The ultimate guide to driving to the Alps: your self-drive ski holiday

Are you planning your next ski holiday to the French Alps? While flying is a common option, driving to the Alps offers a unique and often more rewarding experience. This comprehensive guide is your ultimate resource for planning a self-drive ski trip from the UK to the French Alps.  

We’ve packed it with invaluable tips and information, drawing on our expertise as the self-drive French Alps specialist, to ensure your journey is as smooth and enjoyable as possible. Look out for insider tips from our clients too! From route planning and vehicle preparation to entertaining children and packing essentials, we’ve got you covered. Get ready to hit the road and discover the magic of a self-drive ski holiday. 

By taking the car you can drive to the Alps however you like. You can take the most direct route using the convenient toll system on the motorways, or you can opt for the scenic route and making stops in other towns and villages on the way to break up the journey.  

You could even extend your winter break by adding one or two nights either side of your winter holiday in the French Alps and stay in en-route hotels, such as in Reims and Troyes.  

Our blog Driving to the Alps: 10 places to stop on the way will help you make the most of your drive by giving some of our top recommendations for places to stop to extend your ski holiday - from theme parks to shopping outlets, scenic spots to historic sites and everything in between.

3. Pack everything but the kitchen sink 

Not only are you able to travel door to door without any transfers, long check-in processes or waiting for hours in airport lounges, you also don't have a limit on your luggage! 

You can pack all manner of things for your break in the French mountains. Take as much or as little as you need (including your skis/snowboard, ski boots, sport/leisure equipment, sledges, all at no extra cost).

Your home comforts can come with you too - including your slow-cooker (to make self-catering a breeze), and your children's favourite toys!  Later in this guide we will give you all our top tips for what to pack for your next self-drive ski holiday. 

4. Enroute shopping 

You can take advantage of picking up some snacks or even stocking up on your favourite French foods in the supermarkets along the way. This works out a lot cheaper than shopping in the smaller markets in the resort and there's a lot more variety too!  Some of our clients even bring a few store cupboard essentials from home. 

5. Cost-effective 

Driving to the French Alps can be a cost-effective alternative to flying, especially in school holidays when flights can be at a premium. Here at Peak Retreats, our ski holiday accommodation packages include a return Eurotunnel LeShuttle crossing for a standard car with a free FlexiPlus upgrade, except on some school holiday weeks.  

A standard car can hold up to 8 passengers at no additional cost – you just pay once for the vehicle. Fuel and tolls can be expected to be between €150 and €250 depending on where in the UK you are based, which ski resort you are travelling to and the fuel economy of your vehicle.  

6. Explore beyond your resort 

For those that like to explore beyond their resort while on a ski holiday, having access to your own vehicle is a winner. If you fancy a break from the slopes and want to explore the region, all you have to do is hop in your car and off you go! 

No one wants to leave a member of the family behind when going away, so the fact that lots of the accommodation we offer (see our ski holidays with dogs page) accept pets makes it so much easier to include everyone in a holiday in the French mountains! 

This can be facilitated by opting to cross the Channel with Eurotunnel LeShuttle. All you have to do is add on a pet supplement to your Eurotunnel LeShuttle journey (applicable to dogs, cats and ferrets).  

What else do you need to know about travelling via Eurotunnel with your pet? 

Choosing your route 

Planning your route in advance is vital for a smooth journey to the French Alps by car. Don’t forget to plan your route to the Tunnel or ferry terminal as well as the drive to your ski resort once you arrive in France. 

We have found the Via Michelin route planner to be the best option and it also handily helps you estimate tolls and fuel costs based on your vehicle make and model. 

The route you choose from northern France down to the Alps will depend which resort in the French Alps you are going to and your personal preference. Consider what your priorities are: do you want to get there as quickly as possible? Avoid tolls? Take the scenic route? 

Tip: on French motorways, there are emergency telephones every 2km, resting areas every 10-20kn, and petrol stations approximately every 40km. Motorway radio (with traffic alerts in English at set times) is found at 107.7km. 

Popular routes 

Here are some popular routes from Calais to the French Alps. We’ve chosen Chamonix as an example resort. Routes and times will vary according to which resort you are travelling to plus your speed and the traffic conditions on the day. 

