Not sure if this should be here or on the transportation forum, but we have a week in Sault and are considering driving up to Chamonix for a few days and fly out of Geneva. Just wondering if others have taken this drive and what it was like. Looks like around 5 hours (?). Thx, Steve
Posted by
Paris
6893 posts
France is the right forum for this.
It is a great drive, if you do not take the route via Valence, which is boring! D542/D942 to Laragne-Montéglin is very scenic, passing through a beautiful gorge (Méouge). D1075 north to Grenoble is busy but pretty. Grenoble to Albertville is boring but quick on the motorway. North of Albertville, there are occasional road closures due to frequent rockfall (but a detour is in place when that is the case) at the bottom of a gorge, then the landscape gradually opens up towards Megève, and Mont Blanc will come into view.
6 hours is more realistic than 5, though, because the roads to Grenoble are twisty and not that fast.
And when will it take place? Beware of Saturdays in July and August; D1075 is prone to huge backups (usually worse southbound, but still).
If you have a night to spend en route, by all means do so. If you travel between June and September inclusive, Briançon would be a good stop, taking you deeper into the Alps and above the Galibier pass the next day (stunning views). Or you could take a more westerly route and stay in the Vercors for the night, there are plenty of scenic roads in that area.
Posted by
OP
minneapolis, MN
176 posts
Thanks for the information. Very much appreciated! Steve