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Planning Your Road Trip in France: Best Itineraries & Travel Ideas
Solo female travel in Europe can feel intimidating, but France offers one of the most accessible and diverse adventure playgrounds for women traveling alone. Even though I'm French myself, I'll admit I was a bit nervous during my first solo kilometers on French roads.
But this solo adventure revealed breathtaking landscapes to me, from Provence to the Alps, from Loire Valley châteaux to Brittany's wild coastlines. Each region offers its unique itinerary, perched villages, and secret spots. Discovering these magnificent places behind the wheel of your car, at your own pace, without compromise... That's exactly what a road trip allows you!
⚠️ And if you're a woman looking for free and safe accommodation in France, NomadSister is the solution! This community brings together thousands of supportive female hosts with whom you can discover each region differently, sharing moments of connection.
This wild peninsula has always fascinated me with its natural charm. My favorite starting point remains Saint-Malo, this magnificent corsair city. It's impossible to remain unmoved by its ramparts overlooking the sea and the sound of waves crashing against the stones.
The Pink Granite Coast, near Perros-Guirec, offers absolutely stunning landscapes, especially at sunrise: rocks sculpted by tides, rosy hues that change with the light... Further west, the Crozon Peninsula reveals vertiginous cliffs and secret beaches where you can camp in the wilderness.
The inland areas also hold beautiful surprises. The Brocéliande forests, character villages like Locronan... Each stop reveals preserved heritage.
Saint-Malo
The Loire Valley Château Route: A Journey Through History
Recommended duration: 4 to 6 days
Setting off to discover Loire Valley châteaux is like leafing through a beautiful history book come to life. From Blois to Azay-le-Rideau, each château tells a different era's story. I must admit that Chambord remains my favorite, with its Renaissance architecture.
What struck me during this road trip was the gentle way of life that reigns in this region: rolling landscapes, vineyards stretching as far as the eye can see, sleepy little villages along the Loire... Everything breathes tranquility. Chenonceau, nicknamed the Ladies' Château, particularly moved me with its elegance reflected in the Cher River waters.
To optimize this route, I recommend starting from Orléans or Tours. The region lends itself perfectly to wild camping, especially along the small roads winding between vineyards.
Chambord
Provence and Luberon Road Trip
Recommended duration: 5 to 7 days
Provence is that golden light caressing stone farmhouses, those colorful markets where singing accents resonate, and those perched villages that seem to defy the laws of gravity.
My preferred itinerary starts from Avignon to reach the Luberon villages.
The must-see villages on this road trip:
Gordes and its Renaissance château
Roussillon and its ochre trail
Ménerbes, village of artists
Lourmarin and its shaded terraces
Bonnieux and its panoramic view
The lavender routes between Sault and Valensole transform the landscape into a fragrant purple ocean. I discovered magnificent spots for bivouacking in the middle of these fields, far from tourist hustle and bustle.
Sault
The Alps: The Route of Breathtaking Panoramas
Recommended duration: 8 to 12 days
The Route des Grandes Alpes, from Thonon-les-Bains to Menton, is one of my most memorable road trips. This 700-kilometer crossing links legendary mountain passes and vertiginous panoramas.
The Col de l'Iseran, the highest point of this route at 2,764 meters, offered me unique sensations. That feeling of being on top of the world, surrounded by snow-capped peaks even in midsummer... High-altitude lakes, like Lake Tignes, reflect the peaks in intensely blue waters found nowhere else.
This route requires a vehicle in perfect condition and cautious driving. Hairpin turns follow one another, elevation changes are impressive, but the reward matches the effort.
I encountered curious marmots, admired agile ibex, and breathed the pure mountain air. Mountain refuges and inns offer welcome breaks and authentic encounters with hikers.
Southwest Road Trip: From Bordeaux to the Basque Country
Recommended duration: 6 to 8 days
Bordeaux, with its 18th-century facades and renovated quays, marks the beginning of a gourmet and cultural journey. The wine route winding between Saint-Émilion and Pauillac reveals prestigious châteaux and endlessly rolling landscapes.
Then comes the Atlantic coast, with its immense beaches and surf spots. Hossegor, Biarritz... I discovered exceptional camping spots to sleep facing the ocean.
The Basque Country has a strong identity, between Bayonne and its half-timbered houses, Saint-Jean-de-Luz and its fishing port, or Espelette and its peppers.
A tip for ocean-facing camping: the spot near Biarritz lighthouse offers exceptional panorama, but you need to arrive early to hope for a sunset spot.
The region also has a large number of NomadSister female hosts, so if you're a woman looking for free and safe accommodation, check out this community of supportive women!
Alsace, Burgundy, French Riviera: Other Destinations Not to Miss
Alsace and its wine route definitely deserve the detour. From Strasbourg to Colmar, each village seems straight out of a fairy tale. Riquewihr, Kaysersberg, Eguisheim... These names evoke colorful half-timbered houses, terraced vineyards, and generous gastronomy.
