Calais to Malcesine Routes

Others will be along to give you their favourite toll or non-toll routes...

re: ViaMichelin, I've just tried the app and it won't do the route, 8m sure there is a maximum somewhere which I've come across before.

googlemaps will give you a route, if you have a TomTom then download the MyDrive app for iPad and you can get a route with your vehicle dimensions added, giving the most appropriate one.

once selected, you can mark waypoints along the route and then send it, along with the waypoints, to your TomTom.

You can go across France, or Germany, or straight through Switzerland.. This road atlas will help. I hope you have a safe journey.

When we drove to Italy we mainly used the route Calais to Metz and then join the German motorway system down to Füssen then into Austria over the Fern and Brenner passes which takes you down the Eastern side of Lake Garda. I have not been on that side with a caravan or motorhome. To get to Malcesine it seems you would leave the motorway either at the north or south end of the lake and then use the lakeside road to get to your site. Google Maps and Streetview are useful in showing what those roads are like. Where to stop might depend on how many days you are allowing to get there.  For us a visit to Lake Garda was often a part of a longer trip so we were in no rush.

David

Hi, We have done a very similar route to DK, but we started from Hook of Holland and used the Reisa pass heading for Prutz after the Fern Pass.

We were with friends in a Autotrail Scout-the reason we chose this route was to avoid having to use a GoBox in Austria-and it was a easy and enjoyable route.

ViaMichelin can be temperamental at times and although I have the app I often use the www. website as it seems more stable-I got routes for both toll and non toll just now.

I have also started to use Mappy.com, an old favorite, again and that also gave me routes. Our use of this site was to know what the tolls would be and it was very accurate however, its possible to go via Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany and Austria and avoid the tolls as we did. 

As far as other details, such as stops etc, that's very much a personal thing and, as caravanners, we always use sites, but Italy, Garda and Malcesine are all beautiful and your three weeks will soon be filled with trips up Monte Baldo, on the ferry to Limone and the bus to Riva Del Garda etc!

Depending on when you go you may need to check on the Bavarian school holidays as its seems all Southern Germany decamps to Italy and sites will be extremely busy..

Clearly a MH will be less flexible once on site but the buses are good and if you fancy it we can recommend Peschiera Del Garda at the Southern end of the lake, where there are lots of sites and a MH Sosta.

From here there is good public transport-buses and trains- to Verona, Venice, Milan etc.

Have a great trip!

Hi, Just realised that my avatar is a picture taken at Camping Aktiv in Prutz en route to Garda.

A planned one night turned into four and it is a very nice site, in a great position by the river Inn-as in Innsbruck-and the town and supermarket are a short stroll away.

We have been to the lake Garda area and beyond many times.  Our preferred route is Tunnel (or ferry) - Belgium - Luxembourg - Germany - Austria and into Italy using Fern Pass then either the Brenner or Reischen Pass via Landeck.  Toll free until Austria.  

We have a caravan but think a Motorhome stops would be similar.  So our stops are as follows.  After getting an afternoon Tunnel, which would suite from Gloucestershire: first night outside Calais, there are a number of nice sites about 20 ks East of Calais;  2nd Luxembourg; 3rd Bavaria or Imst  area in Austria , dependent on traffic in Germany, (Alan's Prutz site is near Landeck further on than Imst).  then to Lake Garda area.   You actually drive down the EAST side of Lake Garda not the West (sorry DK!).  If you use the Reichen Pass you avoid the need for an Austrian Vignette.

Alan is right to caution about avoiding the Bavarian school holiday which is approx 8 weeks after Easter - I haven't  looked up the exact dates but Google is your friend.

If you are going out of peak season  you do not need to book any en route sites although it may be prudent to book your site at Malcesine as we found the area very busy in June/early July this year.  Look at joining ACSI.  ET that is the map we use! Three week will be fine for your trip; very envious; have a great holiday and enjoy a glass or two of Limoncelo or an Aperol overlooking the Lake!!.

Greetings Alan and Jean from David and Jeni.

Map book ordered. Thank you!

If I were going again it would be ..

Day 1 Home to Calais.  Camping Fort Lapin. 300 miles for us.

Day 2. Calais  to Nancy. (France) Camping Brabois . 290 miles 

Day 3 Nancy to Faido. (Switzerland)  Camping Gottardo 260 miles 

Day 4 Faldo to Lake Garda (Italy)  200 miles.

There is no right and wrong way though my pet hate was traffic on German autobahnen and  I suppose motorhomers would mostly use Aires along the way  rather than campsites.

If you go onto the via michelin website look under options and make sure "no restrictions" is ticked and you will get your route.

https://www.viamichelin.com/web/Routes?departure=62100%20Calais&departureId=31NDJxdzgxMGNOVEF1T1RVNE1ERT1jTVM0NE5USTBOQT09&arrival=Malcesine&arrivalId=31NDFpdTkxMGNORFV1TnpZM09EZz1jTVRBdU9EQTRNelU9&index=0&vehicle=0&type=0&distance=mi&currency=EUR&noRestrictions=true&highway=false&toll=false&vignette=false&orc=false&crossing=false&caravan=true&shouldUseTraffic=false&car=hatchback&fuel=petrol&fuelCost=1.360&allowance=0.000&corridor=&fuelConsumption=6.8:5.6:5.6

Colin

That worked! Thank you..