Cherbourg to Le mans, what route?

[likesachange]

A relatively new Le mans visitor, first time last year...

We're heading across on the Thursday morning Portsmouth to Cherbourg ferry.

What route is best from my google maps results (if any)



Happy to follow any others if on same ferry ?

[captainsl0w]

We're taking the 9am ferry to cherbourg from Portsmouth on Thursday, best route seems to be the motorway via caan which is a 3hr drive.

[Nobby Diesel]

When you say "best", I guess you mean fastest?
If so, then the indicated autoroute is your number 1 choice.
There are much more enjoyable routes though, but all will be slower and take longer.
Depends what you're after.

[likesachange]

Yeah sorry didn't make it very clear really.

Not necessarily the quickest as it states that on the maps.

But wondering if any of the 3 had "better" roads / scenery than the others. Don't mind it taking a bit longer but don't want it to take hours longer.

Last year we got ferry to Caen and a number on ferry said they were avoiding autoroute for best part of journey to enjoy some roads .. And avoid police...

[SAGTAFF]

We are on the same ferry as captainslow but staying Thursday night in Normandy to go to Utah beach museum, etc.

On Friday we'll take this route to lemans:

St Lo (174)
Vire (174)
Flers (524)
Mayenne (962/23)
Then the A81 across to lemans

I've done it a couple of times and if my memory serves me correctly there is plenty of smooth sweeping French Tarmac

Have fun!

Three more sleeps until we are off

SAGTAFF

[SAGTAFF]

We are on the same ferry as captainslow but staying Thursday night in Normandy to go to Utah beach museum, etc.

On Friday we'll take this route to lemans:

St Lo (174)
Vire (174)
Flers (524)
Mayenne (962/23)
Then the A81 across to lemans

I've done it a couple of times and if my memory serves me correctly there is plenty of smooth sweeping French Tarmac

Have fun!

Three more sleeps until we are off

SAGTAFF

[LFB531]

My four car group on the 9am as well. We stop for lunch at my parents place conveniently on the way down and take pretty much the 3rd route on your map with a cutting the corner off diversion!

After a quick stop at the Normandy Wine Warehouse, I take the main road out of Cherbourg N13, then South towards St Lo N174, then off on the D999 through Percy to Villedieu where we stop. The 999 is a really nice road!

Then join the A84 South to past Avranches then head off East round Fougeres on the N12 and down the D31 to Laval. From there motorway all the way to Le Mans.

Never been held up with traffic apart from last bit of course, great big supermarket at Villedieu where we do the 'food' shop is much easier to do than close to LM and cheap fuel as well.

If you're doing the same return on Monday, have a serious top lunch tip for that run involving mussels and the beach plus a bonkers last leg to the boat

Not long now!

Edited by LFB531 on Sunday 7th June 09:01

[drybeer]

Depends on the time you've got spare. I'd go south to D-Day beach areas, spend a couple of hours each at the Utah Beach museum and the new tank museum at Carentan, then head east to the bypass / ringroad at Caen and then pick up your route as on the map above.