With castles straight from a storybook, gorgeous castles, incredible nature, and expansive mountains, it’s not hard to understand why taking a French road trip is at the top of your bucket list. Not only that, but France’s excellent travel infrastructure makes driving through it pleasant.
There’s so much to see in France, and while you won’t get to it all in one trip, you can see the entire country in 10 days if you plan appropriately. However, it’s better to take your time.
The Best France Road Trip Tips for Adventurers
Since you’ll be traveling across the countryside, be sure to take French classes online. You can’t assume everyone will know English! Here are some more tips for your road trip.
1. Travel Across the Alsace Wine Route
Known as the Alsace Wine Route, this road trip takes you from Strasbourg to Colmar. It’s pretty well-traveled, especially in the summer months, for its scenic views of towns, cities, and villages. Plan to stop in Obernail, Kaysersberg, Riquewihr, and Eguisheim for the wine.
2. Try to Rent a Small, Manual Car
If you’re traveling from the United States, you’ll find that French roads are quite small. Not only will a small car help you maneuver tiny cobblestone streets, but they’ll help you save on gas. A manual car is especially cheap, so opt to rent them if you’re able to drive one successfully.
3. Road Trip From Marseilles to Nice
Everyone goes bonkers over Paris, but why not travel to the place literally called “nice?” Pronounced like “niece,” Nice is a beautiful coastal city with incredible beaches. Along the way, stop at Cannes, Antibes, St Tropez, and Port Grimaud for many famous sites and restaurants.
4. Buy Insurance and Parking in Advance
Driving on unfamiliar roads in a foreign country is an exercise in risk-taking, even if roads in France are pretty safe. Still, purchasing additional collision damage can save you a lot of time if you crash. Reserving your parking sports in advance could also save you time and a lot of money.
5. Traverse The Champagne Route
Another alcohol-inspired route, The Champagne Route, passes by major stopping points like Reims, Epernay, and others. There are small towns and villages along the way that will inspire lovers of architecture, as you’ll see plenty of old chateaus, Gothic churches, and quiet villages.
6. Bring Tissue Paper and a SIM Card
Rest stops on France highways will surely have bathrooms, but they generally don’t have the best toilet paper. While you could forget the TP, you can’t live without a French SIM card. Having access to everything from GPS to restaurant reviews is a huge benefit of modern-day travel.
7. Go Along The Beautiful Opal Coast
The Opal Coast road trip starts in Calais, where there are fantastic World War Two fortifications and museums on the outskirts. You’ll also see towns like Boulogne and beaches like Hadelot and Berck-sur-Mer. Since the Opal Coast is less frequented, you can expect a quiet vacation.
8. Show Up Early to Local Market Days
Your road trip across France has to include visiting on a market day, which is similar to a Farmer’s Market. However, if you go too late, you won’t have your pick of the best produce or products—plan to show up at a large market between 5 or 6 in the morning for optimal results.
9. Try the Classic Paris to Normandy Trip
If you’re looking to escape the city for a few days, the Paris to Normandy trip is right up your alley. It’s about a 4-hour drive to Mont Saint Michel. Spend the night, then drive east to Étretat, which sits on the Normandy coast. On the way back, stop in Honfleur, an old medieval town.