Talk Quesada forum

I'm thinking of driving back to the UK for a week or so & though I've done it before several times, I'm looking for the quickest & cheapest way (if there is one) without taking toll roads (to keep cost down) but might have to consider tolls. I will be taking my diesel car, rather than a truck this time, want to avoid Paris, so up the western coast of France I would think. Has anyone done this recently and as there's only me driving, what are your thoughts on staying over in France as it's a long old haul. I broke it down into 4 days when I came in a truck, but am hoping to be at Calais within a day of setting off, is that doable? Any constructive advice would be welcomed. I have been on the ferry from Santander before, but costs for a return trip are getting towards a grand, hence the reason for driving the route. Thanks in anticipation.

I did Dolores to Durham in 32 hours no toll roads just the odd comfort break I was in a Peugoet MPV towing a 4 wheel trailer
Went up the west side and went through Channel Tunnel
Did it both ways

A lovely route, minimal tolls. Alicante, Valencia, Teruel, Zaragoza, Huesca, Jaca, Oloron Sainte Marie, Dax, Bordeaux (€3) toll, Angouleme, Poitiers, Tours (€10) toll, Vendome, Chartres, Dreux, Rouen, Boulogne security Mer (€9) toll, Calais.
It is possible to avoid tolls but the extra time it takes makes the tolls worthwhile.
Hope you enjoy.

We do dover to alicante and back 3 times a year for a many years now. Avoid toll roads unless yr loaded, cost 180ish euros just one way and although that saves u approx 4 hours, it does not save you any fuel, and for us, as it takes us overnight, the time saving isn’t worth such massive fees. Up to you. All we do is log in fastest route avoiding tolls in to Google maps on a phone, and set off. Some fuel places to look for - fuel definitely cheaper in Spain than France. So fill up this side of the border. Fuel prices vary massively in France, some of the cheapest, search on your phone for carrefour, SuperValue U, intermarche. It’s worth a half mile off route to save various amounts up to 35cents a litre. I appreciate there’s two drivers for us, and you are the only driver, so your need for stops are different to ours. So not sure what to advise for you on that one. You will pass probably around 40 speed cameras across France. There is an app you can download that will warn you about 98% of them. So up to you if you want, get one of those free from your phones App Store. Safe journey.

If you go through Rouen you will need to get the French emission sticker for your car. This you can get online and it takes about a month to arrive. You will get an email copy while you are waiting and as we had to go we just printed out and folded it and put it in window.
That was January and up till now no fine has cone through .

I will avoid Rouen - You get the option with Waze app. I avoid Paris go past tours go bay of biscay side across pyrennes then Zaragoza the quesada. I use tolls in France about 90 euros as i have a small van. But the services/rest areas are excellent on the Toll roads and with 2 dogs makes it worthwhile

Thanks to all for all good information.