N138

[Hoddo]

Last 2 trips to Le Mans I have taken the autoroute. This year I was planning to head down via A roads.

Is the N138/N438 still all it is cracked up to be or is it full of idiots, police and heavy traffic? I am with a few first timers and I want to give them a great Le Mans experience, first time I visited (2005) we traveled the N138/N438 and really enjoyed the experience of a bunch of like minded people in some great cars headed off for a fun weekend, traffic flowed and we had no issues, smooth driving.

[boolay]

Tried it not long after Autoroute opened. Wasn't anywhere near as good as it was prior. Shame.

[Jos Notstoppen]

Most of the scenic small villages and hamlets have a ring road now so traffic is steered around them.

It is also popular with HGV's who don't like to pay the tolls so quite often stuck behind them for miles.

Plus points there are places to stop for lunch etc, fuel stations and a bit more to see, especially by going through the villages not around them.

Journey time could be doubled at can be quite hard, need a good navigator to map read and assist with the overtakes.

Quite a lot of LM traffic and of course be on the lookout for police hiding behind bushes with speed guns.

We normally autoroute on the way out and N138 for the return on Monday.

[gt6]

It is the only way to travel down join from the A13 and travel down until Le mans, saves you a fortune in tolls, you do a far bit less miles as it follows the old roman road, ie it is straight, if you follow the original old road through the villages and towns it is much better than using the numerous by passes, and even towns like Broglie, bernay and bourgtheroulde are very pretty so use a map/road signs rather than a sat nav and you will enjoy it, yes it is a little slower but you save money and never get bored, also the super straight roads stretching out in front of you urges you to overtake adding to the excitement rather than just plodding down the motorway

[Hoddo]

Thanks all.

Think we shall stick with the N138/N438 then. Sounds like it may take a little while longer but the drive down is a huge part of Le Mans for me so I will look forward to it.

[XJ Flyer]

gt6 said:

also the super straight roads stretching out in front of you urges you to overtake adding to the excitement rather than just plodding down the motorway

Except for the inconvenient issue of the 90 kmh limit.In which case there's more chance that overtake could put you into big fine and/or car confiscation etc territory than doing 100 mph would on the autoroute.

[ellroy]

As far as Gendarme on the N138 are concerned I've only ever seen them once on there with a laser gun in many years of going along it. Many, many more on the autoroute.

To be fair they were in a village which i have no issue with.

If you stick to the limits where posted around villages etc and look out for flashing headlights you should be fine.

(or is that fined......?)

[iron horse]

Hi All, we are travelling from the Netherlands in a Elise, Lancia Fulvia and an MX-5. from Rouen down to Le Mans we are taking the scenic route as well.
bits of the N138 but also some more twisty stuff.

we depart from Rouen on friday morning and plan to take this route (on the website you can upload it to any gps system):
http://www.motoplaner.de/#49.42024,1.05027;1,49.34...



if anybody cares to join us, the more the happier, i've made a bit of a road book that i am more than happy to share with you lot.

regards,

Edited by iron horse on Tuesday 3rd June 15:03

[LeoZwalf]

A little note to those of you planning to take this road. It is no longer called N138 but now D338... you might feel VERY lost indeed if you try to find the N138!

[Mr_Simpson]

I've done the N138/D338 the past six of years, and the past two or three have been pretty disappointing really, I think most of the LM traffic must take the autoroute, and I like to see what people are driving on the way down - so I'm going autoroute this year.

Last year I went D338 and only saw a handful of cars on the same trip.

[Jos Notstoppen]

Just a little plea for anybody on a gentle cruise on the D338 (N138).

PLEASE use your mirrors and if you can, slow and wave other faster drivers passed when safe to do so. Remember in a left hand drive car it is harder to
overtake in France.

Hopefully then more people can then travel at their chosen
speed and avoid any huge tail-backs behind a slow moving car/van/caravan.

I am pretty sure it will not apply to the driving Gods on PH but maybe we can show other drivers road manners, who knows it might catch on.

[iron horse]

Jos Notstoppen said:

Just a little plea for anybody on a gentle cruise on the D338 (N138).

PLEASE use your mirrors and if you can, slow and wave other faster drivers passed when safe to do so. Remember in a left hand drive car it is harder to
overtake in France.

Hopefully then more people can then travel at their chosen
speed and avoid any huge tail-backs behind a slow moving car/van/caravan.

I am pretty sure it will not apply to the driving Gods on PH but maybe we can show other drivers road manners, who knows it might catch on.

I am certain you mean RIGHT HAND DRIVE. Unless you are being cynical and I totally agree with you ,

I care more about the drive, than about the cars driving to Le Mans. I'll let them have a good look while in Le Mans ...
;-)

[gt6]

And beware that you need to sort out the right words, the front seat passenger shouting signals telling the driver when to pull out and overtake, because with wind noise "NO" and "GO" sound very similar

[TvR Driver]

I have been down the N138 / D338 for the last twenty years and agree it has lost its fun and enjoyment over the last three or so years and is a lot quieter and no one flashes any warnings re the gendarmes -

Be very careful approaching sees as we always pay 90 euros near there for a rest in a layby .......

Used to be nail it on the straights and cruise slowly through the villages but think its a risk to far these days chaps and its a nice road if you are not in a hurry ...

Sounds full of woe but am sure there will be other opinions and I will be researching a new route this year ...

See you all there

Ty

[webby23]

gt6 said:

And beware that you need to sort out the right words, the front seat passenger shouting signals telling the driver when to pull out and overtake, because with wind noise "NO" and "GO" sound very similar

Lol good one

[flattotheboards]

I tried the N138 on the way down for my first trip in 2009 but quickly routed back on to the Autoroute because there was absolutely nobody around, the weather was rubbish and we just wanted to get to the campsite. I gave it another shot the following year to give it the benefit of the doubt from what other PHer's have said but I got lost in Rouen (because I'm stupid) and then when I found the N138 it was completely deserted so I once again jumped back onto the Autoroute.

My experience may be different to others however because I have always travelled on the Wednesday, except last year when I went on the Saturday prior to the race weekend. In fairness the Autoroutes are fairly quiet with LM goers on Wednesday until you start to approach Le Mans itself.

[Nick M]

In fairness, there are many better 'driving' roads than the N138, but it did used to be part of the weekend. But the days of 'Wacky Races' between Alencon and Le Mans are now over (probably no bad thing...).

Without the Le Mans traffic it's largely revealed for what it is - slow progress, occasional nice bits, but lots of sections which don't flow together.

If I was going to make the drive down an occasion I would leave early on the Wednesday, turn the satnav off, find a compass and occasionally look at a map.

[Hoddo]

Mr_Simpson said:

I've done the N138/D338 the past six of years, and the past two or three have been pretty disappointing really, I think most of the LM traffic must take the autoroute, and I like to see what people are driving on the way down - so I'm going autoroute this year.

Last year I went D338 and only saw a handful of cars on the same trip.

I too like to overtake/be overtaken on the way down by all sorts of cars. Find that element enjoyable.

Bearing this in mind what alternatives are there to the N138/N338/N438 (what evere you wis to call it) to experiemce this type? Or is it best just jumping on the auto routes?

[Saabman99]

Stay off the autoroute once south of Rouen, much nicer albeit a little longer, but why rush as it is all part of the Le Mans experience.

[matboyslim]

N138 for the last 14 years and that wont change yes its longer yes its less cars less police but its still a bloody good road and only used now by the hardcore!