The Best One Day Road Trip From Aix [Avignon, Gordes, Roussillon]

In a one day road trip from Aix, you can explore some of the most beautiful Provence towns in the area. This day trip from Aix en Provence includes a stop in Avignon, L’Isle-Sur-la-Sorgue, Gordes, and Rousillon.

It’s a lot of driving in one day, but trust me, the sites are worth it. Plus, the drive itself isn’t too bad either. You’ll drive through some of the most eye-catching landscapes in all Provence.

Psst! This blog post contains affiliate links in it which sends me a bit of extra money if you use them… at no extra cost to you!

Tips For Driving In Provence

To go on a road trip from Aix through Provence you obviously need a car, but just a heads up, driving through Provence isn’t the best. Read my tips for driving in Provence before you make your decision to see if driving is for you. 

You can find an organized tours that go on a similar route, but it will most likely cost you quite a bit more.

So, although driving might be less expensive and you have more freedom, it is quite a bit more stressful. The cost of an organized tour might be worth it for you in the end.

Driving From Aix To Avignon

The first part of your one-day road trip from Aix is going to be driving to Avignon. It’s a bit over an hour drive depending on which route you take.

Google Maps will be your best friend because there might be a lot of traffic if you’re heading out in the morning. The fastest routes are toll roads, but you risk adding 30 minutes to your drive if you avoid them. Again, it all depends on traffic because the side route might not end up being that much longer.

Before leaving on your day trip from Aix en Provence, check your route options on Google. If you want to avoid tolls, make sure you enable that option. We took the toll road on our way there, it cost us €7. 

Parking In Avignon From Aix

Once we arrived in Avignon from Aix, we parked in the first parking lot we found. Because we had limited time, we did not want to spend time looking for parking. In the end, we should’ve done our research before and found one that was a bit more centrally located.

It all depends on what you want to do in the city centre, but I recommend parking in the Palais des Papes lot. You avoid driving through the city centre itself as it’s on the edge next to the Rhône river.

From this lot, you’re close to all the main attractions: the Pont D’Avignon, Palais des Papes, and Park Durocher.

Spending Your Morning In Avignon

Avignon is the biggest city you’re visiting today so it makes sense to spend the most time here. But, it all depends on your interests.

You should pass through Places de L’Horloge, the main square, and Park Durocher for some of the best views of the Rhône river.

If you’re interested, you can visit the Palais des Papes. A medieval, gothic palace and fortress from the 14th Century.

And of course, what we were most interested in seeing; the infamous Pont D’Avignon. Being from Quêbec, we learned all about this bridge in a nursery rhyme and how locals would dance on it. So it was a no brainer to find out more about it! It turns out no one danced on the bridge, but they did dance next to it.

Next Stop: L’Isle-Sur-La-Sorgue

The next stop on your day trip from Aix en Provence is 40 minutes from Avignon to L’Isle-Sur-La-Sorgue. It has beautiful canals flowing through the city centre (reminiscent of Venice). It’s also known for being the antique centre of France, so it’s not a bad spot to do some shopping!

It’s a picture-perfect town that’s a good stop for lunch with a view. We packed our own lunch and enjoyed it in Gautier Park. An even better place to enjoy a picnic lunch here though is to drive a bit further to Le Partage des Eaux.

Even if you don’t have a packed lunch, there are many restaurants and cafés to enjoy a bite to eat along one of the canals.

Don’t forget to see the old water mills working while you’re there! If you’re into art, a must see is the Villa Datris Foundation for contemporary sculpture as well.

Parking Tips In L’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue

We were lucky and found free street parking while we were there along the main canal. You don’t want to spend too much time looking for a spot though. 

If you’re pressed for time, park in one of the parking lots just outside the city centre. There’s one on Lotissement la Garcine that we were going to park in.

Road Trip From Aix Pit Stop: View Point of Gordes

It’s only a 20-minute drive to our next destination: The town viewpoint Gordes. This is where the driving might become a bit more terrifying though. We’re going into the Provence mountains where the roads are narrow, winding, and people drive a bit too fast!

If you’re afraid of heights, maybe don’t visit this next stop. Gordes is the most breathtaking town that you don’t even have to step one foot inside to appreciate it’s beauty. It’s a must visit to go from Aix en Provence to Gordes while in Provence.

