Route through France (avoiding Paris) heading south to Spain

[CaptainMorgan]

I'm off to Spain for my holidays this year and I'm just doing a rough route plan, I'm aiming for Alicante. Until now I've used google maps and had no issues, it got me to the arse end of Italy without issues, always avoids traffic for me, but from a quick look on there it's sending me straight through Paris.

That doesn't sound like fun to me, the rest of the route looks alright, A71/A75 down towards north east Spain but I wanna avoid Paris, even if it takes a bit longer. I have a overnight booked in Bourges so I just need a route to there from Calais. I'm thinking about heading towards Rouen along the A28 then following the N154 towards Chartes before joining the A71 just before Orleans. Is this route familiar to anyone? I'm guessing the A28 is alright but the N154? It's only adding about 40min to the trip, but if there's a likelihood of getting stuck behind a baguette in a tractor for 20 miles I might have to plan another route.

The rest of the route looks good, I've engineered a little diversion through a bit of the Pyrenees before heading back towards the coast and down towards Barca & Valencia.

Any pointers welcomed!

[Red Devil]

You shouldn't have any major issues with the N154.
A friend of mine went that way to a stop in Bourges en route to the French GP.
https://goo.gl/maps/7KsmyFXBJUt

If you have time head out to Sangatte then the D940.
A far nicer drive than belting along the A16
https://goo.gl/maps/gVaPwfs9zQ62

[Rushjob]

I live near Clermont Ferrand and pretty much always use the Rouen/Chartres/Orleans route to and from the tunnel. Never had issues and the non dual carriageway sections are a welcome break from the monotony.......

[JonChalk]

If you're ok with empty Autoroutes on cruise control for hours, our "regular" route to the Dordogne is A28/A10, then you could choose to keep following A10 along the coast (ish) followed by a couple of choices further south (A63 or A62), or take the N10 south.

Drove back from Girona to Hereford in one go when younger - that was E15/A9, A75, A71, so could reverse that?

[paulwirral]

I've used that route, Rouen , chatres, Orleans for years , it's a doddle and you'll not really get held up anywhere .

[LeoSayer]

You can avoid France altogether by taking the Portsmouth-Santander ferry.

[CaptainMorgan]

Ok, sounds like I'll be alright going west of Paris then. Thanks for the tips, I'll have a look at the non motorway roads, if it doesnt add too much time I'm all up for taking the back roads.

I did consider the ferry, I fancied driving this time though, make it a bit more of a road trip. That said, I might go again later in the year, if so it'll be a shorter trip and the ferry might work well.

Thanks all!

[phil y]

Might just be me, but I’ve done the journey via Paris a few times, and it’s not as bad as you’d think.

Certainly preferable to the M25 on a bad day.