Vigo to Tours Road Trip: A 1000 km Journey Through France and Spain

The road from Vigo (42.2406° N, 8.7207° W) to Tours (47.3941° N, 0.6848° E) spans roughly 1,050 km, crossing Spain's lush northwest and France's Atlantic seaboard. This route traces the old pilgrim paths of the Camino de Santiago in reverse, but with asphalt instead of scallop shells.

A little-known fact: the A-52 highway in Galicia was built atop the Roman Via Nova, connecting the gold mines of Las Médulas to the port of Vigo. You'll literally drive over 2,000-year-old engineering.

The primary highways are AP-9 (Vigo to Tui), A-52 (Ourense to Benavente), A-62 (to Burgos), then A-1/E05 (to Irun), and finally A-10/E05 (to Tours). Toll roads dominate: Spanish AP-9 and AP-1 cost about €0.10/km; French A-10 is €0.12/km. Total tolls: ~€70-90.

• Fuel: Petrol stations every 30-50 km on highways. Cheaper in Spain (€1.55/L) than France (€1.75/L) as of mid-2025. Fill up before crossing the border.
• Rest areas: Every 20 km in France (aires with toilets, vending machines). Spain has fewer, but larger service plazas.
• Border crossing: Irun/Hendaye (AP-8/A-63). No passport control since Schengen, but traffic can bottleneck on summer weekends.

For a break: San Sebastián (Donostia) is 20 km off the highway via exit 1-2. Perfect for a pintxo and a beach walk. Alternatively, the salt flats of Guérande near Saint-Nazaire offer a detour via D213.

All highways are well-maintained and lit. Speed cameras are common in France (radars fixes every 10 km). In Spain, radar boxes often display warning signs. Wear seat belts — fines are €200+. Maximum daytime speed: 120 km/h in France, 120 km/h in Spain (some sections 100 km/h).

• Family stops: Futuroscope (Poitiers, 1h south of Tours) — a theme park with 3D rides and IMAX. For younger kids, the Océanopolis aquarium in Brest is a detour, but better on a dedicated Brittany trip.
• Pet-friendly: Most aires in France permit dogs on leashes. Many Spanish service stations have shaded pet areas. In Tours, the Jardin de la Préfecture is dog-friendly.

Fatigue management: Plan stops every 2 hours. The toll plaza near Vitoria-Gasteiz has a coffee shop with Basque cakes. In France, the Aire de Lançon (near Poitiers) offers a children's play area and a walking path. Do not drive more than 8 hours per day.

The first leg from Vigo crosses the Galician Massif: green hills, eucalyptus forests, and granite peaks. Near Ourense, the Roman bridge of Ponte Vella spans the Miño River. Stop at the thermal baths of Outariz (free public pools).

• Natural Parks: Baixa Limia-Serra do Xurés (border with Portugal) has trails to medieval settlements.
• Wine regions: Ribera del Duero (around Aranda de Duero) — bodegas offer tastings. Look for the Colectivo de Vinos de la Ribera.

Local commerce: In Burgos, the Mercado de los Herreros is a 19th-century iron market turned food hall. Try morcilla de Burgos (blood sausage) and lechazo (roast lamb). For more tips, see how to find the best stops and hidden gems between cities.