Landmarks
Palais des Papes
The largest Gothic palace in the world, serving as the seat of Western Christianity during the 14th century.
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Road trip route · France
Paris to Nice drive time, distance, costs & the best stops
- Drive time
- 9 hr 51 min
- Distance
- 933 km
- Fuel (est.)
- €122
- Tolls (est.)
- €61
The Paris to Nice drive
The drive from Paris to Nice covers 580 miles (933 km) and takes about 9 hr 51 min without stops. That's a long haul for one day, most drivers split it over two days, stopping overnight near Hospices de Beaune, which turns a slog into a proper road trip.
Expect fuel for a typical petrol car (~40 mpg) to cost around €122 one-way plus roughly €61 in motorway tolls. Prices shift monthly, so treat these as ballpark figures.
At 580 miles this is longer than 97% of the 144 routes covered here, so it is worth treating as a trip in itself rather than a transfer. Split across 2 days it works out at about 4.9 hours behind the wheel each day, which leaves most of the daylight for the places in between.
Best stops between Paris and Nice
Within ~30 km of the driving route, worth the detour.
Landmarks
La Croisette, Cannes
The glamorous seaside boulevard famous for the Cannes Film Festival and its luxurious beachfront setting.
Landmarks
Saint-Tropez
A legendary Riviera fishing village turned jet-set playground, known for its pastel harbor and Pampelonne Beach.
Museums
Hospices de Beaune
A stunning 15th-century charitable hospital with dazzling polychrome Burgundian tile roofs, now a museum and wine auction venue.
Famous Bridges
Pont Saint-Bénézet (Pont d'Avignon)
The famous half-bridge of the children's song, jutting into the Rhône beneath Avignon's papal ramparts.
Ancient Ruins
Théâtre Antique d'Orange
The best-preserved Roman theatre in Europe, its towering stage wall still hosting performances after 2,000 years.
Racetracks
Autodrome de Linas-Montlhery
Legendary 1924 banked concrete speed bowl south of Paris where dozens of land-speed and endurance records were set; its steep bankings still host classic-car festivals like Les Grandes Heures Automobiles.
Famous Roads
Route des Grands Crus
60-km wine road from Dijon to Santenay through Burgundy's Côte d'Or, stringing together Gevrey-Chambertin, Vougeot, Romanée-Conti and Beaune along UNESCO-listed climat vineyard walls.
Waterfalls
Fontaine-de-Vaucluse
France's most powerful spring gushes from the foot of a cliff into an impossibly green pool.
What you need for this drive
Rules for each country on the route, in the order you meet them.
France
- Motorway
- 130 km/h · 50 in town
- Tolls
- Autoroute à péage
- Must carry
- warning triangle, hi-vis vest
- Winter tyres
- 1 November - 31 March
Low-emission zones: ZFE (Zones à Faibles Émissions) — needs a Crit'Air (Certificat qualité de l'air).
Checked against national road authorities and the ECB reference rates. Rules change — confirm before you travel.
Famous drives in France
Legendary routes you could bolt onto this trip, with real distances and stop counts.
Verdon Gorge: Route des Crêtes
Europe's deepest canyon, turquoise water 700m below, and a clifftop road with no barriers
104 km · 3h driving · 5 stops · 2 days
Route Napoléon: Cannes to Grenoble
The road Napoleon took from exile back to Paris, now a 325 km drive through pre-Alps
325 km · 5.7h driving · 7 stops · 3 days
Paris to Nice FAQs
How long is the drive from Paris to Nice?
Driving from Paris to Nice takes about 9 hr 51 min nonstop, covering 580 miles (933 km). Add time for breaks: most drivers stop every 2 hours.
How much does it cost to drive from Paris to Nice?
Fuel for a typical petrol car (~40 mpg) costs roughly €122 one-way. Expect around €61 in motorway tolls. Estimates are indicative: prices change monthly.
Can I drive from Paris to Nice in one day?
It's possible but long: 9 hr 51 min of driving. Most people split it over two days, with an overnight stop near Hospices de Beaune, which turns the drive into a proper road trip.
What other drives can I plan on Plan Your Road Trips?
We publish drive times, distances and fuel estimates for 144 routes across Europe and beyond, including 19 other drives in the same country. Browse them all on the routes index.
What are the best stops between Paris and Nice?
Top-rated stops in the drive corridor include Palais des Papes, La Croisette, Cannes, Saint-Tropez: see the full list of 9 stops on this page.
More drives from Paris & Nice
London → NiceLondon → ParisNice → LyonNice → MarseilleNice → MilanParis → AmsterdamParis → BarcelonaParis → BordeauxParis → BrusselsParis → Calais
Planning a bigger trip? Try the free France road trip planner, browse every destination we cover, take it with you on the road, or read the driving in France guide.