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France is made for driving holidays: you can bring your own car, pack what you like, and cross from the UK in as little as 35 minutes. The regions closest to the ferry ports, Normandy, Brittany and the Loire, are a short drive from Caen, St Malo or Roscoff, while the Dordogne, the Atlantic coast, the Alps and Provence make a road trip of the journey itself. Below are the favourite regions, the crossing that gets you closest to each, and tips for planning the trip.
The favourite regions, and how to get there
| Region | For | Closest crossing and drive | From Calais |
|---|---|---|---|
| Normandy | D-Day beaches, Bayeux, Honfleur, Mont-Saint-Michel | Caen: Bayeux 40 min, Honfleur 1 hr | Bayeux 4 hrs |
| Brittany | Coast, beaches, Celtic towns, seafood | St Malo: Mont-Saint-Michel 1 hr 15, Vannes 2 hrs 5. Roscoff: Quimper 1 hr 35 | Vannes 6 hrs 50 |
| Loire Valley | Châteaux, vineyards, cycling | Caen: Tours 3 hrs, Saumur 3 hrs 5 | Tours 5 hrs 35 |
| Atlantic coast and Vendée | Beaches, islands, family campsites | St Malo: Les Sables-d’Olonne 3 hrs 30, La Rochelle 4 hrs | La Rochelle 7 hrs 35 |
| Dordogne and Lot | Rivers, castles, caves, food | St Malo: Bergerac 6 hrs 45. Caen: Sarlat 7 hrs 35 | Sarlat 8 hrs 45 |
| Champagne | Champagne houses, a first-night stop | Calais: Reims 2 hrs 45 | 2 hrs 45 |
| Alsace | Wine villages, Strasbourg | Calais: Strasbourg 6 hrs 15 | 6 hrs 15 |
| The Alps | Lakes, mountains, walking, skiing | Dieppe: Annecy 8 hrs 5, Chamonix 8 hrs 35 | Annecy 8 hrs 25 |
| Provence | Lavender, hill villages, Roman sites | Dieppe: Avignon 9 hrs 25 | Avignon 10 hrs |
| Basque coast and Languedoc | Surf beaches, Carcassonne, the Pyrenees | St Malo: Biarritz 7 hrs 50, Carcassonne 9 hrs 5 | Biarritz 11 hrs |
Drive times are road-routing estimates without stops or traffic. For the Riviera and Marseille, see driving to the south of France.
Compare every crossing for your destination, including the drive from your home and the fuel cost:
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.
Planning a driving holiday
Choose a base, or tour
Many families pick one base and explore from it; others tour, moving every few nights. Touring works best with short drives between stops, so you’re not spending the holiday in the car. Allow for breaks: France’s road safety advice is to stop for at least 15 minutes every two hours.
Autoroutes or scenic roads?
Autoroutes get you there fastest but charge tolls. N and D roads are almost all free and take you through towns and villages, so a long journey takes much longer. A common approach is autoroute for the long drive, then smaller roads once you arrive. See French road types and 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.
When to go
- July and August are the busiest months, with French families on holiday too. Avoid driving south on red and black days in the government’s Bison Futé traffic forecast, usually summer Saturdays.
- May, June and September are usually quieter, with easier booking.
- Mountains in winter: from 1 November to 31 March, cars in many mountain areas must have winter tyres or carry snow chains or socks. See French driving laws.
Where to stay
France has hotels in almost every town, a huge choice of campsites, gîtes (holiday cottages), chambres d’hôtes (B&Bs), and motorhome areas in many towns and villages. Book ahead for July and August, especially near the coast. Motorhomes and caravans have their own rules: see caravans and motorhomes in France.
Practical tips
- Before you go: check you have everything on our what you need to drive in France checklist, including a hi-vis vest for each person and a warning triangle.
- Crit’Air: if you’ll drive into a city with a low-emission zone, order a Crit’Air sticker well ahead.
- Fuel: fill up before heading into the countryside or mountains.
- Children: under-10s need a child seat. See car seat laws in France.
- Breakdown cover: make sure it covers France for your whole trip. See insurance and breakdown cover.
- First time? Read our 25 tips for driving in France.
Fuel is much cheaper at supermarkets than on the autoroute services.
Which ferry for your region?
Our sister site has a guide to the best crossing for each region: Normandy, Brittany, the Loire, the Dordogne, the Alps, Paris and the south of France.
Driving holidays in France: where to go and how to get there FAQs
Where should I go on a driving holiday in France?
For a short drive from the ferry, Normandy, Brittany and the Loire Valley are within a few hours of Caen, St Malo or Roscoff. For a longer trip, the Dordogne, the Atlantic coast, the Alps and Provence each make a good base, and the drive there can be part of the holiday.
Which ferry is best for a driving holiday in France?
It depends on the region. Caen is about 40 minutes from Bayeux and 3 hours from the Loire; St Malo is about 75 minutes from Mont-Saint-Michel and 4 hours from La Rochelle; Roscoff is about 1 hr 35 min from Quimper. For the Alps and Provence, Dieppe and Calais give the shortest drives.
Is it better to use autoroutes or scenic roads on a French road trip?
Both. Autoroutes are quick but charge tolls; N and D roads are almost all free and go through towns and villages. Many drivers use the autoroute for the long stretch and the smaller roads once they arrive.
When is the best time for a driving holiday in France?
May, June and September are quieter and usually warm. July and August are the busiest months, with heavy traffic on summer Saturdays. In mountain areas, winter tyres or chains are required from 1 November to 31 March.
Can you sleep at rest stops in France?
Motorhomes can park wherever a car can, as long as it isn't dangerous, obstructive or abusive, and many towns have motorhome areas. For a car, a hotel, campsite or gîte is the safer and more comfortable choice.
Where can I stay on a driving holiday in France?
France has hotels in almost every town, many campsites, gîtes (holiday cottages), chambres d'hôtes (B&Bs) and motorhome areas. Book ahead for July and August, especially near the coast.