D roads from Bordeaux to Sarlat?

I assume what you're calling the "A road" is the A89 highway.

By taking the A89, you’re completely missing out on the exact reason you’re coming to the Dordogne in the first place! You'd miss the beautiful landscapes, the scenery, and the charming little villages you’ll pass through by taking the local "D" roads (routes départementales). Plus, all of that is totally free, whereas the A89 is a toll road.

So, take the D-roads and enjoy the drive. You're on vacation, so what's an extra 30 minutes?

Route:

https://maps.app.goo.gl/NF2KeEtDAeAhhRb78

Once you're in the Dordogne, there are no highways anyway, just small backroads. Might as well get used to it!

I usually take the D roads as there are no tolls and I can stop along the way if I want. The A toll roads are faster but you do pay the toll. It's really just personal choice and if your plan is to simply arrive in Sarlat or if you want to explore the route to Sarlat.

To get to Sarlat, the most straightforward route is to head to Bergerac (possible detour via St Emilion), then keep going east to Sarlat through Lalinde and Beynac. A89 is a geographically longer route and it only saves 30 minutes as a result, plus you lose a lot in terms of scenery.

IslandGirl,
Ditto what the others have said. We take the D roads whenever we can for the reasons they give. Not that we haven't used the Autoroutes occasionally due to time constraints or convenience (Beaune to Colmar e.g., or Bandol to Marseille for lunch). Last time we drove from Bordeaux to La Roque Gageac (near Sarlat) we were able to stop for a delicious lunch in a small-town restaurant and relax in the semi-rural atmosphere. Well-worth the extra time and part of the trip!

I would highly recommend a stop in St Emilion on the way to Sarlat, thus the D roads.

It's all about your priorities.

Assuming you're familiar with the U.S., "A" roads are autoroutes, very similar to American Interstate highways with limited access, relatively few on ramps and exits, and most of them have tolls. They're in good condition, allow fast speeds, and have good rest stops (aires).

"D" roads are like county highways in the U.S. They meander through the countryside, have lower speed limits and fewer amenities, but for those who want to see small towns along their driving route they're a better choice than autoroutes, or even "N" highways, which are somewhat like the U.S. Highway network that existed in the days before the Interstate highway system was built.

Which Sarlat? There are 2. Sarlat-la-Caneda in the Dordogne is what people usually mean.

The other thing about the "D" roads is that they have lots and lots and lots of round-points (roundabouts). Usually not a problem but you need to get used to them.

here are 2. Sarlat-la-Caneda in the Dordogne is what people usually
mean

There is only one Sarlat-la-Canéda in Dordogne, and as far as I know, in all of France. However, it's true that they were originally two separate towns, "Sarlat" and "La Canéda", which merged back in 1965.

To save time and vowels, people usually just call it "Sarlat."

"Sarlat" is believed to derive from Latin and Old French, meaning "elongated hill."

"La Canéda" might be derived from the city of Chania on the Greek island of Crete (which is called La Canée in French). It’s supposedly connected to the Knights of Saint John, though I don't know the exact history behind it.

Down in the Southwest, where the Occitan language is still used and spoken, the welcome signs at the entrances of towns are bilingual. Because of this, you'll see both versions written on the signs, with the Occitan name appearing as "Sarlat e La Canedàt."

You can see an example of it right here (street view):

https://maps.app.goo.gl/Wfc9wnLLEL8RtaRGA

But it's true, you'll probably notice the roundabouts a lot more. My advice: ignore the GPS voice instructions when you're in a roundabout. Prompts like "take the second exit" or "take the fourth exit" often just cause confusion and lead to mistakes.

Instead, look up and follow the road signs pointing toward the towns and villages, that's exactly what they're there for!

IslandGirl,
Don't do what my DH did. When we took the wrong exit from a roundabout, instead of returning to that roundabout, he had the gps "recalculate". Big mistake! He stubbornly drove around for almost an hour through the farm roads when a short drive back to the roundabout where we took the wrong exit would have had us losing only 10 minutes. As said above, use the road signs.

While roundabouts can be a real headache for GPS systems that don't always count the exits right, what you really need to watch out for are the speed cameras.

There are 3 of them on the D936 when heading to Sarlat from Bordeaux.

Speed Camera Google Maps / Street view below:

1/ In Lamothe-Montravel (on the D936): Speed limit is 50 km/h

https://maps.app.goo.gl/HDhgBBgJSC1kk67V9

2/ In Vélines (on the D936): Speed limit is 80 km/h

https://maps.app.goo.gl/VaWrfJaN91BS3BNE6

3/ In Lamonzie-Saint-Martin (on the D936): Speed limit is 80 km/h

https://maps.app.goo.gl/j5WfUaiiYrZ2KoDZ8

These cameras catch traffic in both directions and can flash you from behind.

There are two other speed cameras on the D704 in the Sarlat area, so be careful.

If you exceed the speed limit by more than 10% (for example, 56 km/h in a 50 km/h zone), the fine ranges from €68 to €135 depending on the circumstances

To add to the speed cameras, there are more added for the summer time on this route. There is one (installed for the season) just after roundabout in Pineuilh toward Bordeaux. There is another that will come and go just past the E.LeClerc in Castillon. And finally there is a sneaky little one (that's always there...lurking) just as you come in to (or leave from) St. Emilion on the D670 (past the Performances Vignoble if you are coming from Sarlat.)
I just drove past Sarlat today on the D936. Beautiful drive past many beautiful villages. And a bunch of the route will be part of the Tour de France next week so that was fun to see these villages all decked out for the Tour.

Just to clarify for those who may read this thread in the future:

Routes labeled with an "A" are autoroutes; similar to U.S. limited access Interstate Highways.

Routes labeled with an "N" are national roads, similar to U.S. highways, the highways that predated Interstates.

Routes labeled with a "D" are Départemental roads, similar to county roads in the U.S.

You'll occasionally see roads labeled "E" and a different number than the other signs. These are EU highways and often are associated with autoroutes.

To wrap up with the roads, out in the middle of the countryside, you can also find "V" roads and "C" roads, these are small back roads between villages.

A "V" road:

https://maps.app.goo.gl/7gFreaffVKeE4XTR7

An intersection of "C" roads:

https://maps.app.goo.gl/PJGnDiyL9ivRBYXY8

"C" stands for Communal (town/municipal roads), "V" stands for Vicinal (local country roads)

I live right along a road that doesn't have any number or letter, just the name of the woods it crosses, something like this:

https://maps.app.goo.gl/R7Ua527MuGnTDcMc7

You might end up driving on some of them in Dordogne.

Get a paper Michelin map and drive east.