Calais to French Alps Drive: Best Overnight Stops and Places to Visit

I have driven from Calais to the French Alps more than 15 times, and the best place to stop depends on how you want to break up the journey. Sometimes I want a quick, practical overnight stay with as little detour as possible; other times I prefer to stop somewhere worth exploring, with good food, wine or a memorable hotel.

Over the years, I have stopped in towns and cities across the route, stayed in everything from budget hotels to château properties, and completed the journey several times with dogs. In this guide, I share the stops I think are most useful, who each one suits, and which places I would choose again.

I also draw on my previous experience as a travel agent, where I regularly planned European road trips for clients. Whether you want to reach the Alps efficiently, add a scenic overnight stop, or turn the drive into part of the holiday, these are the places I would consider between Calais and the French Alps.

Where should you stay for a quick overnight stop?

If you want to break up the drive without turning the stop into part of the holiday, I usually look for somewhere clean, convenient and close to the route. I have stayed at B&B Hotels several times because they tend to work well for this type of journey and usually avoid a significant detour.

One example is B&B HOTEL Troyes Magasins d’Usine, where we stayed for a simple overnight stop and ate at the restaurant next door. I have also stayed at B&B HOTEL Bourg-en-Bresse Viriat, which has a Buffalo Grill a short walk away. It is not somewhere I would choose for a special meal, but it was convenient after a long day of driving.

For me, this type of stop works best when the priority is getting a good night’s sleep, having dinner nearby and continuing towards the Alps the next morning.

Is Laon worth stopping in on the drive from Calais?

Laon is worth stopping in if you want a pleasant lunch or sightseeing break close to Calais. I visited on a half-day stop while driving back from the French Alps to catch the Eurotunnel, and it worked well as somewhere to stretch our legs, eat and take a break after a long drive.

We parked at Parking des Remparts, which was convenient for walking into the old town. Laon sits on a hill, so there are lovely views over the surrounding countryside as you explore.

We stopped for crêpes at Crêperie Agora, which was a good place for lunch, refreshments and a bathroom break before continuing the journey. You can also visit Laon Cathedral, which is free to enter and has an impressive Gothic interior.

I would choose Laon for a few hours rather than an overnight stop, as it is still relatively close to Calais. It is particularly useful if you want somewhere attractive to stop for lunch near the beginning or end of the drive.

Is Paris worth stopping in?

Paris is a good option if you have never visited before or want to add a couple of days in the city before continuing to the Alps. I would allow around two to three days rather than treating it as a quick stop on the drive.

If you are travelling with your own car, I prefer the idea of staying outside central Paris and using public transport to explore the city. This avoids having to drive and park in the centre and makes Paris better suited to a planned city break than a simple overnight stop.

If you plan to drive in Paris, check whether you need a Crit’Air emissions sticker before your trip. Foreign-registered vehicles can apply online, and the current official price is €5.11 including postage. Requirements can change, so I recommend checking the French government Crit’Air guidance before travelling.

Is Disneyland Paris worth adding to the drive?

Another option is visiting Disneyland Paris on your drive from Calais to the French Alps. I have been to Disneyland Paris at least ten times and have driven from the UK to Disneyland for most of these trips.

It is a relatively easy addition to the journey because you do not need to drive into central Paris. However, I would only choose Disneyland if you want to make it a proper part of your holiday rather than use it as a quick overnight stop.

It is difficult to see and do everything at Disneyland Paris in one day, so I recommend allowing two full days in the parks. I once stayed for three nights and found we had more than enough time, as we managed to cover the parks quite quickly. I have also stayed for two nights, which I think is the sweet spot.

Disney Newport Bay Club is a great 4-star option for staying on-site – I have stayed there several times, and it is well-appointed and in a good location. Alternatively, Disney Sequoia Lodge has a distinctive woodland theme, although I personally noticed a difference in quality compared with Newport Bay Club.

Disneyland Paris Hotel is the resort’s 5-star option and is the most luxurious Disney hotel. I also loved Disney’s Hotel Cheyenne because the Wild West theme is particularly strong and it is generally a more economical option than some of the higher-category Disney hotels. It is also within walking distance of the parks.

One benefit of staying at a Disney Hotel is Extra Magic Time, which gives eligible guests access to one or both parks before the official opening time. We found this useful for getting onto rides before the parks became busier, which helped us cover the rides and shows we wanted during our stay.

I have stayed at Marriott’s Village d’ile-de-France, and it was an excellent alternative to a Disney hotel. Marriott’s Village d’ile-de-France is a short drive away from the Disney parks.

The accommodation is set up as townhouses, which is good for families or those looking to cook meals at home.

