Ferry vs Eurotunnel to France: Costs & Times Compared 2026

There are two ways to get your car to France: ferry or Eurotunnel. The best choice depends on your budget, schedule, and whether you are towing a caravan. Here is the full comparison.

Quick comparison

	Eurotunnel (Le Shuttle)	Dover-Calais Ferry	Long-route Ferry
Crossing time	35 minutes	90 minutes	6-14 hours
Total port time	~90 minutes	~3 hours	Varies
Off-peak price	From ~£30	From ~£30	From ~£80
Peak price	Up to £200+	Up to £200+	Up to £300+
Stay in car?	Yes	No (leave car on deck)	No (cabin available)
Dogs	Stay in car	Stay in car on deck	Cabin/kennel options
Caravans	Yes (size limits)	Yes	Yes
Departures	Up to 4 per hour	Multiple daily	1-2 daily per route
Flexibility	Good (frequent departures)	Good	Poor (fixed schedule)

Eurotunnel (Le Shuttle)

How it works

You drive your car onto a train carriage at Folkestone and stay in your car for the 35-minute tunnel crossing. You drive off in Coquelles (near Calais) on the other side.

Pros

• Fastest crossing - 35 minutes terminal to terminal
• Stay in your car - no need to climb stairs or find your vehicle on a car deck
• Frequent departures - up to 4 per hour at peak times
• Weather-proof - unaffected by rough seas
• Best for dogs - your dog stays with you in the car the entire time
• Flexible booking - can often move to an earlier departure if you arrive early

Cons

• No facilities during crossing - you sit in your car for 35 minutes
• Folkestone only - one departure point in the UK
• Price can spike - peak dates sell out early and prices rise sharply
• Size restrictions - height limit of 1.85m for standard carriages. Taller vehicles and caravans need specific allocations

Best for

Short trips, day trips, people who want speed, dog owners, those who get seasick.

Dover-Calais ferries

Operators

• P&O Ferries - most frequent service
• DFDS - competitive pricing, good ships
• Irish Ferries - newer ships, competitive fares

How it works

Drive onto the ferry at Dover, park on the car deck, go upstairs to the passenger areas for the 90-minute crossing. Return to your car when the ship docks in Calais.

Pros

• On-board facilities - restaurants, shops, bars, children’s play areas
• Fresh air - you can go on deck
• Stretch your legs - good for breaking up a long drive
• Competitive pricing - often cheaper than Eurotunnel at peak times
• Caravan-friendly - no height restrictions (within reason)

Cons

• Slower - 90 minutes crossing plus boarding/disembarking time (3 hours total)
• Rough weather - crossings can be rough in the Channel, and occasionally cancelled
• Boarding process - driving onto the car deck can be stressful, especially with a caravan
• Finding your car - you need to remember your deck and position

Best for

Families with children, people who enjoy the crossing experience, budget travellers booking off-peak.

Long-route ferries

Routes

• Portsmouth to Caen (Brittany Ferries) - 6 hours
• Portsmouth to St Malo (Brittany Ferries) - 11 hours (overnight)
• Portsmouth to Le Havre (Brittany Ferries) - 8-9 hours (overnight)
• Poole to Cherbourg (Brittany Ferries) - 4.5 hours
• Plymouth to Roscoff (Brittany Ferries) - 6 hours
• Newhaven to Dieppe (DFDS) - 4 hours

Pros

• Saves driving time - you arrive further into France, avoiding the Calais-Paris motorway toll
• Overnight option - sleep on the ship and arrive rested. No need for a hotel stop
• Closer to western France - much better for Brittany, Normandy, the Loire, and the Atlantic coast
• Cabin accommodation - comfortable for families with young children

Cons

• More expensive - cabin crossings add significantly to the cost
• Less frequent - typically 1-2 departures per day
• Less flexible - miss your sailing and you may wait 24 hours
• Longer commitment - 6-14 hours on a ship

Best for

Trips to western or south-west France, families who want to avoid a full day of motorway driving, those who enjoy the sea crossing.

Which crossing should you choose?

There is no single best option, only the best option for your trip. Use this quick guide:

• You want the fastest, least stressful crossing: Eurotunnel. Thirty-five minutes, stay in your car, weather-proof.
• You are travelling with a dog: Eurotunnel, so your dog stays in the car with you the whole way. On Dover-Calais ferries dogs must stay in the car on the deck, with no access during the crossing.
• You are on a tight budget and flexible on dates: an off-peak Dover-Calais ferry, often the cheapest option of all.
• You are heading to western or south-west France: a long-route Brittany Ferries crossing from Portsmouth, Poole, or Plymouth saves a full day of motorway driving.
• You are towing a tall caravan or motorhome: a ferry, which has no height restriction in the way the Eurotunnel shuttle carriages do.
• You get seasick: Eurotunnel, every time.

For most short Channel hops from the South East, the real choice is Eurotunnel versus Dover-Calais, and it usually comes down to price on your travel dates. Compare both before booking.

Don’t forget your Crit’Air sticker

Whichever crossing you choose, the rules once you are in France are the same. Most major French cities, including Paris, Lyon, and Strasbourg, operate low-emission zones (ZFEs) that require a Crit’Air sticker on your windscreen. Driving into one without a sticker risks an on-the-spot fine, and the sticker cannot be bought at the port or the roadside, so you need to sort it before you travel.

The good news is it is quick and cheap. A Crit’Air sticker costs £7 through France Stickers, is valid for the lifetime of your vehicle, and covers every future trip to France. Apply early, as the physical sticker takes 10 to 14 working days to arrive by post (your digital facsimile is valid immediately as a backup).

Not sure if your car needs one? Enter your registration and find out free in seconds:

Apply for your Crit’Air sticker or check your category first.

Tips for booking

1. Book early - the best prices go first, especially for school holidays and summer weekends
2. Be flexible on dates - shifting by one day can save 30-50%
3. Compare across operators - use directferries.co.uk or aferry.co.uk to compare
4. Check the Eurotunnel FlexiPlus - the premium ticket includes lounge access and priority boarding, sometimes worth it at peak times
5. Book a cabin on overnight ferries - the reclining seat option sounds cheaper but a bad night’s sleep ruins day one of your holiday