📷 Photo by Vladan Raznatovic on UnsplashTarn Gorges and the Causses
The Millau Viaduct, Roquefort’s cheese caves and a riverside road through a limestone canyon.
- Distance
- 106 km (66 mi)
- Driving
- 1 h 28 min
- Suggested days
- 3
- Stops
- 5
- Countries
- France
- Updated
- August 5, 2026
At a glance: 3-day road trip of about 106 km (66 mi) with 5 stops, from Viaduc de Millau to Mende. About 1 h 28 min of driving in total.
More road trips in France
Route description
The Millau Viaduct, the world’s tallest bridge, carries the A75 across the Tarn valley. Crossing it is tolled, and a visitor area below the bridge offers the best view of its piers and cables. From Millau, a short drive south-west leads to Roquefort-sur-Soulzon, where the famous sheep’s milk cheese is matured in caves in the limestone cliff.
Return to Millau and follow the D907 upstream to Le Rozier, where the Tarn and Jonte gorges meet. From here the D907bis runs along the river through the Gorges du Tarn, a deep limestone canyon with villages clinging to its sides.
At La Malène, boatmen take visitors through the narrowest section of the canyon, and canoes can be hired at many villages along the river. Sainte-Enimie, a stone village at a bend of the Tarn, is a good place to stop. From here the road climbs onto the bare plateau of the Causse de Sauveterre and down to Mende, whose cathedral dominates the town.
The riverside road is narrow in places, with overhanging rock and tight bends, so large motorhomes should drive slowly and avoid the busiest summer afternoons. Canoe and boat trips run mainly from late spring to early autumn.
Stop-by-stop itinerary
In driving order. Distances are estimates between consecutive stops.
- 1Start
Viaduc de Millau
ViewsMillau, FranceThe world’s tallest bridge, carrying the A75 over the Tarn valley. A toll applies to cross; there’s a viewpoint below.
- 215 km
Roquefort-sur-Soulzon
France - 356 km
Gorges du Tarn
NatureLa Malène, FranceA deep limestone canyon with a riverside road. Hire a canoe or take a boat through the narrowest section.
- 413 km
Sainte-Enimie
France - 523 km
Mende
France
Suggested stages and overnight stops
3 days, split by driving time. Campsites from OpenStreetMap: check opening dates before you go.
- Day 1: Viaduc de Millau → Roquefort-sur-Soulzon · 15 km · 0 h 12 minOvernight nearby, for example: Aire CAMPING-CAR PARK de Saint-Affrique, Pays de Roquefort (8 km); La Vernière (9 km).
- Day 2: Roquefort-sur-Soulzon → Gorges du Tarn · 56 km · 0 h 46 minOvernight nearby, for example: Camping Cassaduc (6 km); Camping La Combe (6 km).
- Day 3: Gorges du Tarn → Mende · 36 km · 0 h 30 minOn the way: Sainte-Enimie.Overnight nearby, for example: Aire Camping-Car Park Mende (2 km); Camping municipal Les Berges du Bramont (5 km).
Best time to go
The most pleasant months are usually May–June and September–October. Still fine, with some compromises, in April, July–August and November. July and August are the busiest months: book campsites early.
Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons
Practical notes for the road
- France: Motorway tolls. Tolls on most autoroutes; the limit drops to 110 km/h in rain. Motorway limit for cars: 130 km/h.
Road rules and fees change. Check official sources before you travel.
FAQs
How long is Tarn Gorges and the Causses?
3-day road trip of about 106 km (66 mi) with 5 stops, from Viaduc de Millau to Mende. About 1 h 28 min of driving in total.
How many days do you need for Tarn Gorges and the Causses?
We suggest 3 days: about 1 h 28 min of driving, which leaves time for the stops.
Where does Tarn Gorges and the Causses start and end?
It starts in Viaduc de Millau and ends in Mende.
Which countries does Tarn Gorges and the Causses pass through?
France.
Where can you camp along Tarn Gorges and the Causses?
OpenStreetMap lists 123 campsites and motorhome stopovers within 20 km of the stops on this route. For example: Camping Huttopia Millau, Camping Les Erables and Millau Plage.
When is the best time for Tarn Gorges and the Causses?
The most pleasant months are usually May–June and September–October. Still fine, with some compromises, in April, July–August and November. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)