Quickest route from Calais to French Alps: 517 miles, 8 hours, 57 minutes 

Calais > Arras > Laon > Reims > Troyes > Dijon > Geneva > Chamonix 

Shortest distance from Calais to French Alps: 505 miles, 9 hours, 48 minutes 

Calais > Arras > Reims > Chaumont > Dijon > Geneva > Chamonix 

Route from Calais to the French alps avoiding tolls: 536 miles, 12 hours, 8 minutes 

Calais > Lille > Valenciennes > Landrecies > Laon > Reims > Chaumont > Besançon > Lausanne > Montreux > Chamonix 

Route from Calais to the French Alps avoiding motorways: 524 miles, 15 hours, 54 minutes 

Calais > Arras > Laon > > Reims > Châlons-en-Champagne > Lausanne > Montreux > Chamonix 

Closest ski resorts to Calais 

Looking to get to the French Alps as quickly as possible by car? You could consider choosing one of the resorts that is closest to Calais including Samoëns, Le Grand Bornand and Les Carroz. For a more comprehensive list, see our blog The best French Alps ski resorts near Calais. 

Crossing the channel 

The first route decision you’ll need to make is how you’re going to cross the English Channel. There are two main options for crossing the channel to France - Eurotunnel LeShuttle or ferry. 

Eurotunnel Le Shuttle 

Eurotunnel LeShuttle takes 35 minutes from Folkestone in Kent to Calais and there are up to 4 departures per hour. Some travellers like to opt for Le Shuttle over the ferry because it is generally significantly quicker. They drive on to the train in Folkestone, stay by their vehicle for the duration and then drive off at Calais 35 minutes later. 

FlexiPlus 

What is FlexiPlus? 

Planning your itinerary 

It’s worth planning your travel itinerary in advance including plotting your route, deciding whether you will stop overnight enroute and accounting for any other stops you might like to may.  

Tip: view traffic forecasts on www.bison-fute.gouv.fr to help you plan the timings of your drive. 

Don’t forget to let your accommodation know your estimated time of arrival in advance. 

One benefit of driving overnight if you have children is that they might sleep most of the way. But do bear in mind that you need sleep too! You know yourself best and if you are likely to feel sleepy on a nighttime drive or find it hard to recover afterwards, you’re probably better to book an enroute hotel. We have a number of recommended stops which are in convenient locations on the way to the French Alps. This includes hotels in Reims and Troyes. 

Alternatively, you might wish to make your stop an extension of your holiday. Some of our clients choose to extend their trip with visits to the likes of Disneyland, a city break, or a vineyard escape.  

At Peak Retreats, we offer Enroute Escapes, a unique concept to help you make the most of your time in France. These special experiences allow you to explore more of France and offer a sense of escapism, whilst still being conveniently located just a short drive from the main routes from Calais to the Alps. Ideal for prolonging your trip and elevating your journey! 

Where else to stop 

Regardless of whether you are going to stop overnight, you’ll definitely be needing to stop to refuel, use the rest facilities and stretch your legs. This might be a 15 minute stop at a service station or perhaps you like to take your time and stop at the odd scenic spot for a picnic along the way. 

One of our favourite places to stop is Le Village Outlet which is 30 minutes from Lyon and seconds off the main motorway. Not only is it great for shopping your favourite luxury brands, it also has lots of lovely green areas to stretch your legs and even a children's playground to allow them to let off some steam before starting your drive up to your resort.

Tip: fuel is usually sold as SP98 or SP95 or SP95 E10 (SP = sans plomb i.e. unleaded) and diesel (gazoil). 

If you really want to make the journey part of your holiday, check out our blog Driving to the Alps: 10 places to stop on the way. 

Our other top tip is to make sure you stop at a large supermarket before heading up to your self-catered ski apartment. Not only will this save you time and money on shopping in the resort, there’s also the added bonus of being able to stock up on all your favourite French flavours: wine, croissants, cheese, and other delicious regional and local products. Yum!

Vehicle preparation 

It’s always worth ensuring that your vehicle is in a roadworthy condition when embarking on any long journey including checking your tyre treads, engine fluids and lights. 

The Met Office have a good checklist of vehicle checks to make before long journeys. 

Winter tyres, snow chains and snow socks 

When embarking on a drive from the UK to the French Alps, it is essential that you prepare for winter weather conditions. This includes ensuring that your vehicle can handle potentially icy or snow-covered roads. This is easily solved by making sure you have either: 

It is compulsory to have winter tyres or carry snow chains in mountainous areas in France between 1st November and 31st March for at least 2 powered wheels. 

Failure to carry them is likely to result in a fine if caught and if you are involved in an accident where snow chains should have been used, you will automatically be deemed liable. We do recommend you carry them outside of these dates as a precaution though. 

Winter tyres vs snow chains vs snow socks 

So which option should you choose: winter tyres, snow chains or snow socks? It can be a bit overwhelming at first so we’ve created this handy table to help you compare the three options... 

