Every British driver heading to France faces the same first decision: do you take the ferry or the Eurotunnel? It sounds simple but the answer depends entirely on where you are going, where you are coming from, how many people are travelling, and what matters most to you. We have done both many times with our family. Here is an honest guide.
The Options at a Glance
There are essentially four ways to cross the Channel with your car:
LeShuttle (Eurotunnel)
Folkestone to Calais — 35 minutes
You drive onto a train, stay in your car, drive off the other side.
Dover to Calais ferry
Dover to Calais — 90 minutes
Operated by P&O Ferries, DFDS and Irish Ferries with up to 32 sailings daily.
Dover to Dunkirk ferry
Dover to Dunkirk — ~2 hours
Useful if heading towards Belgium, the Netherlands or northern France rather than Paris or south.
Direct ferry to Spain
Portsmouth / Plymouth to Santander — 33 hours
Brittany Ferries. You wake up in northern Spain, bypassing France entirely.
The Honest Price Reality
Be very sceptical of advertised "from" prices on any of these routes. They apply to standard-sized cars at off-peak times booked months in advance. Real-world costs for a family with a larger vehicle are significantly higher.
LeShuttle (Eurotunnel)
Advertised from £59 one way for a standard car, but prices are based on the space your vehicle takes up and vary by vehicle dimensions, ticket type, travel dates and time. A standard family car booked reasonably in advance at a normal travel time will typically cost £100–£200 one way.
Larger vehicles such as campervans, tall SUVs and vans travel on single-deck carriages which cost significantly more. A VW Transporter with four passengers at Christmas costs around €500 each way — a figure you will never find in the advertised prices.
Dover to Calais ferry
A standard car with driver typically costs £115–£250 one way depending on season and operator. As with LeShuttle, larger vehicles pay significantly more. Always get a live quote for your specific vehicle before budgeting.
Dover to Dunkirk ferry
Broadly similar pricing to Dover to Calais. Useful if your route heads northeast rather than south — it puts you closer to Belgium and the Netherlands and avoids the busiest part of the Calais port area.
Portsmouth to Santander (direct to Spain)
The most misrepresented prices on the internet. Comparison sites quote foot passenger fares and off-peak specials that bear no resemblance to what a UK family with a car actually pays. In reality, budget at least €1,000 each way in low season for a car with two adults and a basic cabin. Summer peak prices are substantially higher.
The One Thing All Comparison Guides Miss
If you are going to Spain or Portugal, taking LeShuttle or the Dover ferry means driving the entire length of France. That adds:
- +French motorway tolls — typically £50–80 each way
- +Two full days of driving
- +At least one overnight stop each way
- +Fuel across France
- +A Crit'Air sticker — mandatory for driving through Paris, Lyon, Bordeaux and other French cities
For a family, the true cost of LeShuttle plus driving France can easily reach £600–800 total before you cross into Spain. Suddenly the direct ferry to Santander looks more competitive — you save two days of driving, two overnight stops, French tolls both ways, and arrive rested rather than exhausted.
EES and ETIAS — Important for 2026
Later in 2026, the EU is gradually introducing the Entry/Exit System (EES), a new border requirement for non-EU nationals including British nationals. This applies to all Channel crossings — LeShuttle, Dover ferry and direct Spain ferries alike. UK passport holders will need to register at the terminal before travelling, which may add time to check-in on all routes.
ETIAS, the EU travel authorisation system, also launches in Q4 2026 and will be required for all British travellers entering Europe regardless of how they cross. Read our full ETIAS guide →
The practical implication: the "turn up and go" convenience of LeShuttle may be reduced once EES is fully operational. Factor extra terminal time into your plans on all routes from late 2026 onwards.
The Real Experience — What Nobody Tells You
This is where online comparisons fall short. Here is what actually matters when you are standing at the terminal with your family:
LeShuttle — the honest verdict
The tunnel wins on speed and simplicity. With up to four departures per hour at peak times, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, it is genuinely close to turn-up-and-go. The 35-minute crossing is perfect for a quick power nap if you have been driving since early morning.
If anyone in your family suffers from seasickness, the tunnel eliminates the problem entirely — there is no motion whatsoever.
The downsides:
You stay in your car for 35 minutes with nothing to do, no food or drink available during the crossing, and no sense of occasion. Functional but not exactly memorable.
Ferry — the honest verdict
The ferry feels like you are actually going abroad. There is something about stepping onto a ship and watching the English coastline disappear that makes the holiday feel real in a way the tunnel simply does not.
The 90-minute crossing gives you time for a proper breakfast or meal onboard. You can stretch your legs, walk the decks, get some fresh air, and let the children burn off some energy.
The obvious downside:
Seasickness. The Channel can be rough, particularly in winter, and for passengers prone to motion sickness the ferry can be deeply unpleasant.
Which Is Right for You?
Choose LeShuttle if:
- Speed and simplicity are your priority
- Anyone in your group suffers from seasickness
- You are travelling off-peak and can access cheaper fares
- You want maximum departure flexibility with near-turn-up-and-go service
- You are making a short trip to northern France
Choose Dover to Calais ferry if:
- You want a proper onboard experience with food, space and fresh air
- You are travelling with young children who need to move around
- You have pets and want them with you
- You want that sense of occasion that marks the start of a real holiday
- Nobody in your group suffers from seasickness
Choose Dover to Dunkirk ferry if:
- Your destination is Belgium, the Netherlands or northeastern France
- You want to avoid the busiest part of Calais port
- Broadly similar price and experience to Dover to Calais
Choose Portsmouth to Santander if:
- Your final destination is Spain or Portugal
- You want to skip driving through France entirely — no Crit'Air sticker, no French motorway tolls, no overnight stops
- You have flexibility on travel dates (only 2 sailings per week)
- You value arriving rested in Spain over two days of motorway driving
- You can book well in advance to manage the premium cost
Don't Forget Before You Travel
If your route takes you through France — whether via Eurotunnel or Dover ferry — you need a valid Crit'Air anti-pollution sticker for driving in any French city with a low emission zone. This includes Paris, Lyon, Bordeaux, Rouen and many others on the main route south.
Order your Crit'Air sticker
£19.95, delivered to your UK address. Digital certificate in 48 hours.
Order Now — £19.95 →Make sure you also have European breakdown cover confirmed before departure — a breakdown in France without cover is an expensive and stressful start to any holiday.
For a full checklist of everything you need before driving in Europe — from driving kits to travel insurance to Portuguese toll roads — read our complete guide: The Complete UK Driver's Guide to Europe 2026 →
Compare and Book Your Crossing
Prices change daily — always get a live quote for your specific vehicle, travel dates and number of passengers:
Last Updated: June 2026