Driving from the Uk to Roda

Hi,

Due to the ever increasing flight prices and car hire we are thinking of driving this year?  Anyone got any advice in terms or route to take and the overall cost including tolls, fuel etc.

Any information would be great.

Thanks

Paul

Hi Paul,

We travel to & from the UK by car, generally twice a year. We usually take the ferry from Santander or Bilbao to Portsmouth, its about 9 hours drive (including a few stops) however we normally stop off en-route in Segovia or Avila or Rueda wine area for 1 night. Ferry costs 400 - 800 GBP return depending on dates (you can find a brittany ferries club discount code searching on EOS or google, which will save you 8-10%).

Driving through France is expensive with tolls, unless you have the time to avoid them & you will need a minumim of 2 over night stays. We are doing this route next month & it is easily as expensive as the ferry, but makes a change.

For alternative routes check out www.viamichelin.co.uk

You can enter your car type to get estimate of fuel cost & can seach for toll free routes as one of the many options.

Good luck!

Mike,

Thanks, we can only go in the school holidays so ferry companies will nail us with the prices so we are looking to drive from Calais.  Looking for an estimate in terms of tolls and fuel.  I have been on this website www.viamichelin.co.uk and it is working out cheaper than flights and car hire. Can anyone tell me the best route and apprx cost all in. 

 

Paul

Paul

I knew there was some previous info on this subject

http://www.eyeonspain.com/community-forum/24311/uk-to-roda-by-car.aspx

viamichelin is certainly good starting point should help with tolls and cost of fuel, shortest mileage from Dover is 1200 miles, what is your cars mpg? How far do you want to travel each day as that is 24 hours of driving in total.

Quickest route is round Paris and head down to Orleans, Clermont Ferrand, Millau, you must stop at the bridge, Perpignan, then into Spain all the way down the coast BUT there are altrnatives such as going to Rouen then West of Paris and west side of France and over,under or round Pyrenees, more expensive on tolls 

How many overnight stops do you want, is it a quick trip or a sight seeing opportunity?

Cost depends so much on stops, mpg and tolls etc but approx £500 each way would cover it working out much the same as doing the ferry route and if you are using the car for a while i.e. a month it saves on car hire.

Happy to try and answer any specifics

Paul

We drive down most years in the school holidays, the tolls driving main routes through France into Spain are approx 120 euros each way from Calais to Roda!

You must avoid the first weekend in August as most of France , holland, & Germany are on the move and it will pretty much be one long traffic jam.

I have to agree with mike the best route is to take the ferry to Santander and drive the 9 hours down, having tried this last year I would recommend this especially if you have children in the car!

Good luck!