Famous road · 3 km off the route
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Road trip route · United Kingdom · France · Switzerland
London to Geneva drive time, distance, costs & the best stops
- Drive time
- 10 hr 29 min
- Distance
- 915 km
- Fuel (est.)
- €116
- Tolls (est.)
- €20
The London to Geneva drive
The drive from London to Geneva covers 569 miles (915 km) and takes about 10 hr 29 min without stops, including the 35-minute Eurotunnel shuttle from Folkestone to Calais. That's a long haul for one day, most drivers split it over two days, stopping overnight near Mantes-la-Jolie, which turns a slog into a proper road trip.
It's split between the A6, the A13 and the A40, with no single road carrying more than 32% of it. On the way you go past Wimbledon, Woking and Bordon, and you'll be near Mantes-la-Jolie roughly 5 h 9 min in. It crosses 2 borders: United Kingdom to France near Cherbourg and France to Switzerland near Geneva.
Expect gentle hills rather than climbs. The high point is around 534 m near Geneva. The Route des Grands Crus is 3 km off the route if you have time for a detour.
Expect fuel for a typical petrol car (~40 mpg) to cost around €116 one-way plus roughly €20 in motorway tolls. Switzerland requires a motorway vignette (vignette required). Prices shift monthly, so treat these as ballpark figures.
At 569 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 5.2 hours behind the wheel each day, which leaves most of the daylight for the places in between.
The road, kilometre by kilometre
Towns within a few kilometres of the fastest route, with the time it takes to reach them without stopping, plus where you cross the border.
- StartLondon
- 17 kmWimbledon9 min in
- 43 kmWoking24 min in
- 78 kmBordon43 min in
- 120 kmPortsmouth1 h 5 min in
- 190 kmInto France
- 260 kmCherbourg2 h 22 min ingood place to stop
- 354 kmBayeux3 h 13 min in
- 384 kmCaen3 h 29 min ingood place to stop
- 501 kmSaint-Étienne-du-Rouvray4 h 33 min in
- 567 kmMantes-la-Jolie5 h 9 min in
- 610 kmVersailles5 h 32 min in
- 646 kmÉvry5 h 52 min ingood place to stop
- 783 kmAuxerre7 h 7 min in
- 915 kmGeneva
- 969 kmInto Switzerland
How high it goes
Roads you'll be on
- A6373 km · 32%
- A13216 km · 19%
- A40138 km · 12%
- N13116 km · 10%
Famous roads on or near the drive
From the 500-plus passes and driving roads drivers collect in the Plan Your Road Trips app. None are on the fastest route, but these are close enough for a detour.
Mountain pass · 20 km off the route
Col du Grand Colombier
- Summit
- 1,501 m summit
Best stops between London and Geneva
Within ~30 km of the driving route, worth the detour.
Castles & Palaces
Leeds Castle
A castle on islands in a lake formed by the River Len in Kent, often called the loveliest castle in the world.
Castles & Palaces
Dover Castle
A medieval fortress overlooking the English Channel, known as the Key to England due to its strategic defensive significance.
Natural Wonders
White Cliffs of Dover
Iconic chalk cliffs reaching up to 110 meters high along the English Channel, symbolizing Britain for centuries.
Castles & Palaces
Hever Castle
Romantic 13th-century double-moated castle that was the childhood home of Anne Boleyn, set within award-winning gardens and a 38-acre lake.
Racetracks
Brands Hatch Circuit
Legendary undulating British racing circuit in Kent hosting major motorsport events and offering car racing experiences.
Scenic Viewpoints
Cap Blanc-Nez
Dazzling white chalk cliffs on the Opal Coast with views across the Channel to England on clear days.
Scenic Viewpoints
Cap Gris-Nez
The closest point in France to England, a windswept headland of cliffs, lighthouse and migrating birds.
Cathedrals & Temples
Canterbury Cathedral
Seat of the Archbishop of Canterbury and one of the oldest Christian structures in England.
Tunnels
Channel Tunnel (Eurotunnel)
50 km tunnel under the English Channel - drive your car on the train
What you need for this drive
Rules for each country on the route, in the order you meet them.
United Kingdom
- Motorway
- 112 km/h · 48 in town
- Tolls
- Individual tolled crossings (Dart Charge, M6 Toll)
- Drives on
- the left
Low-emission zones: London ULEZ (Ultra Low Emission Zone).
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).
Switzerland
- Motorway
- 120 km/h · 50 in town
- Tolls
- Autobahnvignette
- Must carry
- warning triangle
Low-emission zones: Geneva Stick'AIR.
Checked against national road authorities and the ECB reference rates. Rules change — confirm before you travel.
Famous drives in United Kingdom and France and Switzerland
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
Snake Pass + Peak District
Cobblestone villages, Bronte-novel moors, and the moodiest 14 miles of road in England
104 km · 2h driving · 7 stops · 3 days
Furka Pass + Three-Pass Loop
Goldfinger filmed here, and so should you, with two more passes thrown in
127 km · 2.3h driving · 6 stops · 2 days
Atlantic Highway A39: North Cornwall
Cornish surf beaches, smuggler's coves, and the Westcountry pasty trail
139 km · 2.5h driving · 7 stops · 4 days
London to Geneva FAQs
How long is the drive from London to Geneva?
Driving from London to Geneva takes about 10 hr 29 min nonstop, covering 569 miles (915 km), including the 35-minute Eurotunnel shuttle crossing. Add time for breaks: most drivers stop every 2 hours.
How much does it cost to drive from London to Geneva?
Fuel for a typical petrol car (~40 mpg) costs roughly €116 one-way. Expect around €20 in motorway tolls. Switzerland requires a motorway vignette (vignette required). Estimates are indicative: prices change monthly.
Can I drive from London to Geneva in one day?
It's possible but long: 10 hr 29 min of driving. Most people split it over two days, with an overnight stop near Mantes-la-Jolie, which turns the drive into a proper road trip.
Which roads do you take from London to Geneva?
The fastest route uses the A6 (about 373 km), the A13 (about 216 km), the A40 (about 138 km), the N13 (about 116 km). It passes Wimbledon, Woking, Bordon, Portsmouth.
Where should I stop on the way from London to Geneva?
If you stop every couple of hours, Cherbourg comes up about 2 h in, and Caen comes up about 4 h in, and Évry comes up about 6 h in. All are just off the main road.
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 57 other drives in the same country. Browse them all on the routes index.
What are the best stops between London and Geneva?
Top-rated stops in the drive corridor include Leeds Castle, Dover Castle, White Cliffs of Dover: see the full list of 9 stops on this page.
More drives from London & Geneva
Geneva → ChamonixGeneva → InterlakenLondon → AberdeenLondon → AmsterdamLondon → BarcelonaLondon → BathLondon → BirminghamLondon → BrightonLondon → BristolLondon → Bruges
Planning a bigger trip? Try the free United Kingdom road trip planner, browse every destination we cover or the Switzerland planner, take it with you on the road, or read the driving in Switzerland guide.