiting before you go.
- Heat: summer temperatures are high. Carry water, and never leave children or pets in a parked car.
- Hill villages and old towns have narrow streets and limited parking: park outside and walk in.
- Mountain roads inland: on steep roads the car going downhill gives way to the one coming up.
- Fuel can be far apart in the hills: fill up before you leave the main roads. See fuel and EV charging.
Driving to the south of France: routes, drive times and stopovers FAQs
How long does it take to drive to the south of France from Calais?
Without stops or traffic, about 10 hrs to Avignon, 10 hrs 40 min to Montpellier, 10 hrs 50 min to Marseille and 12 hrs 30 min to Nice, using road-routing estimates. With a 15-minute break every two hours, add over an hour. Most people split the drive over two days.
Where should I stop when driving to the south of France?
Dijon in Burgundy is about halfway from Calais to Marseille (5 hrs 40 min from Calais), and Lyon is about two-thirds of the way (7 hrs 35 min). Reims, 2 hrs 45 min from Calais, suits a later crossing. Heading for Languedoc via the A75, Clermont-Ferrand (about 7 hrs 20 min from Calais) is a natural stop.
What is the best route to the south of France?
For Provence and the Riviera, most drivers take the autoroutes from Calais via Reims and Dijon to Lyon, then the A7 down the Rhône valley. For Languedoc, the A75 through the Massif Central is mostly free, apart from the Millau viaduct toll. For the south-west, the western ferries cut the drive: Toulouse is 8 hrs 10 min from St Malo against 10 hrs from Calais.
Which ferry is best for the south of France?
For Nice and Marseille, the shortest drive is from Dieppe (Newhaven ferry), about 35 minutes less than from Calais. For Toulouse, Carcassonne and Biarritz, St Malo gives the shortest drive. From London, LeShuttle or Dover to Calais is usually quickest overall because the crossing is so short.
How much does it cost to drive to the south of France?
It depends on your crossing, car and route. As an example, London to Nice via LeShuttle is about 833 miles; at 45 mpg and £1.50 a litre, that's about £126 of fuel one way. Add the crossing and autoroute tolls, which you can price with a motorway operator's calculator.
When is the worst time to drive to the south of France?
Summer Saturdays, especially in July and August, when French families head south too. The government's traffic service Bison Futé rates each day green, orange, red or black: avoid the red and black days, or set off very early.
Is it easy to drive in the south of France?
The autoroutes are easy, but expect heavy summer traffic on the A7 and around Marseille and Nice, narrow streets in hill villages, and mountain roads inland. A smaller car is easier to park in old towns.