Driving out of Paris to Brittany?

[thehairybabysmum]

We are off on our hols to Brittany in the summer hols. We are up north and so have decided to get the train from here and then the Eurostar to Paris....both cheaper and quicker than driving to the south coast and getting a ferry across.

We are then thinking we will hire a car from Paris and drive although there is an option to get another train (TGV) to our destination.

Is driving out/into Gare du Nord a fairly straightforward affair? We are both confident drivers but just thinking if it's going to take ages to get out of Paris then train easier?

Also is the route to the coast likely to be full of traffic jams (a la Cornwall)?

Thanks for any info you can give.

When are you going ? If it's August traffic may be lighter in Paris but could be heavier near brittany. Paris traffic is mad but if you have driven in central London or similar big city then you may have some idea of what us going on.

It's sat 28th July so peak time I guess. Have driven in London and new York so assuming. Similar.

How long is it likely to take to get out of Paris and onto an autoroute?

Thanks

We always avoid the weekend when driving in France, so I'm not sure about a Saturday. What time will you be leaving Paris?

We only go from London, but there's no way getting the train/Eurostar/hiring a car and driving the rest of the way would be cheaper than just driving and Eurotunnel. Friends who live in the NW, drive to Portsmout and get the ferry across - where in Brittany are you going to?

last year we drove from Eurodisney paris to Benodet in Brittany. It was okay! Went also on 24th July. getting out of Paris was a nightmare but only because the sat nav didnt work very well - just kept saying "turn south west" or "turn north"!!!! Once on the main road it was a doddle.

Literally followed the map - one direct route through Le Mans, Rennes and Lorient. I checked AA route planner which said 6 hours but it was more like 9 hours with no traffic! Its an easy drive though just very long! It took 1.5 hours to get out of the paris ring roads - very easy after that.

The tolls are expensive too - about 30 euro everytime we passed one - plus petrol so not a cheap option.

We came back on the ferry - if you are going to Brittany (espcially Benodet region) then its def quicker/easier and cheaper to drive to Portsmouth and get the Ferry as Benodet was only 70 mins from Roscoff.

we are also up north (15 miles from Liverpool). The journey to Portsmouth was only 4.5 hours on the way back. I strongly recommend driving and getting the Ferry to Roscoff - they have an overnight one which is good so you could drive there in the afternoon, sleep on ferry and be at your destination by 10am. I enjoyed the challenge of the drive but there's no way i'd do it again! We ended up having to sleep overnight in lorient as the kids were unsettled after 9 hours so had to pay £150 for accomodation in a travel lodge equivalent. If you can get a Ferry for £400 return then its def cheaper than driving when you total it all up.

Thanks all, ferry is over £600 from Plymouth or Portsmouth for our dates, plus a six hr drive this end. Also to DH doesn't want to travel on the fri after work so would need to get the sat overnight and then that eats into the hol.

Train to London plus Eurostar is £400 plus £500 for car hire so yes isn't as cheap but much more civilised.

It's lorient that we are staying near. Think we might just train it all the way if it is that long a drive from Paris though.

There is a day time ferry? Its 7 hours and there's loads to do so would be part of the holiday? Not trying to be negative but whatever times you estimate - add loads more on as it really is hard work!

Another option is ferry from St Malo? not sure of times or prices though - driving/ train really is the most time consuming and expensive way to do it though.

st malo ones go to portsmouth and are run by brittany ferries. fairly expensive but you get enterntainment etc - its part of the holiday rather than travelling. wouldn't do it without a cabin.

we travelled down to the vendee on a sat in july once. would never do it again. i can't remember the traffic being so bad in brittany, but i think you would hit all the traffic leaving paris travelling south, and it would be a nightmare - isn't aug the main holiday time for french.

Southern Brittany is one of my favourite places - you will have a lovely time!

The St Malo times don't work for us, have looked into it but even the day ferry means leaving home at daft o clock plus a long drive down.

Think we might just train it all the way to Lorient will be a nicer journey all round .

Thanks tilly...not been there before..the place we are staying is through a mumsnetter and looks gorgeous. Can't wait!

OP - it might be worth posting this on the Living Overseas section so that the expats can give you some tips on the Paris bits.

My parents live in Brittany and we live in Manchester. We go two or three times a year and I refuse to do the long drive and ferry so we fly. We do East Midlands to Dinard and it works out cheaper than the ferry/petrol for five of us.

I just wrote a whole bit then lost it in cyberspace !
anyway my tips :
Gare du Nord is pretty busy so that might be stressful for car hire although OK for changing trains - you prob will need to use metro or RER to get to the station for tgv to brittany.
ferrys are great - part of the holiday.
its about 4 hours from Caen or cherbourg to eg roscoff or carnac but follow advice of your tom tom as if you dont go on main motorways it can be MUCH longer !
the bison fute website will show you the busy days and some will be horrendous for traffic : www.bison-fute.equipement.gouv.fr/en/IMG/pdf/Copie_de_cal_2012bis_EN_cle0a155b.pdf
also Best French Campsties are good to follow at www.bestfrenchcampsites.blogspot.com or on twitter.
Have a good holiday !

We drove to Brittany from Calais a few years ago, and have also driven down to Northern Spain.

DONT DRIVE ON THE MOTORWAYS IN FRANCE ON SATURDAYS IN AUGUST.

That is all.

Well we have gone for it and are just going to fly, not much more than the train and no hassle as we are only 40 mins from airport.

We will have to drive from Dinard. About 2 hrs....eeek!

I know you've decided to fly, but I can highly recommend the hull zebrugge ferry. We took it, stayed overnight in Paris then drove to Brittany. Is way cheaper than any south coast ferry (400 return including all food with a superior cabin - though was easter). And it means you've got your car to take back wine and cheese. Perfect.

Just as well you avoided car hire at gare du nord. We live in Paris and our recent rental from there was to enter the seventh circle of hell. Dinard a much more civilized option - bonnes vacances!

Do not worry about driving in Paris! I see you've chosen plane but next time don't worry at all. I have driven our family of 5 with a sleeping husband right around Paris and also through it using the Peripherique. No sat nav- just signs. You leave Gare du Nord, head for peripherique and head west to Brittany. It would have been fine. But flying is a better choice. I have driven my family to Marbella, Barcelona, Geneva, Brittany, Italian Alps etc. Only place I ever had a problem was traffic through Chamonix. Try it next time. Enjoy Brittany.

Sorry was posting on my phone last night....obviously lost my manners!!

Have some to say thankyou (and to everyone who has posted advice)!!

Thank you for the lovely flowers and have a great trip. I've not booked yet so I might see you on board.