When staying at Disney hotels, you do not even have access to a fridge or microwave in your room. Therefore, staying at the Marriott Hotel is a bonus. I was desperate for a home-cooked meal by the end of our Disney trip after eating so much fast food.

There is an Animal Care Centre at Disneyland Paris because you cannot bring animals into the park; however, the service does not take reservations and it can reach capacity. So you may need to have a back-up option if it is full.

Is Champagne a good stop on the way to the French Alps?

Champagne is a great stop on the drive from Calais to the French Alps if you want to make the journey part of the holiday rather than simply break up the driving. Épernay is my preferred base because you can stay centrally, walk to the Avenue de Champagne and fit in a few tastings without needing to organise a full wine tour.

For a good-value overnight stay, I recommend ibis Épernay Centre-Ville. When I stayed in July 2024, our rooms were around £70 each and the hotel was within walking distance of restaurants and Champagne houses. The rooms were small, but they were quiet, air-conditioned and comfortable enough for one night. It was also very dog-friendly during our stay: we paid a €5 supplement for our dog and received a small welcome gift with a portable bowl, waste bags and a treat.

For dinner, we had an excellent meal at La Cave à Champagne, which was also dog-friendly. My dad described it as one of his favourite meals he has had in France.

You can book formal Champagne tastings in advance, but we found it easy to visit tasting bars along the Avenue de Champagne and order individual glasses, tasting portions or a bottle to share. Leclerc Briant and Esterlin were two of my favourites, and both had attractive dog-friendly terraces when we visited.

Reims is another good base in the Champagne region, particularly if you would prefer a larger city. My family have stayed at Hotel Continental in Reims, which is centrally located and dog-friendly. They enjoyed the hotel and thought the breakfast was very good. The restaurant had an extensive Champagne list, although when they stayed, the cheapest bottle was around €90. Reims is around 30 minutes by car from Épernay, so you can still visit the Avenue de Champagne from there.

For a countryside stay, you could also consider Le Château d’Etoges or Royal Champagne Hotel & Spa. Another option is Hôtel d’Angleterre in Châlons-en-Champagne, where my family have stayed. Châlons is around 40 minutes from Épernay, and the hotel is home to Jérôme Feck, a one-Michelin-star restaurant.

I would choose Champagne if you have time for an overnight stop and want to include wine tasting, good food and somewhere enjoyable to explore. If you are trying to reach the Alps as quickly as possible, I would choose a more practical overnight stop further south.

Is Troyes a good stop on the drive to the French Alps?

Troyes is one of the most useful stops on the drive from Calais to the French Alps because it works for both a quick overnight stay and a more leisurely break. The old town has colourful half-timbered buildings, cobbled streets and plenty of restaurants, so it is easy to spend a few hours exploring before continuing your journey.

For a simple overnight stop, I have stayed at B&B HOTEL Troyes Magasins d’Usine. I often use B&B Hotels when I want somewhere clean and convenient without adding a significant detour to the drive. We also ate at the restaurant next door, which made it particularly easy after a long day on the road.

If you want to spend more time in the area, you can combine Troyes with Lac d’Orient. I visited in summer and had dinner at Le Belvédère beside the lake. The restaurant was dog-friendly when we visited and had lovely views, particularly around sunset. There is also a pier nearby where you can walk along the water.

I would mainly recommend Lac d’Orient during the warmer months, when you can make more of the lake and outdoor activities. Some of the beaches on the northern side of the lake also do not allow dogs, so it is worth checking the rules for the particular area you plan to visit. For a winter ski trip, I would personally stay in Troyes and skip the lake.

If you want to stay in the centre and make more of Troyes itself, Best Western Premier Hôtel de la Poste is another option I would consider. Overall, Troyes is a particularly flexible stop: it works if you simply need somewhere convenient to sleep, but there is enough to see and do if you want to make the journey part of the holiday.

Is Burgundy a good place to stop on the way to the French Alps?

Burgundy is one of my favourite regions to stop in on the drive from Calais to the French Alps, especially if you want good food, wine and a more memorable break in the journey. I particularly enjoy white Burgundy wines, and I have found that you do not need to buy the most famous labels to find bottles I really enjoy at a more reasonable price.

If you prefer staying in a town, Beaune and Dijon are both useful options. Beaune is particularly appealing if wine is a priority, while Dijon suits travellers who would rather stay in a larger city with more restaurants, shops and historic architecture.

My parents stayed at Hotel des Ducs in Dijon, although they did not like that they were in one of the apartments, rather than the hotel, so I would not recommend the apartments based on their experience.

