Driving from Italy to France

If you go to www.viamichelin.com you can use their route planner that gives you options such as "recommended" "sightseeing" "fastest" "most economical" etc. It includes cost of tolls, estimates of fuel costs, drive times.

I can't suggest a route, but I was wondering if your plan is to rent a car in Italy and drop it off in France? If so, have you priced the drop off charge to return the car in a country other than the one you rent it in? My brother rented a car in Germany and returned it in France, just over the border. No one told him it would cost several hundred dollars extra for the drop off charge. If that is your plan, you might want to rent a car in Italy, drop it near the border, and pick up a new car when you get to France. In other words, a new car for each country.

Patti
I am going to pose a rental issue you need to research. If you are using a rental car, please check the price of renting in Italy and dropping off in France. Often the cost is prohibitive. Bobbie

That will be a very expensive, very long trip by car. You can do it way cheaper using a cheap flight, or even by train. If you drive be sure to factor in: tolls in Italytolls in FranceCHF40 for a Swiss Vignettean IDP from the AAAvery expensive fuel - figure US$9 per US gallondreaded ZTLs and various other charges including a doozie of a drop charge I assume that you might take the direct route unless you want to drag it out. The most direct route in my mind might be Bologna - Milano - Bellinzona - Luzern - Basel - Beaune - Paris There are others, including via the Mont Blanc tunnel, which I would prefer much less. I personally have no interest in the Mont Blanc tunnel after the big accident. I prefer Swiss tunnels and their superior signalling and evacuation plans so would go for the Gotthard. (yes I know the Gotthard also had a problem). The Swiss now strictly enforce lower speed limits in tunnels.

Thank you all for your very helpful comments. I think we will look into the trains!!