Drive to this viewpoint for an unreal landscape of a city built entirely on a mountainside. I swear, it’ll take your breath away… just don’t look down!

Last Stop Day Trip From Aix En Provence: Roussillon

It’s only a 15-minute drive from the Gordes town viewpoint to Roussillon. I think this may be my favourite town in Provence.

The colour palette was unlike the rest of any town I’d seen in Provence. The South of France is typically pastel colours, Roussillon on the other hand is quite rustic. It’s like it’s fall here all year round here! 

I guess it was to blend into the towns surroundings because the rock it was built on is Ochre, a beautiful burnt orange color.

Walk around the town to appreciate the different styles than what you’re used to in Provence. It’s so easy to get lost here, but you can’t ever go too far, the town is tiny!

While wandering through the street, make sure to visit the Belfry and Place de la Marie. You’ll also want to leave the town for a bit to hike  the Sentier de Ochres on the edge for a bit.

P.S. need a pick me up at this point? Head to Café Nino for a cafe with a view! They have an outdoor back patio that overlooks the region where you can see the red rocks while you sip a delicious coffee.

Parking In Roussillon

There are two paid lots you can park near Roussillon. There’s one at the bottom before you enter the town, and one at the top. If you’re travelling during high season, I would park in the lower lot if there’s a spot… more likely than not the upper lot will be full.

Driving Back To Aix-en-Provence

The drive back from Roussillon to Aix-en-Provence is about an hour and 10 minutes. Half the drive is through the mountains, so it’s not an easy drive but then the second half you’re back on the normal highway.

There aren’t any toll roads when driving back either. I’d recommend leaving Roussillon before sunset so you don’t have to drive through the mountains in the dark on this road trip from Aix.

Why I Loved This One Day Road Trip Aix En Provence?

Each city we visited on this road trip from Aix had their own unique characteristic. They were so vastly distinct from the other one. I mean how can you compare going from the Venice of France to a town built on beautiful Ochre rocks.

Some road trips through Provence though the towns can start blending into one. For example, our road trip through the Côte D’Azur included Cannes, Nice, and Monaco. Cannes and Nice are very similar as they are both beach towns. Neither one has that one defining characteristic that sets it apart.

On this road trip from Aix, you’re getting 4 completely different experiences to enjoy.

Make This Day Trip Your Own!

If one city sounds more interesting to you than another one, make sure you spend most of your time there! You can also swap out one city for another. For example, before making your way to Avignon, you can also stop at Carriere des Lumieres, or drive to the Pont du Gard if you’re interested.

Aix-en-Provence makes such a good home base for your vacation to the South of France, I swear, the possibilities for road trips from Aix are endless. 

You can hike Mont Sainte-Victoire, plan a road trip through the Côte D’Azur, and visit the Pont du Gard. 

Aix isn’t so bad itself either, read all about this wonderful hidden gem! 

P.S. Need A Hotel In Aix?

Aix en Provence is a very small city in the South of France so there’s no bad location to stay during your visit. We stayed at an Airbnb in Aix because we were visiting for a month. Here are some hotel suggestions I found to stay at while in Aix en Provence.

I would recommend staying in an apartment get a more local taste of this small South of France town and a balcony is a must-have! I love Loft “Le Petit Séquoia for both of those features. You can sleep 5 people in this apartment on the edge of town and it has an unbeatable balcony for everyone to enjoy. See room rates and availability.

For a truly luxury getaway with a pool and spa to relax in the South of France, book a room at the Les Lodges Sainte-Victoire Hotel & Spa. Although it is further outside the city centre, they offer a truly relaxing South of France getaway. I mean, they have not one, not two, but THREE swimming pools! See room rates and availability.

If you want a luxury stay in the city, book Luxury Design Hotel Particulier le 28 where every room is different! They also have an indoor pool and give you one of a kind stay in Aix en Provence. See room rates and availability.

For a budget-friendly option in the city centre (on Cours Mirabeau) stay at Séjours & Affaires Aix-en-Provence Mirabeau. They offer a full kitchen and apartment amenities to live like a local in Aix! See room rates and availability.

For more hotel accommodations in Aix en Provence, Click here.

My France Day Trip Essentials

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• How To Hike Mont Sainte Victoire From Aix en Provence

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Last update on 2024-05-08 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API