France road trip with 2 year old

[Roseeverything]

My husband and I are thinking about planning a France trip for next summer with our little one who will be 2 years old by then. Thinking of going for 2-4 weeks depending on the route.

Currently not sure whether we will get a camper van or just drive our car, air bnb it or camp, whether to just do the north or travel to the south. Currently just in the process of searching for ideas on routes and nice places to go with a little one.

Has anyone done a trip like this with children and could share their route, places that were was good for children.

Thanks so much!

Normandy and Brittany have a lot to offer, including big beaches and not too hot in Summer. I would suggest you look at the regional tourist board websites for info.

https://www.brittanytourism.com/
https://en.normandie-tourisme.fr/

with 2-4 weeks I'd head south for the better weather, otherwise you might as well just go to Cornwall. We used to go for 2.5 weeks every year but our kids were slightly older, I think the youngest was about 6 when we went the first time. We had DVD players for in the car and they watched Tom & Jerry all the way down 😂
We always camped with our own tent and used hotels to break the journey on the way down and back, and more often than not went to the Ardeche region. Lots of lakes and rivers with beach areas for swimming, often fenced off for safety, and beautiful scenery.
Annecy is lovely on the western route, which we preferred.

How are you getting there? Calais/Le Havre/Cherbourg etc? Loire Valley is lovely so is the region around La Rochelle and Royan. Do you like beaches? There are lots of lakes in that area which are similar to a beach. Some very cheap gites with private pools.

Following! We're thinking of 4 weeks next September, starting in Lyon and driving through Switzerland, down to Italy and then finishing in Nice. Probably not the route you had in mind but very interested to hear from people about the car v camper choice (we'll be hiring either way), how to split the journey/hours per day in the car, etc. We'll have an almost 3 year old and a 9 month old (madness???)

I think you'll have to pay extra £££ to start and finish in different et places and cross borders.

I'd go down the west coast op and then over to Annecy and back up through the centre.

Yes, we've got family in a few places on the way hence the slightly complicated route 🤷 hoping to keep costs low-ish by spending a few days with family and staying in eurocamp type places

Hmm I don’t want to rain on your parade but many 2 year olds are not great on long car journeys, they get bored easily, want to be up and about and complain a LOT. In car entertainment is tricky as screens make a lot of kids carsick and 2 is young for audiobooks. Toys and music and “look, a cow!” only get you so far. So I wouldn’t get too ambitious with the driving.

I think you could probably get through the drive down to France (with plenty of breaks and/or driving overnight) but personally I would plan on staying put once you are there or moving only a few times and short distances.

In terms of area, there is lots to do in the Royan area - zoos, waterpark, La Rochelle, Ile de Re or Oleron, beaches. Campsites a plenty. It’s not as reliable weather wise as the South but also not as baking hot, and is warmer than UK or Brittany. Brittany could be another great option though.

We did a road trip to France when our daughter was 2. It was quite hard work, I won’t lie! We went to Normandy (Bayuex), Ile de Re / La Rochelle and Paris. That was definitely far enough driving with a 2 year old. But ours was not good at sitting still / watching iPad.

We've taken ours on road trips from babies so it can be done! We drove all the way to Perpignan in the south and back with 13month old DS over a few days. We drove and camped with nearly 3 year old DS and his under 1 Yr old brother. Just make each leg short, stop off at play areas, towns, wherever en route. Nice extended lunch break with a stroll, picnic to break up the day then nap time back in the car gives you a driving spell without having a child to entertain.
Deffo loire valley with its fairytale castles, Annecy both town and lake is fab too, along with some of the lower alp resorts ( mine loved Samoen). To be honest at that age mine didn't care where they were provided there was some nice bakery treats and a good play area, a kids pool. There are campsites everywhere in France from basic to amazing facilities. Many of these will have ready erected tents or various accommodation options, much cheaper booked direct than via euro camp and the like, to save you lugging your own tent or hiring a camper. If you can go in June or outside peak french hols ( mid July to mid august) likely to be great value.

Been taking our son (now 7) on 'road trips' since he was 4 months old. This included a 5 month stint in France, Spain and Portugal. We have a Motorhome. Kiddo LOVES it. We never stay anywhere more than a few nights. The above countries (plus Italy, Germany and Belgium) are all ACE for motorhoming. They are stuffed full of mainly free aires. These are dedicated areas in towns/ villages/ cities for Motorhomes to be parked up and slept in overnight. Most have services - so you can ditch your grey and black waste and fill your fresh tank.

Now my son is at school and I'm back working full time, we are limited to 5 week trips. If I were you I would go for 4. It gives you time to really chill, enjoy and explore. I'm biased but would go for the Motorhome hire option. You have your home on wheels wherever you go. So no faffing with cases, unfamiliar beds etc. Although the hire would be pricey if you compare that to 4 weeks B&B and eating out... it may even be cheaper. We always self cater.

2 is a great age... 2 year olds are so easily pleased! We now tend to be more choosy with where we go to ensure there is 'something' for our son. You really don't need to do that with a 2 year old, give em a stick, point out cows, tractors and planes and they're happy! Therefore I would pick places YOU want to visit which attract you. We are very outdoorsy and into sport so head for mountains, lakes, rivers... Other people might be really into French food, or art or history and holiday accordingly. At 2 we continued to do what we'd always done - cycled, walked and canoed. But just did it with a trailer, sling or tag teamed. You can do that with 2 year olds.

When he was 2 we tended to just drive during his nap time. So that gives you 90 mins drive time daily. When we needed longer drives he would generally quite happily chill in his seat... occasionally I'd pop back to chat/ play with him.

We avoid paid motorway. It is expensive for a start. But the national roads are really good in France. We also see it as being 'about the journey not the destination.' The number of times we've taken the slow route, which is much prettier and more characterful and happened upon places not in guide books. It's about the adventure and exploring. Obviously it's nice to have a rough plan... but again, the number of times we've decided we are going to a set place. Checked the weather the day before and subsequently ended up in a completely different country! You have that flexibility.

Enjoy!! It'll be a fab experience.

My top tip for road trips in France — even without kids — is to stop at McDonald's, for coffee and the loo if nothing else. Much less stressful than trying to find a café with clean loos in a small town, and much nicer than anywhere on the motorway. The French love "McDo", to the point that there are more outlets in France than in the UK. Just pull off at almost any junction and it'll usually be in the commercial estate near the system-built motels. You can have the authentic rustic French experience when you're not driving.