France Road Trip Guide: Scenic Routes & Must-See Stops

If you are a road trip enthusiast, then you must have thought about visiting France’s distinct landscapes, the wine villages of Alsace, and tasting some of the world-famous cuisines. However, before planning a road trip, you must read this France Road Trip Guide. It will help you to enhance your road trip experience. Some of France’s scenic routes are: Verdon Gorge, Route des Vins d’Alsace, and Loire Valley. To unwind from the busy schedule, you must make a plan to take a trip to any of these routes in France. France is considered to be one of Europe’s most beautiful countries, while providing unforgettable road trips. 

The best coastal road trips in France include the French Riviera, which takes you to romantic seaside towns and hidden coves. Also, Normandy’s Alabaster Coast, which is an 80-mile stretch, features the white cliffs of Étretat and historical locations like Dieppe. Are you a traveler from the UK, thinking about visiting France to take a road trip with your friends? If yes, then you are on the right blog page. However, you must be aware of the rules to visit any Schengen country, as you require a visa to France. But, worry not! Get a France visa appointment from UK with FRANCE VISA ASSISTANCE and get your visa slot booked within 2-3 days. 

France Road Trip Guide: A perfect way to spend time with your friends

How many days are required for a road trip in France?

To experience the best road trips in France, you must take at least two weeks off from your busy schedule. France is a huge country, which is 590 miles long and 620 miles wide. So, there is a lot to see and explore in the country. 7 days are enough to cover 2-3 specific regions like Normandy or Provence. However, for the next 6-7 days of the France Road Trip Guide, you can take a trip to places like Paris, the Loire Valley, Nice, and the French Riviera. 

You can take help from the France road trip itinerary to plan your trip in a balanced way. Also, you can craft your own road trip on your own. According to the time and the number of days you have for your holiday. However, if you have a month, then you can easily cover a big portion of it. But if there is a limited time with you, then consider choosing one route to visit. You can also choose a particular theme for a road trip, like wine regions. 

What is the best time to take a road trip in France?

Throughout the year, France can be the best destination for a road trip. It depends on you whether you want to experience the calm countryside escapes or the vineyards. However, the best time for a France road trip is during the shoulder seasons from your France Road Trip Guide, i.e., the autumn season. To experience the beautiful scenery, low crowds, and mild weather, you can visit France in May-June and September-October. 

Key Highlights 

• Spring Season: The months of March to May are best for wildflowers. As a road trip enthusiast, you can take a vineyard tour and countryside drives. These months also offer a pleasing atmosphere as the temperature ranges from 11 to 19 degree celsius. 
• Summer Season: The months between June and August are the best for coastal road trips in France. In warm weather, road trips to the French Riviera and the soothing evenings in charismatic towns are the best. It is also best for beach lovers, as while taking a road trip, you can take some time out to swim in the lakes and the sea. 
• Autumn Season: To have the scenic drives in fall foliage and wine places like Burgundy, the months between September and November are the best choice. 
• Winter Season: To enjoy the festive markets and the ski trips in the Alps, December to January are the best. Though the countryside is best for quiet escapes, the Christmas markets of Alsace attract most of its tourists. 

Top 7 Must-Visit Spots and Scenic Routes in France

France is a huge country, so choosing a place to visit in France can be pretty overwhelming. You can choose any landscape, and it will have a lot to offer. Let’s get to know about the scenic regions to have the best road trips in France. 

1. Paris and the Island of France

For a road trip in France, you may not want to visit Paris from your France Road Trip Guide. However, it is a good place to start or end your journey. You can visit places like the Palace of Versailles and Monet’s Garden, which are some of the best places to explore just outside the city, and the Champagne region, which is famous for vineyard tours in vineyards. 

If you are a traveler from the UK and want to take a road trip in Paris, then take a France visa from the UK. According to Schengen rules, you need to have a visa to visit any Schengen country if you are a UK resident.  And, for the same, you can apply for a visa appointment for the France tourist visa from London from FRANCE VISA ASSISTANCE. They will help you to get your visa slot booked within a few days. 

2. Normandy and Brittany

If you are a history lover, then Normandy is the perfect choice for a road trip in France. The place is known for its dramatic cliffs and beautiful seaside towns. Normandy also holds a history of World War 2. You can also explore Mont Saint Michel, which is a beautiful island, and the D-Day landing beaches.

With its Celtic culture and jagged coastlines, Brittany is perfect for nature lovers. If you are interested in folklore and mythology, then you would love to take a road trip here. Here, you can try the local seafood, which is the speciality of Brittany. Also, you can visit the appealing walled town of Saint-Malo. Haven’t found your perfect place to take a road trip in France? Fret not! Continue to read this France Road Trip Guide and find your best spot to visit. 

3. The Loire Valley 

The Burgundy and the Loire Valley are the two most famous wine regions in France. If you are a wine lover, then the Loire Valley is a must-visit as it is known for its lush and sprawling vineyards. However, Burgundy is famous for its medieval villages and mustard fields. Some of the historic regions in France that have less population are home to lush valleys, remote villages, and ancient volcanoes. 

The Renaissance châteaux, which are listed on the UNESCO list, are some of the scenic places where you can take a road trip in France. The region has well-maintained roads that connect the rural landscapes, making the drive memorable. Also, the place is just two-hours away from Paris, so if you want to visit multiple places in a day, then you can choose Loire. It is also known for finding hidden gems of the city, as it provides flexible transportation. You can explore the local markets and small villages by car. 

4. Provence

In Provence, you can explore historic towns like Gordes and Avignon, for its lavender fields and resplendent beauty. Its charming villages are also a huge attraction for its visitors. In your France Road Trip Guide, you can keep Provence in your top 3 places to visit. Why? Because of its charming French Riviera and scintillating Mediterranean coastline, it is home to Nice, Cannes, and Monaco. 

