Route Nationale 7 (Route des Vacances)

What should you know before visiting Route Nationale 7 (Route des Vacances)?

Tolls and vignettes for a car: about €30 (France). Mountain passes: Col du Galibier (2,642 m, usually open June–October).

• The A6 and A7 motorways took over long-distance traffic in the 1960s. About half of the old route was later downgraded to departmental roads.
• Signs on the way show new numbers, such as D6007 on the Riviera and DN7 in the Var. Set up navigation and maps by place names, not only by "N7".
• Summer traffic has traditionally been heavy. A travel article recommends spring or September and allows at least five days. There were roadside fires in the Estérel; check conditions beforehand.

The drive

The route starts in Paris at the Porte d'Italie and runs south via Fontainebleau, Nemours, Montargis and Briare. It continues via Nevers, Moulins and Roanne to Lyon, then down the Rhône valley via Vienne, Valence, Montélimar, Orange and Avignon. The Provence leg runs via Aix-en-Provence and Brignoles to the coast with Fréjus, Cannes, Antibes and Nice. It ends at Menton. In total it is about 1,000 km.

Planning

Because stretches became departmental roads, condition and width can differ from one département to the next. No reliable figures on height, length or weight limits for motorhomes along the whole route are given here; follow signs in village centres. For overnight stays, campsites and aires are options; rules for staying elsewhere are set by municipalities. Check locally beforehand.

FAQs