Driving to Montpellier

Why visit Montpellier?

Situated close to the Mediterranean coast, Montpellier is a captivating, diverse city rich in history and culture. The French call the Occitania city ‘the wonder child’, and Montpellier is certainly blessed with some outstanding features, from its 12th century university and medical school, where Nostradamus was once a student, to the atmospheric medieval streets of the Ecusson quarter, buzzing with colour and street art. 

The white stone of so much of the city’s architecture, drenched in Mediterranean sunshine, gives Montpellier an exotic feel, and its historic status as a trading port has long made it a melting pot of cultures. North African influences are strong, from the tagine dishes served up in the streets of the Gambetta quarter, to the locals sipping mint teas in the shaded terrace cafes. Students make up a quarter of the city’s population, and Montpellier has a youthful energy.

Fountain of the Three Graces, Montpellier

Historical sites

• Place de la Comédie – the city’s main square, full of pavement cafes, shops and an open-air market
• Musée Fabre – Montpellier’s art museum 
• Arc de Triomphe – yes, it’s not just Paris that has one! Montpellier’s marks the grand entrance to its royal promenade 
• Cathedral St. Pierre – the city’s 14th-century cathedral looks more like a fortress 

Things to do with the family

• Planet Ocean – an immersive exploration of the seabed and all things aquatic
• Montpellier Zoo – free to enter, this 80-hectare zoo includes a huge variety of animals, including rhinos, zebras, giraffe and lions

How long does it take to drive from Calais to Montpellier?

The driving time on the fastest route to Montpellier is around 10 hours, using one of two routes – via Paris, Orléans and Clermont Ferrand, or via Reims, Dijon or Lyon. You’ll pay tolls on these routes of between €95-125.

How far is Montpellier from Calais by car?

Montpellier is 643 miles (1,035 km) from the LeShuttle terminal at Calais. It’s a long journey, from the very north to the southern tip of France, so take your time and split it up over at least a couple of days. It’s a great way to see the changing landscape, culture and climate of France, and taste its local cuisines. 

What is the best route to drive from Calais to Montpellier by car?

Driving over the Millau Viaduct is a spectacular finale to your journey

The quick route via A16 and A71 

The fastest way to drive to Montpellier from the LeShuttle terminal is via the A16 towards the outskirts of Paris. You’ll drive through the leafy western suburbs and pass signs for the Palace of Versailles, before taking the A10 for Orléans. It will take around 4 ½ hours to get to Orléans and is a good place for an overnight stop. This historic city, forever associated with Joan of Arc, is more than worth a wander before it’s time to get behind the wheel again. 

The rest of your journey is mainly on the A71 and A75 motorways through central and southern regions of France, passing the historic cities of Bourges and Clermont-Ferrand, with its huge (and hugely distinctive) black lava stone gothic cathedral. One final highlight of your trip is passing over the Millau Viaduct, one of the tallest road bridges in the world. You have to pay a toll to cross the viaduct. 

The alternative fast, foody route via the A26 and A9

The famous half bridge of Avignon

There is little to choose time-wise between the route above and this one. Depending on the time of day and the live traffic conditions, the same app may keep switching between the two as the fastest route to Montpellier. It’s an easterly route, taking you on the A26 via Arras towards Reims. If there’s one common theme of this journey, it’s the gastronomy! 

You have the choice of overnight stays in the cities of Reims and Dijon. Reims is perfect if you have a taste for fine wines, because it is in the heart of Champagne country. If you have the time, take a tour of one of its celebrated champagne houses, such as Taittinger or Moët and Chandon. You could stay on the road a little longer and take a break at Dijon, renowned for its fine food and drink scene and for being the home of French mustard. 

Lyon, the ‘food capital of France’, is the main city on the last leg of your route into the region of Occitania, although you will also pass close to the smaller cities of Nîmes and Avignon on the A9 autoroute, with their well preserved Roman and medieval remains. 

Driving laws in France

Brush up on French rules of the road before driving to Montpellier

Before setting off on your Montpellier road trip, you should thoroughly research French driving laws to make sure you are fully up to speed – and not over the speed limit. Find everything you need to know about driving in France –  

• Speed limits 
• Tolls 
• Low emission zones
• Essential documents
• Road signs
• Parking rules

– with our essential informational guides:

• Driving in France
• Driving in France for new drivers and first-time travellers
• Everything you need to know about Crit’Air stickers in France

Drive to Montpellier with LeShuttle

Head to the Med on a road trip to Montpellier from Calais. It’s just a 35-minute crossing from Folkestone to Calais, so le Medi – the South of France – is closer than you think.