France to Italy through tunnel Frejus

We went to Italy more than once that way when my brother in law had a house near Turin., though we preferred the Mont Blanc tunnel to the Frejus tunnel.They are both equally expensive -about 70 euros one way for car and caravan or motorhome.

On the French side of the Frejus tunnel there is a municipal site at St Jean de Maurienne, but you may be too early as it doesn’t open until 1st May. You may therefore be best to go through the tunnel to Camping Gran Bosco on tne Italian side as it is open all year.

From there it’s a boring 5 or 6 hour motorway drag across the north Italian plain to get you you to Lake Garda. We only did it once.

TG

We used that tunnel when we had our caravan and stayed at the site on the French side mentioned by ET. We decided to use the Tunnel de Frejus because we were heading for Lake Maggiore initially and then Lake Como and finally Lake Garda on that trip before heading out to Venice. As ET also mentions it is expensive and long! Just out of interest is there a reason for using that route to get to Lake Garda? For me the natural choice to Garda would be the Germany/Austria Fern and Brenner Pass and then to Garda?  

David

Thanks DK, the reason we are thinking about that route is that as mentioned we are crossing Portsmouth to St Malo. 

We are also considering going across to the south of France and going into Italy along the the coast road. The only issue with that is it's going south to come back north but we thought that would get us into the warmer weather earlier. That and the road north in Italy isn't as good as the road from the Frejus tunnel. 

Going the Frejus would save us time and fuel costs so the difference isn't that much. As we have not travelled either of these ways before it will all be new to us. If we do use the Frejus we may well stop off at the other lakes on the way.

We are coming home the way you mention via Austria and Germany as we are coming back Rotterdam to Hull. Didn't want to do that on the way out for various reasons. 

There’s a compromise crossing into Italy in between the expensive Frejus tunnel and the busy Mediterranean coastal motorway. It’s an easy drive over the mountains using a pass which the French call the Col de Larche and the Italians Colle delle Maddalena.

That route is via Grenoble and Gap to Barcelonette - and there’s a choice of sites where you can stop for a day or two to learn the fascinating history of that place. Then an easy road over the pass and stop again on the Italian side at Camping Bisalta at Cuneo and roam the town streets there. It’s little known toUK visitors but certainly worth a day there. 

And there are more interesting places to visit as you make your way to Garda from there - and a few campsites if you need them.

TG

I see where you are coming from, and where you are going Did you in a previous post consider going along the coast into Italy? We have done it the other way from Pisa. The bit round Genova is interesting and busy. Lots of tunnels and built up areas right up close to the motorway. You could head north from Genova and join the A21 to Piacenza and Brescia and then Garda is right on your doorstep.Going that way into Italy would give you the opportunity of visiting the likes of Cannes, Nice and Monaco if they would be of interest? Having said that the road out to St Jean de Maurienne and beyond is very scenic.

David

Voice from the past here! We used to travel through the Frejus tunnel to the Italian lakes, having visited family in the Savoie. We stopped overnight at St Jeanne de Maurienne before heading up the valley to the tunnel. Here's a link to the campsite.

http://campingdesgrandscols.com/en/

We did the journey in one day keeping to the Autostrade. It's the last bit approaching Garda that's tiring.

Yes I did, it's still a consideration as we could also drop down to see the Cinque Terra before going north to the lakes. All still in the discussion stage.

It's a very long time ago now that we did the drive up from Pisa but I do remember it well, tunnels and more tunnels 😁

Only managed to get as far as St Tropez last time we were that way so would gives us a chance to see more of that coast. 

How lovely to hear from you. ☺️

Thanks for the link and the information.

It's looking very much like we will need to do this trip again as all the suggestions of routes look interesting.

It wil be the first time touring back in Italy since 1989, I guess things will have changed a bit since then. 

TG

The Frejus tunnel is an easy route into Italy. It’s a pity the municipal site in St Jean de M doesn’t open until 4th May because it’s an excellent site in a beautiful area. We normally go the Germany, Austria  Brenner route to Italy but spent  about 2 weeks  in St Jean de M in July 2021 to avoid Covid19 quarantine before entering Italy. I recommend you take the E70 route through Asti to avoid the inevitable delays around Milan. It’s a much more relaxing drive. Umberto Camping in Asti is a convenient stop for one or more nights.

Hi TG, We used the Frejus last summer enroute to Lago Trasimeno from Roscoff. The reason was that wanted to visit Annecy after two covid cancelled trips and that was the the best route from there heading South.

We did consider the Mont Blanc, but there were roadworks on the approach roads at the time, and the prices are similar at around €70 for car+van.

If we were going to Garda we too would likely go the Fern Pass route and, as you intend, we came back that way last year to Hook of Holland however, heading to Garda from St Malo is near enough the same route as from Roscoff and that gives a couple of options.

The toll free route SE from St Malo is pretty good and you have choices-go via the Frejus, go via the MB, go via Basle or the Simplon Pass.

We have done them all-Simplon was done when the Gotthard Tunnel was closed due to a rock fall-and the difference in distance is only 20 odd miles between the shortest and longest. The cost of the tunnels is only about €10 less than the Swiss Vignette so the costs for each route will be very similar.

I think we would be going via Switzerland and, as the Simplon Pass drops you onto Maggiore, that would possibly be first choice-but we would love to go back to Camping Rannochio at Piano Porlezza to spend some time on Como-so many choices!!

One point on planning-we have for many years used viaMichelin but, after it being problematic recently, are finding our old go to site Mappy.com a good alternative..

Have a great trip!