Andorra from Barcelona to western France via car in October. Any info or opinion?

esper1714,
One major caveat. Picking up a car in one country and dropping it off in another will incur fees of 500 to 1000 euros. It's not like going between the states in the US. It would be best to drop your car off in a town near the border, take a train into France, then rent a car there. We have rented in Spain, driven through Andorra into France (for Carcassonne), then returned to Spain,where we were spending 3 weeks total. The rules, insurance, etc. will vary between countries, plus the car will likely need to be shipped back to Spain.
Not to discourage you, but we were very disappointed in Andorra. It was a long amd winding road to the capital, Andorra La Vella. Andorra is popular with the French who go there to save on taxes for items such as cigarettes, at least they used to. We just had lunch and wandered around town a bit. Some folks do some hiking there. It is not Basque, rather it is Catalan. We have mixed feelings about going there. We can say we have been there, but still feel it was a wasted time as the drive there was long, winding, and not particularly scenic. However, it is a bit cool to say I've been there.
Buen viaje and bon voyage!

I disagree--the drive from Barcelona to Andorra was very scenic! The further you got from Barcelona, the better it got. The Parc Natural del Cadi Moixero is beautiful, and we stopped briefly in a beautiful village called Cercs (trying to find the owner of a dog we picked up running on the highway--the owner was found, and we had a little "nobody speaks English" adventure trying to find him). We would have enjoyed time there to hike, etc.

Andorra was underwhelming, but for nature it's not bad! Very pretty place to hike.

early snow may cast a spanner in the works

I did this drive last August and I have to say the weather is going to be a major factor. If it's rainy or snowing that's not going to be a fun drive. The roads are steep, slow, and narrow, and used by everyone; including commercial trucks and busses. I was impressed with the large number of wrecked cars at the holding yard at the top of the pass to France. October is the month where things change in Europe. It starts out pretty nice, but come Halloween it's wet, and cold, with temps dipping below freezing in my area. It can start snowing in Andorra in September.

Thanks for the advice. I knew the weather would be an issue but I see it truly will be. I will go earlier in the fall.

Hey there! I've done this drive through Andorra a few times and it's absolutley beautiful. October is a great time too - less crowded than summer but before any major snow issues.

Driving in Andorra is pretty straightforward but:

• The roads through Andorra are mostly well-maintained but can be quite winding as you're going through the Pyrenees. Give yourself plenty of time as you won't be averaging high speeds.

• There are no tolls in Andorra itself (nice break from French/Spanish motorways!)

• Border crossings are generally quick, but have your passport ready. Sometimes there are random checks.

• Gas/petrol is significantly cheaper in Andorra than either France or Spain, so fill up while you're there!

• If you're doing this as a day trip, note that Andorra has become a popular shopping destination (tax free!) so traffic in Andorra la Vella can get congested.

I'd recommend looking into Tripiamo; they've got specific lessons for driving in Andorra, Spain and France that cover all the local road rules and signs. Helped me a ton before my first Pyrenees trip.

Thank you!