France · Road trip
The French Alps
Distance
480 miles
Suggested duration
10–14 days
Best time to go
Late June to mid-September, once the cols open
France makes motorhome travel straightforward. Aires are everywhere, cheap and often beautifully placed, and the col roads are engineered for coaches.
The limiting factor is heat and altitude, not the driving. Plan climbs for the morning and stop before the afternoon storms.
The route
Drag to pan · scroll to zoom
4 overnight stops
174 miles of driving legs
Overnight stops
- 01
Annecy
Lakeside aires; arrive before midday in July.
- 02
Bourg-Saint-Maurice
Service point and supermarket before the Iseran.
- 03
Col de l'Iseran
2,764m. Not an overnight — descend to Bonneval.
- 04
Briançon
High town with year-round services.
Highlights
- Col du Galibier early, before the cyclists
- Lac d'Annecy swim stops
- Vanoise glacier views from Val-Cenis
- Market mornings in Briançon's old town
Practical information
- Cols usually open late June; check Route des Grandes Alpes status before travel.
- Engine braking on descents — long brake use will fade a loaded motorhome.
- Crit'Air sticker required for Grenoble, Lyon and Chambéry.
Connectivity
- French 4G is strong in valleys and non-existent above the treeline.
- EU roaming caps apply; check fair-use limits if you're away more than a fortnight.