Caravan trip cost and driving time in France: fuel and tolls included
Driving time, fuel and tolls, in three questions.
Travelling by motorhome or campervan? Motorhome trip cost
In short
A caravan trip in France costs about 50% more than with the car alone: the caravan makes the car use 30 to 60% more fuel and moves the tolls to class 2, about 1.5 times the rate for a car. Example: Paris–Lyon comes to €147 to €196 with a 1,300 kg caravan, against €101 to €130 without it (diesel at €2.37 per litre, October 2026).
· Official sources (in French): Fuel prices in France, Vehicle classes at tolls, 2026 toll rates, Taking breaks on the road, openrouteservice route planning
How the calculation works
Fuel, extra consumption included
A caravan makes the car use 30 to 60% more fuel, depending on its weight, its height and your speed. We start from the consumption of your car alone and add extra consumption that grows with the caravan's weight: +36 to +61% for a 1,300 kg caravan. The price per litre is today's, recorded at every fuel station in France.
Tolls, by the class of your outfit
A car towing a caravan 2 to 3 m high pays class 2 at French tolls, about 1.5 times the rate for a car alone. We multiply the toll motorway kilometres on your route by the French motorway companies' average 2026 rate per kilometre, in your class.
Driving time, at the pace of an outfit
Sat navs give the time for a car alone. We use a pace of 90 to 110 km/h on the motorway (less for an outfit over 3.5 t), a longer time on other roads, and a 20-minute break every 2 hours, as recommended by French road safety (Sécurité routière).
Without the caravan, and travelling together
We calculate the same trip again with the car alone: usual consumption, tolls in class 1. The difference is what the caravan costs you. If you are travelling with others, the “We are travelling together” button splits the total between households, and the WhatsApp link sends the ticket to the others.
| Class | For whom | Price |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Car alone, or outfit under 2 m high | Reference price |
| 2 | 2 to 3 m high and 3.5 t or less: car + caravan, most motorhomes and campervans | 1.5 to 1.6 times a car |
| 3 | 3 m or more, or over 3.5 t, with two axles | 2.1 to 2.5 times a car |
| 4 | Same sizes with three axles or more | 3 to 3.4 times a car |
Examples: three classic French holiday trips with a caravan
Diesel car using 6.5 L/100 km on its own, 1,300 kg caravan 2.55 m high, tolls in class 2. Diesel (gazole) at the French median price of 21 October 2026 (€2.37 per litre).
Paris → Lyon
390 km of French toll motorway · 465 km
- Whole trip
- €147 to €196
- Without the caravan
- €101 to €130
- Driving time
- 5 h 05 to 6 h 05
Lyon → Marseille
260 km of French toll motorway · 315 km
- Whole trip
- €99 to €132
- Without the caravan
- €68 to €87
- Driving time
- 3 h 20 to 4 h
Paris → Bordeaux
520 km of French toll motorway · 585 km
- Whole trip
- €190 to €253
- Without the caravan
- €130 to €167
- Driving time
- 6 h 10 to 7 h 45
Frequently asked questions about the cost of a caravan trip
How much fuel does a car use when towing a caravan?
Expect 30 to 60% more than the car alone. A diesel car using 6.5 L/100 km usually goes up to 9 or 10.5 L/100 km with a 1,300 kg caravan. The difference grows with the caravan's weight and height, headwind and speed.
Which toll class for a car with a caravan in France?
Class 2, if the outfit is less than 3 m high and the car's maximum authorised mass (MAM) is 3.5 t or less, even with three or four axles on the ground. Above 3 m, it is class 3 or 4. Watch out for roof accessories: the toll sensors can see them.
How much more are the tolls with a caravan?
Class 2 costs about 1.5 times class 1. On Paris–Lyon, the tolls go from about €41 for a car alone to €62 to €64 with a caravan (2026 rates).
How long does a caravan trip take?
Usually 15 to 35% longer than the time a sat nav shows for a car. With a caravan, you drive at around 90 to 110 km/h on the motorway, slow down on climbs, and should plan a break every two hours: Paris–Lyon then takes 5 to 6 hours instead of 4 h 30.
How can I reduce the cost of a caravan trip?
Drive at 100 km/h rather than 120: the extra consumption drops clearly. Check the tyre pressure of the car and the caravan, only load what you need, empty the water tanks before leaving and fill up away from the motorway, where fuel often costs more per litre.
How do we share the costs when several families travel together?
Once the trip is calculated, tap “We are travelling together” and enter the number of households: the ticket shows each one's share. The WhatsApp button sends the ticket and the link to the calculation to the other families, who see the same figures.
Is this calculation reliable?
It is an honest estimate, not a quote: we show a range, with the method and the sources. The real cost depends on your driving, the wind, the terrain and the stations where you fill up. For the exact toll on a trip, use the motorway company's simulator.
Official sources (in French) (5)
- Fuel prices in France – prix-carburants.gouv.fr
- Vehicle classes at tolls – Vinci Autoroutes
- 2026 toll rates – ASFA, autoroutes.fr
- Taking breaks on the road – Sécurité routière (French road safety)
- openrouteservice route planning – HeiGIT, OpenStreetMap data
An estimate as a range, not a quote. Tolls are calculated per kilometre for your class, excluding separately charged structures (Mont-Blanc and Fréjus tunnels, Millau viaduct).