aussie_10

After looking at countless routes to drive south from Beaune to either Millau or Provence. (Still tossing up on our destination for July next year). I notice that every time I look at google maps there is always "traffic incidents" on both the A6 and A7. I presume these are accidents. Is this road very bad to drive on? Is it better to take a side route?

michelhuebeli

Will you be in a hurry?

If not, set your GPS to ignore toll roads and stick to the Routes Départementales (as opposed to Nationales).

You'll have lots of intersections of course, but the many round-abouts (as opposed to red/green traffic lights) make that negligible. You'll see the "real" France from up close - villages, cute churches, boulangeries by the roadside (yummm), landscapes you'd otherwise not see or not notice from the expressways.

tomboy

A6 and A7 ARE expressway/motorways. I'd go with those.

StuDudley

I've driven both those Autoroutes many, many times. The only problem I've encountered is the speeding tickets mailed to me after I've returned home to the US.

Stu Dudley

Michael

I agree with michelhuebeli unless time is an issue.

kerouac

They are they heaviest traveled autoroutes.

www.viamichelin.com says to take the A6 south until you get to the A89. Near Clermont-Ferrand, you transfer to the A75 which goes straight to Millau. While the A6 and the A89 are toll roads, the A75 is toll free.

Michael

The one time we drove A7 in the Rhone valley it was one truck after another coming from Spain or Portugal going to northern Europe. This may have changed, as truckers have discovered A20 which is toll free from Vierzon to the southern border of the Limousin.

WoinParis

I take these highways quite often.
They are highways.
Busy ones.
Less than the Msomething going from Manchester to Leeds though.
Double the time and fake sidetracks.

StCirq

Unless you are in a hurry, take the N routes. The A routes freak me out, with all the truck traffic and 5 lanes and no scenery.

kerouac

Of course trucks are banned on the roads from Friday evening to Sunday evening (except for urgent perishables).

Tulips

The A6 is always quite busy, but unless it's the summer holidays, I haven't encountered bad traffic jams there. I see on Google Maps that they indicate lots of accidents; don't know where that is coming from, but the motorways in France are quite safe, well organised, good signage.

I'd follow the wine route towards Chalons sur Saone, if you have enough time. Or the D973 that goes past Rochepot; nice castle to visit.

We took the A89 between Clermont Ferrand and Lyons a year or two ago; I thought that was quite scenic.

If you are traveling in July, avoid Saturdays at all cost on the motorways going south! Fridays can be bad too.

WoinParis

Urgent perishable or plastic foils in a refrigerated truck.

kerouac

Even though I very much like the <i>routes nationales</i> ("N roads") for a bit of additional scenery, it should be pointed out that tons of trucks take those roads, too, in order to avoid tolls. And don't get me started about being stuck behind a tractor from time to time.

When I start being impatient to get somewhere, I generally start following the blue signs to the nearest autoroute.

dwdvagamundo

Kerouac--me too! The scenic routes are scenic but much slower. On vacation, time is of the essence so we usually take the autoroutes if we have a long way to go.

Michael

<i>We took the A89 between Clermont Ferrand and Lyons a year or two ago; I thought that was quite scenic. </i>

A89 is unusually scenic because it crosses the Massif Central; A7 on the other hand is down in the Rhone valley, with hills in the distance--it gets better in Burgundy.

aussie_10

Thanks for your replies.
The A6 & A7 seem like busy routes. Our drive south will be on Sunday 9 July. Is that school holiday time?
5 lanes yikes! We don't have 5 lane highways in Australia. We have driven some very busy Motorways/Tollways/Autoroutes in the UK, Europe and USA and the trucks scare me the most.
We will have a long drive that day unless we break it up along the way for a stopover. I will take a look at your side roads suggestions.

StuDudley

There are fewer trucks on the autoroutes on Sundays. Probably fewer "deviations" too.

Stu Dudley

kerouac

Sunday is an excellent driving day for the autoroutes.

Cathinjoetown

Keep in mind that although most trucks must stay off the autoroutes Sat.-Sun, in July you will encounter heavy Saturday holiday switchover traffic when many gîtes, flats, hotels change guests. A few of these Saturdays are designated "red" with very heavy traffic around the Med routes. If you can, avoid Saturdays.

WoinParis

Portions with 5 lanes are limited to big agglomerations and when highways join - like when A31 and A6 join.
Most of the time you have 3 lanes or 2.

July 9 is before 14th of july which is the 'pivot' for French holidays.

Check on http://www.bison-fute.gouv.fr/calend...ute,10375.html

Don't know if is in English - Bison Futé (wise bull) has been the reference for congestioned jorneys for the last 50 years in France ... follow their advice.