Southern France - are we going to be driving too much?

The Michelin web site (and GoogleMaps) let you input start/end points and will give you routes and estimated drive times.

To cut your driving amount you could look into taking a train to Sarlat and picking up your car there.

Traffic will be very heavy on roads going north and south every weekend in August. Try to do your long distance driving on week days and before noon on Friday.

Here's a tip on your Avignon to Paris train ride. We're doing the same in May. We were able to get tickets on Feb. 8 for May 10 for 37 euro/pp. I used the Captain Train website. Earlier I was getting a "not yet available" message.

Thanks Bets, that's helpful. We'll try to make our transition/major driving days during the week.

Thanks Rosalyn, I was getting the same message about the train. I appreciate the tip!

I just checked the route using ViaMichelin-

St Malo to Castelnaud is 8 hours 13 minutes

From Castelnaud to Collioure it shows the shortest route is 4 hours 56 min

Then from Collioure to Isle sur la Sorgue route is 3 hours 37 min

I am dealing with the same problem but I'll be coming from Nice to Provence then to Carcassonne and onto the Dordogne, then flying out of Bordeaux. Lots of driving! My legs won't be as long as yours and I'm questioning it too. I really like to keep it under 4 hours. We have found that we do really enjoy driving because everything is new, lots to look at, etc. So, we really don't mind, but once it gets too long then I question whether it is worth it or not. I think we did one drive that was close to 6 hours. That would really be my max! Maybe you can break up the first leg of your drive. My problem is that our destinations are far, but once we get there then we want to use it as a base and drive everyday to close site- still more driving! A hard decision!

The major concern is the drive from Saint-Malo to Castelnaud-la-Chapelle. According Viamichelin you need 8 hours and 13 minutes, but that’s in theory, with the rest and eating stops you will as already said actually need the whole day.

If you organize your day well it’s doable if you have already the car and can drive both. But you have to drive for the first time in France, so how easy it will be to get used to it. You have to get up early and how easy can you handle a complete day driving without having enough of it or getting stressed. Just a few things coming in my mind.

So as a possible back up plan you can think about driving in two days and stay for instance one night near Tours like Chenonceaux and visit the castle in the afternoon. The next day you will arrive also in the afternoon, so losing a morning there.

The other two drives are not a real problem if you ask me. But at the end it remains a peronal thing how much you like to drive.

Thanks everyone. I think we'll break that first leg up and stay somewhere a night. That will also help assure we're not arriving in Castelnaud after dark. So that means only 2 days in either Provence or the Dordogne. Or not go to Collioure but really looking forward to the beach. Tough choices and first world problems :)

Yep, tough choices indeed! You always need more time, no matter how long the trip is!