France is a country full of charm, culture, cuisine, history and stunning natural landscapes. It attracts tourists from across the globe who come to experience its many attractions. While public transport is excellent, one of the best ways to truly explore the diversity of France is by car. Travelling around France by car gives you the freedom and flexibility to visit both popular tourist sites and off-the-beaten-track locations at your own pace.
This article provides tips for getting the most out of a France road trip. Whether you want to explore the lavender fields of Provence, cruise along the Cote d’Azur or meander through picturesque villages, driving through France is an unforgettable experience. Follow these tips to make sure your France road trip goes smoothly.
Plan Your Route
With so many places to see, planning your route is essential. Think about the key sites and regions you want to visit and map out a logical route. Travelling south to north or vice versa allows you to see the changing landscapes. Meandering through scenic countryside roads lets you fully appreciate rural France. Focus on one or two regions so you don’t try to cram in too much.
Leave room for flexibility in case you discover somewhere new en route. Useful tools for planning your France road trip include Google Maps, travel blogs/forums, and guidebooks. Consider the best times to visit certain places and factor in driving durations so your days aren’t too long.
Get Your Car Essentials in Order
Before embarking on your France road trip, get your car sorted. Consider size – smaller cars are better for navigating narrow streets. Manual cars are most common in France so an automatic will cost more. Ensure you have essentials like a spare tyre, warning triangle, reflective jacket and torch. GPS and phone chargers are useful, too.
Check your insurance covers you comprehensively overseas, and consider extra collision damage waiver insurance for peace of mind. Book rental cars well in advance. If you’re bringing your own car, get it serviced beforehand. Print out key phone numbers, such as breakdown services.
Brush Up on Your French
While you’ll find English speakers in tourist regions, brushing up on basic French travel phrases will make your France road trip easier. Learn key driving terms like autoroute (motorway), péage (toll), station service (petrol station), and parking. Knowing numbers, directions, and common courtesies is useful, too.
Being able to communicate with locals will enhance your travel experience. Pick up a French phrasebook and practise pronunciations. Apps like Duolingo are great for learning beginner French. Even just mastering basics like ‘bonjour’, ‘s’il vous plaît’ (please) and ‘merci’ (thank you) goes a long way.
Get Ahead with Accommodation
One of the joys of a France road trip is staying in charming hotels in countryside villages. However, popular tourist spots get booked up fast. To secure great accommodation, book at least a few months ahead.
Use booking sites like Booking.com to find deals, read reviews and check for free parking onsite – very useful when travelling by car. Consider booking just a night or two in key places then play the rest by ear. France has many roadside hotels, so you can find a place to stay if needed.
Pack Smartly
Efficient packing is crucial for car travel. Pack light with versatile mix-and-match clothing. Limit shoes and stick to breathable fabrics. Have sunglasses, sunscreen and an umbrella handy for unpredictable weather. Pack essential documents like passports, driving licenses, printed travel itineraries and insurance paperwork.
Keep valuables like money and electronics in your carry-on bag. Have snacks, bottled water and a small first aid kit on hand. Use packing cubes, compression sacks and lightweight luggage. A small cooler bag is great for picnics. Only take what you need to avoid cluttering your car.
Prepare for Driving
Before hitting the road, get up to speed on France’s driving rules to avoid issues. Drive on the right. Speed limits are 130km/h on motorways, 110km/h on dual carriageways and 50km/h in urban areas unless signposted otherwise. Seat belts are compulsory for all passengers, and mobile phone use is prohibited when driving.
Blood alcohol limits are stricter than in some countries, so don’t drink and drive. Get an International Driving Permit if your license isn’t in French. Know important road signs and traffic indicators e.g. priority to the right at junctions. Brush up on the rules of France’s many roundabouts too!
Explore Byways, Not Just Motorways
While quick and convenient, simply driving major motorways won’t give you a true taste of France. Meandering along scenic backroads rewards you with vine-cloaked valleys, flowery fields, sleepy hamlets and local charm.
