We Always Seem to Get Lost Getting Through Rouen

[V7TTE]

Last 4 years, even with satnav, we seem to take a different bloody route through Rouen, and usually get lost. The directions on the AA route planner are tortuous to say the least

Apart from saying "use satnav" does anybody know the easy route through? I want to follow the Autoroute as much as possible to minimise the pain...

[Podie]

Just to add to your fun, there are roadworks near one of the tunnels, so you have to loop-back round a make shift roundabout (well, you did last week when I drove through).

1) Don't try and navigate it in a group - meet up somewhere afterwards.
2) Get a streetlevel map and pick your route, then setup waypoint on the sat nav
3) Avoid it completely, and take the scenic route... long way round, but nice roads.

[bluest2]

What about skipping Rouen altogether? We've decided to continue along the Autoroute to Le Havre, over the Pont-du-Normandie, take to the back roads near Honfleur, and join the N138 further south than ususal. In theory it will take a touch longer but if it cancels out you getting lost in Rouen the difference may not be huge.

[cmsapms]

Tell me about it!! We used to get hopelessly lost in Rouen every time. We ended up sussing out a route through the hills east of the city and joining the A28 on the northern outskirts of Rouen*.

It involved the twisty D126/D138; although where we went before/after I haven't a clue - I'm just the driver! I do remember we went through Les Andelys though.

Nowadays we get just as frustrated trying to get past Lille. Satnav seems to have a temper tantrum where Lille's concerned.


* I'm talking about Le Mans to Calais here.

Edited by cmsapms on Tuesday 5th June 13:52

[Alex@POD]

I don't get it, last year when I went through Rouen I just followed the signs straight on all the way!

Paul, you mention passing Lille on the Le Mans - Calais route... Bit of a detour isn't it?

Edited by Alex@POD on Tuesday 5th June 14:03

[vetteheadracer]

V7TTE said:

Last 4 years, even with satnav, we seem to take a different bloody route through Rouen, and usually get lost. The directions on the AA route planner are tortuous to say the least

Apart from saying "use satnav" does anybody know the easy route through? I want to follow the Autoroute as much as possible to minimise the pain...

If you keep up with me Pete I'll guide you through

[V7TTE]

vetteheadracer said:

V7TTE said:

Last 4 years, even with satnav, we seem to take a different bloody route through Rouen, and usually get lost. The directions on the AA route planner are tortuous to say the least

Apart from saying "use satnav" does anybody know the easy route through? I want to follow the Autoroute as much as possible to minimise the pain...

If you keep up with me Pete I'll guide you through

...Well I'll try, but my top speed is only 175.

[cmsapms]

Alex@POD" Target="_blank">class="forumQuoter">Alex@POD said:

I don't get it, last year when I went through Rouen I just followed the signs straight on all the way!

Paul, you mention passing Lille on the Le Mans - Calais route... Bit of a detour isn't it?

We got sick of the scamera-ridden schlep from West Yorkshire to Dover; M1/M25/M2 is no fun in a Westfield with an aeroscreen! So now we use the Hull/Zeebrugge ferry and do most of our mileage in Belgium/France. It barely adds any extra distance, and has the twin advantages of some fabulous driving roads and an approach to Le Mans that le Ploderie don't target with speed traps. N138=

Oh yes, and we get a good feed on board at each end of the trip

[Truckosaurus]

Heading south to Le Mans is usually easy, even when they were digging up the whole city centre a few years ago, and the other time the main tunnel into the city was closed and there was a big diversion through the northern banlieues. Le Mans is well signposted, except as you get to the final turn onto the autoroute where unless you've spotted the sign says (in French) "for Le Mans follow Caen" you might get confused by the Paris/Caen options.

Coming back is another matter, if you follow the 'Rouen' signs from the autoroute you're sunk, you have to ignore them and wait until you get signs to 'Boulogne'.

Of course, navigating in the dark also adds a layer of complexity as the Frenchies to not illuminate their road signs to the standard we Brits do, so if you have a car with poor headlights, it may be worth giving your passenger a torch.

[happy snapper]

V7TTE said:

Last 4 years, even with satnav, we seem to take a different bloody route through Rouen, and usually get lost. The directions on the AA route planner are tortuous to say the least

Apart from saying "use satnav" does anybody know the easy route through? I want to follow the Autoroute as much as possible to minimise the pain...

From Calais A28 (E 44-E408) go through tunnel (Dartnetal) then follow the signs for Le Mans ie after tunnel as you enter Rouen stay left. The road goes round to the right under a bridge move to the right lane you will see the river then SHARP right and down on to the main road (D18E) up to some traffic lights that merge right and along the train yards follow the railway lines to the roundabout with the cows on it. Up the hill merge right again all sign posted Le Mans (A 13) then use the old A128 or the new road the return route ignore the first exit for rouen take the second one rouen east that takes you back along the railway lines and up through the tunnel to Calais.
http://www.viamichelin.fr/viamichelin/gbr/dyn/cont...
PS switch the sat nav off or on silent from my experiance when useing the sat nav you MUST either obay it or switch it to map mode......

Edited by happy snapper on Tuesday 5th June 16:44

Edited by happy snapper on Tuesday 5th June 16:46

[JulesV]

Rather than travel all the way down to Pont De Normandie why not cross over the Pont de Brottonne and then rejoin the autoroute. It is not much further, the roads are always nice and empty, it is ideal to fill up with petrol and there are not even any toll booths on the bridge any more.

[The Leaper]

The road signage in Rouen for Le Mans is poor so, in my view, it's best to take it easy after exiting the tunnel just north of the centre. Then follow the signs for either Caen or Le Mans for maybe 7-8 miles and wait for the Le Mans only signs, either the N138 or the A28. Don't be put off by feeling you're travelling too far towards Caen...the Le Mans exits are some way after hitting the autotoute after Rouen. Coming back, once you're on the Rouen outskirts, ignore the signs for Rouen and follow those to Bologne. R.

[welshnobby]

....i thought i knew the route but now i'm confused!

The year they closed the tunnel was an utter nightmare. Took about 4hrs to navigate the traffic and got hideously lost.

[cbrown7]

Glad to hear we are not the only ones!!!

[cooperlola]

When you reach the tunnel at Darnetal on the approach to Rouen, get in the slow lane and stay there. Don't change lanes, however tempted you are. As if by magic, you'll find yourself at the famous cow roundabout. Simple.

[fatboy18]

WE HATE THE ROUEN BIT , thats why we go to Cherbourg (cruse) the N13 to Caen pick up the N158 and join the N138 at Sees GREAT ROADS and some nice pit stops.

[fatboy18]

Is Rouen twined with Milton keans? Who had the Cows on thier Roundabouts first?

[Polarbert]

I've fond memories of Rouen. The sights, the views, the fantastic roads, the gendarmie station. Those motherers put me behind by 2 hours. Ended up turning up at 7.30 instead of 5.30 Would have been there a damn site earlier than that if they hadn't have put a stop to my high speed jaunting.

[DHA]

Ahh the sharp right.... too fast last year I only just made it and the masser in our group had to keep going straight on. But somehow they broke down and we caught them on the N138. I never did work that one out???????

[lagrange]

'Got to confess, as a French Le Mans addict and ex Rouen student.
Since jeanne d'Arc, every year people in Rouen use to hide Le Mans route signals.

It's just a little revenge for a 600 years old barbecue issue.