Towing to the South of France for the first time

MOD should this be in the Overseas Section?

Nicky, to answer your questions.  It is 440 miles Calais to Clermont so that is about 8 hours continuous driving towing a large caravan so realistically about 10 - 11 hours total journey.  Too far for me.  I have done that journey many times as I used to live near Beziers and even solo we would break the journey between Orleans and Clermont. Arriving at an overnight stop in Aug on a Friday at 7pm would probably result in not being able to find one as most of N Europe will be doing the same journey. Not many sites are suitable for remaining hooked up overnight.  I would not stop at an Aire overnight for security and peace and quiet reasons.

The one night stop is quite feasible for your friends who you say are camping therefore, I assume, just a car, but not really towing a caravan.  So I would suggest that you let them go at their own speed  and you take an extra day and enjoy the journey - well after you get past Clermont!  Meeting up at your destination - you are limited to 60 mph they can go at 80!

A lot of us do the 3 x 2 hour stints when towing and stop for an overnighter at about 4 pm - not really necessary to book ahead.  We can then visit the local village and have a relaxing evening.

Hi Nicky

06.20 ferry will probably dock at 09.00 French time. Clermon Ferrand is about 440 miles so thats average speed of 44mph However that will be a lot slower by the time your factor in rest stops, which with a full car will probaly be about 3 times to be comfortable. so that is 4 driving sections which is about 110 miles each one. Four stops will add on another 2 hours so you wont get to your overnight till about 21.00. That's one hell of a days driving for your first time. It will however only leave about 200 miles the next day. Thinking of this as your first tour abroad I would advice you break the total mileage (about 650) into two manageable sections this in turn reduces the time/distance on the first day and will allow an earlier finish to find an overnight stop. 

Many municipals are perfectly adequate for an overnight stop and depending on the ground will be ok to stay hooked up. I have done it many times.

Most municipals are ok to drop in but the secret is not to leave it late. I wouldn't leave it much after 16.00 to stand a chance.

Autoroute aires. People do stop on them but personally I wouldn't. Much safer nd easier to find a municipal. 

Just to re-cap The journey is your biggest concern. Autoroutes are much better than our motorways but can get busy around major cities so plan your times carefully in manageable sections.

Two bits of identical advice Nicky. that must tell you something

Don't forget you are on holiday not a race to see how fast you can get there. I have done that sought of mileage when I was working in France, but far to many miles on holiday and the first time.

The halfway point at 325 miles is Camping Robinson at Bourges .  On a Friday in August it would be best to book if you want that one 

We have done long journeys but we usually do them exclusively on motorways and often if we do an overnighter at the start of our holiday.

Having a double axle,  personally I would book ahead too and certainly for Beziers in all cases during the main holiday period.

David

P.S. I've moved this thread here with the hope that it will get more responses.

And being a twin axle some "municipal sites" have an "aversian?" to them

You also have to remember that if it's in the first 2 weeks of August an awful lot of French folk will be heading south as well, usually on Friday and Saturday. Good advice given above about distance travelling. W would do roughly the same as Harry and Comreyas.

JVB's comment is also relevant as some sites won't accept TAs but I have seen them make exception for foreign tourists. Check out any potential stopover site before leaving the UK.

Agree with previous posts you are attempting a long journey with a large caravan on what will be very busy roads, the likelihood  you will find delays even on the autoroutes, especially at the tolls. Some toll booths can have long = very long queues in August, have you looked into the Sanef Tag which can reduce the wait at tolls. Work on 35 MPH from start to finish may sound slow but rest stops traffic delays etc soon reduce your average -  90Km/Hr 56MPH is your legal speed limit

According to Google maps the journey is 402 miles. I do that length of journey in a day when going to the Vendee BUT...I am not driving around Paris on. Saturday in August. If early August assume it won't be good. Also you do sound new to France so I would agree with other contributors and perhaps break it earlier.