A43 / A34 or motorways?

[PaulHull]

Hi,

I'm travelling to Dorset from East Yorks and am trying to figure out the best route down. In our tenting/no children days we used to take the A43 & A34 through Oxfordshire straight down to Southampton.

Now though with two young children (one of whom is teething and needs lots of attention!) and a caravan in tow I'm wondering whether to stick to the motorways for ease of access to the services.

Has anyone used this route / know this route and if so what is it like for regular stops with the caravan?

Thanks in advance!

 

[Sproket]

If you are travelling through the night ??

I would come off the M1 at J23 call at the services & then go down the A42 / M42 & then down the M40 to J9 A34

Saves all the stop starts on the round-abouts on the A43

 

[PaulHull]

We're travelling saturday morning. The problem with the A roads is that you're never sure when your next services will be which isn't much fun with a screaming 9 month old three feet behind your head! What also isn't fun is sitting in endless motorway jams - I really can't decide! Taking the M1/M25/M3 is only 20 miles longer than going A43/A34 but might include sitting for a nice rest on the M25 for several miles!

 

[Pat_374304630]

Paul,

Avoid the M25

Sprokets route is good but I would come off at junction 10 on the M40. Up and over the motorway and go through Weston on the Green and back onto the A34. Junction 9 of the M40 on a Saturday is a nightmare due to Bicester Retail Village. There is a services at Junction 10 as well.

There are some roadworks on the A34 but the traffic flows well. Newbury is also bypassed.

 

[DavidKlyne]

Paul

The A34 is a really excellent road, I have been using it for about 40 years now, at least now it is all dual carriage way. There are services at Oxford (bit difficult to get into with a caravan) Newbury, new services which should be fine and Sutton Scotney loads of room.

David

 

[Mikey1]

Dont forget you have long term roadworks on the m25 between the M1 and the M40 , i have yet to go through them without delays!

 

[Philspadders]

i travel to Southampton quiet a lot ( work) from Sheffield and of all the routes -m1,m25,m3 orm1,m42,m40 m1,m69,m40

i find the m25 route the quickest .

 

[forestgump]

i go m1 jun 15a to a43 m40 to a34 m3 ontom27 a31 use this every year and tryed others but found this better for me.

 

[Taff]

Depends which part of Dorset. I used to drive to Dorchester and I travelled down M1/A42/M42/M5 turn off at Somerset. I think its Junc 25 then go through Yeovil.