Stop when something captivates you, like a chat with a cheesemaker, not just when the guidebook tells you. Discover outdoor markets, village festivals and hidden restaurants. Chat with locals for insider tips. Wandering aimlessly is part of the France road trip experience!
Fill Up Regularly
With fuel more expensive than in some countries, fill up often so you don’t unexpectedly run low. Autoroute petrol stations charge premium prices – it’s much cheaper in towns. Some stations are self-service, but others have attendants to pump your petrol.
Have a mix of cash, cards and change to hand as many rural petrol stations are cash only. Know your fuel type (eg diesel vs unleaded). Plan fuel stops when you’ll also need a break to stretch your legs.
Take in the Scenery
Driving allows you to properly immerse yourself in France’s diverse landscapes: Provence’s purple lavender fields and golden sunflower plains, Burgundy’s gentle green hills and vineyards, the snow-capped Alps, the cliffs and coastal drives of Normandy and Brittany, and the turquoise beaches of the Côte d’Azur.
Stop regularly for photo opportunities and short hikes. Driving through ever-changing scenery is a highlight of road-tripping around France.
Have Euros and Cards Handy
While cards are widely accepted, always have some cash for emergencies, smaller purchases or toll roads. Notify your bank you’ll be using cards overseas to avoid issues. Carry a mix of notes and coins.
At pay stations, know if you need a ticket when entering or leaving. Keep receipts as a backup. Be aware of expensive road tolls – factor these costs into your budget. Consider a Visitor Oyster card if driving into Paris.
Stay Alert on the Road
While travelling around France by car is generally safe, staying alert is vital, especially on major roads. Drivers may pull out suddenly. Be aware of fast-moving lorries and tailgaters. Use hard shoulders only for emergencies.
Avoid distractions like phones. Adjust to higher speed limits on motorways. Take regular breaks to stay refreshed and prevent fatigue. Be extra cautious driving at night in unfamiliar places. Read signs closely, especially in busy areas.
Embrace Spontaneity
No matter how perfectly you plan your France road trip, be open to spontaneity and serendipity. Follow signs to an alluring village or seaside town not on your itinerary. Make unscheduled food stops like alluring markets and cheese shops. Chat to friendly locals and fellow travellers to uncover hidden gems.
Changing plans allows you to shape your trip around what interests you, not a rigid schedule. Some of the best travel moments come from spur-of-the-moment decisions!
Respect the Road Rules
While travelling around France by car is fun and freewheeling, safety and courtesy are paramount. Stick to speed limits, drive sober and avoid mobile phone distractions. Carry required safety equipment like warning triangles. Be patient and polite with other drivers and pedestrians.
Park considerately, obey parking restrictions and don’t leave valuables visible in the car. Follow all road signs and traffic directions. If you’re unfamiliar with driving overseas, take some refresher lessons beforehand.
Research Parking
Finding convenient parking in popular tourist places can be frustrating. Do your research beforehand on parking options – location, availability, fees – so you’re not wasting time circling for spots or getting costly tickets.
Reserve parking at your accommodation or check for free on-site parking. For day trips, look into options like pre-paid garages, street meter parking or park-and-ride schemes on city outskirts with public transport connections. Avoid parking illegally.
Minimise Driving Days
While driving allows freedom, packing up and moving locations daily can be tiring. Minimise long driving days by staying in each area for 2-3 nights as a base to explore the surrounding region. For example, base yourself in Annecy to visit Chamonix and the Alps. Use Bayonne to explore the Basque region.
Limit driving to under 3 hours per day where possible so you don’t feel rushed and can take in views. This also reduces the monotony and fatigue of extended time behind the wheel across your France road trip.
Experience Local Dining
One of the great pleasures of travelling through France by car is experiencing authentic regional cuisine and wines. Stop at small-town bistros, village markets, and roadside stalls for local specialities, and drink wines from the regions you’re driving through.
