Getting to Paris by Car

The major highways into Paris are A1 from the north (Great Britain and Benelux); A13 from Rouen, Normandy, and other points northwest; A10 from Bordeaux, the Pyrénées, the southwest, and Spain;; A6 and A7 from the French Alps, the Riviera, and Italy; and A4 from eastern France, Metz, Nancy, and Strasbourg.

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France's roads are classified into five types; they are numbered and have letter prefixes: A (autoroute, expressways), N (route nationale), D (route départmentale), and the smaller C or V. There are excellent links between Paris and most French cities. When trying to get around Ile-de-France, it's often difficult to avoid Paris—just try to steer clear of rush hours (7-9:30 and 4:30-7:30). A péage (toll) must be paid on most expressways outside Ile-de-France: the rate varies but can be steep. Certain booths allow you to pay with a credit card.

The major ring road encircling Paris is called the périphérique, with the périphérique intérieur going counterclockwise around the city, and the périphérique extérieur, or the outside ring, going clockwise. Up to five lanes wide, the périphérique is a major highway from which portes (gates) connect Paris to the major highways of France. The names of these highways function on the same principle as the métro, with the final destination as the determining point in the direction you must take.

Driving in Paris is not recommended. Parking is difficult and traffic dense. If you drive, remember that Paris is encircled by a ring road, called the périphérique, with the périphérique intérieur going counterclockwise around the city, and the périphérique extérieur, or the outside ring, going clockwise. Up to five lanes wide, the périphérique is a major highway from which portes (gates) connect Paris to the major highways of France. The names of these highways function on the same principle as the métro, with the final destination as the determining point in the direction you must take.

Heading north, look for Porte de la Chapelle (direction Lille and Charles de Gaulle Airport); east, for Porte de Bagnolet (direction Metz and Nancy); south, for Porte d'Orléans (direction Lyon and Bordeaux); and west, for Porte d'Auteuil (direction Rouen and Chartres) or Porte de St-Cloud.

Always obtain detailed directions to your destination, including the name of the exit on the périphérique (exits aren't numbered). Avoid rush hours.
Keep in mind that traffic in Paris can be quite horrific, so you might be better off hopping on the train or bus and avoid getting in the car altogether.