From Le Havre to Le Mans

[dan101smith]

Going this route this year for the first time, arriving in Le Havre around 8am Friday morning.

How long does the drive usually take, and are there many tolls on the way down?

[Viper]

normandy bridge as soon as you leave Le harve, though worth the money

[rsv gone!]

Tolls depend on how much of the new motorway you want to use.

I like to cut cross country via Lisieux, stopping off there to get shopping. It saves the Carrefour run after you've arrive.

http://goo.gl/maps/igfq

[johnhere]

You have the choice of motorways 98% or taking non toll roads.

Using motorways about 2.5 hours

Non motorways about 3.5 hours. (the old D138)

[YRRunner]

rsv gone! said:

Tolls depend on how much of the new motorway you want to use.

I like to cut cross country via Lisieux, stopping off there to get shopping. It saves the Carrefour run after you've arrive.

http://goo.gl/maps/igfq

+1. Much nicer drive and no tolls. Take in the scenery and make sure you stop off at Gace for lunch with the many others of us who will be there. Just be careful of Le Plod, especially on the way back nr. Alencon. Made the foolish mistake last year of getting goaded into a sprint with a group of supercars. All got busted, many at the full rack rate. Luckily I hadn't quite caught upto them. Still had my licence taken away and worse... I had to suffer the girlfriends driving all the way back to Le Havre!

[LFB531]

First post on the forums so bear with me!

Quick LH tip; once you're heading out of the port, take the underpasses towards the motorway, much quicker than stopping at each traffic light junction! (unless you're in an old Luton Transit of course....and I've seen it done!)

Duncan

[nawarne]

LFB531 said:

First post on the forums so bear with me!

Quick LH tip; once you're heading out of the port, take the underpasses towards the motorway, much quicker than stopping at each traffic light junction! (unless you're in an old Luton Transit of course....and I've seen it done!)

Duncan

^^^^^ What he said.
Preferentially, keep in the outside (LH) lane whilst driving the first 2/3 miles toward the Autoroute, and that should allow you to use the underpasses below the several light controlled junctions in the town.

Once clear of the town, keep your eyes peeled for signs for Honfleur - - these should take you over the bridge. Pay toll on South side of bridge....then it's up to you wether to go the back roads to Gace or stay on the M-Way.

The M-Way will be crawling with 'Les Flics'. Met with Team Langoustine guys in Honfleur on the way back last year and a couple of them were relieved of 750 Eu. for alleged 150/160 km/hr speeds!! When they were paying at the ATM, they put the fine into a bin bag full of 50 Eu. notes! So one of many contributors to the haul.

Nick

[gruffalo]

nawarne said:

^^^^^ What he said.
Preferentially, keep in the outside (LH) lane whilst driving the first 2/3 miles toward the Autoroute, and that should allow you to use the underpasses below the several light controlled junctions in the town.

Once clear of the town, keep your eyes peeled for signs for Honfleur - - these should take you over the bridge. Pay toll on South side of bridge....then it's up to you wether to go the back roads to Gace or stay on the M-Way.

The M-Way will be crawling with 'Les Flics'. Met with Team Langoustine guys in Honfleur on the way back last year and a couple of them were relieved of 750 Eu. for alleged 150/160 km/hr speeds!! When they were paying at the ATM, they put the fine into a bin bag full of 50 Eu. notes! So one of many contributors to the haul.

Nick

Back roads every time, so much more relaxing, lunch in Gace there is even a small supermarket right opposite the cafe so you can stock up on everything you need there, well they sell wine any way, never brought any thing else from there!!

After Gace join the motorway and get of at the circuit missing out the town centre as it wil be packed and there will be large area's closed off if it is Friday.

[amazon]

gruffalo said:

Back roads every time, so much more relaxing, lunch in Gace there is even a small supermarket right opposite the cafe so you can stock up on everything you need there, well they sell wine any way, never brought any thing else from there!!

After Gace join the motorway and get of at the circuit missing out the town centre as it wil be packed and there will be large area's closed off if it is Friday.

Brings back some memories

[rsv gone!]

gruffalo said:

After Gace join the motorway and get of at the circuit missing out the town centre as it wil be packed and there will be large area's closed off if it is Friday.

Follow the last part of the route I posted. It is the least (relatively) trafficked route in to the campsites.

[lowdrag]

rsv gone! said:

Follow the last part of the route I posted. It is the least (relatively) trafficked route in to the campsites.

A sensible route. Coming off at Parigné L'Eveque (J24) avoids the enormous jam if you come off at J23 and take the ring road direct to the circuit. It is always a nightmare on the Friday. As you leave the motorway, turn north back to Le Mans and at the first roundabout turn left for Ruaudin, then Mulsanne.