For a more special countryside stay, Château de Couches is one of my favourite Burgundy options. I stayed there on a recent journey back from the French Alps and loved the combination of the château setting, restaurant, wine and dog-friendly accommodation. The rooms were comfortable and well equipped, breakfast was included, and the restaurant made it easy to enjoy the evening without having to drive anywhere else.

We also spent a few hours in Chalon-sur-Saône, which worked well as a lunch and walking stop. We parked near the old town, ate at a crêperie and followed part of the Chemin de l’Orbandale. I preferred the old town to the island and thought Chalon-sur-Saône would also work well for an overnight stay if you wanted somewhere with restaurants and attractive streets to explore.

My parents have also stayed at Château de Mauvilly, which I booked for them because it was dog-friendly and offered dinner on site. They enjoyed the stay enough that they would like to return, although I have not stayed there myself yet.

Overall, I would choose Burgundy if you want to make the stop part of the holiday and try some tasty wine. If your priority is simply to reach the Alps as efficiently as possible, I would choose a more streamlined overnight hotel instead.

Is Annecy worth stopping in on the drive to the French Alps?

Annecy is a great stop on the drive to the French Alps if you want somewhere scenic close to the mountains. It is often called the Venice of the Alps because of its canals, old town and lake views.

Annecy is enjoyable in winter and summer, so it can work well as part of a ski trip or a summer journey towards the Alps. In winter, you may get lucky and see the town with a dusting of snow, but even without it, the old town and lakefront are lovely to walk around.

In summer, you can spend more time around Lake Annecy and combine a visit with hiking or other outdoor activities nearby.

There are plenty of things to do in Annecy, including visiting the Palais de l’Isle, seeing Château d’Annecy and walking along the lakefront. There are also some excellent wine bars and restaurants if you want a more leisurely evening at the start or end of your trip.

I stayed in the Hebe Hotel in Annecy and would highly recommend it. It is a boutique hotel, and the rooms are small but I did not feel like I needed more space because we spent most of our time exploring Annecy. The beds were extremely comfortable, and the shower had good water pressure.

I also ate dinner at Le Denti in Annecy, and it was excellent. The food was tasty and the service was prompt. Le Denti is a short walk from Hebe Hotel, so they work well together.

Annecy works particularly well if your route already takes you through this part of the Alps (near to Geneva) or if you want a scenic final stop before reaching your resort. It is not the best option if you want to split the Calais-to-Alps drive evenly, because it is already very close to the mountains.

Are the Swiss towns on Lake Geneva worth adding to the drive?

The Swiss towns along Lake Geneva work best if you have time for a second stop on the journey or want to spend an extra night somewhere scenic before reaching the French Alps. They are less useful for splitting the Calais-to-Alps drive evenly, but they can be a lovely addition if your final destination is around Lake Geneva or the northern French Alps.

If you are heading towards the Swiss Alps and resorts such as Saas-Fee, Crans-Montana or Verbier, you can drive around the eastern side of Lake Geneva and continue towards the mountains after passing Montreux. You can also stop at Les Bains de Lavey, a thermal bath in Switzerland that I have visited and recommend.

Even if you are heading to the French Alps, including places such as Bernex, Châtel or Évian-les-Bains, you can cross into Switzerland and explore some of the towns along Lake Geneva. Lausanne, Vevey and Montreux are all worth considering if you have extra time.

Montreux is one of my favourite stops on this side of the lake. I stayed at Grand Hotel Suisse Majestic when I visited Montreux in winter, and we had an excellent stay. We booked a lake-view room, which I thought was worth paying extra for because the views across Lake Geneva were beautiful. We also ate at the hotel restaurant, which had an equally impressive view, especially around sunset.

Nearby, you can also visit Château de Chillon, while Vevey is home to Chaplin’s World and Lausanne has the Olympic Museum. I have a separate guide to the best towns on Lake Geneva if you want to compare the different places to stop.

Geneva itself is not directly on this route if you are travelling from Burgundy along the eastern side of Lake Geneva, although you can make a detour to visit it. I think Geneva works particularly well for one night, especially if you want a more luxurious city stay with a wide choice of restaurants and hotels.

I would add the Swiss side of Lake Geneva if you want to make the final part of the drive part of the holiday, particularly if you are already heading towards this side of the French Alps. If you only want one practical overnight stop between Calais and the mountains, I would stay earlier in France instead.

Are the French towns on Lake Geneva worth adding to the drive?

The French towns along Lake Geneva are a lovely final stop if you are heading towards the northern French Alps or want to spend an extra night somewhere scenic before reaching your final destination. I have a chalet in this region and have visited Yvoire, Évian-les-Bains and Thonon-les-Bains at least five times each, so these are places I know particularly well.