Buy picnic goods like cheese, charcuterie and fresh bread from artisans and family producers. Chat with restaurant staff to uncover hidden gems. Spend more time dining al fresco at cafes when the weather’s fine rather than always sightseeing. Savouring France’s food and wine is a highlight!
Learn Traffic Signs
While international signs are often used, it helps to understand key French traffic signs for a smooth, safe driving experience. Brown signs indicate tourist attractions. Blue signs are for motorways. Green is for major roads.
Know priority to the right, stop and give way signs. Be aware of signs for peage (toll road), interdit (no entry) and sens unique/interdit (one way). Brush up before your trip using handy online guides to French road signs.
Consider An Audio Guide
To maximise your road trip experience, use a digital audio guide. Apps like VoiceMap provide self-guided audio tours for driving routes like the Cote d’Azur, Normandy D-Day beaches and Route Napoleon. Narrators share history, context and directions.
Driving while learning about the historical and cultural significance of the places you’re passing through enhances immersion in the French landscape and culture.
Prepare for City Driving
While driving in rural France is fairly cruisy, navigating busy cities like Paris requires extra care. Avoid driving in city centres when possible due to congestion and parking difficulties. If essential, plan your route meticulously using GPS and maps then follow directions closely.
Study suitable parking locations near your destination beforehand – reserve if possible. Drive defensively as scooters will whizz around. Be alert to trams, bikes and pedestrians. Consider public transport options to minimise city driving stress.
Travel in the Off-Season
While summer showcases France’s beauty, peak tourist crowds make popular spots hectic. Visiting in shoulder seasons means fewer cars on the road, easier parking/accommodation, lower prices, plus pleasant weather. Late spring and early autumn are ideal, with warm days and mild nights.
Winters offer moody scenery. Avoid late July-August if you don’t like busy destinations and traffic. Travelling around France by car during the off-season showcases a quieter, calmer country. Just pack layers for changeable weather.
Have Snacks and Drinks Accessible
Travelling around France by car involves long days between shops and restaurants. Having water, snacks and drinks on hand avoids headaches from hunger or dehydration. Stock up at supermarkets on things like fresh fruit, sandwiches, nuts and dried fruit.
Pack a small cooler with yoghurts, cheeses and drinks. Stop regularly to replenish supplies and have a proper meal. Well-fed, hydrated drivers are happy drivers – and passengers!
Leave Room For Flexibility
No matter how perfectly you plan, stay flexible. Follow signs for an alluring village or vista, not on your itinerary. Make unscheduled food stops at enticing markets and cafes. Chat with friendly locals and travellers to uncover hidden gems nearby.
Changing plans allows you to shape your trip around what captivates you, not a rigid schedule. Enjoy the freedom to meander. Some of the best travel moments come from spur-of-the-moment route adjustments!
Capture the Views
The diversity of France’s landscapes provides endless photo opportunities. Capture iconic sites like Mont St Michel, Chambord Chateau reflected in its moat and lavender fields vibrant against Provencal hills. But also remember to photograph little details that capture France’s beauty and character – crumbling stone walls, a farmer selling rabbits at the market, a beret-clad man playing boules.
Photographs will keep your road trip memories vivid long after you return home.
Keep a Record
Looking back on all the wonderful spots you discover is part of the fun after a France road trip. Keep a record of everywhere you visit to reminisce over later. Jot place names in a journal. Mark pins on Google Maps.
Collect keepsakes like entry tickets and cafe receipts. Take lots of photos of the landscapes and little villages you fall in love with. You’ll find it gratifying to look back over your route and remember the highlights and hidden gems you uncovered off the beaten track.
Most Importantly, Enjoy the Ride!
Approach your France road trip with an open mind, a sense of curiosity and plenty of flexibility. Don’t pack your itinerary too tightly – leave room to meander wherever the road takes you. Stop frequently, talk to locals, feast on French food and revel in the romance of la belle France!
Travelling around France by car allows you to immerse yourself in its beauty at your own pace. Follow these tips to ensure your France road trip is full of great memories! Now, get out on the open road and let the adventure begin!
