We are planning a trip from the UK to Spain this summer, via the Channel Tunnel, and I wanted to canvas the views of fellow mx-5 drivers.
I’ve driven in France on many occasions, but always in more spacious cars which have been comfortable motorway cruisers. With a few exceptions, French toll roads have been a pleasure - not particularly busy and plenty of places to stop and rest/re-fuel.
However, I’m wondering if the MX-5 is less suited to a very long motorway trips and am thinking about taking the alternative, toll free roads. My very limited experience of those has been that it’s been less easy to find places to stop and refuel.
So, for anyone who has tried both the toll roads and the toll-free, what’s been your experience? Is it better to stick to the motorways or head for the RN roads?
I took mine as far as St Malo last year, there on minor roads, back to the tunnel on the motorways.
My humble opinion is that the MX-5 is not great for motorways, as with the top down, its noisy, easy to get sunburnt on long runs, and the toll booths are not made for a low car. My other half had to almost get out of the car in order to pay
But you are right, we travelled the whole mileage from St Malo to Le Shuttle in less than 5 hours.
Convenience over the beauty of the French countryside….
Many N roads in France are now 80kmh, combined with the 30kmh sections through most villages and the speed humps, it makes the journey quite a lot slower than the toll roads, we still nearly always use the N roads but use tolls to do some of the Northern areas which aren’t quit as scenic.
WE DO THAT ROUTE ON MOTORBIKES AND THE OLD RNS ARE GENERALLY VERY GOOD, NOT SURE WHERE YOU ARE PLANNING TO CROSS THE PYRENEES? BUT I USE A PAPER MICHELIN MAP TO PICK GOOD (SENIC ROADS HAVE A GREEN LINE) ROUTE. ALSO PICKING RIVER CROSSING POINTS AND BYPASSING LARGE TOWNS. WE GENENERALLY DO 7 OR 8 HOURS A DAY MAYBE 300 MILES, SO OVERNIGHT AROUND THE LOIRE AND DORDOIIGNE BEFORE ARRIVING IN NORTHRERN SPAIN FOR A FEW DAYS
Im going in June. Tolls to cover distance then off motorway for the final third. Michelin paper maps are great for routing as the nice/scenic routes are clearly marked. That’s how I have been planning my trip.
The toll roads are expensive (I spent £192 over 9 days last year). If you are on your own, you are getting out every time to run round the car. Some of the tolls are also very close to each other too depending where you are.
It is possibly an easier introduction to driving on the left than starting on the smaller roads.
It is easier to overtake in a rhd drive car, you will appreciate this once you get onto the smaller roads as you try to see past the car in front to see if it is safe to overtake!
Yes, there are lots of service areas/toilets which is good. It does take some getting used to of just how close they all drive to each other. Also they put speed limit signs on the motorway for the off ramps (and caravans etc) which took a while to figure out.
It depends how much of a hurry you are to get to a particular place I think. You will see more of the country if you take the smaller roads and enjoy driving your car more too if you can spare the time.
If you’re driving in France and intending to use toll roads (= motorways), it is worth exploring companies that can sell you a “tag” that sticks on the inside of your windscreen. It is much easier than leaning across / jumping out of the car at the toll stations, and as a bonus you get to use the “priority” or “tags-only” lane at the toll stations, which can save a lot of queueing. Emovis is one such company (https://www.emovis-tag.co.uk/subscription/), but there are also others.
Thanks everyone for the helpful responses. On previous trips (without the mx5) I have used a toll tag, and I’ll certainly be transferring it for my 2025 journey.
The suggestion that the trip be split into motorway and non motorway sections is a good one, and I’ll build that into my planning. I’ll probably do the section from Calais to the Loire Valley on toll roads and then by RN until the Spanish border.
The other thing to bear in mind, just like in the UK, is that fuel at supermarkets in towns/villages can be a lot cheaper than on the toll roads or motorways.
That’s a very good point, and food / snacks will also be less expensive and with greater choice. Any idea about loos? On the motorway the aires de service loos are usually ok, although the regular aires can often be an abomination.
Do the village supermarkets typically have loos? I’ve been in dozens of French supermarkets but have never noticed. Each passing year seems to make toilet stops rather more frequent!
In my earlier days I cycled through France and Spain on the way to Morocco. I don’t think there is any bit of either country you need to ‘skip over’ by using toll roads.
You don’t buy an MX to go in a straight line.
Maybe you won’t get too far as in a straight line but you might have a great time doing it.
Done France many times toll and secondary roads…my experience is;
Toll; +;faster and easier (less need to stay concentrated)
- expensive (toll, fuel, eating/drinking), you will miss the best part (nice roads, local charm…).
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Secondary rds; +; nicer sightseeing, fuel cheaper, no toll, food/drinks cheaper and more chance to find charming restaurants and try local dishes.
-; slower, more concentration needed, sometimes roads in bad condition (MX-5…)
For me, secondary rds wins …it’s slower but on the highway you will miss that where the MX-5 is all about… beside that it’s cheaper.
Another thing to consider (if you will cross cities) is the crit’air sticker, needed if you enter LEZ zone’s. Don’t buy it from so called “specialist” sites (as i did…) you will pay about 25-40 eur. Buy from the french governement; it will cost you then about 5-7 eur and they deliver just as fast.
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Not clear about your plans for Spain. However, I can recommend a Plan B. Take the ferry from Blighty to Santander or Bilbao (best) instead. Then take in some of the awesome Pyrenean locations to your east befiire heading darn sarf… Lets face it, a lot of the French toll roads are extremely boring and the toll charges are quite high. (Driving alone in my NC presented another issue, reaching the card or cash slot in the toll booths is impossible… one HAS to get out and walk around the car!) If you do want to travel the French minor roads, install Google Waze navigation and set it to detail all fuel stops. Leg room can be an issue, the NC being marginally better than the others IMHO. I’m 5’ 10" and managed a 600+ mile return trip in 26 hours from the Welsh borders to Knokke-Heist in Flanders without undue discomfort. (Tip;- check the age of your tyre inflating mousse… it has a short shelf life and then becomes almost useless!!)
Thanks. I’m heading to Alicante so had looked into the sailings to Spain. Cost would have been about the same as the road costs (fuel and hotels) from Calais, but the thought of a rough crossing (which seems quite commmon on those routes) has put me off.
Good shout on the tyre sealant - will buy a new one before we go