Along with the varied landscapes and charming villages, Provence is also famous for its culinary dishes. On your road trip, you can stop at local stops to taste the freshly produced cheese and wines. Not just that, you can also dine in at the small-town cafes. The Luberon valleys are the key highlights during the scenic road drives. 

5. Alsace and the French Alps

To experience the dramatic mountain scenery and world-famous wine, you can take a road trip to Alsace and the French Alps. Alsace offers beautiful wine routes, Colmar, and a blend of France-German culture. The wine route is around 170 km long and passes through vineyards and old villages like Egusheim and Riquewihr. The roads of Alsace are well-maintained, which are perfect for slow-paced drives. 

The French Alps are known for their unspoiled nature, lush valleys, and clean lakes. The region is known for the high-altitude roads like Col de l’Izoard. Whether it’s summer or winter, the Alps are always best for biking. The Alpine towns offer mountainous vibes, which is best for scenic road trips. So, if you want to see the romantic vineyards or dramatic landscapes, you can always prefer Alsace and the French Alps for the road trips. 

6. The Pyrenees

The Pyrenees offer uncrowded and dramatic mountain scenery. Along with the well-established high-altitude passes like Col du Tourmalet that are ideal for outdoor adventures. You can explore winter sports, cycling, and hiking there. Let’s not forget the hairpin turns surrounded by the scenic and stunning routes like the N-260 in Spain. The Pyrenees form a natural border between Spain and France, that allow the tourists to experience the culture of both countries.

In Southwest France, you will also find the Mediterranean beaches and vineyards in the Languedoc-Roussillon. In this France Road Trip Guide, the Pyrenees mountain range includes Canal du Midi as the main highlight for your road trip. Are you travelling from the UK, planning to apply for a France Schengen visa online? If yes, then you get in touch with FRANCE VISA ASSISTANCE’s experts in getting your visa appointment slot booked without any hassle. All you have to do is fill out the online application form, and you will get your visa appointment slot booked in 2-3 days. 

7. The Atlantic Coast

The Atlantic coast is known to offer long sandy beaches with a blend of dramatic cliffs, scenic landscapes, and a distinct culture. This place is best if you are planning to take a road trip with your family or friends. Moreover, nature lovers would not want to miss the chance of coming to the Atlantic coast for a road trip if they are visiting France. Some of the well-known driving routes include the Wild Atlantic Way in Ireland, which is 2,600 km long, best for coastal road trips in France.

Here, you can enjoy various outdoor activities like hiking and cycling with your friends. Also, not just the scenic views, here you will also find various local places that offer delicious cuisines in the Basque region. These dotted islands, historic sites, and diverse coastline offer something beautiful or innovative at every turn. So, if you are planning to take a road trip here, this place won’t disappoint you at all. 

Important Driving Tips for your road trip in France

Every country has its own driving rules that you are required to adhere to while visiting there. Similarly, while planning a road trip in France, you need to keep its driving rules in mind to avoid any mishaps. Not all the places in France are crowd-free; some of the rural and urban routes have crowds, so you need to take care of that as well. Maintain the prescribed speed limit to avoid getting fined. Now, let’s look at some of the important driving tips below. 

Important Rules and Regulations

1. Stay on the right: In France, you have to drive on the right side of the road. If you need to overtake or pass another vehicle, then do it from the left side. 

2. Give Priority to the Right: If there are no traffic lights or signs at intersections, let the traffic coming from your right pass. Vehicles on the roundabouts should be prioritised. 

3. Speed limits: While driving on the rural roads, your speed limit must be 80-90km/hr and on autoroutes it can be up to 130km/hr. There are numerous speed cameras on the roads, so do not overspeed. During rain, the speed limit drops from 130km/hr to 110km/hr. 

4. No alcohol: Strictly avoid the intake of alcohol while driving, as it will help you and others stay safe on the roads.

5. Bus Lanes: Avoid using the bus lanes, and let the pedestrians cross the roads at crossings. 

Documents Required

1. Crit’Air Sticker: You need to display the Crit’Air sticker on your windshield while driving in many cities like Grenoble, Lyon and Paris to avoid getting fined. 

2. Documents Required: Keep your valid driving license, insurance documents and vehicle registration documents with you. 

3. Safety Kit: You need to have a warning triangle and a highly visible jacket for each of the person sitting in the vehicle. Include these items while preparing your France road trip packing list.

Safety Precautions

1. Safety for Children: If you have a child under the age of 10, then keep the child restraints for them.

2. Mobile Phones: It is completely illegal to use a phone while driving in France. In case of breakdowns, use the orange emergency telephones present on the motorways.

3. Toll Roads: France has toll roads spread widely across the cities, which allow you to go from one place to another quickly. However, it may get expensive for you, especially when you are covering long distances. You can either keep the budget for tolls for a scenic drive or choose to avoid them by taking other routes. The toll charges are dependent on the distance covered by you.

Final Thoughts 

In conclusion, in this France Road Trip Guide, we have covered the top 7 scenic routes and places that you can include in your road trip. You can either choose to hire cars for your road trips or bring your own car to avoid other expenses. But it is necessary to know the places you are going to visit and what type of routes you are travelling on. To experience a vineyard tour and countryside drives, you can visit France during the spring season. But the best time to travel to France for a road trip is during the shoulder season. 

If you have made up your mind to take a road trip in France from the UK, then FRANCE VISA ASSISTANCE is here to help you. As you know, a French Schengen visa is required to take a trip to France, and to avoid standing in the long lines, just fill out the application form, and you’ll get your visa appointment booked by the experts without any hassle. From scenic landscapes to the lush vineyards, you will have a lot to explore in France. Bon Voyage!

Commonly Asked Questions