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Scenic Drive: Nice to Annecy via Antibes, Aix, Rhône Valley & Chambéry
Road Trip · France

Scenic Drive from Nice to Annecy (with 4 Beautiful Stops)

        A one-day route from Nice to Annecy that stays under 8 hours total        (including four ~20-minute stops), mixing fast autoroutes with        picturesque towns and reliable places to grab snacks and use clean bathrooms.        Planned for a small car with 3 people onboard.      

Overview

  • Start → End Nice → Antibes → Aix-en-Provence → Tain-l’Hermitage / Tournon-sur-Rhône → Chambéry → Annecy
  • Main roads A8 · A7 · A49 · A41
  • Total distance ≈ 580 km (approx.)
  • Pure driving time ≈ 6 – 6.5 hours in normal traffic
  • Planned stops 4 × ~20 minutes = ≈ 1h20
  • Total day target Under 8 hours
Scenic towns Snacks & cafés Clean bathrooms Comfortable with 3 people

Leg-by-Leg Distance & Time

Leg From → To Approx. distance Approx. driving time*
1 Nice → Antibes (Old Town & ramparts) ≈ 25 km ≈ 25–30 min
2 Antibes → Aix-en-Provence (Cours Mirabeau) ≈ 155–160 km ≈ 1h30–1h35
3 Aix-en-Provence → Tain-l’Hermitage / Tournon-sur-Rhône ≈ 215 km ≈ 2h
4 Tain-l’Hermitage → Chambéry (Savoyard old town) ≈ 127–130 km ≈ 1h45
5 Chambéry → Annecy ≈ 50 km ≈ 35–45 min

        *Times are approximate and assume normal traffic. Allow extra time for rush        hours, roadworks, or unexpected delays.      

Stop-by-Stop Details

Stop 1 · Antibes (Old Town & Ramparts)
Leg 1:            Nice → Antibes · ≈ 25 km · ≈ 25–30 min          
Why stop here?
  • Compact medieval old town right on the sea.
  • Stone ramparts with views back to the Alps and Riviera.
  • Easy photo stop to mark the start of the trip.
Snacks & bathrooms
  •               Head toward Marché Provençal / Cours Masséna area:              lots of cafés and bakeries.            
  •               Good chance of clean restrooms in cafés (just buy a coffee or pastry).            
Time budget
  • ≈ 20–30 minutes: quick walk on the ramparts, coffee, restroom.
Stop 2 · Aix-en-Provence (Cours Mirabeau)
Leg 2:            Antibes → Aix-en-Provence · ≈ 155–160 km · ≈ 1h30–1h35          
Why stop here?
  • Cours Mirabeau: tree-lined boulevard with fountains and historic facades.            
  • Classic Provence café atmosphere, great for a short break.
Snacks & bathrooms
  •               Park in a central garage near Cours Mirabeau (e.g. “Rotonde / Centre-Ville”).            
  •               Choose any of the cafés along the Cours for drinks, snacks, and restrooms.            
Time budget
  • ≈ 20 minutes if you park close and keep the walk short.
            Stop 3 · Tain-l’Hermitage / Tournon-sur-Rhône (Rhône & Vineyards)          
Leg 3:            Aix-en-Provence → Tain-l’Hermitage · ≈ 215 km · ≈ 2h          
Why stop here?
  •               Terraced Hermitage vineyards rising above the Rhône – very photogenic.            
  •               Option to stroll in Tain-l’Hermitage or cross the bridge to medieval              Tournon-sur-Rhône.            
Snacks & bathrooms
  •               Cafés and boulangeries along the main street in Tain.            
  •               The Cité du Chocolat Valrhona is an easy place for snacks and clean toilets if you want a chocolate-themed pause.            
Time budget
  • ≈ 20–30 minutes: short riverside walk, snack, restroom break.
Stop 4 · Chambéry (Savoyard Old Town)
Leg 4:            Tain-l’Hermitage → Chambéry · ≈ 127–130 km · ≈ 1h45          
Why stop here?
  •               Atmospheric old town in a valley between Alpine ranges.            
  •               Narrow lanes, fountains, and a mix of French–Italian architectural influences.            
Snacks & bathrooms
  •               Park in or near the center (e.g. “Château” or other central car parks).            
  •               Plenty of cafés and ice-cream spots around the pedestrian streets for a quick break.            
Time budget
  • ≈ 20–25 minutes: small loop through the center, coffee, restroom.

Final Leg to Annecy

Leg 5:        Chambéry → Annecy · ≈ 50 km · ≈ 35–45 minutes via A41.      

        This final stretch is straightforward autoroute into Annecy. Depending on traffic,        your full day typically adds up to:      

  • Driving: ≈ 6 – 6.5 hours
  • Stops (4 × ~20 minutes): ≈ 1h20
  • Total: ≈ 7h20 – 7h50 (under your 8-hour cap)

Practical Tips (Especially with 3 People)

  • Start early from Nice to avoid the heaviest traffic on the A8 along the Riviera.        
  • Use autoroute “aires” (rest areas) between these main stops if someone needs          an unplanned bathroom break – they usually have clean toilets and basic snacks.        
  • Pack smart in a small car: try to keep bulky luggage in the trunk so the          rear passenger has good legroom for the longer legs.        
  • Fuel strategy: top up when convenient rather than waiting for low fuel –          you’ll have more flexibility choosing nice stops instead of urgent ones.        
  • Adjust on the fly: if traffic is worse than expected, you can easily skip          either Antibes or Chambéry and still have a beautiful three-stop day.        

        You can customize this plan to your actual departure time and pace (for example, coffee in Antibes,        early lunch in Aix, mid-afternoon chocolate in Tain, short stretch in Chambéry, then roll into Annecy by evening).