Burgundy reveals preserved rural France. From Beaune to Chablis, roads wind between prestigious vineyards. I loved tasting wines directly from winemakers, discovering their vaulted cellars and production secrets. The Massif Central, often overlooked, hides wonders like Puy-de-Dôme and its dormant volcanoes.
The French Riviera keeps its charms despite tourist crowds. From Cannes to Menton, the route follows the Mediterranean Sea and reveals strikingly beautiful landscapes. Nice, with its Promenade des Anglais, Saint-Tropez and its legendary port, Monaco and its rock...
Puy-de-Dôme
Best Activities During Your French Road Trip
Walks, Hikes, Swimming
Each French region hides its corners of paradise for rejuvenation.
In Brittany, the GR34 coastal path offered me its most beautiful surprises: secret coves accessible only at low tide and cliffs sculpted by the ocean.
Diving into a high-altitude lake after a challenging mountain climb in the Alps provides a unique sensation. Lake Geneva offers contemplative moments facing the peaks, while the Verdon Gorges reveal natural pools of magnificent turquoise.
The Southwest keeps its secrets well hidden: small Pyrenean rivers with crystal-clear waters, Landes beaches where only local surfers venture... I experienced moments of pure solitude there, lulled by the sound of water.
Verdon Gorges
Cultural Visits and Local Discoveries
France tells its story through its stones and traditions. Provincial museums often reveal unsuspected treasures, far from Parisian crowds. I spent hours in a Provençal potter's workshop, discovering ancestral gestures passed down through generations.
The lesser-known châteaux of Île-de-France, like Vaux-le-Vicomte, reveal their splendor in intimacy. These monuments tell French history without the tourist crowds of Versailles. Weekly markets allow real exchanges with local producers.
The Napoleon Route between Golfe-Juan and Grenoble traces a historic path through grandiose landscapes. These cultural encounters give particular depth to the journey.
Relaxation, Picnics, and Sunsets
The most precious moments are lived in total simplicity. An impromptu picnic by an alpine lake, a nap under a Provençal olive tree, a sunset from a Breton cliff... These small moments mark you far more than kilometers covered.
My favorite spots for contemplating day's end: Pointe du Raz when waves explode against rocks, and Marseille's calanques that redden under the last rays. These moments are savored in silence, with a blanket and some snacks.
The most beautiful spots are often found off marked trails, on a forest path opening onto a clearing, or a small road leading to a panorama. This freedom to stop wherever you please constitutes the essence of road trips.
Marseille calanques
Q&A for a 100% Successful French Road Trip
If you have questions about choosing a vehicle or budgeting, check out this article on how to organize a road trip. And to make sure you don't forget anything before departure, see this road trip checklist!
Where to Sleep During My Road Trip?
The van remains the most flexible solution, allowing you to sleep wherever you want. Apps like Park4Night or iOverlander list authorized spots and available services. However, be careful to respect local regulations, as wild camping isn't always authorized, particularly on coastlines or in certain natural parks.
Campgrounds offer comfort and services, often with magnificent ocean or mountain-facing pitches. Motorhome areas are also numerous and offer economical overnight solutions.
Bivouacking remains possible in most places, provided you respect the environment and leave without a trace.
How to Save on Fuel, Tolls, and Parking During My Road Trip?
For tolls, systematically avoiding highways saves a fortune while discovering real France via national roads.
The Waze app calculates toll-free routes. Via Michelin allows cost comparison according to chosen itinerary.
For fuel, supermarket gas stations have the most advantageous rates. The Essence app compares real-time prices within a given radius. Avoid filling up on highways.
For parking, I favor free parking on the outskirts, or blue zones for short stops. In tourist cities, arriving early morning often allows finding free spaces before visitor influx.
How to Manage Hygiene on the Road?
Road trip hygiene requires some organization, but nothing insurmountable. Biodegradable wipes and solid soap form the basis of my nomadic toiletry kit. These products take little space and respect the environment, an important criterion when sometimes washing in nature.
Municipal pools, campgrounds, and gas stations often offer paid showers. Developed beaches have free freshwater showers, perfect after sea swimming.
For laundry, automatic laundromats are found in all medium-sized towns. Campgrounds also offer this service. In emergencies, you can hand-wash some clothes in a highway rest area sink. The trick: bring synthetic material clothing that dries quickly.
Where to Eat During My French Road Trip?
Each region has its specialties and good addresses. Local markets offer fresh products and opportunities to meet producers. I love composing meals through discoveries: Périgord goat cheeses, Provençal lavender honey, Breton ciders...
For quick meals, French bakeries remain unbeatable with their fresh sandwiches and pastries. Avoid highway rest areas, often expensive and standardized, in favor of small village restaurants offering local menus at reasonable prices.
Minimal equipment for road trip cooking: stove, lightweight cookware, electric cooler.
Rest areas equipped with tables and water points facilitate meal preparation. Always plan a drinking water reserve and some emergency canned goods for impromptu day endings.
I hope you now feel ready to hit French roads discovering new adventures!
Whether you are an avid traveller or a first-time adventurer, all NomadSister editors are passionate about travel. They share their advice and experiences with the desire to give you wings!
