driving mid-August. Are there interesting places to stay overnight and visit on drive from Geneva to Chamonix?
That drive is not very long to overnight somewhere. I would just go directly from Geneva to Chamonix to save time and money....if time and money aren't an issue in Annecy!!
Marc, the drive only takes 1.5hrs from Geneva Airport to Chamonix-Mt. Blanc. There is a mini-bus service that makes this run every 30 minutes. Annecy is closer to Geneva but once there, it's quite a different drive east to Chamonix.
I agree that an overnight doesn't make sense. It'll take you about 30 - 45 minutes to get to the east end of Lake Geneva from the airport (as long as there are no accidents!) and then about another 1 to 1.5 hours to get over to Chamonix. If you want to stop then check out Chateau Chillon in Montreux right on the lake - beautiful! If you want to stop for a meal then the town of Martigny is a nice little place just before you start over the pass to France. Cute little old town center with a very lively population that is out and about in the evenings on the main square. The town of Vevey, just before you get to Montreux, has a beautiful waterfront right on Lake Geneva that you can walk along and stop to have a bite to eat. Just follow the signs from the motorway to the old town. Parking is easy in the big lot by the lake. Very pretty place!