Distance and Time Charts - Channel Ports to Wine Regions

Scroll down to the charts for distance in kilometers and driving time in hours/minutes from each Channel port to major towns in the wine regions. They assume the fastest route using motorways. If using ordinary main roads, increase time by at least one thrid.

Unless you have two or three drivers to share the task, don't drive for more than six or seven hours in a day, taking a 15 to 30 minute break every two hours. Encountering traffic delays on the way home against a ferry booking deadline can lead to frustration and taking unnecessary risks. Accidents can and do happen and even minor ones can be a problem in France involving considerable paperwork and inevitable delays, especially if you are not fluent in French.

Remember also that the southern part of France is hot during the summer months. Drivers and cars get tired and overheated very quickly. Make your stops a little longer and take on pleanty of fluids. Don't overload your car with clothes and items you will never use and plan the trip as a gentle drive rather than a race against time.

To help reduce the accident rate, the French Government provides ‘Bison-Futé’ stops where drivers and passengers can get free drinks. There are also frequent rest areas with toilets, play areas and picnic facilities.

You could take the time to stop over and visit one or two vineyards on the way. Get into the swing of France and perhaps find a wine you haven't tasted before. You may be able to collect the wine when you stop over on the way home.

Caen
345	Calais
125	465	Cher- bourg										Distances in kilometres. Assumes fastest route (motorway) EXAMPLE: Calais to Lyon = 760
207	285	285	Dieppe
385	40	500	203	Dun- kirk
168	280	244	244	320	Le- Havre
94	709	59	59	749	59	Ros- coff
106	514	155	155	554	155	155	St Malo
817	688	926	632	713	738	1086	997	Colmar
600	875	650	676	875	676	650	510	1030	Bor- deaux
571	600	681	536	626	524	815	615	278	779	Nuits St Georges
390	270	500	360	295	340	692	550	414	722	320	Reims
270	590	300	476	615	345	395	270	832	378	575	429	Angers
256	490	370	370	615	350	445	299	685	350	429	373	125	Tours
445	490	550	500	515	500	665	520	590	497	248	341	326	212	San- cerre
1004	1054	1114	1173	1074	974	1268	1068	718	633	460	785	900	778	717	Aix en Provence
708	760	819	675	766	677	980	780	418	565	168	485	645	522	479	302	Lyon
907	956	1019	875	962	877	1180	980	619	587	362	685	802	679	618	101	207	Orange
685	876	743	857	916	860	874	737	892	275	637	716	527	411	491	523	471	452	Cahors
822	1013	880	994	1053	997	882	745	960	247	707	827	662	581	572	393	541	343	111	Tou- louse

Caen
3:27	Calais
1:15	4:39	Cher- bourg										Approximate Drive Time in Hours and Minutes. Assumes fastest route (motorway) EXAMPLE: Calais to Lyon = 7:36 Increase at least one third if not using motorway
2:04	2:51	2:51	Dieppe
3:51	0:24	5:00	2:01	Dun- kirk
1:40	2:48	2:26	2:26	3:12	Le- Havre
0:56	7:05	0:35	0:35	7:29	0:35	Ros- coff
1:03	5:08	1:33	1:33	5:32	1:33	1:33	St Malo
8:10	6:52	9:15	6:19	7:07	7:22	10:51	9:58	Colmar
6:00	8:45	6:30	6:45	8:45	6:45	6:30	5:06	10:18	Bor- deaux
5:42	6:00	6:48	5:21	6:15	5:14	8:09	6:09	2:46	7:47	Nuits St Georges
3:54	2:42	5:00	3:36	2:57	3:24	6:55	5:30	4:08	3:12	3:12	Reims
2:42	5:54	3:00	4:45	6:09	3:27	3:57	2:42	8:19	5:45	5:45	4:17	Angers
2:33	4:54	3:42	3:42	6:09	3:30	4:27	2:59	6:51	3:30	4:17	3:43	1:15	Tours
4:27	4:54	5:30	5:00	5:09	5:00	6:39	5:12	5:54	4:58	2:28	3:24	3:15	2:07	San- cerre
10:02	10:32	11:08	11:43	10:44	9:44	12:40	10:40	7:10	6:19	4:36	7:51	9:00	7:46	7:10	Aix en Provence
7:04	7:36	8:11	6:45	7:39	6:46	9:48	7:48	4:10	5:39	1:40	4:51	6:27	5:13	4:47	3:01	Lyon
9:04	9:33	10:11	8:45	9:37	8:46	11:48	9:48	6:11	5:52	3:37	6:51	8:01	6:47	6:10	1:00	2:04	Orange
6:51	8:45	7:25	8:34	9:09	8:36	8:44	7:22	8:55	2:45	6:22	7:09	5:16	4:06	4:54	5:13	4:42	4:31	Cahors
8:13	10:07	8:48	9:56	10:31	9:58	8:49	7:27	9:36	2:28	7:04	8:16	6:37	5:48	5:43	3:55	5:24	3:25	1:06	Tou- louse