hi we are thinking of taking our caravans to the vendee next year as our main holiday.. as anyone in the forum done the trip and if so how long does it take.. we are thinking of staying at dover for one night then taking the ferry and then driving straight to the site. les bois masson..( if anyone as any feedback on this site also it would be appreciated ) but we are not sure if it can be done without a stop over..( we are relatively new to caravanning) the site from calais is around 420 miles and i know it sounds like it will only take 7-8 hrs bbut still not sure... thanx for any replies that i may get.. daz
calais to vendee.. how long ???
- Thread starter darrell_5099783
- Start date
Daz,
I'm going to the Vendee on friday 1st Sept, going to La Garangeoire, looking on the map its about 20 miles from Les Bois Masson. Distance quoted from the Eurotunnel is 416 miles.
I'm planning to go down in 1 go, then if necessary stop over night on the way back
When I get back I'll post on the forum how long it took each way & whether an overnight stop is required.
GeorgeB
I'm going to the Vendee on friday 1st Sept, going to La Garangeoire, looking on the map its about 20 miles from Les Bois Masson. Distance quoted from the Eurotunnel is 416 miles.
I'm planning to go down in 1 go, then if necessary stop over night on the way back
When I get back I'll post on the forum how long it took each way & whether an overnight stop is required.
GeorgeB
Via Michelin will give you an answer, but if you want my opinion do it in two days.
www.viamichelin.com
www.viamichelin.com
Darrell
If you take 8 hours that is nearly 53 miles per hour covered. I do not known what car you drive and how fast you want to travel but I as a grey haired old one find with van in tow stops for fuel etc find it hard to avareage more than 40 miles per hour with my 2.5 volvo tdi, and I want the tea pot on by 5pm
so 300 miles I think is a good days drive, I have done more but I do not like it
David from Suffolk
If you take 8 hours that is nearly 53 miles per hour covered. I do not known what car you drive and how fast you want to travel but I as a grey haired old one find with van in tow stops for fuel etc find it hard to avareage more than 40 miles per hour with my 2.5 volvo tdi, and I want the tea pot on by 5pm
so 300 miles I think is a good days drive, I have done more but I do not like it
David from Suffolk
thanx david.. i drive a freelander 2.0 tdi and tow a abbey aventura 330.. i usually stick to between 60-65.. there will be 2 vans going so i cant drive too fast incase the other cant keep up..
) thanx for the info dazDaz,
Route as given by Via Michelin says 398 miles on motorway 18 miles non motorway, from past experience maintaining an average of 50 plus per hour on french motorways is perfectly feasable, even taking pit stops into account.
I've estimated approx 10 hours to get there, but I always allow for hicups, hence I may stop over night on the way back.
I did once do Calais to Frejus in one go, NEVER AGAIN!!!!! but that trip is 800 miles so I now always stop over night on that journey. 2 X 400 miles = easy trip.
My outfit is an Audi A4 Avant 2litre TDi 130 bhp pulling a Castleton Genisis 136 2 berth,(one of the last vans Castleton ever built) coach built van so consequently bl**dy heavy for its size 1160kg loaded. (72% match) but it tows like its on rails & I don't use a stabiliser (never have done).
GeorgeB
Route as given by Via Michelin says 398 miles on motorway 18 miles non motorway, from past experience maintaining an average of 50 plus per hour on french motorways is perfectly feasable, even taking pit stops into account.
I've estimated approx 10 hours to get there, but I always allow for hicups, hence I may stop over night on the way back.
I did once do Calais to Frejus in one go, NEVER AGAIN!!!!! but that trip is 800 miles so I now always stop over night on that journey. 2 X 400 miles = easy trip.
My outfit is an Audi A4 Avant 2litre TDi 130 bhp pulling a Castleton Genisis 136 2 berth,(one of the last vans Castleton ever built) coach built van so consequently bl**dy heavy for its size 1160kg loaded. (72% match) but it tows like its on rails & I don't use a stabiliser (never have done).
GeorgeB
Darren .
If you are fit and well rested the trip is ea sy. French trafic con ditions far far far better than in UK . Have towed over 500miles in a day in france with ease.
Tak e your breaks and have food on the way and uou can average 60 - 65 mph if conditions are ok and you have suitablr rig. Travel at the speed that yo are comfortable with , but 99 % of the time it wil be easy.
If you are fit and well rested the trip is ea sy. French trafic con ditions far far far better than in UK . Have towed over 500miles in a day in france with ease.
Tak e your breaks and have food on the way and uou can average 60 - 65 mph if conditions are ok and you have suitablr rig. Travel at the speed that yo are comfortable with , but 99 % of the time it wil be easy.
just done this trip on sunday (20th august) 9 hours driving time top speed 65 miles , if you can travel on a sunday as there are few lorries only had to pass 4 , when we traveled on a thursday had to pass about 200 (approx.) lorries.......pete
Hi Daz
We did from Zeegbrugge to the Vendee in 11hours there via Paris but was held up for hour and half with the peages on a Sunday. On return trip was much better did it in 8hours no delays.
bryan
We did from Zeegbrugge to the Vendee in 11hours there via Paris but was held up for hour and half with the peages on a Sunday. On return trip was much better did it in 8hours no delays.
bryan
Darrell,
I would say that if you can do it in 9 hours your're doing well. That's not counting any traffic jams - especially round Paris.
