We stop in Valladolid rather than Santander when driving to just north of Lisbon. It is almosy an 8 hour journey and of course with stops even longer to get there.

The problem with staying over night in Santander is that you are actually arriving rested off the ferry. I would make a little inroad into the journey and then forge on to the Algarve. that will shorten your long drive a little.

It is 2.5 hours from Santander to Valladolid.

 

+ 1 to Siobhan above.

It would make the journey down to Algarve shorter.

 

Thank you. This does seem a sensible approach.

 

As route is major roads, motorways plenty of petrol stations, signposted with distance between, don't forget A23, A22 electronic tolled roads either pay at border or prepay online Home - Portal de Portagens

Border to Lagos doable in a day but would you want too, you certainly won't enjoy journey or the days after

 

Thanks Canoeman. We intend to pay tolls at border and certainly want to enjoy the drive so likely that we stay over in Santander and then do a further stop over midway to Luz. Once we have done the journey once, we will then know for the future what suits. Thanks for your help.

 

I usually do the ferry to Alvor non-stop, it doesn't matter what time I arrive (not true for the reverse journey of course). And I always drive down to Seville, then head west to hit the border and the A22. The Spanish motorways are good, empty and toll-free.

 

We drove from Bayonne to Caceres and then next day from Caceres to Alvor. Pleasant drive on good roads and not too much strain on us Roadside stops were much nicer than they looked. On the way back we drove Alvor to Burgos....just a bit too far.

 

We did look at travelling through Spain. How long would you say it will take you using this route? Thanks

 

Left Bayonne after breakfast...arrived Caceres late afternoon. Left Caceres after breakfast and arrived in Alvor mid afternoon after a pleasant light lunch just past Seville. Roads are fine, in fact from Burgos to Bayonne is amazing, my husband really enjoyed driving it.

 

I can't wait to try this journey. Thank you for your comments.

 

ViaMichelin: Michelin route planner and maps, restaurants, traffic news and hotel booking is very a good route planning guide, costings relativly accurate and when you get hang of it easy to specify/modify a route, timing I find ok for 2 drivers but 1 your a wreck

 

Thanks for the advice. It sounds fairly straightforward and there is lots of technical support to help.

 

Hi Canoeman - thanks for directing us to Michelin map router. Looking forward to the experience.

 

I drive from Santander/Bilbao to Praia da Luz and return every year. For the last 3 years I drive through Spain to Seville then across the border. This route avoids most of the Portuguese toll roads and adds only 1/2 hour to my journey. When coming to PDL I usually take the Sunday boat that arrives at 7.45 am Tuesday. That way I arrive fully refreshed and it takes 11 hours with meal stops to drive to my house in Praia da Luz. On the return journey I drive to Santander/Bilbao and have an overnight there

 

Hi Brodev - its good to know that is will take about 11 hours to make the drive to PDL. We have decided to drive through Spain as well it seems the best route all round. Can't wait to start our journey in 6 weeks time. Thanks again.

 

I always stay on the Spanish roads as long as possible, all the way down to Seville then across to Huelva and into Portugal

the petrol is a lot cheaper too!

IThe Spanish roads are toll free, and the Portuguese one across to Lagos is too if you take a chance!

 

Thanks for the advice we will avoid parking overnight in this area. Cheers.