Rotterdam to Lake Garda - help with a route!

[celestebellman]

Hi,
We have booked a Eurocamp site at Lake Garda for the summer and now trying to work out how to get there! Previously been to northern France and have driven. I really hate airports/ flying and would like to have my own car, but at the same time daunted by prospect of driving further than we have before in Europe, with kids (youngest 9). We would probably need to stop twice overnight on way there and way back, to avoid it being a nightmare. Also would rather go through a tunnel than drive on terrifying mountain roads!

I have no idea what would be the best route, allowing us to stop at reasonably interesting places along the way - would probably just book into basic hotel. If anyone has done this and has recommendations it would be really helpful.

We drove from Brussels to Desenzano in 2021 and drove through France - stopping at Macon Nord on the way out and Chalons Sur Saone on the way back. Then via the Mont Blanc tunnel. The french motorways are easy and the Italian bit through the Aosta valley is also on good roads with lovely scenery. Roads got a bit busier around Milan. Between Macon and Geneva there are fair view "interesting" viaducts. A few years back we went to Lake Como and went the more direct route through Switzerland and the San Gottardo tunnel. You need a to buy a vignette to use the motorways and this also covers the tunnel. You can buy one online or at service stations on the border. Roads mostly non scary. Though on the way back we went over the Susten pass to Interlaken (after the tunnel) and I nearly died of terror - so I wouldn't recommend that. I actually cried. As you'd add an extra couple of hours from Rotterdam, through France Troyes or Metz and then Annecy might be nice stops. The CH route - Strasbourg or Colmar and Lucerne? As the Swiss vignette is about 40 euros, it's much cheaper than the French tolls plus Mont Blanc (about 70 euros return I think)

When are you planning to travel ? Tunnels can be very congested on weekends in August, especially southbound on the first weekend.

Does it have to be Rotterdam? Could you go for one of the ports in the Bay of Biscay instead?

Thanks @senua had not thought of bay of biscay though just looked up Santander and it would be pretty much same distance to drive from there (I think!)

Rotterdam because we could get ferry from Hull which is near to us - alternative would be Calais and drive through France, but Dover would be a long drive this side.

@MissAmbrosia I remember being driven over a pass (not sure which one) as a teenager on a family holiday and it was utterly terrifying, hence wishing to avoid - sounds similar!
Good to know the French motorways are ok. Thanks for your suggestions, will have a look into them. I had thought of Strasbourg as a potential stop.

@LIZS travelling late July and coming back August, so yes might be busy (though would rather queue for a tunnel than go over a mountain!)

Thanks @senua had not thought of bay of biscay though just looked up Santander and it would be pretty much same distance to drive from there (I think!)
Gosh. You are right. In fact, it's further! FWIW, the AA route planner works abroad.

Ah, thanks @senua - routeplanner is actually quite helpful! Will need to sit down with it and look at options. Definitely seems to include Strasbourg...

Just throwing in the idea of a Motorail train in case it's of interest.

Thanks @tribpot - had vaguely considered that but not looked properly. Dusseldorf to Verona might work!

Thanks @tribpot - had vaguely considered that but not looked properly. Dusseldorf to Verona might work!

We drove from Lake Garda to Rotterdam a couple years ago and stopped in Füssen, Germany which was lovely and then Trier which was interesting enough for a quick stopover. We had considered stopping in Luxembourg instead, but Trier was much cheaper and right on the border with Luxembourg anyway if you want to sat you've been there!

Id recommend having a looking at the via michelin route planner.
Weve driven mulitple times to italy from calais / hoek of holland. Roads in france and germany are great. The tunnels get ridiculously busy at peak times and the queues get long. We actually prefer going over the passes as you get great views and dont have to queue. Im afraid of heights but.seem ok on the passes. The roads are generally really well maintained.
I would caution against driving near milan if youre nervous.... or at least being mentally prepared for.it. the queues at the toll booths are a new level.of crazy. Loads of lanes. Lots of honking.

Fwiw we only stop.once on the way down. Weve been doing this since our youngest was one and with adequate entertainment its never been an issue.with them.

Just thought of another tip. Timing is everything when travelling with children! We find if we load them in the car at 6 am and get driving, breakfast int he car and then they will nap watch tv until lunchtime. This means of there are 2 drivers and swap midway you can get a good 6 hours of driving in the morning without much whinge / stress.
Think of stopovers in 2 ways.... either places you want to see and allow adequate time ( ideally at least 24 hours so your not rushed) or if purely to sleep / rest then pick hotels right next to your route ( often ibis budgets work well and are clean but basic).
If youre going through tunnels look really closely at timing to get through. If you do overnight you will hopefully not queue much. In the afterrnoon you can be queuing for 2 hours plus which isnt good for morale.

Thanks @Stickortwister - I have already been looking at Ibis budget hotels! Do you have any recommendations for good places to break the journey? We'd be coming from Rotterdam.

I don't fancy tunnel queues but nervous about the passes! Have read the Brenner pass is ok? (But also would prefer to avoid Milan as have some memories of your roads there from family holidays as a kid as well!)