Mmmm – an interesting destination for a toll-free route, so why is the toll free route to Besancon so important? From Besancon it is easy to make your way towards Lake Geneva in Switzerland. Other “follow on” destinations include the ski areas of Switzerland such as Tasch and Randa, and also towards the French resort of Annecy. You could even push on towards Macon, going forward to the Cote D’Azur.
The toll cost for a Kon-tiki tag axle, assumed to be class four at the French tolls would be approximately 170.40 euro, whilst a class two outfit would cost 81.70 euro. These prices were as advised by email from the Sanef company and help to justify the importance of the toll free route to Besancon. The costs assume a journey from Calais to Besancon.
Some folks claim to get a TAG axle through the toll system as a class two or three. However, for a slightly slower journey, I would rather save the money that take the risk of being stung. You can read about French toll classes here and also our article about French tolls here
The nitty gritty of the toll free route to Besancon
From Calais then, this is a straight forward run: Calais, Dunkerque, Lille, Mons, Charleroi, Arlon, Luxembourg (don’t forget your cheap diesel and cigarettes), then following signs back into Metz. Stay with the A31 south passing Nancy and then following the signs for the “RN57” towards Epinal. The RN57 is dual carriageway to just south of Epinal, so you really can munch away the miles. This road remains your travelling companion right the way through to Besancon
What about fuel for the toll free route to Besancon?
Our trick is to add a bit of fuel in Calais – not too much. We add just enough to see us to Luxembourg. In Luxembourg we fill it to the brim, making the most of some of the lowest fuel prices in Europe. Travelling south on the RN57 there are various services and forecourts. As you near Besancon, there are supermarkets offering better value – these are well sign posted.
If you need somewhere to stay whilst taking this route, try Camping La Tuilerie. It was a total step back in time as we made use of the toll free route to Besancon
Hi Russell, I am considering a route from Calais to Lausanne and looked at your toll free route via Besancon. So far so good, but do you have any experience of driving further down the N57 and A9 to Lausanne? I want to be sure that part across the alps is doable
We want to get to Stresa on Lago Maggiore on-route to Camping Fornella on Lago Garda in June this year. We have a Kon-tiki 635. We have previously done the Simpson Pass (2002) in a Volvo towing a big caravan and enjoyed that trip to Garda, but that was 18 years ago.
Hi – I’ve done the run to Lausanne in a tag axle. I can’t recall anything about it so that suggests it’s “normal”, unlike some of the other passes detailed on this website!