Winter tyres 

Pros – ideal for consistent use throughout winter, improves overall safety, no need to stop for fitting 

Cons – expensive initial investment, requires seasonal tyre changes, may therefore not be viable for one weeks’ ski holiday per year 

Note: winter tyres must be stamped with 3PMSF (three peaks mountain snowflake) AND marked with one of either 'M+S', 'M.S' or 'M&S'.

Snow chains 

Pros – superior grip on thick snow and ice, required in extreme conditions, highly compatible with mountain roads 

Cons – getting the hang of fitting them can take a little practice. Check out our guide How to fit snow chains in 3 steps to get started. 

Snow socks 

Pros – Budget-friendly, lightweight, easy to store and fit 

Cons – less effective than snow chains, not suitable for prolonged use or heavy snow 

Note: most common snow chain/snow sock sizes are available in local garages and larger hypermarkets in mountain regions in France or you can buy these in advance through snowchains.com. 

Vehicle insurance and breakdown cover 

Remember that you may not be automatically insured to drive in Europe with your current car insurance policy. Always check your policy wording carefully to check levels of cover and also whether you are covered for mountain roads. 

Likewise, not all breakdown policies cover you when taking your car abroad. If you aren’t covered by your policy, you can consider upgrading your breakdown policy to one that covers you for driving in France, or alternatively you may find that a single-trip breakdown policy is better for you. 

Parking in resort 

Make sure you check parking arrangements for your chosen accommodation in resort. Lots of accommodation has underground parking, but not all. Some works on a first come, first-served basis, others are pre-bookable.

A tour operator like Peak Retreats will be able to advise you on parking, whether there is a charge and if necessary, reserve you a parking space. 

Costs to consider 

The costs associated with driving to the French Alps are as follows: 

Despite these costs, driving is usually cheaper than flying to the French Alps, especially if you have more than 2 people in your party and if you are travelling in school holidays. 

When comparing the cost of flying to the Alps, don’t forget to factor in: 

When choosing an enroute hotel, consider staying just outside a major town. Town or city centre hotels invariably carry a premium price tag. Opting to stay in more of an ‘enroute’ style hotel not far from the motorway can save you money. 

Consider a moderate driving speed, slightly below the speed limit to maximise fuel efficiency. This may not make a huge difference to your arrival time but your wallet may thank you. 

Driving tips 

Driving to the Alps from the UK has lots of benefits and can be a lot of fun. Our driving tips will help keep you safe and get the most out of the drive. 

1. Avoid fatigue 

The most important thing to consider when driving to the Alps is safety. Make sure you take regular rest stops and if possible, share the driving. 

2. Observe speed limits 

France has different speed limits to us and all speed limits are denoted in kilometres. Make sure you closely monitor the speed limit and adjust your speed accordingly. As a general guide, their speed limits are as follows: 

Please note: speed limits are reduced in France due to changes in driving conditions such as rain. For example the motorway speed limit is reduced to 110km/h in wet or snowy conditions and 50km/h in fog. 

3. Get a toll tag in advance 

To make things even easier you can sign-up online for an automatic toll payer, meaning you drive straight through fast lane of the tolls without having to queue up and pay. The Emovis tag is useful as you can use it any time you drive in France. 

4. Driving in the Alps: winter driving tips 

It’s worth doing your homework and being familiar with driving techniques for snowy and icy conditions. Here are our top tips: 

5. Navigating mountain roads: 

It’s not always without its challenges though, so here are some of our top tips to driving to the French Alps with kids: 

The return journey 

Driving from the French Alps to the UK is pretty similar to driving to the French Alps – just in reverse. 

It’s a good idea to keep an eye on the weather forecast the day before you are due to set off. This will help you plan what time you need to leave. Make sure you leave plenty of time to get to the Eurotunnel Le Shuttle or ferry terminal. Of course, if you have booked Eurotunnel FlexiPlus, you can just turn up on the day of your booking and drive straight onto the next available train. 

As with driving to the Alps, embrace the journey! Plan plenty of rest stops and if desired, an overnight stay. This is the last day (and possibly night) of your ski holiday so remember to relax and take in the sights of France. 

Your self drive ski holiday

And there we have it: our ultimate guide to driving to the French Alps from the UK. Driving offers a fantastic way to begin your ski holiday the moment you leave home. From the flexibility of packing everything you need to the opportunity to explore scenic routes along the way, a self-drive ski holiday can be a fun adventure and lower cost alternative to flying to the Alps. 

By following the tips and advice in this guide, you’ll be well-equipped to navigate the roads, embrace the experience, and arrive at your chosen resort ready to hit the slopes. 

Here at Peak Retreats, we are self-drive specialists. If you’d like to discuss whether a self-drive ski holiday is right for you or pick our brains on the best resort or accommodation for your needs, please get in touch. Call 023 9283 9310 or email reservations@peakretreats.co.uk.