Local to Newhaven? Any thoughts re ferry?

[Escapegoat]

Planning a French road trip and have chosen to avoid Calais this time.

So we're going by Newhaven at 5:30pm on Wed 22nd June. So I guess we'll be travelling at around 4pm, and most likely via the M23 + A27.

Any local PHers got any advice on likely congestion problems around or through the town? Pointers to low-cost fuel nearby?

[djc206]

I grew up just near there and regularly head along as my parents moved a bit further along the A27. Where the A27 goes down to a single lane after Lewes it can get a bit snarled up but not too bad. You'll be coming off and going down the A26 anyway after a mile or so. There's a sainsburys at the bottom of the A26 if you're not fussed about supermarket fuel.

If you hear of congestion on the A27 after Lewes you can head off through Kingston and down the C7, no petrol on that route so you have to head through to sainsburys and then back to ferry terminal (only about half a mile or so).

[Escapegoat]

Thanks. Looking at the map, I suppose I could also go via Rottingdean if the A27 is really bad?

The Sainsbury idea is perfect, this is the daily driver, so I'm not overly precious about the supermarket petrol.

[djc206]

You can but Rottingdean gets properly choked at peak times and then you've got the long slog at 30 along through Saltdean and Peacehaven on tne A259. Unless the A27 is at a complete standstill I'd avoid the A259 like the plague. Newhaven itself can get congested if the swing bridge is scheduled to open so it's worth checking that online if you're going to cut it as tight as possible to sailing time.