France - best route from Calais to Orleans?

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The routefinders seem to say to go via Paris. This sounds a bit scary to me!
To those of you who have done Calais to Orleans - any words of wisdom? What route do you think is best? How easy is the Paris bit?
We'll be leaving Calais Friday lunchtime at the end of July, if that makes a difference.
I think we'll need to eat fairly soon after Calais - any tips for that too?
Thanks!!

I've driven to near Bordeaux several times. I use the tunnel, arrive Calais, follow signs for Paris, then follow signs for Bordeaux. Takes you down to Orleans. The motorway system round Paris isn't brilliant,always busy, you have to remember that when you see a turn off for your destination you have to turn NOW. They don't seem to give notice. We always take food in the car and only stop when we need fuel. Then we all use the loos have a bit of a walk around and then hit the road. On the whole the motorway system in France is so much better than ours, especially the toll roads.

Thanks for that. Signs for Paris, then Bordeaux sounds straightforward .... the turn NOW bit could prove interesting!!

We travel down to the South of France via Orleans numerous times per year.

Paris isn't ideal, but it is okay, I promise.

If you do a route planner, do NOT try and follow the road numbering. It is a TOTAL nightmare.

But at Brightwell says, from Calais you usually reach Paris via A26 and A1 (passing Charles de Gaulle airport north of Paris) and then go round Paris clockwise, always following the signs for BORDEAUX and NANTES.

Once you have passed Orly airport (which is south of Paris) you know you have nearly done it and are on your way out!

ok, thanks for the tips. We drove in France last year and the road numbering was confusing!