They work especially well if you want to start the journey earlier but cannot check into your ski accommodation until Saturday. Many ski chalets in the region are rented from Saturday to Saturday, so spending Friday night beside Lake Geneva can be a much more enjoyable option than waiting another day to leave home.

Yvoire, Évian-les-Bains and Thonon-les-Bains are all worth considering. Yvoire is a small medieval village with attractive streets, restaurants and lake views, while Évian-les-Bains has more of a spa-town feel and is known for its mineral water. I have visited all three numerous times and think they work well if you want to slow the journey down rather than head straight to the mountains.

If you are heading towards Portes du Soleil, including places such as Abondance and Châtel, these towns can fit naturally into the route. For resorts such as Avoriaz or Samoëns, however, you may turn away from the lake earlier, so they are less convenient as stopovers.

Yvoire is one of my favourite places on this side of Lake Geneva. You can spend a few hours exploring the old town, eating by the water and walking around the village. Évian is another good option if you want a slightly larger town with shops, restaurants and a pleasant lakefront.

You can also take boat trips on Lake Geneva from towns such as Évian and Yvoire, which can be a lovely way to spend a few hours if you have extra time. I have travelled in this area with dogs, and some of the lake boats allow dogs for an additional charge, which is a fun experience together.

I would choose the French side of Lake Geneva if you want a scenic final stop before the Alps, have a spare day between accommodation bookings, or want to set off before your Saturday chalet check-in. If your priority is getting to your resort as efficiently as possible, I would only include these towns when they already sit naturally on your route.

Note that Yvoire’s main season is from Spring to Autumn, so hotels will not be open in winter.

Essential information when driving from the UK to the French Alps

There are a few driving rules worth checking before travelling from the UK to the French Alps, particularly if you are visiting in winter or planning to drive through Switzerland.

For a UK-registered vehicle, you must display a UK identifier when driving abroad. If your number plate already has the UK identifier with the Union flag, you do not need a separate UK sticker. If it has a GB identifier, Euro symbol, national flag or no identifier, you will need a UK sticker on the rear of the vehicle.

In France, you must carry a high-visibility vest and warning triangle in the car. The vest should be kept somewhere you can reach easily rather than packed away in the boot.

If you are driving to the French Alps between 1 November and 31 March, winter equipment rules apply in designated mountain areas. Depending on your tyres, you may need compliant winter tyres or to carry snow chains or snow socks. I recommend checking the current French government guidance before a winter trip, as the rules apply by designated area rather than simply to the whole of France.

If your route takes you through Switzerland and you use the motorways or expressways, you will need a Swiss motorway vignette. The 2026 vignette costs CHF40 and is available as either a physical sticker or an e-vignette.

You may also need a Crit’Air emissions sticker if you plan to drive through certain French low-emission zones, such as Paris, so check your planned route before travelling and apply through the official Crit’Air website if required.

France also has a lower drink-driving limit than the UK: the general limit is 0.5 g of alcohol per litre of blood, with a lower limit of 0.2 g/l for probationary drivers. Breathalysers are no longer compulsory equipment in a car.

Driving requirements can change, so I always check the latest official French and UK guidance before travelling.

Is it worth driving to the French Alps?

Driving to the French Alps can be a good option if you are travelling as a group, taking a lot of luggage or travelling with a dog. The Eurotunnel and ferry are generally priced per vehicle, whereas flying means paying for individual flights as well as airport transfers or car hire once you arrive.

I particularly like driving because you can control the pace of the journey. You can complete the drive from Calais in one day, stay somewhere practical overnight, or add places such as Champagne, Burgundy or Annecy and make the journey part of the holiday.

Driving has also worked particularly well for us when travelling with our dog, as we can bring everything we need and stop whenever necessary along the way.

Which stop should you choose between Calais and the French Alps?

The best stop depends on how you want to travel. If I want to reach the Alps efficiently, I choose a practical hotel close to the route. Troyes works particularly well for this type of overnight stop.

If I have more time, I prefer making the journey part of the holiday. Champagne is one of my favourite choices for an overnight stay with wine tasting and good food, while Burgundy is ideal if you want a countryside hotel or château experience.

Annecy and the towns around Lake Geneva work better as scenic final stops because they are already close to the Alps. I particularly like these options when I have an extra night before my accommodation in the mountains begins.

After driving this route more than 15 times, my main advice is not to look for one universally “best” stop. Choose somewhere that suits how much driving you want to do that day and whether your priority is getting to the Alps quickly or enjoying the journey along the way.

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