Comparison
Ferry or drive around Bordeaux
There is no bridge between the two banks. Here are both journeys side by side with the waiting time included, because that is what changes the answer.
Between the recommended arrival at the ramp and the far bank, allow 50 to 60 minutes: 30 min early, 20 min crossing, plus loading and unloading. The drive takes 1 hr 35 min. The time you save therefore depends mostly on the queue and the traffic, and it assumes you make the departure you planned for. In exchange, the crossing costs €31 in high season, whereas the road costs only fuel.
| By ferry | By road | |
|---|---|---|
| Distance | 4.5 km of water | 84 km of road |
| Journey time | 20 min crossing | 1 hr 35 min driving |
| Recommended arrival | 30 min before departure | Not applicable |
| Total, recommended arrival included | 50 to 60 min | 1 hr 35 min, plus traffic |
| Cost, one person | €31 in season, €19 in winter | about €10 in fuel |
| Cost, two people | €37 in season | about €10 in fuel |
| Departure times | 5 to 10 sailings a day | Any time |
| Weight limit | 3.5 t | No limit |
| Tolls | Not applicable | None |
Waiting time in the comparison
The map is misleading: 4.5 km across compared with 84 km around looks like an open and shut case. But a ferry is not a tunnel. It leaves at fixed times, and the half hour you are asked to arrive early is part of the journey.
20 min of sailing plus 30 min of waiting is 50 min, compared with 1 hr 35 min by road. The ferry saves about three quarters of an hour, and that saving disappears entirely if you miss the departure.
The fuel calculation
84 km at 7 l per 100 km is roughly 5.9 litres, about €10 at the average unleaded price in September 2026. Work it out again with your own consumption and the price on the day. There are no tolls on this route.
On cost, then, the road is cheaper however many of you there are. Even out of season, €19 for a car and driver stays above the fuel. The ticket does not buy a saving; it buys time, and a route along the estuary.
When driving makes more sense
- Your vehicle is over 3.5 t. There is nothing to weigh up; boarding is refused. Weight limits.
- You arrive less than 30 minutes before departure. You risk missing the sailing, and the next wait wipes out the saving.
- It is winter and the timing is awkward. With 5 sailings a day the next departure can be hours away. Check the timetable for your date.
The third option
If your route runs further north, the Royan to Le Verdon ferry crosses the mouth of the estuary and takes heavier vehicles, lorries and coaches included, within its own height and width limits. It crosses the estuary 60 km downstream. Comparing both Gironde ferries.
Common questions
Does the ferry save time?
Yes, but less than the map suggests. The crossing is 20 min, but you are asked to be at the ramp 30 min early, so about 50 min door to door. Driving takes 1 hr 35 min. The real saving is around 25 min, and it vanishes if you miss the sailing.
Is the ferry cheaper than driving?
No. A car and driver is €31 in high season and €19 out of season, compared with roughly €10 in fuel by road. What you pay for is time.
When is driving the better choice?
When your vehicle is over 3.5 t, when you reach the ramp less than 30 min before departure, and in winter as soon as you miss a sailing. With 5 a day, the wait can exceed the drive.
Is there a bridge between Blaye and Lamarque?
No. There is no road bridge on the estuary between Bordeaux and the ocean. The first crossing upstream is the Pont d'Aquitaine in Bordeaux, which is why 4.5 km of water becomes 84 km of road.
Sources
Updated: September 2026