mde

Can someone tell me how long it would take to drive from Sarlat to Arles? According to the Yahoo.fr driving directions it should take about 5 hours, but I wonder if that's realistic. I wanted to stop in Carcassone for lunch and a brief look-around for an hour or so, but want to make sure I get to Arles by 5 pm. Thanks..

4totravel

Try checking www.michelin.com, or www.mappy.com- just type in both cities and detailed directions will post for you - I hate to send you to another website but it really does give great estimates for time and driving travel. Good Luck.

StuDudley

Wait for St Cirq to reply - she does this all the time.

Stu Dudley

StCirq

There is no way you can make it in 5 hours. I do this drive fairly frequently, and even exceeding the speed limit (which isn't a good idea anymore - they're monitoring it very carefully), I've never made it in under 6, and that was a steering wheel-gripping ride. AND I usually do the drive in spring and fall, when traffic isn't bad.

If you want to stop in Carcassonne, I'd allow at least 8 hours to be realistic. You'll probably make it in under that, but a lot will depend on time of year and how crowded Carcassonne is.

mde

Thank you StCirq. I'll have to think about whether I want to do all that driving in one day.

StuDudley

Making it in two days would be great. First day, get off the A20 at Caussade and drive through the Gorges de l'Aveyron. Then go to Albi for a visit & perhaps lunch (stores close up tight from 1 to 3:30). Then on to Carcassone for a visit & perhaps overnight. Next day, hop on the A61/A9 towards Nimes, but get off at Exit 34 & visit Pezenas. It's kind of a mix of l'Isle sur la Sorgue & St Remy - nice antique shops, very interesting town, & a great Sat morning market. Then head to St Guilhem le Desert, and Grotte de Calmouse (better than any you'll see in the Dordogne for stalactites & mites, IMHO). Then hop on the N109 through Montpellier & on to Arles.

If you decide to do this, let me know & I can detail out a route with some interesting short stops along the way.

Stu Dudley

mde

Stu, thank you. I have your France itinerary already, but if you have other ideas for the Sarlat-Carcassonne-Arles route, would appreciate them. By the way my boys aged 15 and 11 will be with us; unfortunately they're not very interested in beautiful scenery and museums.