Route to Le Mans

[a17vts]

Good Evening All,

As the title suggests I'm after the route to Le Mans.

I'm not fussy if I need to pay tolls however I am keen to take the most used route in order to see other Le Mans goers!

I'll be driving a VW Golf GTD so no need to avoid the motorways

Assuming the obvious answer of as per google maps!

Thanks in advance.

[delta0]

This does depend on where you are starting from.
For example from Calais there are a couple of good routes.
1. Rouen - Alencon - Le Mans
2. via Paris

Paris is less interesting but can be fast.

I'm taking a route down via Reims. Le Mans is about the journey as much as it is about the race. I'm not sure how many pistonheads will be going that way though!

Edited by delta0 on Sunday 21st May 22:27

[gt6]

Well if you want to see other le mans bound cars the motorway is almost next to useless, almost everyone travels at the same speed so just a few cars overtake you or you overtake, If you are doing Calais route use motorway to rouen then the old roads(old n138) plenty of cars on that route and most stop at least once for lunch/coffee so plenty of cars parked up for you to see and if you stop plenty of cars going past as you drink a coffee or cool beer. Oh and shorter route and no tolls so use the money to pay for your stop

[Truckosaurus]

gt6 said:

...the motorway is almost next to useless, almost everyone travels at the same speed so just a few cars overtake you or you overtake....

Indeed. The only place you see the interesting cars is at the toll booths or the service stations.

[a.christie]

Just remember that if you are travelling through many areas of Paris you will need a green air sticker!!

[Lensey]

If your not bothered about times then do the old N138, the classsic route to Le Mans, stop at a bar and watch the exotica roll by

[a17vts]

delta0 said:

This does depend on where you are starting from.
For example from Calais there are a couple of good routes.
1. Rouen - Alencon - Le Mans
2. via Paris

Paris is less interesting but can be fast.

I'm taking a route down via Reims. Le Mans is about the journey as much as it is about the race. I'm not sure how many pistonheads will be going that way though!

Edited by delta0 on Sunday 21st May 22:27

Thanks for the reply.

I should have specified I'll be travelling from Calais.

I did Reims last year so not fussed about passing that on route this year, but like you say the journey is part of the weekend IMO.

[a17vts]

gt6 said:

Well if you want to see other le mans bound cars the motorway is almost next to useless, almost everyone travels at the same speed so just a few cars overtake you or you overtake, If you are doing Calais route use motorway to rouen then the old roads(old n138) plenty of cars on that route and most stop at least once for lunch/coffee so plenty of cars parked up for you to see and if you stop plenty of cars going past as you drink a coffee or cool beer. Oh and shorter route and no tolls so use the money to pay for your stop

I hadn't thought of that!

Last year I saw loads driving to Dover from Essex and only saw around 20-30 Le Mans bound cars once in France, thus the question.

I remember going as a child and have vivid memories of all the cars passing.

[a17vts]

a17vts said:

Thanks for the reply.

I should have specified I'll be travelling from Calais.

I did Reims last year so not fussed about passing that on route this year, but like you say the journey is part of the weekend IMO.

This sounds like a plan.

I'm on a early crossing 6.20am on Thursday so should be well ahead of most, so this could suit.

[surveyor]

Truckosaurus said:

gt6 said:

...the motorway is almost next to useless, almost everyone travels at the same speed so just a few cars overtake you or you overtake....

Indeed. The only place you see the interesting cars is at the toll booths or the service stations.

or Doing 60mph.... Plenty pass me by

[eastlmark]

assuming Calais then motorway to Rouen and the old road from there through Gace, Sees and Alencon is best for car watching.

came that way last week. big road closure at (I think!) Sees or maybe Gace. Not a long diversion but might cause a hold up at busy times.

[delta0]

a.christie said:

Just remember that if you are travelling through many areas of Paris you will need a green air sticker!!

I wouldn't recommend going through the centre!

[Chris Mould]

Rouen is a great place to stop and eat along the way. Plenty of restaurants and many likeminded car fanatics drive through.

Enjoy the drive.

[sahajesh]

Chris Mould said:

Rouen is a great place to stop and eat along the way. Plenty of restaurants and many likeminded car fanatics drive through.

Enjoy the drive.

This must be a new, undiscovered part of Rouen! Only bits I saw were typical town/city and lots of traffic lights.

I'm doing the Yvetot/Bourg Achard route to bypass.

Out of interest, anywhere in Rouen you recommend?

[Truckosaurus]

If you head into the centre of Rouen there is an agreeable 'old town' district.

The main direct route through town that most of us will take just goes through a dull industrial district on the outskirts.

[matboyslim]

eastlmark said:

assuming Calais then motorway to Rouen and the old road from there through Gace, Sees and Alencon is best for car watching.

came that way last week. big road closure at (I think!) Sees or maybe Gace. Not a long diversion but might cause a hold up at busy times.

Ive always used this route! Its much better now most use the A road and the old road is much more fun, its more of a drivers route!

[a17vts]

matboyslim said:

eastlmark said:

assuming Calais then motorway to Rouen and the old road from there through Gace, Sees and Alencon is best for car watching.

came that way last week. big road closure at (I think!) Sees or maybe Gace. Not a long diversion but might cause a hold up at busy times.

Ive always used this route! Its much better now most use the A road and the old road is much more fun, its more of a drivers route!

I'm just planning my route now and I aim on taking this route, however do you mean the A28 or D438 after Rouen to Gace, Sees & Alencon when you refer to the "old Road"?

Thanks in advance.

Tom

[David W.]

From the tunnel I still like the route that misses Rouen.
A28 to A29 and off at Yvetot, there are loos just through the Peage. We go into Yvetot for lunch then ringroad south D131 through the woods and over splendid bridge across Seine eventually re joining A28. Its a nice non motorway break.
DW

[cja]

David W. said:

From the tunnel I still like the route that misses Rouen.
A28 to A29 and off at Yvetot, there are loos just through the Peage. We go into Yvetot for lunch then ringroad south D131 through the woods and over splendid bridge across Seine eventually re joining A28. Its a nice non motorway break.
DW

I like this route from the North, too...... early morning is good, especially when clear, with a great view down the Seine from the bridge

[eastlmark]

a17vts said:

I'm just planning my route now and I aim on taking this route, however do you mean the A28 or D438 after Rouen to Gace, Sees & Alencon when you refer to the "old Road"?

Thanks in advance.

Tom

the D438 D338.....although most of us still call it the 138.