Calais to Orleans

Hi Comeyras, Cow corner at Rouen. Here they are 

Just a general observation on French Autoroutes: although it is nice to have free sections they are generally far worse than the toll sections - fewer Aires and poorer maintenance. A classic example is the A75 from Clermont towards Montpellier which is free (apart from the Millau viaduct) but must have the fewest number of Aires per km than any other Autoroute.  Of course, there is an excellent Aire at Millau BUT it’s in the toll section. OH gets very excited when we transition from a free section to a Pèage section!

Thanks ET, now I remember!

Hitcglitch.  The shortage of Aires on the A75 is not too bad.  OK not as many as on pay auto routes but add to your list the excellent Aire at Caylar.  There are a couple more before Clermont and you can of course pull off the A75 into the villages if you want.

I really don't understand why people get so worked up about Rouen. We go that way every year and I just don't recognise most of these issues. What low height tunnels ? - from memory the tunnels in Rouen are over 5 meters high and HGVs use them. The route north and south via the Cow roundabout (no cows now) route is dual carriageway all the way and really easy at any time of day. Don't recall getting held up at Nonancourt, again from memory it's all dual carriageway and just 2 or 3 roundabouts.  Chartres agreed there are a number of roundabouts 5 or 6 ? but not that bad.  Maybe we have been lucky and admitedly have never done the route on a black day but then I suspect all routes would be hell on those days.

Rouen

Evreux

Dreux

Chatres

Orleans

A16, A28 & N154 most of the way.

We traveled this route in June. Quite straightforward really, but we did get held up between Nonancourt and Dreux (due to heavy lorry traffic and traffic lights/junctions at Saint-Remy-sur-Avre).

We also stayed at Camping La Grande Sologne. Very friendly welcome and a good site for an overnight stop, with a garage close to the campsite and a small supermarket in the town.

+1 - Having  travelled round Chichester in both directions today I agree!.  We've never had much trouble with the Rouen/Chartres route whereas Paris can be a nightmare.  (for those interested it's possible to book camping St. Claire in advance online, no payment upfront, arrive by 18.00 or phone if delayed).

I think that route (Dreux - Chartres) is overdue for an Autoroute by-pass as there is very heavy traffic from lorries. Judging by all the protest banners a few years ago it’s obviously been considered. There are sections of that route where it is very difficult to stop and I remember turning off the road in vain to find somewhere to pull up for lunch and ended up squeezed in a lay-by between two lorries with temperatures in the high thirties.

I can put up with endless roundabouts and slow traffic if the scenery is attractive but this has to be just about the most boring part of France where you really don't want to linger.

The Francilliene is a rather awkward skirt round Paris and the slightest distraction can result in missing a turning. It's also an expensive way to head south.

Yes, I agree, But the Francillienne is the outer ring road of the three Paris rings. I prefer the A86, the middle ring,  on the east side of Paris. 

Thought I was the only one who looked forward to Rouen every year heading south - not! 

Usually we go over the Seine and turn south down E46/E402 virtually on the riverbank to pick up the A13 but I followed the Sat Nav for a change and 'she' took me into Rouen centre via the low underpasses to pick up the N138/A13. Never again will I listen to her in Rouen!!