We travelled from Zeebrugge to Royan over 2 days (545 miles). Expected driving time was 10 - 11 hours but actual driving time was 13 hours due to heavy volume of traffic. If you take an early ferry from Dover at say 06:00am you will not be leaving Calais dock before 8:45 am with at least a 9 hour drive ahead of you. As you are relatively new to caravanning I would reccommend that you split the journey over 2 days.
I would say that if you can do it in 9 hours your're doing well. That's not counting any traffic jams - especially round Paris.
We travelled from Zeebrugge to Royan over 2 days (545 miles). Expected driving time was 10 - 11 hours but actual driving time was 13 hours due to heavy volume of traffic. If you take an early ferry from Dover at say 06:00am you will not be leaving Calais dock before 8:45 am with at least a 9 hour drive ahead of you. As you are relatively new to caravanning I would reccommend that you split the journey over 2 days.
We have just done this journey with a Volvo XC90 and Dart van. Crossing via tunnel staying overnight in Calais and an 8 hr journey to Tranche sur Mer next day. This included stopping for comfort, child breaks and lunch but we shared the driving. A new road knocked about 1.5 hrs off our previous best time. We went down on a Sunday, back on a Monday and had no problems with traffic at all - weather was awful though near to Calais! We also stop in Calias on the way home. Via Michelin are great for route planning, costing (don't forget to put in that you have a caravan) and timings. Kate
Hello Kate :
Well viamichelin is a great site but take the timings with a 'pinch of salt' ! I have selected a journey from Calais to Strasbourg; almost 400 miles. I have stated that I will be towing a caravan with a large vehicle, and whilst the route is correct, the timings are ridiculous! It reckons that it'll take me 6 hours. That's an average of almost 67 mph average ! This may be OK, but when I returned to a solo drive to Strasbourg, the timing stays the same!
SO I conclude that the algorithm is great for planning to route, but you should calculate your timings based upon your own experience; in my case, including a 5 min stop every 90-120 mins, then a 50-55 average may be more reasonable.
Great site though !
John
Well viamichelin is a great site but take the timings with a 'pinch of salt' ! I have selected a journey from Calais to Strasbourg; almost 400 miles. I have stated that I will be towing a caravan with a large vehicle, and whilst the route is correct, the timings are ridiculous! It reckons that it'll take me 6 hours. That's an average of almost 67 mph average ! This may be OK, but when I returned to a solo drive to Strasbourg, the timing stays the same!
SO I conclude that the algorithm is great for planning to route, but you should calculate your timings based upon your own experience; in my case, including a 5 min stop every 90-120 mins, then a 50-55 average may be more reasonable.
Great site though !
John
We returned from the Loire Valley (Saumur) a couple of weeks ago. On the way down we broke the journey midway. On the return journey we drove from Saumur to Calais in one day. This was easily achieved in about 8hrs including rest, lunch and fuel stops for a journey of approx 375miles. This included a fairly slow crawl around Rouen and a long queue for the peage.
For longer journeys I usually work on approx 50mph overall and that is not usually too far adrift (especially in France, where average speeds are generally higher with fewer hold ups). The New Autoroute down to the Loire certainly seems to help a lot.
A word of warning, dont expect to be guaranteed to be able to park at the Aires at the weekends. Some were absolute bedlam when we were coming back.
For longer journeys I usually work on approx 50mph overall and that is not usually too far adrift (especially in France, where average speeds are generally higher with fewer hold ups). The New Autoroute down to the Loire certainly seems to help a lot.
A word of warning, dont expect to be guaranteed to be able to park at the Aires at the weekends. Some were absolute bedlam when we were coming back.
Hi we drove last year and to do it safely we took 2 days, its a long drive which ever way you look at it and we had another 480 miles to get back to N. Ireland but a lovely area.
Barry
Barry
Darrell,
As promised, now back from hols, the info is as follows;
outbound, total time taken 10hrs 20mins including all stops, actuall running time 7hrs 55mins.
homebound, total time taken 10hrs 5mins including all stops, actuall running time 8hrs 10mins.
GeorgeB
total tolls E58.20 (
As promised, now back from hols, the info is as follows;
outbound, total time taken 10hrs 20mins including all stops, actuall running time 7hrs 55mins.
homebound, total time taken 10hrs 5mins including all stops, actuall running time 8hrs 10mins.
GeorgeB
total tolls E58.20 (
hi george.. thanx for the info and i hope you enjoyed your holiday.. we certainly looking forward to ours next year.. its all just a case now of which ferry.. jeeze does the nightmare ever end ???
Darrell,
If I had my choice it would be Norfolk line every time..........but, SWMBO does'nt do boats, gets seasick looking at the Woolwich ferry! so it's the tunnel for us, mind you, if you choose your crossing times & dates very carefully, you can get some really good deals on the tunnel. I did it
If I had my choice it would be Norfolk line every time..........but, SWMBO does'nt do boats, gets seasick looking at the Woolwich ferry! so it's the tunnel for us, mind you, if you choose your crossing times & dates very carefully, you can get some really good deals on the tunnel. I did it
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